The concepts presented by Japanese animation including have provided one with the information on the identity of modern women in Japan. Various cartoons, are extremely important when studying a culture of some country. Especially one may perfectly see the difference between the Western and Eastern worlds, regarding the subject, themes, and style of depiction of the characters in their animations. Japanese animation, it is possible to say, is useful when studying the role of female in society. Popular culture helps to reflect and observe the change in the society of Japan, with the help of consideration of the changes and themes in anime, such trends are identifiable. As well as the themes in Western cartoons, especially made by Disney, is also depict the changes in the social, political and economic spheres.
It is essential to state that Japanese animation industry is adaptive for almost every age and for both male and female viewers. It is significant as unlike the cartoons in the U.S. where programming of children is specifically aimed at young boys. To be honest, it is safe to say that it is possible to gain an insight into the role of woman in society because both sexes' views are represented.
This gives a ground for understanding and realizing what is the role of women in Japan; how this role could be studied and animation contributes this research. Moreover, by realizing the themes of these cartoons, it would be easier to compare and contrast anime with various Western animation companies such as worldwide known giant – Disney.
One may say that it is interesting to study Japanese animation and to compare it with its Western rival as the way it written for diverse tastes and it differs from it. However, to be honest the Japanese have consider animation as an expression of thought and ideas that goes beyond the standard set by Disney.
Speaking of Japanese animation, it is impossible not to speak about Hayao Miyazaki the founder of studio Ghibli studio – one greatest studios in Japan. The significance of studying this studio in this paper is due to the fact that their works that are in fact, theatrical have such widespread appeal in Japan. A huge number of people sees the serious themes that are shown and sometimes hidden in their production. This master is considered one of the best animators and film directors of all times. Not only he has received plenty of praises by his fans and simply anime lovers, but also he has received an Honorary Academy Award for his influence on animation and cinema awarded to him in 2014. Nevertheless, his impact to the animation art is not limited with the new artistic vision he showed the world. The most important thing is that he cares about the themes he shows in his creations: gender discrimination, influence of the technology on society and nature, wars and environment issues. (Ash)
One may say that Hayao Miyazaki overturned the orthodox idea of a male hero and woman’s role within the family and society with the help of introduction of a female heroine, he modified heroine empowering his girl-heroines with the help of making them 3-dimensional and endowing them with balanced feminine and masculine character traits.
Miyazaki girl-heroines are common girls regardless of their ancestry. Here one can see that in his creations he does not want to make a hero perfect, commonly for Disney animation, they are non-perfect and openly show their flaws, and their faces would not stand out in a crowd. Commonly, heroines are not quite old, teenagers I would say. However, as in Disney animations, they become wiser and wiser throughout the story. (Martínez)
One of the greatest example of such heroine can be Chihiro/Sen of the Spirited Away(2001). “Spirited Away” (2001) is a brilliant animated film that speaks the story of a girl in an epic and fantasy-like way. The director of the animation is Hayao Miyazaki, Japanese in origin.
The main heroine of this outstanding animation is Chihiro. Her story starts with her parents moving to the other house, located in a new neighborhood. On their way, the father decides to take the shortcut and stumbles upon the closed road, with cement block placed in the middle of it, disabling the movement of any car passing by. The family search for the road and come across an abandoned theme park. The place is lovely. While there is no way out, curiosity leads the parents to the duty-free lunch stand, and Chihiro, being unhappy with the whole moving ritual, decides to wander about the place. In the middle of nowhere an apparition appears and warns that all three of them should get out from this place as soon as possible. The girl takes immediate action and runs to warn her parents too, however, they are turned into pigs long time before she reaches them.
In order to save her parents Chihiro goes further into the weird and abnormal park, where she encounters a lot of spirits, among which there is a friendly one – Haku. This boy is one of the good guys that helps Chihiro find the good “witch” – the only woman that can help her come back home. While struggling to find the good “whitch” the little girl has to work for Yubaba – the greedy owner of the bathhouse, whose value and taste lie only in gold coins.
The story ends with Chihiro’s victory over Yubaba. This victory marks the beginning of freedom for those, who could not leave their work under Yubaba. Chihiro also saves and frees Haku – the good spirit of a dragon. Here is when she recalls her meeting with him earlier – when she was a kid she fell into the river and this dragon (Haku) initially saved her.
Animated films in the United States date back to 1906 when Vitagraph Studios released Humorous Phases of Funny Faces. Although early animations were primitive, they rapidly became more sophisticated with such classics as Gertie the Dinosaur, Koko the Clown and the most popular cartoon series during the silent era - Pat Sullivan's Felix the Cat. Disney Studios specialized in animation; Walt and Roy Disney originally opened their first studio in 1923 in Los Angeles.
