• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.46
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• pp.85-106
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• 2017

With the media's shift into the digital era in the 2000s, comic book publishers attempted a transition into the new medium by establishing a distribution structure using internet networks. But that effort shied from escaping the parallel-page reading structure of traditional comics. On the other hand, webtoons are showing divers changes by redesigning the structure of traditional sequential art media; they tend to separate and allot spaces according to the vertical scroll reading method of the internet browser and include animations, sound effects and background music. This trend is also in accordance with the preferences of modern readers. Modern society has complicated social structures with the development of various media; the public is therefore exposed to different stimuli and shows characteristics of differentiated perceptions. In other words, webtoons display more relevant and entertaining characteristics by inserting sounds and using moving texts and characters in specific frames, while traditional comics require an appreciation of withdrawal and immersion like other published media. Motions in webtoons are partially applied for dramatic tension or to create an effective expression of action. For example, hand-drawn animation is adopted to express motions by dividing motion images into many layers. Sounds are also utilized, such as background music with episode-related lyrics, melodies, ambient sounds and motion-related sound effects. In addition, webtoons provide readers with new amusement by giving tactile stimuli via the vibration of a smart phone. As stated above, the vertical direction, time-based nature of animation motions and tactile stimuli used in webtoons are differentiated from published comics. However, webtoons' utilization of innovative techniques hasn't yet reached its full potential. In addition to the fact that the software used for webtoon effects is operationally complex, this is a transitional phenomenon since there is still a lack of technical understanding of animation and sound application amongst the general public. For example, a sound might be programmed to play when a specific frame scrolls into view on the monitor, but the frame may be scrolled faster or slower than the author intended; in this case, sound can end before or after a reader sees the whole image. The motion of each frame is also programmed to start in a similar fashion. Therefore, a reader's scroll speed is related to the motion's speed. For this reason, motions might miss the intended timing and be unnatural because they are played out of context. Also, finished sound effects can disturb the concentration of readers. These problems come from a shortage of continuity; to solve these, naturally activated consecutive sounds or animations, like the simple rotation of joints when a character moves, is required.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.39
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• pp.59-83
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• 2015

Magical realism, blooming and improving in Latin America, opened the new vision about reality and rationalism, coming out from the out-styled frame of past. While having common points with unrealistic literature, which uses fantastical components, magical realism is different from Surrealism and fantasy literature that is focusing on reality and realizing reality intensely. In the early stage of this research, magical realism was restricted by the characteristics of literature of Latin America, but the research of magical realism is expanding in planning Post-Modernism nowadays. Lately, the influence of magical realism is identified in literatures, arts, films, and animations over the world; according to the research, however, research about magical realism in animations was not done in Korea before. A Korean independent animation "A coffee vending machine and its sword" was evaluated positively in many international film festivals is valuable as the research of magical realism. Throughout this study, this animation "A coffee vending machine and its sword" was analyzed by its narrative and images. The analysis of narrative consists two parts. One is about the form of narrative and the other is about contents through the story. Analysis of Image is also divided into two parts: background image and character image. In this animation, the protagonist is narrating about the fantastic accidents in his life and his own feelings towards it. The narration leads audience to understand his situation and feelings in meta-fiction. On the surface, audience watches the love story of a normal girl and coffee vending machine in this artwork, but deep inside the animation, it is visible that the directors tried to make audiences think about the life of 880,000-won Generation in Korea. The background image was represented as real places in Seoul including the landmark of Seoul, making mimesis of reality in Korea. The character image has two conflicting aspects with reincarnated warrior, Jinyoungyoung and a coffee vending machine. It is a hybrid-character transmogrifying between two characters. Likewise, "A coffee vending machine and its sword" has the characteristics of Korean magical realism through form, content and image. Through analyzing the Korean independent animation "A coffee vending machine and its sword", this research tried to find a way of using factors of fantasy, of representing reality as a dramatic device and of using magical realism of Korean animation for bond of sympathy with audience.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.39
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• pp.1-25
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• 2015

