Media Issue Research Project Summary

Hello Everyone! It's Alyssa Fowler.

Today I would like to tell you what I learned from my Media Issue Research Project for my Introduction to Electronic Media class.

The topic I chose for this assignment was to talk about my favorite film director and how their style differs from that of other directors. I decided to talk about Hayao Miyazaki.

One factor that I learned about Miyazaki is that he was inspired to become an artist after watching The Tale of the White Serpent, the first Anime movie in color, in 1958. He also worked at various animation studios in Japan, including Toei and Nippon, before finding Studio Ghibli on June 15th, 1985.

Personally, what I found hard to believe is that he looked to the works of other animators for inspiration. This included animations by Paul Grimaul, Yuri Norsheteyn, and Frederick Bach.

John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer at Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and DisneyToon Studios, was one of the artists who was inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's work. This influence began when Lasseter saw the first film Miyazaki directed, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Starting with Spirited Away, he was the executive producer of the English versions of Miyazaki's films.

What set Hayao Miyazaki's work apart from animation by other film companies like Disney, Dreamworks, and Illumination, is the themes present in nearly all of 11 films. These themes were the absence of villains, flying scenes, female protagonists, feminism, environmentalism, and anti-war pacifism.

My favorite films from Hayao Miyazaki are My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and Ponyo. My Neighbor Totoro was one of the first Anime I saw when I was a child. Miyazaki's work is one of the sources of inspiration that influenced my own art style for my Cryptic Casters book series.

Fans of Hayao Miyazaki's work, like myself, were disappointed when he declared his retirement from feature-length animation on September 6th, 2013. However, he still continues making manga and taking part in animated short films by Studio Ghibli.

I'll chat with you guys later!

Media Review 2

Picture came from "List of Steven Universe Characters" page on Wikipedia.com.

 

Hello Everyone! It's Alyssa Fowler.

For my second media review, I will talk about “Steven Universe,” an American-animated, action/fantasy television series that is currently airing on Cartoon Network.

“Steven Universe” was created by storyboard artist and songwriter Rebecca Sugar first aired on Cartoon Network on November 4^th, 2013. The titular character, Steven Universe, is a young boy who is part of the “Crystal Gems” rebellion group that protects the Earth from the Gems’ Homeworld’s Diamond Authority. Gems are magical, ageless, feminine humanoid aliens whose powers come from the gems embedded in their bodies. Steven is actually half-human, half-“Gem” since his mother was the late Rose Quartz, the original leader of the Gem rebellion. Steven’s closest friends and teammates include three other Gems named Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl. On the Steven Universe Wiki, gemology facts are included in the profiles of the Gem characters to show how the healing powers and mythology of each gemstone is represented in each Gem’s design, powers, and personality.

Throughout the series, Steven learns how to control the powers he inherited from his mother and use them against “Corrupted” Gems; gems who were shattered and mutated into monsters. Steven also learns about the backstories of each of his teammates. This includes Pearl’s unrequited love towards Rose Quartz, how Amethyst was meant to be a living weapon, and the fact that Garnet is actually a “Fusion”, the product of Gems merging with one another, between two other Gems named Ruby and Sapphire.

Some episodes of the show focus on Steven’s caring and helpful nature, which he also inherited from Rose Quartz, and how he is able to help others. This includes helping Connie; his best human friend and love interest, to come out her shell and learn how to sword fight to help him in battles. He also gained the trust of Lapis Lazuli and Peridot, two Gems who once followed the Diamond Authority, and eventually had them join the Crystal Gems. Steven even helped Pearl get along with Greg Universe, Steven’s father, and get over her jealously of his relationship with Rose Quartz.

“Steven Universe” had gained a massive fan base over their years. This was due to the fact that it was, as Eric Thurn from AVClub.com described it, a coming-of-age story that included a slice-of-life portrayal of childhood, an examination of family dynamics, and a homage to anime, video games, and other aspects of pop culture. According to the “Why Are Anime Fans Obsessed with Steven Universe?” article on AnimeNewsNetwork.com, Japanese shows and cultural icons, which include “Sailor Moon” and Studio Ghibli movies, strongly influenced the structure and visual style “Steven Universe”. Also, Rebecca Sugar was a songwriter and storyboard artist for another popular animated series on Cartoon Network called “Adventure Time”.

Another factor that made the show so well-received is inclusion of homosexual relationships between characters. This includes Pearl’s endless devotion for Rose Quartz and Garnet being the embodiment of Ruby and Sapphire’s love for each other. According to an article on MoviePilot.com, Rebecca Sugar stated that this was done to help the youth “understand themselves and develop their identity” and for them see “the ideal of fulfilling partnership and true love.” She also explained that the LGBT themes in the cartoon were based on her own experience as a bisexual, as stated in an AutoStraddle.com article about her “coming out” during a 2016 San Diego Comic-Con.

With its beautiful art style, likable characters, unforgettable songs, and inclusive themes, “Steven Universe” truly is a meaningful and well-received series that will always be loved by fans of all ages and genders.