BTW, y' might notice this week's 'banner' shows not Mononoke but Tales from Earthsea, directed by Miyazaki's son, Horo. May be of interest that this is an adaptation of the Earthsea franchise (remember Wizard of Earthsea, guys??).
Funny history here as Hayao Miyazaki long wanted to adapt AWoE but Ursuala Le Guinn originally refused, so he made Nausicaa instead. There's a little creature that sits on N's shoulder that is based on the Otak in A Wizard of Earthsea, a kind of signature by M of Earthsea's influence on him.
Years later (30 years!) Earthsea was finally made by Studio Ghibli, but by Horo - unfortunately with opposition by his father and some hurtful criticism afterwards; Le Guinn says she regretted it and wished she'd let Miyazaki Sen do it instead! Poor Goro (>_<)
Out of interest, anyone seen Earthsea and care to comment?
hi guys, this week 's discussions are a bit hard for us I think as English is not our first language. I will try my best.
I hope you guys like Princess Mononoke, I have finally bought the DVD Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa. I find all of Miyazaki’s anime very interesting and fascinating. I would like to answer number 1 & 2. What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke? How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
First of all I don’t really know what ‘thematic’ and ‘defamiliarise’ mean but I guess they had something to do with the plot of the story and settings. From the beginning of the story Ashitaka(the boy) has been fighting with the princess until the end of the story. As Napier pointed out that “Princess Mononoke problematizes archetypes and icons, ranging from the notion of the emperor’s untouchability to the traditional iconization of the feminine, to create a genuinely new vision of a Japan at the crossroads of history. The film also emphasizes loss, even privileges it. In some ways one might characterize the film as a violent, indeed apocalyptic, elegy for a lost Japan at the same time that it offers an alternative, heterogeneous, and female-centered vision of Japanese identity for the future.”(p.232)
If you look back into my post in week 8-9 there were some sub genres that will fit for Princess Mononoke such as; Samurai and Post -Apocalyptic
As I have read Napier (2005) further I have found that I could explain more for number 2. How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
According to Napier “Miyazaki’s decision to use a specific historical period is for reasons of education rather than escapism. In Miyazaki’s view, the fourteenth century is a period of significant historical transition from a world that was still in close contact with both natural and supernatural forces to the world that would become increasingly oriented toward human. As he says ‘it was in this period that people changed their value system from gods to money.’ Since the period is one of the transition, its variability also holds great attractions for him as a time when “life and death were sharply delineated. People lied, loved, hated, worked and died. Life was not ambiguous.”(p.237) What Napier said was true but I think that was not only Japan society but also other Asian countries as well that in the 14th century people changed their value and faith into money not gods. And human was born to be loved, hated, died and etc, all these feelings occur from greediness of human themselves as in the Princess Mononoke showed the battle between humanity and the wild gods. And Napier also pointed out “ it is this complex and dangerous world that Princess Mononoke attempts to evoke, and, although permeated by historical allusions, it is also very much Miyazaki’s own world, his own “history as vision.” As Komatsu says, “this is not a work based on historical faithfulness, this is fantasy dressed as historical fiction with a variety of facts and fictions gathered together.”(p.237)
I have to admit that watching Princess Mononoke is like watching the ‘green’ party’s campaign. Always think about the forest, protect it, preserve it or we all die.
I would like to answer no 3. According to Napier, how does this anime problematise traditional (or conservative) Japanese constructions of gender, class and race?
In Princess Mononoke, when I heard of this name, right away I think of protagonist of a female. But as you watch Princess Mononoke on and on you will find out that there are 3 protagonists in this anime. As Napier pointed out that “Miyazaki not only undermines a plethora a female stereo-type from conventional Japanese culture and from the anime world itself but also moves away from his own previous female creations. Paul Wells says that earlier Miyazaki films “operate in ways which re-negotiate narrative paradigms accentuating masculine power and authority,” and this is especially true for Princess Mononoke. As critic Murase Hiromi points out, there are three important female characters in the film: Eboshi, San and Moro.”(p.238)
Hello Jan, Sorry for my late response. I couldn't manage my time for blogging.
Firstly, I'd like to say something. I think that not only Miyazaki"s films, but also many films describe females as the main character. Like Princess Mononoke, females are strong and they fight against males. Charlie's Angels is a case in point.
