JAPN-2111: Japanese Anime Film

Course Description: JAPN 412 Japanese Anime Film is an intensive co-viewing anime course taught in English. The course includes direct viewing of over a dozen key films (in Japanese with English subtitles whenever possible, otherwise in English dubbing) that represent major sub-genres of anime, as well as extensive readings in cultural theory to enable cross-cultural translation and articulation of these animated films. In the past, these anime have included Tetsuwan Atom (“Astro Boy”), Sazae-san, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (“Spirited Away”), Eden of the East, and others. The writing exercises are designed to strengthen the student’s ability to explain the significance of Japanese anime across cultural boundaries. Rather than a narrow approach to anime from a “fandom” perspective, we will interrogate these films as cultural artifacts that speak to Japanese and universal themes. Cultural theories from Marshall McLuhan, Christopher Lasch and others will guide our critical engagement with these anime. There will be two 5-7 page essays, an in-class Midterm essay which the student will complete for a 12-15 page take-home Final. No prerequisite, previous exposure to anime or Japanese language is required.