Since the liberation of popular art culture throughout domestically published cartoons, cartoon readers have increasingly become exposed to cartoons from various cultures. This has led to an introduction of worldwide cartoons. Female characters in car...
Since the liberation of popular art culture throughout domestically published cartoons, cartoon readers have increasingly become exposed to cartoons from various cultures. This has led to an introduction of worldwide cartoons. Female characters in cartoon are generally realistically described and tend to over-exaggerate their movements. However, these features are expressive elements that draw the resemblance of reality by visualizing dramatic events during our daily lives and also what stimulate sexual fascination and curiosity among teenagers. Considering that cartoon is a form of reflection of the society, behaviors and visual expressions of these characters could give stereotypical image of female to teenagers. There is a need to investigate the kind of female image that is being portrayed by the exterior expressions of female characters in cartoon. Also a variety of characters and visual presentations of female characters are needed by combining various contents and character expressions to avoid and complement the fragmented view of former female characters
On the other hand, after initially setting the character, it is important to visualize an appropriate character with its own personality. Among the elements for materializing the character, to visualiand its ormanet are to vmost critical elements that also illustrate the character’s gender. There may be enoughcter, it ion real fashion image but not as much for cartoon gender image. This study will look into current trend by classifying in elements of genre, personality, etc. of fashion its oty, and additionally the ce and contrast styles from different regional souites (Korea, Japan).
This research has selected all 286 female characters in 99 editions of Korean, Japanese cartoon enlisted in 3 nationally major cartoon magazines from Sept. 2008 to Sept. 2009. The studied cartoons were classified into 8 types of genre, and by further using the LCSI character test, grouped these characters into 4 types. Current cartoon female characters can be divided into nationality (①Korea ②Japan), Genre(①SF/Fantasy ② Fantasy ③ Romance ④ Drama ⑤ Sports ⑥ Mystery ⑦Action/Chivalry ⑧Comedy), Personality Types(type of character)(① Initiative(ET) ②Expressive(EF) ③Friendly(IF) ④Analytic(IT)), 16 types of roles(job-types),types of fashion looks, 5 types of fashion feminity(① Traditional Feminity ② Androgynous Feminity ③ Glamour Feminity ④ babydoll Feminity ⑤ Genderless Sexuality).
The research shows various dispersion of fashion feminity in each element. Overall Babydoll, Traditional, Androgynous, Glamour, and Genderless Feminity were in order of frequency, and it is observed that Babydoll Feminity was the most common type. Dealing fashion feminity in actual fashion magazines shows a different result. It is observed that cartoon writers generally take no consideration of actual fashion feminity trend. This is due to female characters depicted in cartoons are usually young female students targeting teenagers. By contrast, genderless sexuality was the least observed. Among differing genres, there exists clear distinction between Korean and Japanese cartoon female character’s female feminity. For every rank in fashion feminity in each element, generally highest rank tended to be similar, but laying out the ranks for each element tended to differ in order. The fact that highest ranks in elements tend to be similar can be explained by the fact that main target audience is teenagers. Also Korea and Japan similarly portrayed babydoll feminity as the most common fashion feminity. Korea showed dual image of babydoll feminity and sexual glamour feminity, whereas Japan showed babydoll feminity and bi-sexual androgynous feminity.
If this study were to be considered during the creative process of writing teenage cartoons, firstly the writer could show more dedication in drawing the relationship between character and its fashion style. Secondly, there could be further developments in the diversity of female characters and personalities for a wide range of genre. Thirdly, a creative female character of Korean-only type could show up. Fourthly, future disparity among Korean and Japanese published female characters’ sexuality could be lessened.