|
This particular choice of coloration probably arises from Japanese myths of tennyo (celestial nymphs), oni (demons), gods, and other magical creatures. One such supernatural being is the yuki onna, a beautiful ghostlike Snow-Woman with white skin and a white kimono who appears during blizzards and steals the life-breath of those without proper shelter. In many tellings of the legend, she takes pity upon one particular young boy in danger of freezing to death and spares him on the condition that he never mention having seen her to anyone. When he gets older, he falls in love with and marries a young orphaned maiden, and they have children together. Over the years, she never seems to age, and one evening, the lamplight cast upon his wife's face reminds him of his strange encounter with the yuki onna, which he mentions to her. His wife flies into an icy rage, and it becomes clear that she and the yuki onna are one and the same. She refrains from killing him solely for the sake of their children, and leaves him forever, disappearing into a frosty white mist.
"Children of the Moon" | Sea Dwellers | Miscellaneous
HOME | Introduction |
Art | Literature | Film |
|
Much like their Western counterparts, Japanese comics feature a wide array of unusual and memorable characters — the sky is the limit in terms of the qualities they are assigned by their creators. However, more attention is given to features such as hair and eyes than in the West. It is quite common to find characters with fluffy and/or flowing hair in bright colors that would never occur in nature (and combinations of such colors) along with more natural shades. The eyes of Japanese anime and manga characters are especially large and expressive, and appear in a variety of hues as well. The upper portion of the face, where the forehead and eyes are located, tends to be wide and rounded, while the face's lower portion, where the nose, mouth, and chin reside, tends to taper dramatically into a narrow and delicate base.
One character appearing in both anime and manga who is explicitly identified as albino is Rei Ayanami from the Neon Genesis Evangelion series (the anime first aired in 1995). Her blue hair makes this completely implausible, but the albinism is "explained" by her red eyes and pale skin, and is apparently listed in a glossary for a manga compilation of the series. She is the product of genetic engineering involving the DNA of one of the Angels (an alien race in this story) and the late human wife of the commander she serves and reveres as a father. She has a withdrawn and solitary demeanor, and is never truly at home anywhere. Although she is an outsider in many respects, she is portrayed as beautiful, brave, and fiercely loyal to Gendo Ikari, her commander.
Griffith of the medieval-era Berserk series (aired in 2002) is considered albino by many reviewers, while not labeled as such directly in the series. Although common-born he has aspirations of leading a kingdom, starting from childhood when he was given a magical red gem that supposedly identified him as future king of the world. The pendant seems to provide him with protection and some telepathic abilities, although he later loses track of it. Through sheer determination, cunning, bravado, and charm, he works his way into the aristocracy, achieving military supremacy with his band of soldiers called the Hawks — Griffith is known as the White Hawk because of his long white hair and fair skin (he also rides a white horse). One of his best men is Guts, a gifted swordfighter, with whom he later develops a conflict.
However, Griffith's dreams of becoming king are thwarted by the royal family, who scoffs at his humble roots, attempts to kill him, and later imprisons and tortures him, as well as overthrowing his army by turning other local armies upon them. Although Griffith escapes, he and the decimated Hawks are but a shadow of their former selves. He comes across the old red gem he once possessed, and in his devastated state and desperate grasp for power, he agrees to sacrifice the lives of his remaining Hawks and the well-being of his closest friends in exchange for becoming the prince of demons.
While not identified with albinism explicitly, the character of Hinoto in the Japanese anime eco-epic X-1999 (1999) displays many of the physical traits stereotypically associated with the condition; her eyes alternate between red and purple (left). She is portrayed as severely handicapped — blind, deaf, mute, diminutive in frame, and unable to walk — while also possessing counterbalancing supernatural abilities of telepathy and dreamweaving.
She is sought out by the most powerful political figures in Japan, and guides the hero of the story, Kamui, on his quest to save the earth. Hinoto is shown in the film to be a sympathetic and benevolent character with valuable aid to offer...but it doesn't last long. In a subsequent TV series, she develops a dark internal counterpart.