Korff, Johannes; (2024) Imagining the ‘Gypsy’ and the Jew in Japanese Animation: The Case of Aikawa Shō and Mizushima Seiji. In: Mladenova, Radmila, (ed.) Counterstrategies to the Antigypsy Gaze. (pp. 415-433). Heidelberg University Publishing: Heidelberg, Germany.

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Abstract

This paper presents a comparative case study of the portrayal of ‘gypsy’ and Jewish characters in East Asian animation, particularly in Japanese anime. While researchers have not yet considered these motifs in this medium, this study aims to shed light on the unique factors which shape antigypsyist and antisemitic stigmas in anime. For this purpose, I analyze the 2005 Japanese animated film Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa by Aikawa Shō and Mizushima Seiji, embedding it in the discourse of East Asian animated films. It becomes evident that several factors can shape the portrayal of ‘gypsy’ and Jewish characters in the medium. These factors include collectivist social values, exoticization of the West, non-ethnocentric visualization, and the use of conventions from gaming culture. I conclude that these factors need to be considered in order to properly understand the issues and potentials in the portrayal of ‘gypsy’ and Jewish characters in East Asian animated films. Accordingly, the case study illustrates the importance of transmedial and transcultural studies in research on antigypsyism and antisemitism.

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