Anime Research Articles

Non-health-targeted promotions and step counts of smartphone-based mall walking program users

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic changed lifestyles and raised concerns regarding physical inactivity among adults. Mobile health interventions for physical activity may be a potential solution. However, the effects may diminish over time. This study investigated whether incorporating non-health-targeted promotions into an existing mobile health-walking program could stimulate users to walk. Methods We used nationwide cohort data of smartphone users participating in a shopping mall walking program in Japan. We focused on existing users registered in the program until October 31, 2022. A Japanese anime tie-in promotion was conducted by the shopping mall company from December 3 to 25, 2022, offering additional rewards alongside the regular program. We collected step count records of existing users 1 month before and after (November 1 to December 2, 2022, and December 26, 2022 to January 31, 2023, respectively), and during the promotion period. Propensity score matching was applied to ensure balance in the baseline characteristics of existing users in terms of gender, age, and pre-promotion program participation frequency. Next, we analyzed the association between participation in the promotion program and the average daily step counts during and after the promotional period using mixed effects models for repeated measures, while adjusting for the same covariates. Results Among the 18,156 users included in the study, 13,386 (73.7%) were women, with a mean (SD) age of 45.2 (12.7) years, and a mean (SD) pre-promotion program participation frequency of 9.7 (9.6) per month. During the promotion period, the participants walked 87 (95% CI: 50-125) more steps per day than non-participants, after adjusting for covariates. No clear association was observed 1 month post-promotion. Conclusions These findings indicate that non-health-targeted promotions may be short-term motivators for existing app users to walk. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to assess the long-term impact. Key messages • Mobile health intervention effects may diminish over time. • A non-health-related promotion could stimulate existing mall walking program app users to increase their daily step count temporarily.

The Geopolitical Imaginaries in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale and Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick

This paper explores the geopolitical imaginaries in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851) and in the Japanese science fiction animation titled Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick (1997-1999) by the Japanese animation artist Osamu Dezaki. Although it is an adaptation of Moby-Dick, the setting of Hakugei has been creatively changed from the sea to space. In the mid-nineteenth century, when Melville chose the sea as the setting of his quest novel, the sea was inextricably intertwined with the nineteenth-century myth of U.S. expansionism. Melville presents a double vision of imaginary islands in the South Sea and the actual geopolitical relationships between existing transatlantic countries. Yet in the second half of the twentieth century, especially in the wake of Transpacific tensions, the sea as a place of quest among Japanese writers could not be delineated in the same kind of prefigurative language used by Melville, such as by drawing on symbolism. Instead, the animation reflects a Cold War psychology that was prevalent among Japanese after the defeat of World War II. As this paper suggests, Hakugei displays both fear and hope for the geopolitical transformation of the Pacific Rim countries and their future safety by choosing outer space as a site for the fable. It is in this way that the Japanese animator Dezaki draws on Melville’s Moby-Dick as a source text by engaging geopolitics, anti-war psychology, and uneasiness toward expansionism. Melville’s pacifism can be argued for as major transcultural influence, at the very least, driving Hakugei’s anime characterization. In fact, going beyond drawing on certain characters, including Ahab, Dezaki retains Melville’s anxiety over the proximity of creation and destruction in yet another era of increasing concern for world peace.

Animations, videos and 3D models for teaching space-group symmetry

A series of animations, videos and 3D models that were developed, filmed or built to teach the symmetry properties of crystals are described. At first, these resources were designed for graduate students taking a basic crystallography course, coming from different careers, at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had the effect of accelerating the generation of didactic material. Besides our experience with postgraduate students, we have noted that 3D models attract the attention of children, and therefore we believe that these models are particularly useful for teaching children about the assembled arrangements of crystal structures.

Evergreen Avengers: Nature and Kaijū in the Twenty-First Century

After a decade of dormancy following the release of Tōhō Studios’ Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), Godzilla and other kaijū burst back onto the scene with Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla (2014). Several American sequels and a television series set in Legendary’s MonsterVerse quickly followed over the next ten years. Meanwhile, Japan’s Tōhō used their radioactive creation’s global success to reignite their own films with Shin Godzilla (2016), an animated trilogy, and Godzilla Minus One (2023). Short-format media like Chibi Godzilla and Godziban also circulated thanks to streaming services. Similarly, Godzilla’s longtime competitor Gamera also emerged from hibernation in an animated series produced by Kadokawa Corporation, Gamera Rebirth (2023). But how do these new installations relate to or depart from their predecessors’ predilection to address environmental concerns? This article continues the ecocritical analysis of kaijū eiga, expanding it to the 2010s and 2020s, as a coda to our duograph Japan’s Green Monsters (2018). This article picks up where we left off, examining the recent releases from an ecocritical standpoint. This analysis reveals that today’s films remain steeped in environmental commentary, but both fragmented and updated for the new concerns of the twenty-first century.