Secondly, I'm answering Question 4, "How do it and other Miyazaki films address the humanity/nature divide, according to Wright (2005)?"
In Wright's (2005) text, Miyazaki says "I think you can draw all the huge, giant trees in the world that you want to. It won't have the same impact. And I wanted to choose a form that represented the liveliness and the freedom and the innocence that a baby represents. And that's why I choose that form" (p.11). In the early part of Wright's (2005) text, she mentions some events such as the polluted bay and Seven Days of Fire. So I think what Miyazaki want to say in his films is that people shouldn't destroy nature and they shouldn't forget about what they've done to nature; otherwise they will be avenged by nature.
Hi, guys, so sorry that I haven't done blogging for a long time. I hope you all work well for the final assignments.
Well,I'm such a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's movie fan and I do like lots of Hayao Miyazaki's films as well such as this one Princess Monono,spirited away, castle in the sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and many other classical films. Even that honestly I have seen coupld of my favourite Miyazaki's film several times. Thanks Dr paul that it's really grateful to watch them again and every time I got new acknowledge of each story. In my part, his movie is suitable for adult more than the kids. Generally, the reason why I do like his works that because the painting technique is extremely colourful, beautiful, and strongly visual impact. The characters in each story, no matter they are pure heart, evil side or the others, they are all stand out. Generally, I'd like to say that all his movie are extremely meaningful, thoughtful, insightful, emotional, interesting ,funny , sorrow but always happy and hopeful ending in the end. Each film tell people different story which also teach human don't be covetous, selfish, and don't destroy the natural beauty. There are many positive content inside to show the love, friendship and so on. The characters are not only human, but also some animals, monster or even ghost. Just beacause they are exit in the stories so that make story interesting, attractive.
There are couples of questions I would like to answer, we can comment and share the idea together and no doubt that it's such a extremely interesting topic.
1. What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke?
Fistly, it is necessary to find out that the definiton of the term" thematics" means. It can be simply and briefly considered as the relating to or constituting a topic of discourse and relating to a melodic subject as well. Within the whole story, the thematical line of the story basing on the story of main character Ashitaka and the princess. Follow the development of story's plot, from the begin of the story when Ashitaka and the princess met first time, at that time Ashitaka got spell, and then the war between the princess and the villege people. In this point, I do have dissagreement with Jan's opinion" Shaitaka has been fighting with the princess until the end of the story". I think in the start of the movie, they both try to fight with each other but it's kind of self-defense. Paticularly for the princess, she doesn't trust anyone and call the snow wolf as her mother. I do believe she's a gentle and kind hearted girl, although she first behaviour as rude and so sensitive because she doesn't trust anyone. It's quite common that when the first time the tow character met in the begining, they don't know each other, so that the princess try to attack the Shashitaka. And they there is something special happend between them because they both feel of love. And then Shashitaka try to protect her when she was attacked by the villege people at the rest of story. However, I do believe your point that "The film also emphasizes loss, even privileges it. In some ways one might characterize the film as a violent, indeed apocalyptic, elegy for a lost Japan at the same time that it offers an alternative, heterogeneous, and female-centered vision of Japanese identity for the future.”(p.232)
Moreover, I'm going to answer the question 5.
5. Could Miyazaki’s vision be described as in some sense religious (inasmuch as it conveys a sense of the sacred)?
I think that Miyazaki's vision can be considered as in some sense religious because it conveys the sense of the sacred. There is no doubt that sacred can be explained as the exclusively devoted to a deity or to some religious ceremony or use; holy; consecrated. And at the begining of the story, the wild boar was spelled and cursed by deities. That is the reason the wild boar's body full of nasty bugs. And in the final, the deities was been impinged. So that the deities started to punished human and destroyed the whole natural. As we can see that this is related to the religious and asls address the humanity and nature.
I do agree with ur point that the majority of Miyazaki's movie use female as the main characters because he wants to reflect that the women's right is getting strong and also reveal the level of Japanese ladies nowdays is getting higher as well. They start to fight with man because they do have their indepent opinion and getting brave as well. They don't wanna be oppressed by the man anymore like in history.It's really positive sense .
I'm answering Question 6: "what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime?"
According to Cavallaro (2006), "Mononoke contains about 15 minutes CGI (computer-generated imagery)." "The original intention was to paint digitally just 5,000 frames out of the movie's total of 144,000 frames of animation. However, due to shortage of time, an extra 5,000 frames were digitally painted, which brought the total amount of digital cels to 10% of the overall production." I think why he mentions these facts is that the other animation films don't normally use these materials. So he means that it's a great work of anime, I guess.
