• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.33
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• pp.31-53
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• 2013

In the early twentieth century, history of animation began by modern artists, they produced various experimental images with the newly invented film and cameras. Artists in the field of movie, photography, paintings and others manipulated images in motion. But as some animated movies won industrial success and popularity, they became the trend but experimental style of early animation preserved by so-called non-mainstreamers or experimental animators, counteracting commercialism. Disney animation also followed the trend by applying realistic Hollywood film style, the worse critics placed a low value on the animation and it tarnished the image, although it was profitable investment from a business standpoint. To make images realistic, they opened a drawing class that animators developed skills to imitate motions and forms from subjects in real life. Also some techniques and gizmos were used to mimic and simulate three dimensional objects and spaces, multiplane camera and compositing 3D CG images with 2D drawings. Moreover, they brought animation stories from fairly tales or folk tales, and Walt's personal interest in live-action movies, they applied Hollywood-film-like narratives and realistic visual, and harsh criticism ensued. On the surface early disney animations' potential seems to be weakened, but in reality it still exists by simplifying and exaggerating forms and color as modern arts. Disney animation employs concepts of the modernism paintings such as simplified shapes and colors to a character design, when their characters are placed together in a scene, that visual elements cause mental reaction. This modification gives a new internal experience to audiences. As conceptual colors in abstract paintings make images appeared to be flat, coloring characters with no shading make them look flat and comparing to them, background images are also appeared to be flat. On top of that, multi-perspective at background images recalls modernist paintings. This essay goes in details with the animation pioneers' works and how Disney animation developed its techniques to emulate real life and analyses color schemes, forms, and spaces in Disney animation compared with modern artists' works, in that the visual language of Disney animation reminds of impression from abstract paintings in the beginning of the twentieth centuries.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.37
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• pp.45-82
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• 2014

Comics and cartoons of superheroes in the West have adopted various semiotic systems and other art-forms, including their politico-socio-economic condition, and made parody of other popular texts, as well. Based on the idea of the development of superhero genre, this article focuses on how East Asian popular texts appropriate and reconstruct the genre, which was once considered the realization of American idea, by analyzing a series of TV animation (Japan, Sunrise,2011). Through the feature of parody with intertextuality, provides East Asian value and sensibility of characters as corporation-centered modern humans in capitalist society. This animation has similarity and difference, compared to that of Western superhero cartoons. It satires Western capitalist society and emphasizes Eastern family-oriented value. The performances of superheroes on TV represent the satire on Western style individualism and estimation through each one's achievement. It metaphorically criticizes the situation in which modern human falls into dependency on capital and media, and the capitalistic system in which public good is used for the method of private profit. emphasizes East Asian value of human and society, the cooperative relation for the success and maintenance of community by combining members of state and society through familial sensibility. Tiger functions as a spiritual leader in the group of superheroes who have been obsessed with competition for their own private purpose rather than public cause, Bunny and other colleagues are gradually influenced by Tiger's familial communicative style. emphasizes community-centered view and self-sacrificing sensibility as an international citizen to solve social pathology of modern world.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.50
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• pp.75-99
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• 2018

Makoto Shinkai, an animated film maker in Japan, has been featured as a one-person production system and as a 'writer of light', but his 2016 release of "Your Name" was a departure from the elements that characterize his existing works. At the same time, by the combination of the traditional musubi(むすび) story, ending these, it was a big hit due to its rich narratives and attraction of open interpretation possibility. As it can be guessed from the title of this work, this work shows the encounter between the Japanese ancient language and the modern language in relation to the 'name', and presents the image that the role of the name(language) is repeatedly emphasized with various variations in events for the perfect 'encounter'. In this work, the interpretations of $Signifi\acute{e}$ for characters and objects are extended and reserved as a metaphorical role of the similarity, depending on the meaning of the subject which they touch. The relationship between words and objects analyzed through the structure of Signifiant and $Signifi\acute{e}$ is an epoch-making ideological discovery of modern times revealed through F. Saussure. Focusing on "the difference" between being this and that from the notion of Saussure, Derrida dismissed logocentrism, rationalism that fully obeyed the order of Logos. Likewise, dismissing the center, or dismissing the owner had emerged after the exclusive and closed principle of metaphysics in the west was dismissed. Derrida's definition of 'deconstruction' is a philosophical strategy that starts with the insight on the nature of language. 'Dissemination,' a metaphor that he used as a methodological concept to read texts acts as interpretation and practice (or play), but does not pursue an ultimate interpretation. His 'undecidability' does not start with infinity, but ends with infinity. The researcher testifies himself and identifies that we can't be an interpreter of the world because we, as a human are not the subject of language but a user. Derrida also interpreted the world of things composed of Signifiant and $Signifi\acute{e}$ as open texts. In this respect, this study aimed to read Makoto's works telling about the meeting of a thing and a thing with name as a guide, based on Derrida's frame of 'deconstruction' and 'dissemination.' This study intends to re-consider which relationship the Signifiant and $Signifi\acute{e}$ have with human beings who live in modern times, examine the relationship between words and objects presented in this work through Jacques Derrida's destruction and dissemination concepts, and recognize that we are merely a part of Signifiant and $Signifi\acute{e}$. Just as Taki and Mitsuha confirm the existence by asking each other, we are in the world of things, expecting musubi that a world of names calls me.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.25
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• pp.109-132
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• 2011

