What
is Shoujo and how does it function in Anime?
Firstly what is Shoujo? It is one of many
subgenre of anime, although commonly shoujo literally means “little females”
and also viewed to be the age around 12 or 13. As basing it on a metaphorical
level it indicates to transitional stages between immaturity and maturity, and
also its additional mixtures of sexlessness and budding eroticism. (cavallaro,
2006). And furthermore that in the Anime world shoujo stories is usually dreamy
and surrounds itself in a place of magic and wonder.
And also that according (Prindle as cited
by Cavallaro. 2006) that “what fascinates the Japanese is that the shoujo
nestle in a shallow lacuna between adulthood and childhoon, power and powerless,
awareness and innocence as well as masculinity and femininity.”
However to the western cultures, shoujo are
not focused mainly to female groups those who are addicted to the terms of
cuteness or literally kawaii（かわいい). In addition adult Japanese males
also establishes a important part to shoujo in terms of audience and
readership.
And
furthermore in Miyazaki’s version of shoujo or his heroines are considered to
be active, independent, courageous and inquisitive. Which to me I find it
refreshing as seeing his anime’s, Miyazaki’s shoujo characters although their
appearance can be seen to be fragile and weak, but in fact within the
appearance they’re mature, strong willed, physically strong despite the
appearance. And to compare to other shoujo types they considered being passive characters
as if it’s bounded in a timeless lalaland.
And also
reasons of why Miyazaki approached to this are, because of his resolve to avoid
representing attractive girls to be treated as play toys pets to Otaku peoples.
As to an example of one of Miyazaki’s productions in Spirited Away and Howls
Moving Castle as Miyazaki’s main character Chihiro and Sophie which he created
to be femininely beautiful altogether, thus resulting qualities other than
sheer physical attractiveness.
Reference
Cavallaro, D. (2006). Introduction. In The Anime Art of Hayao
Miyazaki (pp.5-13). London: McFarland & Company.
great post but very generalized, with few examples from the our film.
ReplyDelete'And furthermore in Miyazaki’s version of shoujo or his heroines are considered to be active, independent, courageous and inquisitive.' How does this statement apply to the characters San and lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke?
in San's case that she is more of an active character and the same time shes courageous and opposite of a typical Shoujo character that i usually see in Anime's of course she's one of the main characters of Mononoke..although at start she was more of a Herald archetype then became a Hero achetype. and Lady Eboshi shes quiet a tough and courageous and a cool headed lady in my oppinion, reasons is that because in Mononoke in general who would dare challenge the gods (from mononoke) other than Lady Eboshi along with her arsenal of weaponrys. and this is why i like Miyazaki's verson of Shoujo's because its kind of refreshing to see a female that has these traits that i mentioned in this post. and usually in Anime's well some of it, although they seem to have these character traits but commonly it doesnt really develop...and they usually get hurt and this knight and shining armor guy comes along to save her...thats a typical approach..but in mononoke is different..they fight, they get drench in blood, they get their arms cut off (lady eboshi) etc. so this is what i view from this
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