Ramadhan Themes in Islamic Education Using Upin and Ipin Media

General Background: Audio-visual media are crucial in education, enhancing students' understanding and retention. Specific Background: In Islamic Religious Education (IRE), particularly during the Ramadhan fasting theme, effective use of audio-visual media can engage students actively. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding their application in elementary schools. Aims: This study examines how teachers at Jagul State Elementary School utilize audio-visual media, specifically the animated series "Upin and Ipin," in IRE. Results: Through descriptive qualitative research, findings indicate that the implementation of audio-visual media significantly improves students' learning outcomes, as evidenced by increased motivation and comprehension. Novelty: This study highlights the effective integration of engaging audio-visual materials in religious education. Implications: The research suggests that incorporating audio-visual media in IRE fosters a more dynamic learning environment, encouraging educators to adopt innovative teaching methods to enrich student experiences. Highlights: Enhanced Engagement: Audio-visual materials like "Upin and Ipin" actively involve students in the learning process. Improved Comprehension: The use of audio-visual media significantly boosts students' understanding of Islamic concepts. Dynamic Learning Environment: Incorporating innovative teaching methods fosters a more effective and enjoyable educational experience. Keywords: Audio-Visual Media, Islamic Education, Ramadhan, Student Engagement, Learning Outcomes

Singlish in focus: a personal view from Downstairs

ABSTRACT The status of Singlish in Singapore media is a site of conflict between the government and the populace. Linguistic control in Singapore, as a strategy for managing national identity and cohesion, is not new. However, understanding the regulation of Singlish in television and cinema elucidates the media’s role in Singapore’s language policy. Singlish validates the lived experience of Singaporeans in media representations, yet the government discourages its use. This paper examines the language use in the first two seasons of the adult animated series Downstairs (Han) to explore Singlish’s role in local media as a conduit of cohesion, division and transgression. Brief comparisons are made to three prominent movies released in the same period: A Land Imagined (Yeo), A Long Long Time Ago 3: Diam Diam Era and A Long Long Time Ago 4: Diam Diam Era 2 (Neo). Singlish neutralizes identity markers like ethnicity, culture and nationality but emphasizes boundaries of class, education and perceived success. Singlish, as a language of disempowerment and marginalization, symbolizes anti-establishment attitudes and solidarity against English-speaking status. Downstairs demonstrates how language differentiates class, expresses cultural values and addresses social issues, empowering its satire in interrogating the typical Singapore experience.

Impoliteness and Gender: An Analysis Of Animation Series Family Guy Season 20th

This study examines the use of impoliteness strategies and their relationship with gender in the animated series "Family Guy," with a specific focus on the 20th season. The objective is to determine whether the creators differentiate the use of impolite language between male and female characters and which gender employs these strategies more frequently. Using Jonathan Culpeper's 1996 frameworks, impoliteness strategies were categorized into five types: bald on record, positive impoliteness, negative impoliteness, sarcasm, and withhold politeness. A qualitative descriptive method was employed to analyse dialogues transcribed from the animations. The findings reveal six instances of impoliteness from Lois Griffin, including three bald on record utterances, two positive incivility utterances, and one withhold politeness utterance. In contrast, Peter Griffin exhibited 11 instances of impoliteness, consisting of one bald on record utterance, six positive impoliteness utterances, one negative impoliteness utterance, and three sarcastic utterances, with no examples of withhold politeness. The analysis indicates that female characters' impoliteness utterances are fewer than male characters, potentially due to limited screen time. However, the nature of Lois Griffin's impoliteness was similar to Peter's, suggesting that the creators did not design female characters to be more polite. This challenges traditional gender stereotypes regarding language use.