"Magical girl" is one of many popular genres that are watched in Japanese animation. The characteristics of "Magical girl" genre shows that most main heroine as the girl in young age, and this young girl play her role as a character with supernatural power. The majority in population of Japanese animation consumers were men. However, women began to become this population of Japanese animation consumers with the beginning of "Magical girl" genre, which also became a cause for the birth of "Shojo anime". The first "Shojo anime", as well as the first animation of "Magical girl" genre in Japan was , and this piece made a great hit when it was broadcasted. Since the great hit of , new pieces of animation in "Magical girl" genre has broadcasted through television continually, making other great hits also with in 1982 and< Sailor Moon> in 1992. Discussing of which, made not only a great hit in Japan, but worldwide as well, that its new season of TV series, , is broadcasted in 2014. "Magical girl" genre was loved by viewers of Japanese animation for a long time, and it is still broadcasted regularly today. In observation of pieces in "Magical girl" genre, magical girls who appear as a main character either fight for the world they live in, or take on an adventure, or take an action according to their idealistic purpose. However, the magical girls who appear in take an action not for the peace of their world, but rather for their own benefits and purposes. In , magical girls fight against the witches and their familiar spirits, which end up in a horrible conclusion. The witches who magical girls fought against were not already the witches in the beginning, but in fact were the other magical girls who took their action in the past. It Magical girls in present time were having witch hunt against the witches, who were once another magical girls in the past. Unlike traditional "Magical girl" genre, where witches and magical girls were used to be an that magical girls end up turning into witches. Witches did not exist in the beginning, but rather someone had to be one, to be hunted down in witch hunt. The cause of witch hunt did not exist in the beginning, but rather the ones had to be tagged as witches to be hunted down. Therefore, this paper is written to discuss an existence of witch in research of its historic origin of witch hunt, and on the witches appear in .

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.375-391
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• 2014

Animation movie is a non-photorealistic animated art that consists of formative language forming a frame based on a story and cuts describing frames that form the cuts. Therefore, in expressing an image, artistic expression methods and devices for a formative space are should be provided in a frame while cuts have the images between frames faithfully. Short animation movie is produced by various image experiments with unique image expressions rather than narration for expressing subjective discourse of a writer. Therefore, image style that forms unique images and various image directions are important factors. This study compared the experimental image directions of and , both of which showed a production method of film manipulation. First, while uses pixilation that produces images obtained from live images through painting and many optical disclosure process on a cell mat, was made with diverse collage techniques such as tearing, cutting, pasting, and folding hundreds of scenes from action movies. Second, expresses non-causal relationship of characters by their repetitive behaviors and circulatory image structure through a fixed camera angle, resisting typical scene transition. On the other hand, has an advancing structure that progresses antagonistic relationship of characters through diverse camera angles and scene transition of unique images. Third, in terms of editing, uses a long-take short cut technique in which the whole image consists of one short cut, though it seems to be many scenes with the appearance of various characters. On the other hand, maximizes visual fun and commitment by image reconstruction with hundreds of various short cuts. That is, both works have common features of an experimental work that shows expansion of animated image expressions through film manipulation that is different form general animation productions. On top of that, delivers routine life of diverse human beings without clear narration through image of conceptualized spaces. expresses it in a new image space through image reconstruction with collage technique and speedy progress, setting a binary opposition structure.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.147-165
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• 2014

Around the turn of 21st century, there has been a major technological shift in the animation industry. With development of reality-based computer graphics, major American animation studios replaced hand-drawn method with the new 3D computer graphics. Traditional animation was known for its simplified shapes such as circles and triangle that makes characters' movements distinctive from non-animated feature films. Computer-generated animation has largely replaced it, but is under continuous criticism that automated movements and reality-like graphics devaluate the aesthetics of animation. Although hand-drawn animation is still produced, 3D computer graphics have taken commercial lead and there has been many changes to acting of animated characters, which calls for detailed investigation. Firstly, the changes in acting of 3D characters can be traced from looking at human-like rigging method that mimics humanistic moving mechanism. Also, if hair and clothing was part of hand-drawn characters' acting, it has now been hidden inside mathematical simulation of 3D graphics, leaving only the body to be used in acting. Secondly, looking at "Stretch and Squash" method, which represents the distinctive movements of animation, through the lens of media, a paradox arises. Hand-drawn animation are produced frame-by-frame, and a subtle change would make animated frames shiver. This slight shivering acts as an aesthetic distinction of animated feature films, but can also require exaggerated movements to hide the shivering. On the contrary, acting of 3D animation make use of calculated movements that may seem exaggerated compared to human acting, but seem much more moderate and static compared to hand-drawn acting. Moreover, 3D computer graphics add the third dimension that allows more intuitive movements - maybe animators no longer need fine drawing skills; what they now need is directing skills to animate characters in 3D space intuitively. On the assumption that technological advancement and change of artistic expressionism are inseparable, this paper compares acting of 3D animation studio Pixar and classical drawing studio Disney to investigate character acting style and movements.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.281-302
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• 2014

