Jenna de Vries Advisors: Dr. Yoshiko Saito-Abbott Dr. Chikaomi Takahashi CSUMB – Spring 2014

Jenna de VriesAdvisors:

Dr. Yoshiko Saito-AbbottDr. Chikaomi Takahashi

CSUMB – Spring 2014

Significance of the Study Research Questions Review of Literature Research Method Research Findings and Summary Conclusion and Discussion Future Studies Bibliography Acknowledgements

I have been always interested by the Western and Japanese perceptions on the portrayal of cartoon characters.

Because of my desire of becoming an animator, I want to deepen my understanding in the reasons and the cultural and societal differences within Western animation and Japanese animation. Specifically from two of the most influential animators; Walt Disney in America and Hayao Miyazaki in Japan.

1. Where do the differences behind Hayao Miyazaki’s and Walt Disney’s heroine come from?

2. How do the heroine drawn by Miyazaki Hayao and Walt Disney influence today’s female?

3. What are the expectations for future heroines?

Biography◦ Walt Disney◦ Hayao Miyazaki

The Heroines◦ Walt Disney: Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora◦ Hayao Miyazaki: Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä and Chihiro

The Directors’ influence ◦ Walt Disney’s Heroine◦ Hayao Miyazaki’s Heroine

Comparative Traits between Walt’s Disney’s and Hayao Miyazaki’s Heroine

Dec. 5, 1901-Dec. 15, 1966 Founder of The Walt Disney

Company, An American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and animator.

Walt Disney has produced 576 animations

He directed 111 animations. He was the original voice

for Mickey Mouse. After 2 weeks of his 65th birthday,

he died from lung cancer

January 5, 1941 Founder of Studio Ghibli, A Japanese storyboard

artist, Editor, Director, Executive, Screenwriter, Animator

Began his animation career in 1963 He has created 16 early works/ produced

9 films, directed 20 films. He has also written for 22 films

Retirement: Sept. 6, 2013

Walt Disney Heroines Hayao Miyazaki Heroines

Snow White

Cinderella

Aurora

Princess Mononoke - San

Nausicaä

Chihiro

Walt Disney Heroine Hayao Miyazaki Heroine

Inspired by:◦ German & European

Fairy tale (Brothers Grimm)

◦ French version of fairy tale characters

◦ Domestic and International folk stories, social customs, traditions and beliefs

(Good Girls…; Davis 2006)

Inspired by:◦ Grecian female◦ Educational and Political views◦ Japanese folklore◦ Western Fairy tale (B&B)

The image of women from mythology being the foundation of today’s image of women

(hayao miyazaki, McCarthy; ANIME; Napier. S 1999)


“Good” Behavior leads to “Rewards”

Belief of mimicking the heroine leads to living the desired or same life

Pre-determined roles of male and female in society

(Good Girls; Davis 2006)

Progress into advanced Technology(Technophilia)

The Bewilderment of the unknown

Transition of woman’s role into boy’s role

Distinction between girl and boy energies/Evoke stereotypes

Connection between girls and the spiritual

Director’s views on society represented through films

(T.A.M, Lamarre. T; ANIME, Napier. S 2009)

Walt Disney(Princess’ Revenue)

JAPN-TV Anime debut Ratings(Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke)


Passive Flawless in Beauty “Happy Endings” Dependent Patient Strong morals Timid Dream like-situations All in all: Unattainable

Forceful/Active Flawed Skin/Ugly “Unfortunate Endings” Independent Impatient Weak morals Courageous Realistic like-situations All in all: Achievable

Participants and the Demographics 70 Participants

35 Japanese University Students 35 American University Students Ages 17-36+

Research Instruments:◦ Online survey

Google Docs/Forms (English + Japanese)





American students think Walt Disney was successful in his films due to making fantasies possible. On the other hand, Japanese students think he was successful by meeting the needs and desires that cannot be obtained in real life.

Japanese students think he is successful by addressing the current social issues. American students think his success was achieved by associating the challenges that females encounter in the real world within his films.

Success of Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki rely on both cultural and social aspects.◦ For the cultural influence, the people connect their

culture to understand the media. Walt Disney had brought a world of fantasy that

allows the viewers the desire to dream and leave the world of reality.

Hayao Miyazaki expressed issues in society within his films, these issues are of the woman in particular.


Most American students watch anime to release stress or to relax. Most Japanese students watch anime to have fun.

Japanese students watch Hayao Miyazaki films more than Walt Disney.American students watch both Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki films.

American and Japanese students want a courageous, independent and pure-hearted heroine. However, American students prefer a heroine that is patient and realistic and the Japanese students want a non-realistic heroine.

American and Japanese students do not like the selfish and dependent heroine. In addition, Japanese do not like a timid and impatient heroine.