MORE MILK, FEWER FARMS, and REGIONAL CONCENTRATION: MAPPING TRANSFORMATIONS IN CALIFORNIA’S DAIRY INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT The transformation of California’s dairy industry is a prime example of structural change in agriculture. The state has been on the leading edge of changes in the geography of food and agriculture for 150 years, and many characteristics of modern large-scale agriculture emerged—or reached their culmination—in California. We examine the spatial transformation of dairy production in California as a window into the potential futures for the dairy industry both within California and elsewhere. We use data from county agricultural reports and USDA Censuses of Agriculture data to demonstrate, through a series of original maps and animations, the dramatic increase in production of milk, the rapid fall in the number of dairies, and the spatial redistribution of the industry over the past 40 years. These visualizations reveal illustrative spatial patterns and insights into rapid changes in the geography of dairy production—and agriculture more generally—within California. Based on these visualizations and analyses, we propose a framework for understanding the intersecting phenomena of dairy transformations in California: regional concentration, industry consolidation, and farm-level intensification. In explaining how these processes are nested, overlapping, and multiscalar, we offer an account of past and current trajectories, while examining the applicability and implications of these findings for other dairy-producing regions into the future.

Myth and Cyber: A Study of the Narrative and Visual Language of Chinese Cyberpunk Anime Films

Abstract The cyberpunk genre started a new trend in Chinese anime movies after 2020, represented by the hugely commercially successful New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021). Unlike Western cyberpunk, which focuses on portraying the future as a subcategory of science fiction, Chinese cyberpunk anime chooses to look back, fusing ancient myths with cyborgs, which is called myth-cyberpunk, reconstructing traditional Chinese culture, and broadening the boundaries of cyberpunk. This paper focuses on spatial construction and characterization in Chinese cyberpunk anime films. It traces the influence of Western cyberculture on Chinese animation and the uniqueness and local innovation of the Chinese side. Importantly, it examines the role of audience participation in the processes of cultural encoding and decoding, as proposed by Stuart Hall, to understand the dynamics behind the growing popularity of cyber animation in China. This paper aims to interpret the evolution of the cyberpunk style in Chinese animations, its reception, and its deeper societal motivations, offering insights into the unique allure of Chinese cyberpunk anime within the contemporary socio-cultural context.

Artistic images as a reflection of changes in Japanese society: Dr. Kosaku Tokita in the anime "Paprika" by Satoshi Kona

The aim of the study was to trace how Japanese animation follows changes in society and reflects them through the prism of the author's vision. We have already studied this aspect using the example of a female artistic image. The subject of our current study is the artistic image of a modern man; the object was the image of a Japanese man in the anime "Paprika" by director Satoshi Kon. The novelty of the study can be defined as the introduction of new, previously unpresented material into scientific circulation. We did not find any works on the study of the male artistic image in Satoshi Kon's anime "Paprika". Compared to all the images of men in the anime "Paprika", it is the artistic image of Dr. Kosaku Tokita that turned out to be multifaceted, unusual, complex, and, along with national traditional features, in many ways innovative for Japanese anime of the early 21st century. This allows us to say that the place of the main male character in the anime "Paprika" by Satoshi Kon is certainly given to Kosaku Tokita, "mixing" the typical characteristics of traditional images and adding notes of modernity. By creating an artistic image, Satoshi Kon generalizes elements of real characters. Such an unusual artistic interpretation for Japanese anime is a confirmation of the fact that an artistic image is, first of all, a reflection of the world, society and culture. Satoshi Kon is a representative of Japanese society, which is rapidly changing, and Japanese culture is changing, its traditional images that have existed in the Japanese cultural space for centuries. The European viewer, due to the fact that the anime genre has gained wide popularity, naturally immerses himself in the environment of Japanese realities along with the fact that he is familiar with Western nuances, which are sufficiently saturated with modern Japanese animated films.

Patch-free streaming contrast-rebalanced dichoptic cartoons versus patching for treatment of amblyopia in children aged 3 to 5 years: a pilot, randomized clinical trial

