News! Updated 11/5/01
Second Paper Topics
First Paper Topics
Oral Presentation Schedule

This syllabus last updated 9/20/01

Instructor: Susan Napier
Office Hours: Wednesday, 11:00-12:00, 1:00-3:00
WCH 4.112
E-mail: snapier@mail.utexas.edu

TA: Brian Ruh
Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00-3:00
WCH 4.112
E-mail: brianruh@yahoo.com

Course Summary and Requirements
Week One (Aug. 30) - Introduction, Why Anime?
Week Two (Sep. 4 and Sep. 6) - Animation and the Pictocentric Culture of Japan
Week Three (Sep. 11 and Sep. 13) - The Golden Age; Anime in Space
Week Four (Sep. 18 and Sep. 20) - Romantic Comedy
Week Five (Sep. 25 and Sep. 27) - The Rise of Studio Ghibli: The World of Miyazaki
Week Six (Oct. 2 and Oct. 4) - The Rise of Studio Ghibli: Princess Mononoke, History at the Margins
Week Seven (Oct. 9 and Oct. 11)- The Rise of Studio Ghibli: Elegies, Takahata Isao's Agenda for a Vanishing World
Week Eight (Oct. 16 and Oct. 18) - What is Mecha?
Week Nine (Oct. 23 and Oct. 25) - Anime Noir / Anime Gothic
Week Ten (Oct. 30 and Nov. 1) - Erotic Anime
Week Eleven (Nov. 6 and Nov. 8) - Anime Apocalypse: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Week Twelve (Nov. 13 and Nov. 15) - Anime Apocalypse: Akira
Week Thirteen (Nov. 20 and Nov. 22) - Anime Apocalypse: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Week Fourteen (Nov. 27 and Nov. 29) - Shadows of the War
Week Fifteen (Dec. 4 and Dec. 6) - The Culture of Fandom

