Mask meaning and visual manifestations in Japanese animation

Abstract

This article analyzes the mask phenomenon in Japanese animation as a philosophical and cultural concept synthesizing traditional and modern interpretations. The author examines C. Lévi-Strauss, V. I. Karasik, and C. G. Jung's ideas regarding the mask, alongside its conceptualization in traditional Noh theater theory. Mask functions ambivalence is emphasized through the correlation of disguise / unmasking, sacred / everyday, and form / content concepts. European and Japanese approach differences to the mask phenomenon, including theatrical practice, are reflected and conceptualized in modern animation art. Mask meaning and its visual representation / interpretation are analyzed: the mask appears as a shadow, doppelgänger, mirror, and marionette. The mask is not removed but integrated with the personality, reflecting human duality. The study concludes that European and national traditions synthesize in animation.