日本のアニメがノスタルジーを誘う

サウジ関連の著者のブログ記事を読んでいるときにたまたま見つけた記事がこちら。80年代にシリアで放映されていた日本のアニメが現在果たしている役割を取り上げています。

Japanese Anime Nostalgia on Syrian Social Media

by Omar Al-Ghazzi

I found this YouTube phenomenon fascinating because it is not always apparent that one’s individual memories and nostalgic longings are actually shared by many others. It is through the expression of intimate memories that a sense of a generational identity materialises and an emotional bond between strangers is fortified.  In certain situations, such as political crises, economic shifts, revolutions and wars, this bond is mobilised in collective political action.

Within such contexts, childhood cartoons offer a convenient and accessible source of inspiration for reclaiming identity by adults. Childhood cartoons proved to be a familiar and intimate source of expression of a generational identity and memory, particularly as they were originally broadcast on TV within defined ‘children segments’, which meant they were watched by the young target audience at the same time on the same channel. Nostalgia towards these cartoons surpasses their content as it also includes a yearning for a lost family life and childhood sociability.  The cartoon series also offer simplistic narratives about good versus evil, where the good always triumphs. Their plots lend themselves well to activism and revolutionary action, which rely on the idea that sacrifices are necessary for the greater good to prevail.

一例としてまんが猿飛佐助が紹介されています。オープニング曲がthe importance of patriotic sacrifice, national unity and themes about foreign occupationを喚起しているそうです。こういうオープニング曲をjingleと呼ぶようですね。

In the case of the Arab world, I note that the original cartoons as dubbed from Japanese already reflected a particular political culture. Some anime opening jingles, such as the Ninja boy Sasuke, referred to the importance of patriotic sacrifice, national unity and themes about foreign occupation. The beginning of the Arabic jingle translates to: Rise up, put your hand in my hand, rise up to defend your tomorrow and mine; we shall defend our land; with our blood we shall defend it. This original political and cultural Arabisation of the cartoons is another reason why they acquired a second life when new political circumstances presented themselves and when social media and digital technologies allowed now-adults to engage in different kinds of communicative practices.

アラビア語ではRise up, put your hand in my hand, rise up to defend your tomorrow and mine; we shall defend our land; with our blood we shall defend it. というかっこいい内容ですが、日本語オリジナルの歌詞はそんなことはなかったです。英語版のウイキペディアにも項目が立っていてヨーロッパやアラブ地域で放映されていたことがわかります。

(Wikipedia)

Manga Sarutobi Sasuke (まんが猿飛佐助) is a 24-episode anime series about the young Sarutobi Sasuke, a legendary ninja. It was first aired from October 9, 1979, to April 29, 1980 on Tokyo 12 Channel (now TV Tokyo), and was later dubbed in several languages. The whole 24-episode run was aired in many European and Arabic countries.

It is best known to the American fans as Ninja, The Wonder Boy: a highly edited, highly condensed feature-length version of this series. This version, dubbed in English, was produced by Jim Terry Productions of Force Five fame. The names of several characters were changed, with Sarutobi Sasuke becoming "Duke Hayakawa", his female companion Sakura being changed to "Blossom", and the villain Devilman became "Dragon."

次の例は、アニメの宝島を使って自分の心情をボイスオーバーして改変した例です。ニュースに接している我々もシリア難民当事者の気持ちを忘れがちですが、このようなソーシャルメディアから察することができると著者は書いています。

However, the cartoons did not only animate the expression of defiant political action. They also reflected an overwhelming sense of loss and defeat over losing one’s country to war, and also of exile during the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. Syrian refugees were forced to leave their country and cross seas and vast land territories. Most of the media coverage of this tragedy revolved around Europe, portraying it as Europe’s refugee crisis. Few cared to consider what Syrians may be feeling themselves, away from their beloved country. YouTube videos which appeared since 2014 offer a snapshot of the pain of exile. A number of these showed redubbed cartoons and anime characters made to express a sense of devastation. For example, one cartoon character, Silver, who is a pirate in the anime series Treasure Island, addresses his companion Jim in one sad scene. He tells him:

I am stuck at sea between Turkey and Greece. I want to seek asylum. The war in Syria has not ended yet… You know Jim, even if I reach Sweden; life is going to be miserable and void of meaning. I will live in a country that is not my own. I will yearn for Syria.

こちらのアニメも英語版のウイキペディアにも項目が立っていました。

(Wikipedia)

Treasure Island (宝島, Takarajima) is a Japanese anime television series developed with the 26 episodes for 23 minutes series that aired in 1978 and 1979 in Japan and in the mid-1980s in Europe, Mexico, South America & Arab World countries, based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novel of the same name.[1] In 2013 a movie compilation dubbed in English by Bang Zoom! Entertainment was available on the North American Hulu, but has since been removed. However, as of early 2016, TMS has made the 2013 compilation movie available to watch on YouTube for free

昔の日本アニメがシリアの人々の心情を代弁しているという視点は面白いですね。