The reason for watching anime is different for America and Japan◦ The American student watches anime to release stress or relieve

boredom◦ The Japanese student watches anime to have fun.

Japanese students watch Hayao Miyazaki films more than they watch Walt Disney films.

American students watch Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki all the same.◦ The results are too close to tell between the two director’s which is

watched more Even though the American student and the Japanese like

the same-kind of heroine, the results are due to the cultural and environmental influence that one has learned in their life over time.


Although the Japanese are very excited, or feel uncomfortable; the American are indifferent about this idea. Otherwise, the American feel uncomfortable about Disney.

Although the American student are divided between feeling either indifferent or excited; for the Japanese, they are feeling very interested or uncomfortable.

Even though the American and Japanese students desire a courageous, independent, and pure-hearted heroine; the Japanese student desire to see their heroine to be non-realistic and the perfect beauty, while the American studentsdesire to see a more realistic heroine.

Respectfully speaking that if Miyazaki were to remake a Disney film, the Japanese would be very interested, or feel uncomfortable; the American students feel indifferent or excited about this idea. Otherwise, if Disney remade a Miyazaki film, the American student would feel indifferent or uncomfortable, while the Japanese would feel very excited or uncomfortable.

As for future heroines, though the American and Japanese student desire a courageous, independent, and pure-hearted heroine; Japanese students desire to see a heroine that is beautiful and non-realistic, while American students want a more realistic heroine.

In regard to Disney’s and Miyazaki’s heroine, this generation female enjoys the heroine that overcomes her challenges.

Throughout the times of animation, there are similarities between Walt Disney’s and Hayao Miyazaki’s heroines.

There are also differences. For example, the content in Disney’s or Miyazaki’s films can reproduce the complexity of current societal issues based on what is interpreted by the director’s cultural or social background. Also, due to the heroine being idolized for how she is reflected in society, this becomes a vital expectation for future heroines.

When it came to creating the survey for the students, I:◦ Didn’t ask the appropriate questions◦ Didn’t have enough Japanese respondents

◦ Nationwide Influence on general public◦ Research on heroes versus heroines influence on

audience◦ Effects of Animation among public > Violent

versus non-violent

Bruce, A. M. (2007). The Role of the Princess in Walt’s Disney Animated Films: Reactions of College Students. Electronic Source. PDF.

Davis, A. M. (2006). Good girls and wicked witches: women in Disney's feature animation. Eastleigh, U.K.: John Libbey Pub. Print. Deere, C. (2010). Postfeminism and the Disney tween empire. Dallas, Tex: Southern Methodist University. Gabler, Neal. (2007). Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination. New York: Knopf. Print. Honer, B. A. (2001). The male angle in Disney films: an exploration of the construction of dependency in female characters.

Minnesota: WorldCat. Hovden, J. M. (1996). Hakuna matata! Do gender roles really matter?: a feminist rhetorical analysis of Walt Disney cartoons.

Southwest Missouri State University: WorldCat. Johnson, C. R. (2000). Gender stereotyping in Disney movies: a content analysis. Western Carolina University: WorldCat. McNamara, B. R. (1996). Where the girls are: female characterizations in animated Disney films. Oklahoma: WorldCat. Ray, E. G. (2009). Part of their world: gender identity found in Disney princesses, consumerism, and performative play. Brigham

Young University: WorldCat. Southerland, P. (1998). Mouse traps: Disney and gender roles. University of Texas at Arlington: WorldCat. Wiersma, B. A. (2000). The gendered world of Disney: a content analysis of gender themes in full-length animated Disney feature

films. South Dakota State University: WorldCat. Pan, H. (2001). Gender motifs in Disney's heroine-centered animated films. California: WorldCat.

--------- Frankel, Valerie Estelle. (2010). From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Journey through Myth and Legend., NC: McFarland & Jefferson.

Print. LaMarre, Thomas. (2009). The Anime Machine: A Media Theory of Animation. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. Print. Macwilliams, Mark Wheeler. (2008) Japanese Visual Culture: Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime. Armonk, NY: M.E.

Sharpe. ILL/CSUMB. McCarthy, Helen. (1999). Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation. Berkeley, Calif: Stone Bridge. Print. Napier, Susan Jolliffe. (2001). Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation. New York:

Palgrave. Print. http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/filmography/filmography03.html

Dr. Yoshiko Saito-Abbott Dr. Chikaomi Takahashi Librarian: Ms. Sarah Dahlen California State University of Monterey

Bay Library The WWW ・ Internet My Computer – TOBI Fellow Classmates

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Jenna de Vries Advisors: Dr. Yoshiko Saito-Abbott Dr. Chikaomi Takahashi CSUMB – Spring 2014