Page 31 - AIT1021_E-Paper

Ghost in the Shell (1995)
von • by Shirow Masamune/Kodansha

www.riekeles.com

The origins of Japanese animated film date back to the early 20 th

century. It has shaped national art, culture and society ever since.

Contrary to popular opinion in Germany, where anime is often la-

belled as a children’s medium, it now serves an international mar-

ket of all target and age groups. In his book Anime Architecture (p.

31), Berlin-based curator and cultural scientist Stefan Riekeles ex-

plores the significance of architecture in Japanese animation cul-

ture. Genre classics such as Ghost in the Shell and Akira address a

predominantly adult audience with their dystopian science fiction.

The films depict a morally grey image of their technocratic worlds

— their high production value and level of detail is also reflected in

the architecture shown. Inspired by Tokyo’s concrete jungle, megac-

ities extend to the horizon. From afar, the skyscrapers look like the

walls of a labyrinth. The decay and coldness of the material and

light create the impression of a man-made but misanthropic envi-

ronment. Office complexes express the supremacy of a ruthless,

corrupted capitalism. More than just a background, this design sug-

gestively supports the core philosophical questions of their stories

about the price of progress and social development, emphasising

the importance of man’s connection with his environment.

Anime Architecture
Imagined Worlds And Endless Megacities
Von Stefan Riekeles
Erschienen 2020 bei Thames & Hudson, London
Englisch. 256 Seiten. Hardcover.
Format: 28 x 21,5 cm. 38,02 EUR.
ISBN 978-0-50029-452-9