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Random picture. (Right: Makima, from Chainsaw man (2018). A rare example that a female character representing as the most powerful character in a shonen manga.) |
My current idea is “Representation of female characters in career-themed anime”. I found male character have more diversity in jobs, and female usually only acts as a supporting character. Especially comes to the creation-related industry, here are some examples:
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| Bakuman: Boys writing manga |
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| Fune o Amu: Male making dictionary |
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| Blue Period |
On other hand, most career-themed anime with female as main characters are mainly in the theme of playing music or idols, and the majority are sexualising them.
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| Keijo |
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Hanebado
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But there are some exceptions, that have female leads, more diversity and less sexualised, in recent years:
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| Carole& Tuesday |
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| WAVE: Listen to me! |
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| Keep your hands off Eizouken |
Possibly ideas for the essay:
What makes this happen?
- The gender ratio in the industry included animator, light novel writer and manga writer. I am still looking for some statistics of the Japanese animation industry but some research shows there is only 20-40% of professional roles are held by women in both EU and US animation industry, which could also have some relation because AJA shows there are over 200 contracts were made in US, EU, Canada and Australia in 2020.
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| Some statistics from AJA of 2020's animation in Japan |
- Audience problem?
- How does it influence me as an animator? (eg. awareness of gender issue)
