CST 4397 Topics in Contemporary Cinema: Japanese Animation

Required Resources

Napier, Susan J.  Anime: from Akira to Princess Mononoke.  New York: Palmgrave, 2000.		Drazen, Patrick.  Anime explosion: the what? why? & wow! of Japanese animation.  Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press, 2003.		Poitras, Gilles.  The anime companion: what's Japanese in Japanese animation?  Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press, 1999.

Course Description and Objectives

This an exploratory survey course about Japanese animation or "anime."  Some of the aspects of anime considered will be: history, genres, studios, directors, economics, influential series and films, cultural and social impact.  Anime is a cultural phenomenon worthy of being taken seriously both aesthetically and sociologically.  It is an increasingly important part of the media business and the only major media form that has successfully challenged American media hegemony.  Students will analyze significant series; discuss global vs. local understanding and response to anime, including fan culture growth and function; compare the anime form to other artistic works; and connect anime with contemporary and historical trends in Japan. They will examine works by specific directors (e.g., Oshii Mamoru, Ishiguro Noboru, Miyazaki Hayao) and studios, supplemented with readings and screenings.  This course is designed to be fun and interactive, while at the same time building an academically useful understanding of anime.

This course is designed to explore each student’s academic interest in anime, guided and structured by the core information supplied in lectures, screenings, and discussions. By the end of the course, students will:

• Articulate what anime is, and what common styles of anime exist
• Define the differences between Japanese and American/European animation
• Recognize unique and borrowed techniques that are used in anime
• Appreciate anime as a medium and as a cultural product
• Understand the differences between values in fan and academic arenas
• Understand the growth and function of the anime fan culture
• Recognize anime’s functions in subculture, mass culture, and high culture
• Identify texts that are significant to the development and definition of anime
• Recognize themes and motifs of these significant texts in later works
• Have a basic understanding of Japanese language and culture as it relates to anime

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments are drawn primarily from the three required text books, but additional readings may also be assigned.  See the course schedule for details.

Quizzes (100 points)

Quizzes based on the reading material will be given regularly.  The lowest two quiz scores will be dropped.

Writing Assignments (500 points)

All students are required to do the Anime Blog, plus any combination of Character Profiles, Series Reviews, and Book/Magazine/Website Reviews totalling 300 possible points. With the exception of the Anime Blog, all written assignments must be submitted to www.turnitin.com

Anime Blog (200 points)

Students will set up a blog that will serve as a journal of their daily anime activity during the semester.

Character Profiles (20 points each)

Students may choose to write character profiles for main characters in anime series.

Series Review (50 points each)

Students may choose to write reviews of anime TV or OVA series.

Resource Review -- book, magazine, or web site (50 points each)

Students may choose to write reviews of  useful resources for anime related information, like books, magazines, or web sites.

Group Presentation (200 points)

Series Analysis

TV and OVA series are the most common formats for anime.  Since we will typically not be able to show complete series, students will choose and present an analysis of one anime series.  The series shall represent approximately one season (about 26 episodes), or a season plus supporting materials (such as a movie).  If a series spans many seasons (such as One Piece), students may either select one or two particular seasons.  Alternatively, they may select a pair of seasons in order to compare and contrast plot and character developments.

The presentation will last for fifteen minutes. Up to three minutes may be given to plot summary; at least seven minutes shall be analysis. The remaining time is to be devoted to questions. The purpose of the presentation is to gain practical understanding and experience with the many features of anime studied in class. Grading is on the presentation and any supporting materials that the group brings to class.  Students are encourage to create and distribute series abstracts and character sheets.  Written supporting materials must be submitted to www.turnitin.com prior to the presentation.  Student groups are also encouraged to compare notes and ideas among groups, but the final presentations must be wholly their own.

Director or Studio Analysis

Instead of analyzing a TV or OVA series, students may choose a prominent anime director or anime studio and present an analysis of the director's or studio's work.  Students must view all available works by the particular director, or a significant and representative sample of the studio's output.  Scope of the presentations and grading will be similar to that of the series analyses.

Alternative to Group Assignment,
or "Does Not Play Well with Others" (200 pts.)

If for any reason a student does not wish to participate in the group presentation, that student may write a research paper to accomplish the same goals as the group presentation.  This paper shall be an academic paper conforming to the APA stylesheet, complete with bibliography, and proper citation of all sources -- 12 point Times New Roman typeface, 20 pages minimum including bibliography.

Attendance (150 points)

Regular and prompt attendance is very important.  In addition to lectures, class time is devoted to screenings, discussion, and guest speakers.  Students are also required to watch all of the anime films presented in the class during screenings.  Students are expected to make up any missed screenings on their own time and initiative.  Missing classes or habitual tardiness make it much more difficult to earn a respectable grade.

Attendance is checked according to the seating chart each day shortly after class begins.  If you are not in your assigned seat at this time you will be counted absent for that day.  Everyone begins the semester with 100 points for attendance -- four points are subtracted for each absence.

Participation (50 points)

This is the professor's subjective assessment of the overall quality of the student's participation in the course.

Extra Credit

There will be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester.

Grading

Grades are assigned in this course according to a point system. The letter grade to points equivalency is as follows:

• A  900-1000

• B+  870-899

• B  800-869  

• C+  770-799  

• C  700-769  

• D  600-699  

• F  599 or below

TurnItIn.com Requirement

Students agree that by taking this course, all required papers, exams, class projects or other assignments submitted for credit may be submitted to turnitin.com or similar third parties to review and evaluate for originality and intellectual integrity. A description of the services, terms and conditions of use, and privacy policy of turnitin.com is available on its web site: http://www.turnitin.com/ Students understand all work submitted to turnitin.com will be added to its database of papers. Students further understand that if the results of such a review support an allegation of academic dishonesty, the course work in question as well as any supporting materials may be submitted to the Honor Council for investigation and further action.