BackgroundWe developed and tested a dichoptic treatment designed for younger children that can be viewed freely and involves a dichoptic manipulation of a popular animation series that enables contrast-rebalancing without disrupting fusion. Our aim was to assess whether this novel amblyopia treatment is superior to patching in children aged 3-5 years. MethodsA total of 34 children with amblyopia were randomly assigned to contrast-rebalanced dichoptic cartoons (4 hours/week) or patching (14 hours/week) for 2 weeks. Children in the cartoon group continued watching cartoons for an additional 2 weeks. Designed to target the youngest and most treatable children, the dichoptic cartoons presented the entire scene to the amblyopic eye at 100% contrast, while the fellow eye view was presented at reduced contrast with the main character omitted. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), stereoacuity, suppression, and manual dexterity were measured at each visit. ResultsAfter 2 weeks, improvement in amblyopic eye BCVA was greater for dichoptic treatment than for patching, with a mean improvement of 0.11 ± 0.08 versus 0.06 ± 0.09 logMAR, respectively (P = 0.04). Stereoacuity, suppression, and manual dexterity did not improve significantly more in the dichoptic group than the patching group at 2 weeks. After 4 weeks of dichoptic cartoon treatment, mean visual acuity improvement in the dichoptic group was 0.16 logMAR (95% CI, 0.10-0.21). ConclusionsIn our study cohort, a contrast-rebalanced dichoptic cartoon was more effective than patching in treating childhood amblyopia after 2 weeks. Dichoptic cartoons that rebalance contrast to overcome suppression provide an additional treatment option for amblyopia in young children.

Research on External Manifestation of Character Existentialism in Chinese Animation in the New Media Era - Taking The Outcast, Killer Seven and Incarnation as Examples

Existentialism, after over a century of development, has evolved from a philosophical idea into a way of life. In recent years, a group known as "refined egoists" has emerged in both reality and animated works. The appearance of these extreme existentialists who ignore social responsibility reveals that in this era of transition between old and new ideologies, existentialist thought has awakened in people's value systems. This article intends to analyze the external manifestations of character’s existentialism in animation works to summarize the reflections of objective phenomena in reality and to discuss the contradictions and problems that the current young generation are facing between themselves and society. This article uses qualitative research methods to analyze representative characters from three animated series, The Outcast, Killer Seven, and Incarnation, and uses a thematic analysis method that combines existentialism theory to summarize the external manifestations of characters in terms of their internal conflicts, conflicts between individuals, and conflicts between individuals and society. These manifestations include the denial of determinism, affirmation of subjectivity under relative justice, identification with minority groups, denial of authority, and autonomous choice of values. Young generation people are confronted with unprecedentedly great uncertainty and insecurity brought about by the freedom of choice, as well as the social reality of the gradual awakening of existentialist consciousness in contemporary society.

Promoting analytical thinking skills development in elementary school students through animated cartoons

Traditional educational settings often struggle to engage students and cater to their individual needs when cultivating analytical thinking skills. This study addresses this challenge by exploring the potential of animated cartoons to enhance analytical thinking among elementary students. The research aims were to develop an animated cartoon format that encourages analytical thinking, evaluate its effectiveness, and investigate students' application of analytical thinking. Using cluster sampling, 2258 students were selected from 44 randomly chosen schools in Thailand's Mekong River Basin. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing document analysis, format suitability assessment, and an analytical thinking skills rubric. Data analysis involved qualitative summaries, descriptive statistics, and comparisons of pre- and post-intervention assessments. The findings revealed that the developed 3D animated series “Tang Na's Analysis" significantly improved students' analytical thinking skills, with high format suitability and good quality analytical thinking post-intervention. This study highlights the potential of animated instructional media to stimulate higher-order cognitive functions and make complex concepts accessible, contributing to the integration of engaging technological tools in education to nurture essential thinking skills.

Research on the Influence of Japanese Anime on Chinese College Students' Consumption Habits in Haikyu

With the popularity of Japanese anime in China, the behavior of Chinese college students consuming Japanese anime derivatives has received widespread attention. In the existing research, there is a lack of discussion on the consumption of anime animation cultural products by Chinese college students. Therefore, this study takes Haikyu as an example to analyze the impact of Japanese action anime (with friendship, effort, and desire to win) on the consumption habits of Chinese college students. Analysis shows that the emotional resonance between such Japanese action anime and Chinese college students, as well as the love of Chinese college students for anime characters, affects the demand psychology, purchase motivation, and consumption willingness of college students in terms of consumption habits. Meanwhile, Chinese college students are becoming more rational in their consumption of peripheral products from Japanese anime. Based on this, this study provides a detailed explanation of the two factors that influence the consumption habits of Chinese college students, including themes such as friendship, youth, and dreams in Japanese anime, as well as their love for characters portrayed in anime.

