website analysis- week6

www.disneychannel.co.uk

The webiste that I believe is one that deserves to be analysed isThe Disney channels homepage. It's something that has changed over the years, but one i remember playing on when I was younger.

The webiste and its audience
The webiste is most definatley aimed at an audience between the ages of 7-14. There are programmes on the channel that are not just cartoons, but ones that contain real children, which the younger teens would be interested in. The site has many positive things about it, which make it a fun and exaciting thing for kinds to look at, The bright colours are automatically jumping out at you and the first thing you see is the amount of blue. This is because the colour of the disney channel is blue. It could be argued, however that this could be something that is associated with boys. However, as a younger child, it would be argueable if this would really make a difference. The disney channels main colour has always been blue, so children can see straight away that they are on the Disney site.

The site itself
There is a lot going on in the site, from moving images, to pictures and different boxes containing different things for kids to do and watch. This has both positive and negative outcomes. The positives being that there is a lot for kids to do and kids enjoy a fun-filled site, there is a lot more choice. However, because of the caotic filled page, a child might find the site a little too 'in your face' and demanding and that may then lead to boredom. I believe however, that the more there is on the page, the more interested they would be.
What does everyone else think? Are children scared by a page full of stuff? or do they prefer it? Maybe it depends on what the page is full of??

Associations with children
There is a navigation toolbar at the top of the website, with words that light up when you click on them! (wow!) all this is something you would associate with disney and children. I think it is important to include little quirks such as glitter and flashing lights, it makes it more magical for the children. The associations with Disney, means that children would have certain expectancies, they would expect the site to be filled with images and flashy things!

Of course, there is the Disney logo in the top right hand corner, its almost like a symbol for chilren to identify with. They see that mouse symbol and automatically know they are in the right place. This little symbol means that children can understand that this is the Disney channel, without it even saying 'The disney channel'. Children, I would imagine are better at identifying logos, than they are reading words! Im sure we all were when we were younger? If you all saw the disney logo im assuming you would all know what it stood for and meant? please say yes- otherwise, you need to watch a disney film!!!