Human beings have advanced to release instinctive desire. Among the human desires, sexual desire is classed as a basic desire with appetite and has been expressed in many ways from prehistoric times to present. Despite the social and ethical restriction, expression of sexual image has been evolved with change of time and medium's development. Thanks to inventing the photograph technique, Change of pornographic image has showed a dramatic aspect since early 20th century. The video which delivers message more directly than the picture boosted this change, and the animation has experimented the expression methods and techniques numerously exceeding the limit of realistic image which reappeared by the device. In this thesis, I want to discuss how human beings express sexual desire in animation based on society's sex culture, and analyzed Japanese pornographic animation as its obvious cases. Japanese pornographic animation should be interpreted as the result of culture and society system's history. Through Heian, Edo and early Meiji period, Japanese sex culture has been kept very openly and preposterously. Transformation, metamorphosis, pedophilia, tentacle sex and exposure of specific body parts that are frequently appear in Japanese animation can be interpreted by ancient Japanese open sex culture like Wakashu, polygamy, sleeping in mixed sex group and pederasty. These Japanese odd sex culture is hard to find elsewhere and settled as intrinsic sexual expression in Japanese animation. This situation was institutionally severed by European Modernization's force at the end of World War II in 20th century. However, it seems they have been keeping their influence in a proper form until now. In this study, I discussed that pornographic animation should be interpreted in a frame of cultural phenomenon by researching the series of procedure that ancient Japanese open sex culture has been changed by the system. Sexuality which is found in general Japanese animation was started from their history, and the dichotomous expression about women can be understood that it is bent by institutionally regulated sexual opinion. Japanese history and culture can be understood that it is transformed to the dichotomy that are simultaneously according freedom of eroticism to the pornographic animation, and the fear and irresistible temptation about the woman's body as the other.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.469-491
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• 2014

Webtoon has developed the method that makes it possible to express sound visually. Also we can also hear sound in webtoon through the development of web technology. It is natural that we analyze the sound that we can hear, but we can also analyze the sound that we can not hear. This study is based on 'dual code' in cognitive psychology. Cartoonists can make visual expression on the basis of auditive impression and memory, and readers can recall the sound through the process of memory and memory-retrieval. This study analyzes both audible sound and inaudable sound. Concise analysis owes the method to film sound theory. Three main factor, Volume, pitch, and tone are recognized by frequency in acoustics. On the other hand they are expressed by the thickness and site of line and image of sound source. The visual expression of in screen sound and off screen sound is related to the frame of comics. Generally the outside of frame means off sound, but some off sound is in the frame. In addition, horror comics use much sound for the effect of genre like horror film. When analyzing comics sound using this kinds of the method film sound analysis, we can find that webtoon has developed creative expression method comparing with simple ones of early comics. Especially arranging frames and expressing sound following and vertical moving are new ones in webtoon. Also types and arrangement of frame has been varied. BGM is the first in using audible sound and recently BGM composed mixing sound effect is being used. In addition, the program which makes it possible for readers to hear sound according to scroll moving. Especially horror genre raise the genre effects using this technology. Various methods of visualizing sound are being created, and the change shows that webtoon could be the model of convergence in contents.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.437-467
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• 2014

This study is intended to reveal reading comic books helps improve creativity. Though the long-lasting negative recognition towards comic books has positively changed these days, we need a ground upon which the social recognition needs improvement in that children's comic books have been used as a learning tool. Its introduction points out that there has been shortage of empirical researches on comic book reading, and as one of the empirical research methods, presents a method of comparative analysis on comic book reading, school study, and creativity tests via survey. The theoretical background in the 2nd chapter, first, puts emphasis on the significance of the creativity theory among all the other theories related to creativity, which focuses on problem-solving capacity. Second, it theoretically reviews the meaning which 'fun' and 'interest' have in development of creativity in the context of developmental process of the modern educational theories. Third, it empathizes that traits of reading comic books start off with 'fun' and 'interest', that awareness of reality gets expanded via the process of characters making their way through a strange world with empathy and absorption, and that comic book reading has to do with creativity. Fourth, it presents a model questionnaire with which to study relationship between comic books and creativity in an empirical way. The analysis on the survey outcome in the 3rd chapter shows, first, that smart students read many comic books, not to mention that studying helps improve creativity, which indicates above all, comic book reading and improvement of creativity are not negatively related, but are mutually complementary. Second, that creativity enhanced by reading comic books is higher than that enhanced by studying, which may mean comic book reading is more effective than studying in developing creativity. It has drawn a conclusion based upon these results, that reading comic books bears positive efficacy on both studying and developing creativity. Standing on this conclusion, it proposes it necessary to develop methods by grades of educating how to read comic books and to provide a recommended list of comic books to read.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.36
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• pp.237-257
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• 2014

