What is the ruling on watching foreign films requested by professors for study, despite them being acted by men and women, and what is the ruling on watching animated films in English for the same purpose?

It is not permissible to watch foreign films if they contain forbidden elements such as music or polytheistic expressions, because that entails deliberately listening to and seeing evil. One can learn the English language through other methods free from forbidden elements. However, if these films are free from any forbidden elements, then there is no harm in watching them.