Psychological dependence in Japanese animation films: A case of Rin Taro

  • Yokota, Masao (Nihon University, Japan Society for Animation Studies) ;
  • Koide, Masashi (Tokyo Zokei University, Japan Society for Animation Studies) ;
  • Nomura, Koji (Nihon University, Japan Society for Animation Studies)
  • Published : 2004.10.31

Abstract

There are many opportunistic events that accidentally happen in Rin Taro's animations. However, audiences usually enjoy them in which dramatic catastrophic scenes inflict destruction on a city. Every acquaintance that a hero meets helps him to complete his wish in . Rin's animations describe the hero as a person that every acquaintance is eager to help. This means that the fulfillment of hero's wish depends on sympathy of the other persons toward the hero. Thus, the hero is psychologically dependent on the others. However, Rin Taro gradually became to describe destructive aspects of psychological dependence. A female character in 'X' has a symbiotic relationship with a computer that has a human-like jealousy. At last, it kills her from its jealousy. Rin Taro had shifted from helpful psychological dependence to destructive one in his animations. Therefore, Rin Taro described Japanese mental state as psychological dependence in his animations in accordance with the present state in Japan.

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