Now, I'd like to comment on Aldous's opinion "Miyazaki's movies are suitable for adult more than the kids" I disagree with you. I can't say his films are more appropriate for kids than adults, but I want to say kids should watch his films. Why I say this is that his films always have underlying meanings. Let me mention "Spirited Away" as an example. When Chihiro's parents eat the food without asking, they are transformed into pigs. I think this tells that eating before asking is not acceptable in society. So they get punishment and become pigs. It's also a lesson. When people do something wrong, they get punished. Kids should learn these things from his films, so I want to say children should watch them.
Thanks for your comments. In my opinion, not all of Miyazaki's anime works suitable for kids to watch or they need parents guardians. As you said that, spirited away is ok for kids to watch, I undoubtedly agree with you. However, the anime such as Princess Mononoke is not suitable for kids, because it include some bloody and horror plot inside basing on the whole movie. For example, in the story, when they are fighting, one of the soildier was killed and his head directly goes down to the ground. That's extremely bloody and cruel. There is no doubt that it can be considered as bad reaction to the kids especially for the little kid. So that I wanna say that not all Miyazaki's anime works suitable for kids.
Hi Aldous, Yes, you are right. But I'm not saying that his fimls are more appropriate for kids than adults, as I mentioned at the beginning of my comment. I'm saying that kids should watch his films because they have another message behind. Let me say about Mononoke as an example this time because you mentioned. I think Minonoke's underlying message is that people souldn't destroy the nature by their selfishness. If they destroy, forests will die, like when Forest Spirit loose his head. You probably noticed this message as well. The scene that you mentined is not suitable for kids, but kids should watch his films because of the underlying message.
Hi Hisako and Aldous, I agree with both of you…..well, there are some parts of Princess Mononoke that children should not be watching it and some part is really good in encouraging the audiences to protect the forest. I think it depends on the parents how to explain to the kids why human are killing each other, they were greedy, they want something off the forest like cutting the woods, and lady Eboshi was tricked by the fat greedy man. If the lady Eboshi dies in the forest the greedy man would take over her iron prosperous village. In term of language use, some part of the Princess Mononoke contains offensive language such as; Jiko the man that followed Ashitaka from a village, he sees Ashitaka is not an ordinary people, he drinks the soup and he compares the soup as ‘donkey piss’.
But if you watch Nausicaa, you will see that human who never been so closed to the flies and Ohmu creatures do not understand them. Only Nausicaa can understand the creatures, she tries to stop the war between human and the creatures. As Cavallaro (2006) explains “Miyazaki applied the principle underlying his conception and rendition of animal movement to the representation of the natural environment in its entirely, basing his apparently imaginary botany upon scrupulous scientific documentation, in his determination to show that the story is no set in some remote galaxy but on Earth, and that it is in real spaces – however ingeniously redesigned and reinterpreted these may be that the fate of our planet unfolds and is sealed.” (p.56) Overall, I think it depends on the parents view and interpret for their children but I think it’s not suitable for children to watch by themselves.
Hi guys, sorry about so late to join your discussion, at the end of this semester, I have so many assessments to finish, I apologize for the late response
Re: Jan I agree with you totally. Because I think in Japanese anime, which include war, violence, greedy human beings, and so on. Also, those are included in other countries’ anime. However, all of those are dark of our society, and which will impress children with a terrible world. Therefore, Jan, I agree to your view that “it depends on the parents view and interpret for their children”. I believe all children’s thinking about this world can reflect their parents’ opinion about this world, and nowadays all children need to be taught with positive idea. So, to the anime Princess Mononoke, there are some parts such as to protect the forest is encouraging children to watch that I agree with you too.
I like the Earthsea more than the Princess Mononoke, not only because of the interesting story, but also because of the hero Arren (Lebannen) and heroine Tehanu, the kind rabbi Ged and Tenar, and the beautiful music in the anime. What’s more, as a Chinese, I like dragon more than pig or wolf as a wizard of an oriental country (ie. Janpan or China). The dragon is a traditional symbolization of the orientalism, while pig is as a stupid animal and people do not like it at all. So in contrast to pig or wolf or deer (in the Princess Mononoke), dragon symbolizes a braver animal in people’s heart. At the same time, the beautiful song in the Earthsea impresses me deeply. When Tehanu standing on the grassland, her song not only moves the hero Arren, but moves me as well. Her song brings a peace and lonely world to audiences, but which is filled with hope to future.
