Fandom is often defined as communities built around the shared enjoyment of an aspect of popular culture. It can have an impact on many different media but one particular media which will be the focus of this dissertation is animation; specifically anime, which is Japanese animation. Not only Japanese animation but also Western animation when it comes to the new audiences arising in fandom within animation. As animation continues evolving as a medium, it is important to see the causes of its evolution. Fandom plays a huge role in how animation changes and how it is adapted to fit its audience.
A key book when discussing the relationship between fandom and animation is Fantasy/Animation Connections between Media, Mediums and Genres. WIthin this is the explanation that “Fandom has often served as an inspiration throughout the rich legacies of animation film making” (Sergeant & Holliday, 2018, 2). This reinforces the concept of fandom being a key pillar of inspiration in animation and thus, helps to form the foundation of this dissertation. Henry Jenkins has written many documents and articles on fandom and fan studies as a whole. One key book that will be critically evaluated is ‘Fan Bloggers and Gamers, Participatory culture’. Within this, Henry Jenkins provides insight into the role of fans by stating “Fans are Central to how culture operates” (2006, 1). Fandom is similarly central to how media is produced, as the audience is key in how well the media is received. This is important to include as the overarching topic is about culture in animation and how this has an impact from that unique point of view. Another key author that will be referenced is the media scholar and cultural theorist, John Fiske. These two key authors will be studied and their related texts will be analyzed to allow a greater insight into fandom studies and how research within this area has led to a profound effect upon the producers and the media.
In the first chapter, the concept of fans becoming the creators will be explored. Following on from here, Chapter Two will further the investigation into Anime and Fandom with a deep dive into how anime fans, referred to as Otaku, influence the medium of animation and how activities such as fan subbing show how fandoms have a direct and key impact on animation and media as a whole. Next, the final chapter will attempt to provide insight into the future of fandom and animation. The world of tomorrow will look very different from today and with the rise in new technologies, it is important to consider how animation will be different in the next few decades. With the recent emergence of virtual reality, now is the time to analyze how this might affect animation in the upcoming years. Lastly, a conclusion will be established outlining how each chapter has enlightened the researcher in comprehending the impact fandom has on animation.
From here, a short literature review expands on the previous two books of Fiske and Jenkins with the following books and articles being just a subset of the total sources used. ‘Fandom Unbound: Otaku Culture in a Connected World’ by Ito, M. et al, will provide a greater insight into the world of fandom. ‘Anime Studies’ by Jose Santiago Iglesias and Ana Soler Baena will allow us to look further into the world of anime and how its fandom will influence the relationship between the two.
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