Nowadays there are a lot of animated films released and shown in cinemas all around the world. Each of them is good, but not as good as “Spirited Away” is. One of my favorite cartoon in the western animation is “Beauty and the Beast”. "Beauty and the Beast" is the best proof that the creators really put their souls into their characters. In this cartoon, they wanted to create a spectacle, beautiful images, they managed to create a real fairy tale, fairy story, which went through a year and still fascinates people.
Everything in this cartoon worked out to the smallest detail. It was necessary to create beauty, and here it is! Belle! So perfect and really beautiful, that automatically starts to regret that you cannot get into the TV and talk to her. Besides the beauty, Belle is also endowed with incredible courage and bravery. Agree to stay in the care of the monster in his gloomy castle. Not everyone on this would be solved.
She sacrificed me terrible beast, and all for the sake of his father, at that time the only person close to her. Intelligent, well-read, dreaming of a better life, it is time renounces all his fantasies. This cartoon is stunningly beautiful. Scene of escape from wolves, dance of two opposites, and of course the final battle cannot help but admire. Picture pleasing to the eye, and the music takes you to a completely in this beautiful world. This cartoon is one of the best projects of Disney. Songs, battles, magic and of course love. Perhaps the most beautiful love story. This animated film will always be one of my favorites.
Love makes us do very crazy things, but sometimes allows and look under the shell inside. Where the soul lives. And make cynical, unsociable, an evil beast - tender, but a bit short-tempered, generally a nice person. Monster, cursed forever until last fall pale pink petal with a magic rose. Girl, who has her head in the fantasy books, also has irony and cheerful disposition. Here it is the secret of perfect love. This film is required to view each and adult and young, singing songs, laughing jokes were pricked in their romantic scenes. I grew up watching Disney cartoons.
Very often, Disney heroines gives girl a hint that she can change a cruel man into a gentleman. For example, Belle-Beauty, a sweet girl could change a beast into a prince. But it is just a fairytale. In reality, people are unchangeable. They may hide their dark side for a while, but finally it will crash out anyway. So, the next negative impact produced by Disney Princess is a hope that sweet woman with her kindness can domesticate a cruel abusive man.
Moreover, these cartoons show children what they have to achieve and what they should strike for. Luxury castles, true love are those things that every person wants and deserves to have. And it never thrusts down throat all the existed clichés, but it shows how it can be. But of course parents should take all the movies watched under control and if it is necessary they should explain why so happens and what should be done in order to get rid of it. In this very case parents are considered to be a kind of filter between their child and information that comes from screens.
As we see a children`s perception can be controlled somehow. And if something finally influences child`s mind, it means that parents didn`t pay attention to it when their child was in need. In general, to my point of view all this Disney impact is no more than perceptive peculiarity. Some children take it too seriously and, moreover, are encouraged by their parents that buy princess dresses and other unnecessary stuff. (Kenny) Others can easily watch something and five minutes after they just forget it and move on. The danger is not in cartoons, it is in children`s intussusceptions. And cartoons help children to be kind, modest, well mannered and hard working and develop positive thinking.
Hence, one can cone to the conclusion that there are a lot of differences between these two animations, there is no doubt about that. It is possible to say that Japanese animation, in particular anime by Ghibli Studio conveys deeper and more serious themes and ideas rather than in Disney. Moreover, the age and sex audience also differs – Japanese animation is adaptive for both adults and children, whereas Disney cartoons more suitable for children, however, this is not to say that Disney movies are not for adult audience.
Here one can say that here is the similarity between these two different cartoons. Both main characters are female, they are both courageous, caring for the person they love. We can see that even though that these cartoons were produced within different cultures, love and family is depicted as the biggest virtue in life. Yet cartoon, no matter where it has been produce, whether in the United States or in Japan teach us how to love, how to be not afraid of evil, how not to lose hope and how to become a bit kinder. There is no need to investigate and try to discover what impacts Disney or Ghibli studios produce on children`s minds.
Work Cited
Ash, Donald. 'Disney Vs. Ghibli, A Cartoon Studio Comparison | The Japan Guy'. Thejapanguy.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 June 2015.
Kenny, Charles. 'The Key Difference Between Disney And Studio Ghibli - The Animation Anomaly The Animation Anomaly'. Animationanomaly.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 27 June 2015.
Martínez, D.P. The Worlds Of Japanese Popular Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. Print.
Spirited Away. Perf. Rumi Hiiragi, MiyuIrino, Mari Natsuki. Toho, 2001. Film.