Hello all, Let me tell you about my opinion of Mononoke from a different aspect. Lynman (1999, cited in Cavallaro, 2006) states that "What we found was that the children actually understand the movie [Mononoke] and what we were trying to say more than adults..." (p.121). In other words, the parents whose children have watched Mononoke do not need to worry about showing them the cruel scenes in Mononoke because they understand the underlying message. So it doesn't matter to them whether the scenes are cruel or not.
Well, so nice to see your comment here. I do have agreement with you when you say that "Minonoke's underlying message is that people souldn't destroy the nature by their selfishness. If they destroy, forests will die, like when Forest Spirit loose his head."In this point, it is clearly to see that the movie wanna teaches people to protect the natural beauty of the world instead of destroying it. In other word, they would be punished by the Natural as we can see that in the end of the movie. In my opinion, although the movie include some bloody and horror plot so that they need parents guardians.
I undoubtedly agree with you that you point out that. Although the anime Princess Mononoke tries to send the underlying message which is to teach audiences not to destroyed the natural beauty in order to satify the humans'unlimited needs and wants. However, I have to argue that as Jcelyn commented that it's all depends on their parents and how do they interpret the meaning of anime to kids. And moreover that, I still believe that kids are the future of the world and they should watch more positive and good sense of the world like friendship instead of the war, voilence , and darkness side of the world. It's so early for them to accept kind of the ugly, negative and darkness side of the world and human.
19 comments:
Hi guys (^_^)/
Nice to see yer comments
Here're some questions about Princess Mononoke, which we view Thursday. Hope y' enjoy!
1. What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke?
2. How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
3. According to Napier, how does this anime problematise traditional (or conservative) Japanese constructions of gender, class and race?
4. How do it and other Miyazaki films address the
humanity/nature divide, according to Wright (2005)?
5. Could Miyazaki’s vision be described as in some sense religious (inasmuch as it conveys a sense of the sacred)?
6. Finally, with reference to Cavallaro (2006), what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime?
Any other thoughts??
BTW, y' might notice this week's 'banner' shows not Mononoke but Tales from Earthsea, directed by Miyazaki's son, Horo. May be of interest that this is an adaptation of the Earthsea franchise (remember Wizard of Earthsea, guys??).
Funny history here as Hayao Miyazaki long wanted to adapt AWoE but Ursuala Le Guinn originally refused, so he made Nausicaa instead. There's a little creature that sits on N's shoulder that is based on the Otak in A Wizard of Earthsea, a kind of signature by M of Earthsea's influence on him.
Years later (30 years!) Earthsea was finally made by Studio Ghibli, but by Horo - unfortunately with opposition by his father and some hurtful criticism afterwards; Le Guinn says she regretted it and wished she'd let Miyazaki Sen do it instead! Poor Goro (>_<)
Out of interest, anyone seen Earthsea and care to comment?
hi guys, this week 's discussions are a bit hard for us I think as English is not our first language. I will try my best.
I hope you guys like Princess Mononoke, I have finally bought the DVD Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa. I find all of Miyazaki’s anime very interesting and fascinating. I would like to answer number 1 & 2. What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke? How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
First of all I don’t really know what ‘thematic’ and ‘defamiliarise’ mean but I guess they had something to do with the plot of the story and settings. From the beginning of the story Ashitaka(the boy) has been fighting with the princess until the end of the story. As Napier pointed out that “Princess Mononoke problematizes archetypes and icons, ranging from the notion of the emperor’s untouchability to the traditional iconization of the feminine, to create a genuinely new vision of a Japan at the crossroads of history. The film also emphasizes loss, even privileges it. In some ways one might characterize the film as a violent, indeed apocalyptic, elegy for a lost Japan at the same time that it offers an alternative, heterogeneous, and female-centered vision of Japanese identity for the future.”(p.232)
If you look back into my post in week 8-9 there were some sub genres that will fit for Princess Mononoke such as; Samurai and Post -Apocalyptic
As I have read Napier (2005) further I have found that I could explain more for number 2. How does it ‘defamiliarise’ its historical setting, according to Napier (2005)?
