Anime Superflat Style Annotated Bibliography

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Superflat as Postmodernism Superflat is inseparable to the style of Anime and Manga. To look at the superflat style, one must look at its past influences; Japanese scrolls as traditional mode of storytelling, Japanese Edo and Meiji period, Nihonga, and Western influences. As an extension to the influences, are the pioneers of Japanese Animation who started the developments in animation in Japan and created an important foundation for modern anime to begin. The history of manga developments lead to a superflat style with acknowledgment that anime is often based off manga. Takashi Murakami brought about the term ‘Superflat’, relating the style to commercial culture as an influence and cultural identity in the context of cultural production and consumption. Superflat is considered a postmodern movement, because it links its heritage to historical influences of past art styles, but has developed into its own unique style. Also linking its postmodern idea to that of Otaku; stating that it took from contemporary culture and superflat style is now a consumer product. Koyama-Richard, B., 2010. Japanese Animations: From Painted Scrolls to Pokémon. Paris: Flammarion. (Ref: p.11-45.) Superflat style has been influenced by traditional Japanese Art. Under subheading: “Animation’s Long Journey through Time” begins with Japanese scrolls as the beginning of influences for anime. Its discusses how Illuminated scrolls (Chinese in origin) appeared in Japan around the 10th century and were a form of telling stories, similar to manga due to flatness, lack of depth, and creating illusion of movement. Scrolls were seen as the beginning of cartoons and therefore are predecessors to manga and anime. The Edo Period in Japan (1603- 1868) was when Japan was influenced by western culture due to establishing international relations and coming into contact with western art translated by

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