The Secret of the Near 30 Year Popularity of the Famous “Knights of the Zodiac”
What Anime Is Hugely Popular in South America?
Do you know the property that has sold 34.4 million units, and has a television anime that has been broadcast in 80 countries? It is “Knights of the Zodiac”. “Knights of the Zodiac”, which does not only have a huge following in Japan and other countries, is particularly popular in South American countries like Brazil, Mexico and Peru. As for why it is popular in South America, we receive analysis from the professor of psychology Yoshihito Naito who himself loves reading “Knight of the Zodiac”.
＞＞Movie "Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary" special feature
＞＞Movie "Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary" special feature
“In South America, the Inca Empire and the Andean and Mayan civilizations once flourished. Additionally, in those civilizations curses and mystical powers were appreciated. They placed importance on the movement of the sun and believed they were descended from the stars. Modern South Americans also know this, and it could be said that “Knights of the Zodiac”, with its theme of the power of mystical constellations, took root in fertile soil.”
The world view of“Knights of the Zodiac” was in a easily acceptable climate, but are there any other reasons for the spread of its popularity?
“There are the three big festivals of South America, the Rio Carnival in Brazil, Inti Raymi in Peru and the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia. In these festivals, it is so lively that the blood tingles. For people who like that kind of festival there is a comparative analysis that they like fist fighting. In the battles of ‘Knights of the Zodiac’, they don’t use weapons, they fight using their fists. That hand-to-hand fighting can be thought of as a reason for its strong popularity in South America.”
The themes of constellations and space drew in South American readers, and then the battles that took place without using weapons got that Latin blood moving. The result Professor Naito’s analysis is that is why it gained extreme popularity in South America,.
If I were to add one more thing, it is the popularity of Japan in South America. The reason is the Japanese immigrants that crossed the sea to South America won the hearts of the South American people by being nice, industrious and courteous. The trust in those Japanese people is extremely high, and the image of Japan is also very good. There is a halo effect, by which people believe that Japanese people are wonderful and Japan is wonderful, so things from Japan must be wonderful, and thus Japanese subcultures are easily accepted. “Knights of the Zodiac” could be considered a part of this chain and was favorably received.
The halo effect is a psychological effect where a single good point is found and because of that other points are thought to be good. In other words, what Professor Naito thinks is the thought that Japanese people long ago did good things led to the thought that their descendants must be creating good things, so things from Japan are easily accepted.
The Mexican and Peruvian foreign reporters in the Culturezine editorial department also told us that “Knights of the Zodiac” was popular. And with the new movie coming out, it will likely be becoming more and more popular.
■About “Knights of the Zodiac”
“Knights of the Zodiac” was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1985 until 1990. With a fantasy setting based on Greek mythology and constellation themed “cloths” (sacred armor), the television anime started airing nine months after the serialization of the manga which was uncommonly early at the time and captured the hearts of boys and girls. The work has had a strong following since the late 80s due to its charming characters and the various finishing moves of the knights.
■About “Knights of the Zodiac: LEGEND of SANCTUARY”
In 2014, the long-awaited theatrical version of “Knights of the Zodiac”, which the whole world has been waiting for, returns to the screen after ten years. Among the various storylines, Keiichi Sato, the director of “Tiger & Bunny” and “Black Butler” will bring the most popular storyline, the 12 Zodiac Temples, to the screen. The original creator Masami Kurumada is taking part as an executive producer.
In Theaters Nationwide 21 June 2014 (Sat)
Original Creator/ Executive Producer: Masami Kurumada
Director: Keiichi Sato
Voice Talent: Kaito Ishikawa, Kenji Akabane, Kensho Ono, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kenji Nojima etc.
(C) 2014 車田正美／「聖闘士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY」製作委員会
The world view of“Knights of the Zodiac” was in a easily acceptable climate, but are there any other reasons for the spread of its popularity?
“There are the three big festivals of South America, the Rio Carnival in Brazil, Inti Raymi in Peru and the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia. In these festivals, it is so lively that the blood tingles. For people who like that kind of festival there is a comparative analysis that they like fist fighting. In the battles of ‘Knights of the Zodiac’, they don’t use weapons, they fight using their fists. That hand-to-hand fighting can be thought of as a reason for its strong popularity in South America.”
The themes of constellations and space drew in South American readers, and then the battles that took place without using weapons got that Latin blood moving. The result Professor Naito’s analysis is that is why it gained extreme popularity in South America,.
If I were to add one more thing, it is the popularity of Japan in South America. The reason is the Japanese immigrants that crossed the sea to South America won the hearts of the South American people by being nice, industrious and courteous. The trust in those Japanese people is extremely high, and the image of Japan is also very good. There is a halo effect, by which people believe that Japanese people are wonderful and Japan is wonderful, so things from Japan must be wonderful, and thus Japanese subcultures are easily accepted. “Knights of the Zodiac” could be considered a part of this chain and was favorably received.
The halo effect is a psychological effect where a single good point is found and because of that other points are thought to be good. In other words, what Professor Naito thinks is the thought that Japanese people long ago did good things led to the thought that their descendants must be creating good things, so things from Japan are easily accepted.
The Mexican and Peruvian foreign reporters in the Culturezine editorial department also told us that “Knights of the Zodiac” was popular. And with the new movie coming out, it will likely be becoming more and more popular.
■About “Knights of the Zodiac”
“Knights of the Zodiac” was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1985 until 1990. With a fantasy setting based on Greek mythology and constellation themed “cloths” (sacred armor), the television anime started airing nine months after the serialization of the manga which was uncommonly early at the time and captured the hearts of boys and girls. The work has had a strong following since the late 80s due to its charming characters and the various finishing moves of the knights.
■About “Knights of the Zodiac: LEGEND of SANCTUARY”
In 2014, the long-awaited theatrical version of “Knights of the Zodiac”, which the whole world has been waiting for, returns to the screen after ten years. Among the various storylines, Keiichi Sato, the director of “Tiger & Bunny” and “Black Butler” will bring the most popular storyline, the 12 Zodiac Temples, to the screen. The original creator Masami Kurumada is taking part as an executive producer.
In Theaters Nationwide 21 June 2014 (Sat)
Original Creator/ Executive Producer: Masami Kurumada
Director: Keiichi Sato
Voice Talent: Kaito Ishikawa, Kenji Akabane, Kensho Ono, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kenji Nojima etc.
(C) 2014 車田正美／「聖闘士星矢 LEGEND of SANCTUARY」製作委員会
http://heart.okwave.com/culturezine/psychological_analyses/667/1298/en
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