The Vampire has relatively universal images in through the cultural and verbal usages. The comic Higajima and movie display the latest image of Japanese Vampire of asian mode of production. After the Meiji political reformation of 18th Century, Japanese had rapidly changed into European style in every places. However, the Higajima is denied the structural changes, it is insisted that the changing is only the skin deep and colour of hair but the structure of the society is same as feudal Japan. Asian mode of production is claimed by Karl Marx, according to him, it is before the historical developing model in Europe and it was controversial. The major character of modern Japanese history would be the change of hierarchy of king-shogun-samurai-peasant based on the regional ground. The feudal structure is changed by the Meiji reformation and Japan was rushed for the westernized country rather than the asian mode of production. However, Higajima argued that the changing is just the clothes of ruler but the democracy and individual citizenship was lost in that reformation. Vampire is cursed creature that cannot see the sun and it has not the functioned as a human organ. For human it is dead but this creature actively moves and stronger than human and much superior than human in every aspects. It is managed the feeding through the suck the human blood and power to seduction. Even it is not exist, it is quite symbolic phenomenon of cultural usage of superior entity of chain of feeding. The aim of this paper is display the symbolic code Vampire of Asian mode of production in Higajima and political struggling of Japan in actual. To search of the cultural meaning and possibility of the Korean solution of modernity.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.29
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• pp.77-102
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• 2012

Interactive Media Art has been developed a lot in digital age. Especially, the audience try to make interactions by accessing the world of art as one of main interacting figures, while they used to be totally separated from the art in traditional art. Also, it is one of exclusive features distinguished from the other art genres. In this thesis, the intercommunication process of interactive media art is classified and compared with Merleau-Ponty's corporeity phenomenology theories. Merleau-Ponty's corporeity phenomenology insists integrated perception through body against the western intelligence philosophy focusing on binomial reasons. Merleau-Ponty's corporeity phenomenology, which suggested the new perception way towards the art, is analyzed in this thesis by comparing it with detailed factors of Intercommunication process of Interactive Media Art. The Intercommunication process of Media Art is classified into , , , , . Additionally, they are studied and compared with the concept of , , , , out of Ponty's corporeity phenomenology theories. Therefore, it is concluded clearly that corporeity, synesthesia, poly sensation and spaciality drawn from Intercommunication process of Media Art have something in common with Ponty's corporeity phenomenology theories rather than the other art genre or minimalism art styles. Furthermore, a new direction of study upon modern Interactive Media Art is suggested.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.24
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• pp.25-48
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• 2011

The fantastic has had various semantic layers between 'the Marvelous' and 'the Uncanny', these has been assorted by historical and synchronic aspects. The Marvelous has been harmonious and abundant world of fantasy which includes metaphysical system and all tradition of magical fence. The Uncanny has been a subversive fantasy world which shows absurdity and negative truths of this very world by modern consciousness. In comics, because of the media features, it is more useful the fantastic than the realistic. However, the relationship about comic and fantasy has rarely discussed in detail. So we has wanted to understand the specificities of affiliation with the Marvelous and with the Uncanny. Then it has been necessary to check the works of You, Sijin the comic book writer, for we ought to know how the affiliations with fantasy could influence each works' styles, and themes. You, Sijin started her works with sensibility of uncanny, but she tried to develop the theme "uptight" and devoted to establish "the Secondary World" stably. However, at Shin Meoung Ki(神明記) fantasy world overwhelmed the theme. After that, in The Closer and On, she crashed down the uptight feeing and made new self-consciousness by mixed fantasy style. The Closer and On has been the turning point of writer You, Sijin. Since than her works has showed a propensity for the Uncanny.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.23
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• pp.1-17
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• 2011

