I think that similar invisible origins were lurking behind the "ultraman" series. The reason why heros in these films were depicted as humanoid figures with silvery skins is probably due to the disillusionment of the people in my country about their own physical appearance. After the defeat in the 2nd world war, and the American occupation, people for sometime could not regard their own visual appearance as something fit for a hero or heroin. The image of heros came from the Hollywood films instead, blue eyes, blond hair. Therefore, from psychological needs, a new image of the heroes had to be coined, resulting in the ultraman, kamen rider, and other tokusatsu television series.
As a child, I was not aware of these deep psychological implications. I simply enjoyed the films. If true creativity comes out of a troubled water, then the tokusatsu films are beautiful archetypes.
Recently I learned that one of the key creators of the first ultraman series, Tetsuo Kinjo, originated from the Islands of Okinawa, a region particularly hard-hit during the war.
Ultraman--invisible origins.
3 comments:
Samely as Dr.Mogi, my hero was Godzila and Ultraman. I was listening with some astonishment to the lecture presented by a Japanese famous curator living in NY. After some years, my hero came to be Charlie Brown in Peanuts, who is amazingly thougtful and filledof love. Sarcasticaly I couldn't relinquish my dirty blanket like Linus.
Samely as Dr.Mogi, my hero was Godzila and Ultraman. I was listening with some astonishment to the lecture presented by a Japanese famous curator living in NY. After some years, my hero came to be Charlie Brown in Peanuts, who is amazingly thougtful and filledof love. Sarcasticaly I couldn't relinquish my dirty blanket like Linus.
Dear, Linus
Thank you for your comment.
I used to love blankets.
When the monsters come menacing me in the dreams, the infant that was me would cling to the blanket, hoping the danger would go away.
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