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Narrative Mind

In ancient times, Monogatari / Narrative Mind was spread by word of the mouth from person to person. Once expressed with characters and by illustration, the storytelling became universally prevalent. In the history of Japan, there were times when storytelling employed unique means of expression: the emakimono / picture scrolls to depict Monogatari . The mediums and forms of expressions of Monogatari have been changing and developing within the times.

In the Narrative Mind section Japanese contemporary Monogatari is introduced through various examples of manga, animation and game. The section also explores the artists' creative skills with their impressive original drawings and storyboards.

ANIMATION

Ever since TEZUKA Osamu's Astro Boy was broadcast as the first TV animation in 1963, Japanese animation has progressed in most amazing ways. Films made by skilled directors and animators with their creative innovative expressions, heightened the Monogatari / Narrative Mind. Animation artists have been receiving great acknowledgements abroad where their films not only captivate children but also adults as well; among them most notably Spirited Away by MIYAZAKI Hayao which won the Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear in 2002 and gained worldwide recognition. Just as MIYAZAKI, YAMAMURA Koji's Mt. Head and KATO Kunio's House of Small Cubes works have won the grand prize in Annecy International Animation festival in 2003 and the Oscar Academy Award in 2009 respectively.

YAMAMURA Koji
A Child's Metaphysics
2008, Animation Division, 5'08''
Excellence Prize,
12th Japan Media Arts Festival
© Yamamura Animation

MANGA

Japanese manga developed remarkably following the Second World War. TEZUKA Osamu applied motion picture techniques to Japanese manga, and subsequent manga artists created the manga of the new era. After the broadcast of the TV animation in 1963, manga started to play an important role as the origin of the animated cartoon. In our time, not only animation and game but also live-action film and drama are inseparably connected with manga. The most considerable reason for the development of Japanese manga lies within the excellence of its structural and visual depiction of Monogatari / Narrative Mind.

GAME

The development of Japanese video game was triggered with Space Invaders that went on sale as an arcade game in 1978 becoming a great success in Japan. Following this, Family Computer went on sale in 1983 and the industry was prompted with various kinds of home video game machines appearing one after another. From the technical point of view, the development of the photo-realistic imagery of graphics and improvements of the interface enabling people to operate easily became crucial factors for the game development. From the content's aspect, the Monogatari / Narrative Mind is recognized as an important element for game as it is for manga and animation. In remote corners of the world people embark on common adventures in the shared virtual space where a different and unusual kind of Monogatari is experienced

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