A Study on the Differences in Color Usage for Emotional Expression Between Western and Japanese Animation

Abstract

Animation, as a globally recognized art form, assigns color a pivotal role in emotional expression. Western and Japanese animations are two major global paradigms with clear differences in color utilization. It adopts a comparative case study approach, taking Disney's Zootopia and Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away as primary case studies. The research focuses on how color psychology and cultural contexts influence color application. The findings reveal that Western animation, exemplified by Zootopia, uses vivid, high-contrast colors to achieve direct emotional resonance, reflecting an outward cultural style. In contrast, Japanese animation, typified by Spirited Away, prefers soft, delicate tones to convey subtle and intricate feelings, rooted in traditional aesthetics. This study concludes that color in animation is a cultural language, and understanding such differences is of great significance for global animation creation and appreciation.