Symbolism in Anime: Code Geass/Peach Girl

Symbolism in Japanese Anime: Code Geass/ Peach Girl

What is Symbolism?

Symbolism (sim-buh-liz-uhm)n.

1. Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible

War Symbols

McCloud's definition

of Symbols

Symbols

Japan was invaded by the Brittannian Empire, and was later renamed to "Area 11". Lelouch, a Brittannian student living in Japan goes under the alias Zero in attempts to destroy Brittannia to fulfill his childhood vow. reuniting with his childhood friend Suzaku as well as meeting the mysterious girl C.C. Cornered in a life and death situation, Lelouch accepts a power C.C. offers to him, the ability to order anyone to do anything. Harboring a thirst for revenge against the Brittanian Empire for their actions against his family, Lelouch wages war against the Empire. Using his newfound power and tactical ability, Lelouch

Peach Girl is about an average high school girl named Momo Adachi, who everyone thinks is a beach bunny because of her tanned skin. The actual reason she is so tanned is because she was on the swim team and tans very easily. She likes a boy, Toji, who she heard only likes non-tanned girls. She spends a lot of time trying to remake herself into the girl she believes he wants. However, she has a friend, Sae, who likes to go behind Momo's back and make her life terrible, mostly by trying to take Toji away from her. All the while there's another boy, Kairi, who is in love with Momo.

Religious Symbols

Daily Symbols

Flags

Peace Symbols

Main Focus

How Symbols in Peach Girl Dictate Storyline

Butterflies- at the end of the anime to indicate that Momo continues to grow as a woman

- also to foreshadow that Momo and Toji's love does not last forever and moments with him become less important

Music- slow music for protagonist, suspense music for antagonist

Skin color- white vs tan theme

- white usually stands for purity, innocence

-represented oppositely in Peach Girl

- tan was actually innocent, depicted as the

unkind one

- white-supposed to be innocent, played the

'evil' role and pretends to be the protagonist

How is symbolism depicted in Japanese anime and its affect on the storyline

THE END!!

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

at 5 mins episode 2 part 1

Flowers

by: Ichirō Ōkouchi

• used throughout the story to symbolize the protagonist

Symbols in Peach Girl

these 2 videos are good examples of skin color truly drives the story and lowers Momo's self esteem

Skin Color

first 3 mins, episode 3 part 2

Butterflies

Symbol of womanhood & Fleeting memories

• Growing & falling in love
• Living through drama
• Dreaming of marriage

• represented judgment and discrimination

Peach Girl Title and Name

Sae

• represents a person or thing that is especially attractive, liked and enjoyed

Sae is often seen as a sly cat used to getting her own way. Sae pictured as a sly cat, animatically drawn to be so, is the symbolism of a character who is crafty, sly, and greedy.

Sae's Personality

Her personality represents her insecurity about friends and boyfriends do not come easily

Symbols in Code Geass

• symbol of change of mood between protagonist and antogonist

Geass Emblem

Music

Zero’s Mask

The bird-like sigil that represents the so-called Power of the King

The Mask of Zero is used to represent Lelouch's hidden identity as the leader of the Black Knights. It is the figure of the revolution and the enduring symbol of those who stand against the Brittanian Empire.

The Lancelot

The Black Knights

A symbol of hope and victory for the Brittanian Empire

The King

This is a symbol used to represent the Zero's Rebellion Army, it bares some resemblance to the original Geass Emblem, and is also avian in appearance.

With colors that match the auras of the characters, the Kings used throughout the series not only represent the skill and reasoning that typifies every move in the anime.

The Rising Sun

United Federation of Nations

The Brittanian Flag

The Rising Sun banner (Hinomaru) represents the Japanese nation and people.

Saint George’s Cross is used to indicate England and the English people. Presumably, the lion is a Royal symbol, and the crown represents the reigning imperialists.

The United Federation of Nations is the group of allied states that come together as one coalition in conflict of Britannia’s domination of the world. The flag of this nation is a yellow field charged with a white dove and three circles at the point where the dove’s wings meet. The dove is a symbol of peace and unity.

Other Symbols in Code Geass

Peach Girl Summary

by: Miwa Ueda