Introduction-Draft

A. Background of Study

Anime and manga are the popular culture in Japan. Some anime fans prefer watching anime than reading manga because of its color and music or voice overs and fight scene which they find hard in manga to follow. One thing that makes an anime otaku wonder is the depiction of gender in those anime. When we speak of male and female, we talk about sex but when we talk about gender, we are talking about the characteristics of males and females on how each function in the society. In order for a man to be a real man, he must develop masculine traits while in order to be a real woman, she must develop feminine traits which are sometimes not depicted in Anime.

 Numerous anime shows changes in the traditional gender roles of men and women in the society. Most anime engages in the style of parody that complicates traditional gender roles by refiguring them. Anime provides ideals and artistic devices to its audience of all ages. It gives knowledge about another culture because of the stories which are often based on Japanese traditions and Asian mythology and symbolism. Anime deals with complex, thought-provoking themes with characters that change as the stories progress. These anime are supported through TV episodes and Original Video Animation (OVA). Gender role reversals have proven to be one of the most widespread practices in the evolution of Anime.

Based from an article Switching Gender Roles in Manga: Men as Women and Women as Men, the gender role reversal exposes the conventions of a story in terms of character, story genres, and the hero’s journey despite cultural and traditional differences to have knowledge from another culture. These anime includes Utena and Bakuretsu Tenshi and Gankutsuo (Viscount Albert de Morcerf). Utena have strong personalities that are unconquerable and has the duty to save a princess which is not the usual work of a woman. On the other hand, Gankutsuo who is a man has a softer emphatic personality. He doesn’t have powers and the only way to save a hero is by a kiss which is totally opposite of the characteristics of Utena who is a woman. 

Aside from these anime, other anime includes Witch Hunter Robin Shakugan No Shana (Shana), Fate Stay Night (Saber, Rin Tanaka, Emiya Shiro), Inu-Yasha (Sango), Oh! My Goddess (Urd, Keiichi Morisato), Evangelion ( Shinji Ikari), Absolute Boyfriend, Supergals, the Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms gets three series that feature most of its historically male characters as attractive females, Claymore which is basically a Gender Flip of the typical Fighting Shounen series, Mai-Hime with Tate Yuuichi, the only masculine male protagonist in the show is constantly frustrated by the fact that he is completely helpless compared to all the Magical Girls despite his "rusty" kendo skills, and others.

Some people perceive that watching anime with gender role reversals will add satisfaction to all anime “Otaku” and some views that the pursuit of such opposition to the traditional role will give a negative impact on the viewers. Therefore, having background knowledge on anime will give the viewers knowledge on what could be its effect on the society.

This paper will focus on the effects of gender role reversals in anime cartoons.

B. Statement of the Problem

1. What are the effects of gender role reversals featured in anime cartoons in the society?

C. Significance of Study

Anime Artists. 

Anime artists can benefit from this study because they would be able to make use of the information in this research on what kind of anime genre can they focus with that could help them make another remarkable masterpiece considering its effects on the society.

Anime Fans

With the information gathered in this paper, it would be able to inform young-adults to be more aware or alert and responsible whenever they watch anime because of its ever changing characteristics which might influence them.

Future Researchers

This research paper will be able to help future researchers having curiosity on anime effects on society to continue my research which could give them a little background that will add up in their research.

D. Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the effects on gender role reversals featured in anime cartoon in the society for these study is very broad and due to time constraints, I will no longer discuss all anime genres and will only focus on genres connected to my research.

E. Materials and Method

This paper uses a descriptive method because the researcher aims to describe the gender role reversals in anime and to discuss further its effects in the society by gathering information about the topic, analyzing past studies conducted related to the topic, interviews, surveys or comments from different people and then make appropriate conclusion about it.

F. Definition of Terms

Anime – Japanese movie and television animation, often having a science fiction theme and sometimes including violent or explicitly sexual material. It is the Japanese animation of manga

Otaku – These are people who are the obsessive fans of manga, anime, video and PC games and pop idols

Shonen Anime – Anime marketed toward males

Gender – A range of characteristics of feminity and masculinity

Gender Role – It is a set of social and behavioral norms that are generally considered appropriate for either a man or a woman in a social or interpersonal relationship.