According to Napier “Miyazaki’s decision to use a specific historical period is for reasons of education rather than escapism. In Miyazaki’s view, the fourteenth century is a period of significant historical transition from a world that was still in close contact with both natural and supernatural forces to the world that would become increasingly oriented toward human. As he says ‘it was in this period that people changed their value system from gods to money.’ Since the period is one of the transition, its variability also holds great attractions for him as a time when “life and death were sharply delineated. People lied, loved, hated, worked and died. Life was not ambiguous.”(p.237)
What Napier said was true but I think that was not only Japan society but also other Asian countries as well that in the 14th century people changed their value and faith into money not gods. And human was born to be loved, hated, died and etc, all these feelings occur from greediness of human themselves as in the Princess Mononoke showed the battle between humanity and the wild gods. And Napier also pointed out “ it is this complex and dangerous world that Princess Mononoke attempts to evoke, and, although permeated by historical allusions, it is also very much Miyazaki’s own world, his own “history as vision.” As Komatsu says, “this is not a work based on historical faithfulness, this is fantasy dressed as historical fiction with a variety of facts and fictions gathered together.”(p.237)
I have to admit that watching Princess Mononoke is like watching the ‘green’ party’s campaign. Always think about the forest, protect it, preserve it or we all die.
I would like to answer no 3. According to Napier, how does this anime problematise traditional (or conservative) Japanese constructions of gender, class and race?
In Princess Mononoke, when I heard of this name, right away I think of protagonist of a female. But as you watch Princess Mononoke on and on you will find out that there are 3 protagonists in this anime. As Napier pointed out that “Miyazaki not only undermines a plethora a female stereo-type from conventional Japanese culture and from the anime world itself but also moves away from his own previous female creations. Paul Wells says that earlier Miyazaki films “operate in ways which re-negotiate narrative paradigms accentuating masculine power and authority,” and this is especially true for Princess Mononoke. As critic Murase Hiromi points out, there are three important female characters in the film: Eboshi, San and Moro.”(p.238)
Hello Jan,
Sorry for my late response. I couldn't manage my time for blogging.
Firstly, I'd like to say something.
I think that not only Miyazaki"s films, but also many films describe females as the main character. Like Princess Mononoke, females are strong and they fight against males. Charlie's Angels is a case in point.
Secondly, I'm answering Question 4, "How do it and other Miyazaki films address the
humanity/nature divide, according to Wright (2005)?"
In Wright's (2005) text, Miyazaki says "I think you can draw all the huge, giant trees in the world that you want to. It won't have the same impact. And I wanted to choose a form that represented the liveliness and the freedom and the innocence that a baby represents. And that's why I choose that form" (p.11).
In the early part of Wright's (2005) text, she mentions some events such as the polluted bay and Seven Days of Fire. So I think what Miyazaki want to say in his films is that people shouldn't destroy nature and they shouldn't forget about what they've done to nature; otherwise they will be avenged by nature.
Hi, guys, so sorry that I haven't done blogging for a long time. I hope you all work well for the final assignments.
Well,I'm such a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's movie fan and I do like lots of Hayao Miyazaki's films as well such as this one Princess Monono,spirited away, castle in the sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and many other classical films. Even that honestly I have seen coupld of my favourite Miyazaki's film several times. Thanks Dr paul that it's really grateful to watch them again and every time I got new acknowledge of each story. In my part, his movie is suitable for adult more than the kids. Generally, the reason why I do like his works that because the painting technique is extremely colourful, beautiful, and strongly visual impact. The characters in each story, no matter they are pure heart, evil side or the others, they are all stand out. Generally, I'd like to say that all his movie are extremely meaningful, thoughtful, insightful, emotional, interesting ,funny , sorrow but always happy and hopeful ending in the end. Each film tell people different story which also teach human don't be covetous, selfish, and don't destroy the natural beauty. There are many positive content inside to show the love, friendship and so on. The characters are not only human, but also some animals, monster or even ghost. Just beacause they are exit in the stories so that make story interesting, attractive.
There are couples of questions I would like to answer, we can comment and share the idea together and no doubt that it's such a extremely interesting topic.
