(initial) Proposal

How does mental and physical disability impact upon narrative in Japanese Anime and what are the wider implications on Japanese society?

In this extended essay, I will discuss how mental health and physical disabilities affect the narrative in Japanese animation, with a focus on how the characters’ mental and physical health drives the plot forward, impacts on their actions and how this affects their relationship with the other characters.  I will firstly make reference to the historical and cultural contexts of Japan, with a particular concentration on the last hundred years.

I will then go on to explore case studies, mainly Deathnote, Steinsgate and Silent Voice. I will focus on various characters who best depict their mental health or physical disability. For example, in the anime Deathnote, Light Yagame is a sociopathic character. Rintaro Okabe in the anime Steinsgate has schizophrenia; the film Silent Voice has a main character who has a hearing impairment and deals with suicide and depression, amongst other things. From here, the essay will explore possible theories regarding the reasons why the directors and writers in these amines chose to depict the characters in this way. Thought, opinions and ideas will be supported with evidence referenced in a Harvard style, with the integrity of my research being maintained via PROMPT analysis; presentation, reliability, objectivity, methodology, providence and timeliness.

 For the practical aspect of this research, I will create a 15 page zine or comic book in a Manga style that will focus on the subject of ballet dancing.  In ballet, only the final performance is seen but not the days, weeks and months of rehearsing, the years of ruthless training and rejection. Choreographing, practising the dance, and strength training is gruelling, especially for boys; who can also be subjected to social stigma. Some dancers do not meet pre-determined standards and will receive criticism from professionals who find the smallest, most seemingly insignificant ‘fault’ about a dancer’s body, thereby undermining confidence.

My work will concentrate on putting theory into practice. This will be informed by the interviews conducted in the primary research phase and the content will be discussed with an awareness of the need to be sensitive, yet true, to Japanese culture. My primary research will include interviews and surveys predominantly received from Japan and also from ballet dancers themselves. The zine or comic will also draw inspiration from another case study, the anime, My Hero Academia, which explores ideas on disability and body image and challenges stereotypes about what it means to be a hero. I will also discuss and criticize my attempt at establishing and executing a narrative.

The essay will then conclude by reflecting on its references to Japanese history and culture, illustrated through the case studies included in the body of the essay. This will answer how mental and physical disability impacts upon the narrative in Japanese Anime and what the wider implications are on Japanese society.