Week 5 Question

Question 4: Looking at Napier and Cavallaro (2006), discuss how anime is culturally ‘located’ – in the East or West, or somewhere else?

In terms of narrative structure anime does not abide by the same structure as western narratives typically do. In a western made movie, the character(s) will typically go through three stages in their journey. They tend to start with introducing the character and outlining the predicament they are in. Following on from this the character will go through a series of complicated events, and then end with those series of complications coming to a head and being resolved (Cavallaro, 2006). Whereas anime tends to span over several years or over a much longer timeline than a western narrative. Anime tend to be minimal in the amount they introduce the characters and where we find them (Cavallaro, 2006). Miyazaki described it best when he said “I gave up on making a happy ending in the true sense a long time ago. I can go no further than the ending in which the lead character gets over one issue for the time being” (Cavallaro, 2006, p. 6). The intention that Eastern narratives have is different from westerners. Anime is often focused on a target audience, Japanese audiences find messages within anime familiar and somewhat relatable. According to Alessandro Bencivenni, this may be why Akira was not fully appreciated by western audiences. The combination of what may have been ignorance or just detachment from some themes within Akira, and then the lack of explanation within the movie may have confused or deterred Westerners from enjoying Akira and therefore further anime (Cavallaro, 2006). 

In terms of geography, anime is huge in Japan. In 1988, it is estimated that 40% of studio releases were animated, and by 1999 that had increased to 50% (Napier, 2005). As well as on film, anime TV shows were a big proponent to what was on during all times of the day, from kid friendly anime in the morning, to more edgy teenage anime in the later part of the evening (Napier, 2005). This popularity however has not always been around, it was properly established post war, with significant films coming out such as Astro Boy in 1963. Simply put, the West just does not have this history and wealth of anime that Japan and other Eastern countries have. This may be because the West has Hollywood and Japanese anime has to battle for a place amongst the oncoming onslaught of American blockbusters (Napier, 2005). 

Despite the distinctness the West and the East can have around anime. A new theory has been posited. Maybe anime is borrowing elements of Westerners animation and film, and it seems that Westerners are being influenced by Japanese anime as well. For example, the Disney classic ‘The Lion King was seen to be heavily influenced by an anime called ‘Kimba the White Lion’. As well as Japanese animators and producers being influenced by Western culture and fashions (Napier, 2005).        

References 

Cavallaro, D. (2006). Introduction. In The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki (pp. 5-13). McFarland & Company.

Napier, S. (2005). Anime: From Akira to Howl’s moving castle. Palgrave Macmillan.