1. What are the underlying thematics of Princess Mononoke?
Fistly, it is necessary to find out that the definiton of the term" thematics" means. It can be simply and briefly considered as the relating to or constituting a topic of discourse
and relating to a melodic subject as well. Within the whole story, the thematical line of the story basing on the story of main character Ashitaka and the princess. Follow the development of story's plot, from the begin of the story when Ashitaka and the princess met first time, at that time Ashitaka got spell, and then the war between the princess and the villege people. In this point, I do have dissagreement with Jan's opinion" Shaitaka has been fighting with the princess until the end of the story". I think in the start of the movie, they both try to fight with each other but it's kind of self-defense. Paticularly for the princess, she doesn't trust anyone and call the snow wolf as her mother. I do believe she's a gentle and kind hearted girl, although she first behaviour as rude and so sensitive because she doesn't trust anyone. It's quite common that when the first time the tow character met in the begining, they don't know each other, so that the princess try to attack the Shashitaka. And they there is something special happend between them because they both feel of love. And then Shashitaka try to protect her when she was attacked by the villege people at the rest of story. However, I do believe your point that "The film also emphasizes loss, even privileges it. In some ways one might characterize the film as a violent, indeed apocalyptic, elegy for a lost Japan at the same time that it offers an alternative, heterogeneous, and female-centered vision of Japanese identity for the future.”(p.232)
Moreover, I'm going to answer the question 5.
5. Could Miyazaki’s vision be described as in some sense religious (inasmuch as it conveys a sense of the sacred)?
I think that Miyazaki's vision can be considered as in some sense religious because it conveys the sense of the sacred. There is no doubt that sacred can be explained as the exclusively devoted to a deity or to some religious ceremony or use; holy; consecrated. And at the begining of the story, the wild boar was spelled and cursed by deities. That is the reason the wild boar's body full of nasty bugs. And in the final, the deities was been impinged. So that the deities started to punished human and destroyed the whole natural. As we can see that this is related to the religious and asls address the humanity and nature.
Re: Hisako
I do agree with ur point that the majority of Miyazaki's movie use female as the main characters because he wants to reflect that the women's right is getting strong and also reveal the level of Japanese ladies nowdays is getting higher as well. They start to fight with man because they do have their indepent opinion and getting brave as well. They don't wanna be oppressed by the man anymore like in history.It's really positive sense .
Hello all,
I've kept silent again. Sorry guys.
I'm answering Question 6: "what distinguishes Mononoke technically as being – it is generally agreed – a great work of anime?"
According to Cavallaro (2006), "Mononoke contains about 15 minutes CGI (computer-generated imagery)." "The original intention was to paint digitally just 5,000 frames out of the movie's total of 144,000 frames of animation. However, due to shortage of time, an extra 5,000 frames were digitally painted, which brought the total amount of digital cels to 10% of the overall production." I think why he mentions these facts is that the other animation films don't normally use these materials.
So he means that it's a great work of anime, I guess.
Now, I'd like to comment on Aldous's opinion "Miyazaki's movies are suitable for adult more than the kids"
I disagree with you. I can't say his films are more appropriate for kids than adults, but I want to say kids should watch his films. Why I say this is that his films always have underlying meanings. Let me mention "Spirited Away" as an example. When Chihiro's parents eat the food without asking, they are transformed into pigs. I think this tells that eating before asking is not acceptable in society. So they get punishment and become pigs. It's also a lesson. When people do something wrong, they get punished. Kids should learn these things from his films, so I want to say children should watch them.
Re: Hisako
Thanks for your comments. In my opinion, not all of Miyazaki's anime works suitable for kids to watch or they need parents guardians. As you said that, spirited away is ok for kids to watch, I undoubtedly agree with you. However, the anime such as Princess Mononoke is not suitable for kids, because it include some bloody and horror plot inside basing on the whole movie. For example, in the story, when they are fighting, one of the soildier was killed and his head directly goes down to the ground. That's extremely bloody and cruel. There is no doubt that it can be considered as bad reaction to the kids especially for the little kid. So that I wanna say that not all Miyazaki's anime works suitable for kids.
Hi Aldous,
Yes, you are right. But I'm not saying that his fimls are more appropriate for kids than adults, as I mentioned at the beginning of my comment. I'm saying that kids should watch his films because they have another message behind.
Let me say about Mononoke as an example this time because you mentioned.
I think Minonoke's underlying message is that people souldn't destroy the nature by their selfishness. If they destroy, forests will die, like when Forest Spirit loose his head. You probably noticed this message as well.