Course Summary and Requirements
	This course introduces you to the rich and varied world of Japanese animation (anime), one of the most important cultural products to appear in Japan in the post war period. Because anime is such a broadranging medium, we will utilize a variety of approaches, looking at it as art, social commentary, and also at its commercial aspects as an increasingly important part of global popular culture. The bulk of the course will appraoch anime through its most important themes and genres in a chronological fashion, Important overarching themes will include the role of identity and metamorphosis, especially in relation to gender issues, and we will also treat such major genres as cyberpunk/mecha, apocalypse, romantic comedy, and the erotic, in relation to some of the most significant directors and writers of anime such as Otomo Katsuhiro, Oshii Mamoru, Miyazaki Hayao, and Takahashi Rumiko. The course will also include a section on anime in relation to popular culture and the role of fan culture in the world of anime.
	Course Requirements: Two 6-8 page papers (30%) One Midterm (20%) Journal & Class Participation (10%) Oral Report (10%) Final Exam (30%)
	Classroom attendance and attendance at film showings is EXPECTED, OF COURSE, and attendance WILL be taken. Also be aware that a fraction of the material covered in this course contains a high component of sexuality and violence.
	Required Books: Antonia Levi, Samurai From Outer Space Helen McCarthy, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation Fredrik Schodt, Dreamland Japan Susan Napier, Anime From Akira to Princess Mononoke In addition, there will be a packet of articles and book excerpts available at the Texas Union Copy Center
Week One (Aug. 30) - Introduction, Why Anime?
Week Two (Sep. 4 and Sep. 6) - Animation and the Pictocentric Culture of Japan
	Tuesday, September 4: The Deep Background - Scrolls, Ukiyo-e and Manga. (In class clips from Ninja Scroll and Vampire Princess Miyu Readings: Schodt, "Chapter One" and pp. 136-140; Levi, Chapters 1 and 2
	Thursday, September 6: The Long Shot: Japanese and Western Animation, Disney, Tezuka, etc. (In class clips from Kimba the White Lion, Betty Boop, etc.) Readings: Raffaeli, "Disney, Warner Brothers, and Japanese Animation" in Packet; Wells, Chapters 1 and 2; Schodt, Chapter 5; Napier, Chapters 1 and 2 Oral Report Selection Due
Week Three (Sep. 11 and Sep. 13) - The Golden Age; Anime in Space
	Tuesday, September 11: Space, Science Fiction, Militarism Film Showing: Farewell Yamato
	Thursday, September 13: The Empire Strikes Back: Forever Yamato and Gundam Readings: Sato Kenji, "More Animated than Life" in Packet; Yoshida Mitsuhiru, "The Space Cruiser Yamato Generation" in Packet
Week Four (Sep. 18 and Sep. 20) - Romantic Comedy (Oral Reports Begin)
	Tuesday, September 18: Comedy, the Shojo, and the Culture of Cuteness Film Showing: Urusei Yatsura, Episode One; Aa Megamisama, Episode One; Video Girl Ai, Episode One
	Thursday, September 20: The Magical Girlfriend in Urusei Yatsura, Aa Megamisama, and Video Girl Ai Readings: Sharon Kinsella, "Cuties in Japan" in Packet, Chapter 8
Week Five (Sep. 25 and Sep. 27) - The Rise of Studio Ghibli: The World of Miyazaki
	Tuesday, September 25: Miyazaki as auteur Film showing: My Neighbor Totoro
	Thursday, September 27: The shojo and the fantastic in Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro (clips from Laputa, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa) Readings: Helen McCarthy, Chapters 1 and 5; Napier, Chapter 10 Journal Due
Week Six (Oct. 2 and Oct. 4) - The Rise of Studio Ghibli: Princess Mononoke, History at the Margins
	Tuesday, October 2: The Making of a Blockbuster Film Showing: Princess Mononoke
	Thursday, October 4: "History as Vision" Readings: McCarthy, Chapter 8; Napier, Chapter 10 First Paper Due
Week Seven (Oct. 9 and Oct. 11) - The Rise of Studio Ghibli: Elegies, Takahata Isao's Agenda for a Vanishing World
	Tuesday, October 9: The Rural Utopia Film Showing: Only Yesterday
	Thursday, October 11: Midterm plus Journals Due Readings: McCarthy, Chapter 12; Selection from "Discourses of the Vanishing" in Packet
Week Eight (Oct. 16 and Oct. 18)  - What is Mecha?
	Tuesday, October 16: The Armored Body and the Robot (clips from Robot Carnival, Bubblegum Crash) Film Showing: Ghost in the Shell Readings: Levi, Chapter 5; Napier, Chapter 6
	Thursday, October 18: Ghost in the Shell: Mecha meets Cyberpunk Readings: Gray, Mentor, and Figueroa-Sarriera, "Cyberology" in Packet
Week Nine (Oct. 23 and Oct. 25) - Anime Noir / Anime Gothic
	Tuesday, October 23: The Transforming Woman (clips from Wicked City) Film Showing: Perfect Blue
	Thursday, October 25: "Idol" Mysteries in Perfect Blue: "Cute Culture" revisited Readings: Aoyagi, "Pop Idols" in Packet Journals Due
Week Ten (Oct. 30 and Nov. 1) - Erotic Anime
	Tuesday, October 30: The Erotic in Japanese Culture Film Showing: Wicked City
	Thursday, November 1: Erotic and the Gothic: Wicked City and Legend of the Overfiend Readings: Schodt, pp. 43-55, 159-164; Levi, pp. 115-136; Susan Pointon "Transcultural Orgasm as Apocalypse" in Packet; McCarthy "The Erotic Anime Companion" in Packet; Napier, Chapter 4
Week Eleven (Nov. 6 and Nov. 8) - Anime Apocalypse: Revolutionary Girl Utena
	Tuesday, November 6: Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Ultimate Apocalypse? Film Showing: Revolutionary Girl Utena
	Thursday, November 8: Revolutionary Girl Utena, first three episodes in class
Week Twelve (Nov. 13 and Nov. 15) - Anime Apocalypse: Akira
	Tuesday, November 13: Revelations, Mysteries, and the Shadow of the Bomb Film Showing: Akira
	Thursday, November 15: Akira's Post-Modern Apocalypse Readings: Napier, "Panic Sites" in Packet; Schodt, pp. 228-232
Week Thirteen (Nov. 20 and Nov. 22) - Anime Apocalypse: Neon Genesis Evangelion
	Tuesday, November 20: Evangelion and Dysfunctional Apocalypse Film Showing: Neon Genesis Evangelion, first five episodes Second Paper Due
	Thursday, November 22: Thanksgiving Holiday Readings: Napier, Chapter 5 and 11
Week Fourteen (Nov. 27 and Nov. 29) - Shadows of the War
	Tuesday, November 27: The War, Memory, and Victimhood
	Thursday, November 29: Barefoot Gen and Grave of the Fireflies: "Teaching" the War Readings: Napier, Chapter 9
Week Fifteen (Dec. 4 and Dec. 6) - The Culture of Fandom
	Tuesday, December 4: Anime Fandom Film Showing: Otaku no Video
	Thursday, December 6: The American Otaku Readings: Schodt, pp. 43-49; Levi, Chapter One; Napier, Appendix: The Fifth Look; Newitz, "Anime Otaku" in Packet Journals Due

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