The aim of this thesis is the explanation of the concepts of yōkai and anime, and to try to find the yōkai that inspired the characters in the animated film Momo e no tegami, and then compare them and theorize how and why the changes between them occurred.
It is comprised of the theoretic and empiric parts. In the theoretic part, the concept of anime is explained, and how Japanese art and history influenced the art of manga and anime. Then, the role of yōkai in Japanese culture is explained, with other related expressions, that have been used for supernatural creatures in the past, and creatures that are closely related to yōkai. At the end, there is a description of the film Momo e no tegami.
In the empiric part, yōkai that appear in the film are explained, together with the ones that were probably the inspiration for them. For each example of yōkai the differences are listed. The differences are analyzed and the possible reasons for them are described. Findings show, that for the transition from yōkai as mythological creature, to a character that fits well within the medium in which it appears, many adjustments must be made.
|