This study is the process of performing the interdisciplinary fusion study between multiple fields by identifying the status on the previous artistic education considering the brain scientific mechanism of image creativity and brain-based learning principles. In recent years, producing the educational methods of each field as the fusion study activities are emerging as the trend and thanks to such, the results of brain-based educational fusion studies are being presented for each field. It includes artistic fields such as music, art and dance. In other words, the perspective is that by understanding the operating principles of the brain while creativity and learning is taking place, when applying various principles that can develop the corresponding functions as a teaching method, it can effectively increase the artistic performance ability and creativity. Since the animation drawing should be able to intuitively recognize the elements of movement and produce the communication with the target beyond the delineative perspective of simply drawing the objects to look the same, it requires the development of systematic educational method including the methods of communication, elements of higher cognitive senses as well as the cognitive perspective of form implementation. Therefore, this study proposes a literature study results on the artistic education applied with brain-based principles in order to design the educational model considering the professional characteristics of animation drawing. Therefore, the overseas and domestic trends of the cases of brain-based artistic education were extracted and analyzed. In addition, the cases of artistic education studies applied with brain-based principles and study results from cases of drawing related education were analyzed. According to the analyzed results, the brain-based learning related to the drawing has shown a common effect of promoting the creativity and changes of positive emotion related to the observation, concentration and image expression through the training of the right brain. In addition, there was a case of overseas educational application through the brain wave training where the timing ability and artistic expression have shown an enhancement effect through the HRV training, SMR, Beta 1 and neuro feedback training that strengthens the alpha/seta wave and it was proposing that slow brain wave neuro feedback training contributes significantly in overcoming the stress and enhancing the creative artistic performance ability. The meaning of this study result is significant in the fact that it was the case that have shown the successful application of neuro feedback training in the environment of artistic live education beyond the range of laboratory but the use of the machine was shown to have limitations for being applied to the teaching methods so its significance can be found in providing the analytical foundation for applying and designing the brain-based learning principles for future animation drawing teaching methods.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.39
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• pp.321-348
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to find a system and a progression principle in orchestral piece based on the outcome after comparatively analyzing the orchestral operation technique in "Battle for The Glory" out of the background music in the animation "Dragon Quest IV" by Koichi Sugiyama(1931~), who is a leading runner of Japan's animation music, based on functional parts daccord & Instrumentation Pattern, Rhythm Pattern, Voicing Pattern, and harmonic ratio by progression section devised by the writer. As a result, first, five themes in this music have specific instrumentation pattern, respectively. In a passage that is shown exposition, reprise, and representation in theme, the unity was emphasized by maintaining the same instrumentation pattern. On the contrary to this, a passage of being suggested new theme is being used the exchange method and addition & subtraction in musical instrument in order to strengthen diversity. Second, the voicing pattern is forming the vertical contrasting relationship of "thinness-thickness" on the whole. However, the diversity is being intensified that is changed into the structure of "thickness-thinness" in the third theme and of "thinness-thickness" that has two melodies in the fourth theme. Third, the rhythm pattern is forming the vertical contrasting relationship of "big-small" on the whole. However, the fifth theme is being given diversity with being changed into the structure of "small-big." Fourth, the harmony by progression section from the horizontal perspective is shown to be high in the proportion of unity in the section of being repeated and represented the theme and to be high in the proportion of diversity in the section of being suggested new theme. In this study, the balanced orchestral operation technique through the operation technique, which was used in this work, is what extracts the relationship of diverse proportions in the horizontal progression section based on the technique of vertical perspective. In this aspect, this analytical study is desired to be positioned as a new paradigm in establishing a theoretical system and an educational method in orchestration.