The head
of the anime division at Disney , Takuto Yahata, says
that while Japan's fundamental narrative remains constant, some
more acceptable expressions may be necessary to avoid offending a sector of the
market.
Yahata
recently spoke with Mantan Web about Disney's position in the anime market and
how it has transformed in recent years. « Japanese anime is entering
a golden age. The market size has exceeded three trillion yen and continues to
reach new highs ,” Yahata stated, before highlighting that the
medium has expanded beyond a small group of fans who bought Blu-rays and
DVDs. With anime now spreading around the world, Yahata was asked if
Japan's "unique" and "radical" form of expression needed to
change.
" I
don't think there has been any major change ," Yahata said.
« The fundamental narration, the precision of the action, etc. have
not changed, but there may be a shift towards adopting more acceptable
expressions. To be seen by many people, expressions that do not
hurt or deceive people are a fact. It is not something negative, but
perhaps an evolution. When videograms were the center of attention,
there was a tendency for only those who wanted to buy to buy. Now that
we distribute to a broader market with a service that adults and children can
watch at any time, awareness is changing .
Yahata's
words raised concerns among some anime fans, who believe that the appeal of
Japanese anime lies in its failure to cater to Western sensibilities. Some
creators , such as the director of the “Black Jack” and “Mysterious
Disappearances” episodes, Kentaro Mizuno, share the same sentiment,
posting via Twitter that “anime could easily fall into the trap of political
correctness to be sold on the Western and Chinese cultural spheres.
Others
disagree that the continued globalization of anime is a cause for concern , such as “One Piece: Red”
director and “Code Geass” director Goro Taniguchi, who claims that anime has
always taken into account reception in the world. foreigner and has made
changes to be appreciated by all.
Yahata
concluded his interview by saying: " I think no matter the
setting, the points that impress people remain the same. What
is the best universal narrative of any era? I think it can excite all
countries, regions and generations equally. The combinations are
endless, and although new things continue to be created, there are some that
will never change .
Source: Mantan Web
