ABSTRACT
Therapists readily utilize cartoon characters as fully developed living metaphors that can act as a symbolic alternative for working through fears, anxieties, and conflicts. Cartoon therapy can be used in conjunction with any of the metaphorical interventions. Going as far back in time as the first Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie cartoons, children throughout the world have enjoyed the fantasy creations provided by the art of animation. Little did Walt Disney realize the fantastic therapeutic tool he was creating for so many to appreciate and learn from in the years to come. In recent years, certain cartoons have come under criticism for portraying and influencing what some adults consider to be negatively aggressive behavior. More recently, Dora the Explorer, created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner, became a regular television series in 2000. The children who watch the show are often included in the problem-solving process.