The paper analyzed the metaphoric expressions appeared in whose cinematic quality has been subjectively recognized on the global stage by winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. Many contents and visual effects of the film were expressed with metaphor. Story and sequence were analyzed through the language system-based 'Conceptual Metaphor Analysis Framework'. In addition, characters have been analyzed through the 'Visual Metaphor Analysis Framework'. The framework is to analyze visual dimensions which are derived when concepts are structuredin animation. This paper has attempted to investigate and reveal patterns how animation self-organizes or how animation self-realizes through linguistic objectives. That is, it is to reveal how animation communicates with the audience from the metaphoric perspective among many conventional ones. In an animated film, metaphor is a fundamental means to connect fragmented images, produce a holistic view and therefore induce creative communication with the audience. The essential motive of metaphor which is expressed in various styles in is modern people's feeling of loss and sense of missing something. Train, bottle top, food, lost-and-found center, in-between space and lost items have significance across the movie. According to an analysis, metaphor offers simplicity and freshness as an aesthetic function. In addition, the metaphor expresses lengthy contents and various meanings implicitly, delivering an economic function. With a creative function, metaphor is a tool to generate new meanings. In other words, an animated film is a medium to inspire and move the general public as a means of communication and thinking, not just an entertainment for young generations. After all, metaphoric expressions have been used to deliver diverse and deep meanings in animated films.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.40
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• pp.55-81
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• 2015

Animation as a public visuals media have been expanding increasingly its social and cultural influences beyond the ages and nations on the basis of global consumption. However, animation increases the negative impact in modern popular culture, and in regard to this, 'the recovery of ethics' should be considered in a reflexive and educational perspectives for the social role of animation. Thus, the research addresses the animation films of Brigham Young University students which contain a ethical values and receive attention by New York Times, etc. as a successful educational model. To do this, firstly, literature has reviewed by focusing on the negative impact of animation, 1) violence, 2) excessive sensationalism, 3) confusion of cultural identity, 4) gender discrimination, and 5) distorted view of history. Secondly, the education system of animation course at Brigham Young University will be analysed. Thirdly, based on this, the case study will be conducted by focusing on the 13 animation films of students to reveal the characteristics of the way of film direction. Through this research, firstly, most of animation films are comic genre, consisting of children and animal characters, family-friendly and lyrical story style and deployment of coincidental and allegoric incident. Thirdly, the religious spirit and multidisciplinary methods of education in Brigham Young University has influenced to the ethical expression and technical perfection in animation filmmaking. In the light of this, the research and suggests the new paradigm is for the practical disciplines of animation in the restoration of the ethical perspective and explores how the animation production adopts the moral significance.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.40
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• pp.315-336
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• 2015

Since it is imperative to share the values with the spectators to convince the public of the era, the main characters of a story that underwent numerous adaptation through time would change gradually. This paper examined changes of the main characters in various versions of Cinderella. Until the mid-20th century, Cinderella would be portrayed as a meek, passive and obedient girl as in the original fairy tale version of Perrault. As moving to 70s, a heroine who acts with her own feelings and thoughts began to appear. In the 90s, spectators could meet a protagonist who fought fiercely to be the owner of her own fate, and in the recent Disney movie, Cinderella stood up for herself while accepting herself as she was. The prince character also underwent similar transition. In the early versions of Cinderella, the prince would be a vague figure with a title who was desired by all maids in the country. It is in the 70s that the prince began to be portrayed as a person who has his own problems. In the recent years, the spectators could see the process that the prince transformed from a naive aristocrat to a man with responsibilities. In modern society, women have more social opportunities compared to the past, and women's social statuses do not need to be secured by relationship with men any longer. Thus Cinderella story is not as popular nowadays, moreover somebody whose dream is becoming Cinderella would subject to social reproach. However, beside the gender, the story could be the only hope for people who feel a sense of helplessness that there is no chance in their lives. As result variations of Cinderella story will go on as long as people of social deprivation exist.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.34
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• pp.197-217
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• 2014

The 1920s and 1930s ushered in "the golden age" of Chinese comics when the comics flourished. Satirical cartoons in modern Chinese comics were popular due to emotional instability and war caused by foreign powers. Among many popular comics, this paper analyzes in the 1920s and in the 1930s which were made into films and dramas. Chapter Two shows that China in the Republican era of China expanded its consumer culture into some sectors like films, novels, magazines and fashion in the 1920s and 1930s. However, more than any other things, this chapter considers from the historical perspective "the golden age" of comics including comic magazine in the 1930s and a history of comic magazines that gained popularity with conventional and common story. Chapter Three explains that social satire cartoons were in vogue since the May Fourth Movement and anti-imperialistic and semi-feudalistic stories in the 1920s were realized in life. It also says that comics that describes the negative sides of its society were popular. Ye QianYu, a cartoonist, portrayed many facets of Shanghai through : the daily life of the middle and lower classes, bureaucratic corruption and sympathy for the working class. drawn by Zhang LePing describes the unfair social system between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and the gap between the rich and poor through the main character, the powerless and poor orphan. and lampooned the reality of its time in an objective, witty and humorous way in terms of ethics and economy respectively. The researcher chooses to study and which are very familiar to us, because good cartoons, animations and movies stimulate the feelings about our surroundings.