Using the worksheet from class, I am making a graphic novel comparison between "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer" and "Naruto."
P= "Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer"
N= "Naruto"
Text and Dialogue
Balloons:
P- Filled with them, relies most on them
N- Filled with them, but expresses dialogue in other ways
Captions:
P- There are a few captions, about a handful, mostly in the beginning of the novel
N- Also, there are few captions
Emanata:
P- Very few: when Pinocchio snaps his nose off, or to indicate action
N- Lots; in the form of "Zoom" or "dash" to indicate speed, also words used to convey anger (examples on pages 16 and 17).
Labels/Signs:
P- None
N- See page 84. In the beginning of the chapters, often things are labeled.
Lettering:
P- Simple font with a flair
N- Curvier font, more oriental/anime looking
Sound Effects:
P- Again, the snap when Pinocchio breaks off his nose
N- Many, to indicate sounds like slaps or when a character uses doppleganger; See example on page 46
Visual Features
Characters:
P- All are dark-looking, white spots in the place of eyes. Looks like a horor cartoon.
N- Has the anime feel, look like Americans with Asian influence.
Objects:
P- More than Naruto; focus on the scene itself over just the people and their facial expressions.
N-A few props, detailed and made to look more realistic. More of a focus on the characters, though.
Icons:
P-None that don't make sense in the text. None are used to indicate emotion, or anything.
N- A few icons used, mostly hearts and question marks (see page 78).
Scenery:
P- Detailed, shadowy scenery, important to the story.
N- Detailed when shown, but the focus is on the characters and their faces.
Depicted Action:
P- Both internal and external-Pinocchio visibly blames himself for his father's death, but the book is about him fighting mosters, and many scenes were drawn centering around these external conflicts.
N- Both as well; the book is about ninjas and fighting, but it is equally a novel about how each character has an internal goal they are trying to reach or a conflict they are trying to overcome. For example, Naruto wants to be the best ninja.
General Layout and Design
Borders:
P- Defined, but with a thin line. Some pages have no borders at all.
N- Borders are more clean; every page has them.
Gutters:
P- Most pages have a thin gutter, but some don't; some panels are located on top of others.
N- Very defined, organized gutters. Every page has them.
Panels:
P- Most pages have panels, but others are just a whole picture. Looks more hand-drawn, with imperfections.
N- Every page has defined panels. More clean/computer looking than P.
Open Panel:
P- Has many open panels and some are flushed together.
N- Has very few open panels (page 78).
Splash:
P- has many splash pages, notably the first few in the text.
N- Has only one splash page, when a very significant moment in the character's life occurs (pages 54-55). Additionally, the beginning of some sections are splashes, but not inside the stories, themselves.
Angles and Frames
Bleed:
P- Has many incidents of bleed and sometimes a word or Pinocchio, himself, will reach into the adjacent panel.
N- Sometimes words are bled over a little bit (page 51), but the panels are generally well defined and keep to themselves.
Close-up:
P-Has a few close-ups, story focuses on the action more than facial expressions.
N- Many close-ups, like in many other anime novels. Emotion and reactions are important. Many close-ups on eyes.
Head Shot:
P -Same as close-up.
N -Same as close-up.
Head-Shoulder Shot:
P-Occur fairly often, but not as much as in Natuto.
N- Very often- most of the novel contains head/shoulder shots; the main way the characters are drawn.
Full-Figure shot:
P- Many full-figure shots, the scene around the characters is important and seeing the size difference between Pinocchio and the other characters is also important.
N- There are a few of these; they show how small Naruto is compared to his counterparts. Again, most of the book contains closer shots.
Longshot/Extreme Longshot:
P- Same idea as Full-figure shot, but even less of these; maybe three or four.
N- Same idea as Full-figure shot, but possibly only one of these.
Rhetorical Techniques Applied in Text, Visuals and Design
Exaggeration:
P-Not much exaggeration, if one puts himself into a world with monsters and talking puppets. The story, itself, is real inside that world.
N- Much: Every few pages some unrealistic ninja move is invented to get the characters out of some situation. Also the emotion is exaggerated: the characters get angry about everything.
Empathy/ Identification:
P- Readers empathize with Pinocchio because he feels responsible for his father's death, and he feels a heavy weight on his shoulders with having to kill monsters. Some elements are relatable, like the feeling of being ostracized or trapped.
N- Readers can relate to some of the emotions in the text, especially young teenagers. Also, the main character is persistently working toward a goal, which everyone can relate to. I, personally, couldn't emphasize with the main character because the situations he is put in are obscure compared to what I am familiar with. Perhaps if i read the next book in the series I would better understand the story to empathize with him.
Mood/Tone:
P- Melancholy, but uplifting. Also scary, yet enough comic relief to be very entertaining.
N- The mood is emotional and tense-someone is always getting attacked physically or mentally.
Simplicity/Complexity:
P- The idea is simple enough, but after characterization and details about this world, the story becomes complex.
N- Although there is a lot to learn about this world, it seems like a simple story: Young ninja trying to prove himself in a fantastical, Japanese world.
Irony/Satire:
P- It is ironic that the creation must defeat his creator. Light-hearted, mild satire on the vampire craze.
N- None.
Realism/Icons:
P- The characters and scenery make the story feel more real. No icons.
N- The fact that the story takes place in Japan makes me feel like it could be real, despite the fantastical element. There are a few icons, like hearts, and a constant reference to women as sex symbols (page 14).
Order/Disorder:
P- This seems like a disorderly world that Pinocchio and his friends are trying to set right.
N- This seems like a very structured and organized world with defined conflicts.
Juxtaposition:
P- Good vs. Evil in Pinocchio and the monsters. Living flesh human vs. Puppett.
N- Good Vs. Evil inside Naruto, himself. Nice vs. mean in himself and his friends.
Relationships:
P- Relationships with his friends are positive ones, and with the town is generally negative until the end. Also, he is constantly fighting monsters.
N- Many, many relationships. Tough to keep track of names sometimes. Positive relationship with Naruto and his instructor, negative relationship with everyone else, and within himself.
POV:
P- Inside view on Pinocchio- Limited first person. We only see his thoughts a few times, when they are critical to understanding the story, like his feelings about his father.
N- Third person view following a child. We see everyone's emotions and a few thoughts from everyone, especially Naruto.
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