Sterotypes

I believe that for the most part stereotypes are outdated and mostly inaccurate. They are not made by observation but misconception and laziness. While I do understand the use as a visual short cut it could cause huge problems with the groups being stereotyped (like the "smart asian", "sassy black lady", "the greedy jew"). Not only being plain racist it causes the character to be one diminutional because all they will be is that stereotype. While there are real life people who fit the stereotype of their group, Art Spiegelman's father from Maus was described as such, they're usually people who happen to have some stereotypical aspect rather than being the stereotype.
It might be okay for inanimate objects or ideas to convey a message but it still might pose a problem with limiting what could be told. Sticking to stereotypes can limit creativity and could cause clichés to happen. There were times where stereotype did work well, but it's usually because it's a subversion or deconstruction of stereotypes or clichés.
As someone who is deeply invested in the safety and well being of animals it pains me whenever I see animals in cartoons or movies in awful conditions or see animals portrayed in in a bad light for the sake of making an easy and recognizable villain. Last year there was a huge debate surrounding "Secret Life of Pets" and it's use of stereotypes. You see fishes in fishbowls, birds in small cages, and other unsafe living conditions that could kill the pets in real life. While yes it is just a movie, the movie promotes the message that these living conditions are okay for pet. It's reinforced time and time again in every medium. People see these stereotypes and are shown that it's okay. It does not help that Petsmart heavily promoted Secret Life of Pets and slapped the logo everywhere.
Then there is the issue of stereotyping animals. There are several shorthand involving animals like the wise owl, childish monkey, honorable lion, or the immoral vulture. When 101 Dalmatian came out people went out and bought dalmatian dog because they wanted a dog just like in the movie not realizing dalmatians are not good family pets and need training, leaving many of them abandoned. While not an example of stereotyping it does show the power of media and how it could condition us to feel a certain way. In Will Eisner's "Contract with God" one of the characters has a vicious pitbull to show that the guy is tough. Pitbulls are heavily affected by these types of portrayals making them less desirable and even made the target of groups who wants to ban the breed and euthanize any in a shelter. Such portrayals are unfair. Snakes are not evil, they're snakes with no concepts of morality. Chimpanzee do not act like toddlers and will kill you if given the chance. Dogs do not live by who's "alpha"