The Mayans ROUND Calendar(2012) Got Me Thinking About Shapes, So I Investigated.

Around 2010–2011, I set out to try and find myself.

At the time, I was aware of the Mayan calendar—specifically the idea that it operated in cycles or “rounds.” Some people believed it pointed to a possible doomsday, while others, like me, were more drawn to the idea of enlightenment or a shift in awareness. The date came and went, and life continued as normal—but the ideas I was exploring stayed with me.

What I’m trying to do now is share some of the patterns I began noticing back then, starting with something I believe shows up in films—especially in Disney and Pixar movies. The idea is that visual elements, like shapes, may be used to subtly influence how we perceive characters and stories, possibly even training younger audiences without them realizing it.

To explain how I got there: I remember watching Half Baked repeatedly and starting to notice that everything—from colors to shapes—seemed intentional. Colors were familiar to me; I had learned growing up how they could reflect mood (like mood rings). But shapes were something new.

Over time, I started noticing a pattern: in many films, especially animated ones, rounded shapes—like circles—are often associated with human characters who are friendly, safe, humorous, or heroic. In contrast, sharper shapes, like diamonds or pointed designs, often appear connected to human villains, greed, deception, or negative traits.

This brought me back to the idea of the Mayan “round” calendar. If that concept represents cycles or completeness, it made me think of circles again—and once I started looking, I began seeing circular imagery more frequently. For example, in 2008, the campaign logo for President Barack Obama prominently featured a circular design. Around that time, I also noticed more products, branding, and advertisements emphasizing rounded shapes.

So when 2012 passed, did I feel “enlightened”? In a way, yes—but not in the sense people expected. Instead, I felt like I had become more aware of patterns in media and design. The challenge is that when I try to explain this to others, many people don’t believe it.

Since then, I believe I’ve gathered enough examples to show that studios like Disney and Pixar use what is often called “shape language.” In more serious storytelling (since there are far fewer spoof films), this seems especially consistent: rounded forms are linked to warmth and heroism, while sharper, angular forms are more often tied to villains, foolishness, or deception.

I’ve also been exploring other areas where 'simple shape' patterns I believe merged, including in branding and consumer products. I haven’t shared all of that yet, but I may in the future.

For now, my main goal is to organize Disney/Pixar clearly and present them in a way that others can understand. It looks like ‘circles’ tended to represent ‘family’ more and if it will help with all this tension in life, I suggest we pay attention and learn….

If you have any suggestions that could help improve this or make it clearer, I’d appreciate the input.

— Michael Cabral

In many Native American artistic traditions, the diamond shape traditionally symbolized orientation and balance. Diamonds and rectangles were often used to represent the four cardinal directions, the four winds, or a sacred space. A diamond containing a cross could symbolize the Morning Star, an important celestial guide associated with guidance, hope, wisdom, and new beginnings.

In modern Western culture, the meaning of the diamond has largely shifted. Today it is most commonly associated with material value, status, and ownership, and in contemporary media it is frequently linked to power, secrecy, greed, or villainy. Rather than indicating direction or balance, the diamond now often signifies negative themes when it comes to humans, particularly Americans.

This contrast highlights how the same shape can carry very different meanings depending on cultural context and historical period — the symbol remained, but its story changed.

Source:

Native American Museum – Beadwork Patterns and Meanings

https://nativeamericanmuseum.info/native-american-beadwork-patterns-and-meanings/