The scene that you mentined is not suitable for kids, but kids should watch his films because of the underlying message.
Hi Hisako and Aldous, I agree with both of you…..well, there are some parts of Princess Mononoke that children should not be watching it and some part is really good in encouraging the audiences to protect the forest. I think it depends on the parents how to explain to the kids why human are killing each other, they were greedy, they want something off the forest like cutting the woods, and lady Eboshi was tricked by the fat greedy man. If the lady Eboshi dies in the forest the greedy man would take over her iron prosperous village. In term of language use, some part of the Princess Mononoke contains offensive language such as; Jiko the man that followed Ashitaka from a village, he sees Ashitaka is not an ordinary people, he drinks the soup and he compares the soup as ‘donkey piss’.
But if you watch Nausicaa, you will see that human who never been so closed to the flies and Ohmu creatures do not understand them. Only Nausicaa can understand the creatures, she tries to stop the war between human and the creatures. As Cavallaro (2006) explains “Miyazaki applied the principle underlying his conception and rendition of animal movement to the representation of the natural environment in its entirely, basing his apparently imaginary botany upon scrupulous scientific documentation, in his determination to show that the story is no set in some remote galaxy but on Earth, and that it is in real spaces – however ingeniously redesigned and reinterpreted these may be that the fate of our planet unfolds and is sealed.” (p.56) Overall, I think it depends on the parents view and interpret for their children but I think it’s not suitable for children to watch by themselves.
Hi guys, sorry about so late to join your discussion, at the end of this semester, I have so many assessments to finish, I apologize for the late response
Re: Jan
I agree with you totally. Because I think in Japanese anime, which include war, violence, greedy human beings, and so on. Also, those are included in other countries’ anime. However, all of those are dark of our society, and which will impress children with a terrible world. Therefore, Jan, I agree to your view that “it depends on the parents view and interpret for their children”. I believe all children’s thinking about this world can reflect their parents’ opinion about this world, and nowadays all children need to be taught with positive idea. So, to the anime Princess Mononoke, there are some parts such as to protect the forest is encouraging children to watch that I agree with you too.
About the Earthsea:
I like the Earthsea more than the Princess Mononoke, not only because of the interesting story, but also because of the hero Arren (Lebannen) and heroine Tehanu, the kind rabbi Ged and Tenar, and the beautiful music in the anime. What’s more, as a Chinese, I like dragon more than pig or wolf as a wizard of an oriental country (ie. Janpan or China). The dragon is a traditional symbolization of the orientalism, while pig is as a stupid animal and people do not like it at all. So in contrast to pig or wolf or deer (in the Princess Mononoke), dragon symbolizes a braver animal in people’s heart.
At the same time, the beautiful song in the Earthsea impresses me deeply. When Tehanu standing on the grassland, her song not only moves the hero Arren, but moves me as well. Her song brings a peace and lonely world to audiences, but which is filled with hope to future.
Hello all,
Let me tell you about my opinion of Mononoke from a different aspect.
Lynman (1999, cited in Cavallaro, 2006) states that "What we found was that the children actually understand the movie [Mononoke] and what we were trying to say more than adults..." (p.121).
In other words, the parents whose children have watched Mononoke do not need to worry about showing them the cruel scenes in Mononoke because they understand the underlying message. So it doesn't matter to them whether the scenes are cruel or not.
Re:Hisako
Well, so nice to see your comment here. I do have agreement with you when you say that "Minonoke's underlying message is that people souldn't destroy the nature by their selfishness. If they destroy, forests will die, like when Forest Spirit loose his head."In this point, it is clearly to see that the movie wanna teaches people to protect the natural beauty of the world instead of destroying it. In other word, they would be punished by the Natural as we can see that in the end of the movie. In my opinion, although the movie include some bloody and horror plot so that they need parents guardians.
Re: Jocelyn(Jie Deng)
I undoubtedly agree with you that you point out that. Although the anime Princess Mononoke tries to send the underlying message which is to teach audiences not to destroyed the natural beauty in order to satify the humans'unlimited needs and wants. However, I have to argue that as Jcelyn commented that it's all depends on their parents and how do they interpret the meaning of anime to kids. And moreover that, I still believe that kids are the future of the world and they should watch more positive and good sense of the world like friendship instead of the war, voilence , and darkness side of the world. It's so early for them to accept kind of the ugly, negative and darkness side of the world and human.
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