Influence of Japanese Anime on the Social Behaviour of University Students in Nanjing ---- Taking Cosplay Culture as an Example

In Nanjing, the popularity of Japanese animation is relatively high, which has a significant impact on university students' daily life and hobbies. In order to study the impact of Japanese anime on Chinese college students better, this study takes the perspective of Cosplay in Nanjing to explore and discuss its impact on college students' social life. The study found that Cosplay made them more willing to initiate conversations, making them more willing to initiate conversations and enhance their social confidence. Cosplay culture has also developed among university students in Nanjing. Cosplay activities not only help college students broaden their social circle and enhance their social skills, but also promote cultural exchanges, and enrich the form of social interaction. At the same time, Japanese anime and cosplay cultures have also influenced the values and behaviours of university students, making them more open and tolerant, focusing on personality display and teamwork. In the future, with the development of Japanese anime and cosplay culture, the social ways of Nanjing university students may become more diversified and internationalised. It promotes communication and interaction between people from different regions and cultural backgrounds. By participating in cosplay activities, college students can be exposed to more cultural elements and concepts, and enhance their understanding of and respect for different cultures. This is of positive significance to their personal growth and the formation of their worldview.

Animation Production Contributes to the Innovation and Development of Intangible Oil Paper Umbrella Culture

This study explores using animation to enhance the cultural promotion and innovation of intangible heritage oil paper umbrellas. These umbrellas, rich in history and craftsmanship, face modern challenges like market decline and skill inheritance issues. The research seeks to offer fresh insights and strategies for cultural preservation and innovation through animation. It starts by examining the cultural significance and current challenges of oil paper umbrellas, such as waning market interest and a lack of youth engagement with tradition. The study then discusses the role of animation in promoting intangible culture, highlighting its potential to raise awareness, engage the youth, and showcase traditional Chinese charm. The research suggests innovative promotional ideas like animation series, interactive platforms, and cultural events, focusing on multimedia, storytelling, and technology. It also proposes new concepts like cultural element extraction, cross-industry collaboration, and digital presentation to highlight the umbrella's unique appeal and facilitate its promotion. The conclusion emphasizes that animation is a powerful tool for cultural promotion and preservation, with the potential to revitalize the oil paper umbrella culture in the modern era. It anticipates future developments in market reach, education, cultural exchange, and social engagement, stressing the need for ongoing innovation in cultural inheritance. Overall, the study aims to provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the preservation and innovative development of the oil paper umbrella culture, fostering integration with modern society and promoting sustainable cultural growth.

The Impact of the Peculiarities of EVA Characterization on Its Commercialization

At present, the issue of Japanese anime pop culture has received widespread attention from all walks of life. However, there are still insufficient studies on the relationship between character creation and commercialization. This paper analyzes the particularity of character building in Neon Genesis Evangelion and the influence and connection of character building on the commercialization of EVA. It is concluded that the characterization of EVA has the particularity of the times. It contains a lot of negative shaping and human nature analysis, and this characteristic has gained the audience's sense of recognition and empathy, thus promoting the development of commercialization. The commercialization of EVA is inseparable from the Japanese production committee system, and at the same time, character building is the fundamental reason that affects whether fans buy or not, character appearance is an important reason that affects the desire to buy. Based on this, this paper puts forward the following suggestions: Start with marketing and innovation to retain old audiences and attract new ones. Seize the hot spots of the times and maintain multi-sector cooperation.

Business Models and Cultural Negotiations between Chinese and Japanese Enterprises and Organizations: A Study Based on the IP Licensing Process of the Japanese Animation Industry

The Japanese animation industry has developed for a long time. It is one of the most mature animation markets. Globalization serves as a new and inexhaustible driving force for the Japanese animation industry. China as an active responder to globalization, has already become the largest consumer of the products of Japanese animation. However, there are some differences between the business models and cultures in Chinese and Japanese enterprises and organizations in trading and negotiating on IP licensing. In the early days, the Japanese animation industry generally adopted a single-investor financing model, which means where the investor bore all profits and losses. Since the 1990s, the Japanese animation industry has gradually formed and adopted a multi-member collaborative model centered around a "production committee" to invest and produce animation products, in which the members of the “production committee” co-invest, share risks, and achieve mutual benefits and win-win. The variation in business models is intricately linked to the different market economy environment at the time. With the development of globalization, as investors and copyright owners of animation works and products, the multi-member "production committee" plays a significant role in the overseas licensing operations of Japanese animation IPs, which requires professional teams or enterprises with cross-cultural experience necessitating coordination by.

