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The Anime Invasion

Megan Wolfson

Advanced Composition, 2nd Period

January 18, 2002

Research Essay: Revised for Portfolio


Thesis Statement: The popular onset of Princess Mononoke and Pokemon enabled
anime, once limited to an underground movement populated by teenage males, to enter mainstream American film entertainment, resulting in the backlash on violence, gender issues, and sexuality.

I.   Overview
A. Motivator
B. Definition of anime
1. Examples of anime
2. Anime and its consumers
C. Definition of manga
1.   Popular American examples of manga
a. Ranma ½
b. Akira
c. Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play
            2.   Manga bestsellers
D. Anime appeal to Americans
1. American popular entertainment reference
a.   Silence of the Lamb
b. Perfect Blue
E. Thesis Statement
II.   Graphic violence in anime
A. Violence against women
1. Women raped and brutalized: weaker sex
2. Male/female Guyver comparisons
B.   X
1. Explanation/plot
2. Good v. evil themes
      C. Violence in Princess Mononoke

III.   Gender issues in anime
A. Women subservient to men
1. Hiding "special" abilities
2. Magical girls
a. Video Girl Ai
b. Urusei Yatsura
c. Tenchi Muyo
d. Ah! My Goddess!
e. Sailor Moon
B. Women in 1950s and 1960s sitcoms and their gender roles
1. I Dream of Jeannie
2. Bewitched
C. Analysis of male fears
1. Ranma ½
2. Anxieties and control issues
IV.   Sexuality, Romantic and Pornographic, in anime
A.   Romantic comedy/drama
1.   Kimagure Orange Road (KOR)
a.   Most popular form of anime
b.   Consensual sex and romance
B.   Pornographic content
1. The Legend of the Overfiend
  a.   Rape
b.   Torture
2.   Segregation of boys and girls in society
a.   Sexual referrals are present through sexual overtones
b.   Sexual taboos

V. Discussion
A.   American reactions
1.   Violence
2.   Gender
3.   Sexuality
B. Thesis Statement restated
C. Clincher

 


The Anime Invasion

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