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Elements of Realism in Japanese Animation

Stey, George Andrew
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250700496

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, East Asian Studies.
Certain works of Japanese animation appear to strive to approach reality, showing elements of realism in the visuals as well as the narrative, yet theories of film realism have not often been applied to animation. The goal of this thesis is to systematically isolate the various elements of realism in Japanese animation. This is pursued by focusing on the effect that film produces on the viewer and employing Roland Barthes’ theory of the reality effect, which gives the viewer the sense of mimicking the surface appearance of the world, and Michel Foucault’s theory of the truth effect, which is produced when filmic representations agree with the viewer’s conception of the real world. Three directors’ works are analyzed using this methodology: Kon Satoshi, Oshii Mamoru, and Miyazaki Hayao. It is argued based on the analysis of these directors’ works in this study that reality effects arise in the visuals of films, and truth effects emerge from the narratives. Furthermore, the results show detailed settings to be a reality effect common to all the directors, and the portrayal of real-world problems and issues to be a truth effect shared among all. As such, the results suggest that these are common elements of realism found in the art of Japanese animation.
Richard Torrance, PhD (Advisor)
Maureen Donovan, PhD (Committee Member)
Philip Brown, PhD (Committee Member)
62 p.
Realism; Japanese Animation; Anime; Film; Kon Satoshi; Oshii Mamoru; Miyazaki Hayao

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stey, G. A. (2009). Elements of Realism in Japanese Animation [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250700496

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stey, George. Elements of Realism in Japanese Animation. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250700496.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stey, George. "Elements of Realism in Japanese Animation." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1250700496

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1250700496
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.