Dubbing of English animated series into Arabic on Shahid and Netflix: an analysis based on the politeness theory

PurposeDrawing on the politeness theory, this study explored the dubbing of English children's cartoons into Modern Standard Arabic, focusing on negative face speech acts such as compliments, suggestions, rejections, and suggestions in rejections.Design/methodology/approachThrough quantitative and qualitative comparative analyses, this study investigated the influence of cultural differences on the selection of dubbing strategies, analyzed the politeness strategies employed in dubbing, and examined the maintenance of pragmatic equivalence in translated speech acts. Data were collected from the cartoon series “The Loud House” from popular digital platforms Shahid and Netflix, chosen for their regional (the Arab world) and global popularity, respectively.FindingsThe findings revealed shifts and adaptations in the dubbing process influenced by linguistic and cultural factors, particularly emphasizing social norms and power dynamics (e.g. respect for elders) prevalent in the Arab culture. Translators strategically employed politeness strategies, such as off-record and bald on-record strategies, to ensure cultural appropriateness and maintain the integrity of familial relationships depicted in the content. The comparative analysis of translators' approaches on Shahid and Netflix platforms highlights significant differences in the translation of negative face-threatening act scenarios. Netflix shows a tendency to adjust politeness pragmatic levels to better suit the preferences of the target audience, indicating a proactive effort to enhance viewer engagement through effective translation strategies. In contrast, Shahid adopts a more conservative approach, maintaining a consistent politeness level in its translations, which aligns closely with cultural norms and expectations. This comparative analysis underscores the divergent translation strategies employed by the two platforms, with Netflix prioritizing adaptation to audience preferences and Shahid favoring preservation of established politeness levels. The cultural social factors that influenced the translation and adaptation of face threatening acts can be grasped by considering elements such as social distance, power dynamics, and relative imposition. In Arabic culture, these factors play a crucial role in determining the social dynamics and interactions between individuals. The observed patterns of shifts and adaptations in the translation of face threatening acts on Shahid and Netflix reflect the nature of stratified Arabic societies where communal relationships are defined by factors like family ties, elder-younger dynamics, and friendships. These cultural factors shape the social norms and expectations surrounding face threatening acts, which, in turn, influence the translation choices made on these platforms.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has several limitations that need acknowledgment. Firstly, the sample size was limited, focusing on the dubbing of only two versions of an animated series and four seasons, comparing translations across two platforms. Additionally, there were challenges related to the accessibility and availability of data, with limited information about the translators involved in the dubbing process. Furthermore, the study's focus on specific types of translations may have overlooked other important factors influencing translation practices. Lastly, regional variations in translation practices within the Arab world were not considered. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights into translation practices in animated series on Shahid and Netflix platforms, highlighting the need for future research to address these limitations and provide a more comprehensive understanding of translation practices in the Arab world.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study have significant practical implications for a wide range of stakeholders, including translators, educators, textbook writers, and even non-specialists. For translators, especially those working in the field of audiovisual translation, understanding the nuances of politeness strategies and their application in different cultural contexts is essential. The findings suggest that translators should be sensitive to cultural and social factors when translating negative face-threatening act scenarios in cartoons. By making strategic decisions to adapt translations to align with audience preferences while still preserving cultural appropriateness, translators can enhance viewer engagement and ensure that the translated content resonates effectively with the target audience. Educators and textbook writers can also benefit from these findings by incorporating insights into politeness theory and cross-cultural communication into their curriculum and materials. By teaching students about the importance of politeness strategies in translation and providing them with practical examples and exercises, educators can help prepare the next generation of translators to navigate complex linguistic and cultural challenges in their work. Additionally, non-specialists, such as viewers of translated content, can gain a better understanding of the intricacies involved in translation and the impact of cultural factors on communication. By being aware of these issues, non-specialists can become more discerning consumers of translated media and appreciate the skill and artistry involved in the translation process.Originality/valueThis study underscores the cultural competence and sensitivity of Arab translators in navigating linguistic and social dynamics, contributing to the creation of culturally resonant and entertaining content for young Arabic-speaking audiences.

Hard Spirits: Architectural Apparitions in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away

AbstractFilm has a long history of spectral association, from the possibilities of projection, the dancing image that hangs in the air, to the translucence of the media itself. Taking inspiration from a Japanese animation, Michael Chapman, Professor and Chair of Architecture and Industrial Design at Western Sydney University, has created a series of works that seek to fill in the haunted blanks and uncanny parallaxes that exist between the space we view and perceive in the filmic sequence and an ‘objective’ reality of that architecture. He uses some of the compositional protocols of the traditional scroll and machinery to produce his proposal – a parallel world that haunts the absences and holes within the original.