Post by kanshu on Sept 1, 2004 4:31:45 GMT -5
Have you always wondered about why manga characters have certain blood types, and what's it with all the crazy hair and eye colors?
Blood types
Based on studies from ancient Greece to Carl Jung, Furukawa assigned character traits to each blood group as follows:
Type O -- calm, patient, in control of their emotions, strong-willed, unyielding and full of self-confidence despite a quiet appearance.
Type A -- reserved, mild-mannered, full of worry, indecisive, cautious, deeply moved by things, uncombative and self-sacrificing.
Type B -- cheerful, independent, light-hearted, talkative, sensitive, sociable, caring and flamboyant.
Type AB -- Group B on the outside, but group A on the inside.
Source:
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20010916a3.htm
More links about the topic:
www2.justnet.ne.jp/~shozo_owada/watanabe-e.htm
www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2172/blood.htm
Eye colors:
BLUE - In most western cultures blue eyes are associated with beauty.
This is attributed to blue eyes being more visible, more expressive and strongly associated with youth. People possessing blue eyes are thought to be honest, full of goodness and have integrity. If the eyes are a deep blue it is thought that the individual will have a mature, sophisticated outlook on life. Blue colour contact lenses are ideal for those looking for romance.
GREEN - European myth associates green eyes with supernatural creatures. People with green eyes are thought to be mysterious, intriguing, secretive characters. Green eyes also indicate an expressive person but unlike expressive blue eyes, green eyes are a good deal more exotic. Rather than being vulnerable and childlike these people have strength of character. Hardly a surprise that green contact lenses are the most popular choice of eye colour.
BROWN - The owner of the average brown eye is thought to be responsible, sensible, trustworthy and caring. Deep brown eyes indicate a passionate, impulsive, sensual personality. As brown eyes lighten it indicates a sparkling, lively, interested and energetic character.
Chestnut brown eyes are also traditionally associated with passion.
Light-eyed people purchase brown lenses to be recognised for their more serious nature.
HAZEL - Hazel is made up from a mixture of brown and green, making the eye look different in different lights. The hazel eye suggests a supremely expressive and fascinating personality with abilities beyond the normal range. Personality is thought to change as the eye changes colour, the dominant colour at the time will affect the personality.
For people that like to change their personality often, hazel lenses are ideal.
Source: www.wpsoptometrists.co.uk/news_2000_8.htm (Unfortunately, this is based on western standards rather than Japanese standards, so if anyone known more, please share!)
Hair colors:
black - neutral. generally positive connotations -- keep in mind that this is the normal hair color in Japan; all other hair colors are "unnatural" in that culture, and consequently somewhat suspicious.
blonde - this hair color has two diametrically opposite interpreations, although which one applies in a particular case should be relatively clear. obvious power and intelligence. often calculating and self-serving. ditzy and immature. accident-prone. in either case, blonde-haired characters usually mean trouble.
brown - nothing screams "I'm a stock character" like having brown hair. there are of course exceptions.
red - in women, red hair generally connotes a brazen, confident character, often having special abilities. male characters with red hair tend to be quiet and humble, but skilled fighters.
grey - grey hair usually connotes a character with a hidden power that will be revealed later in the series. these characters are usually very intelligent and often (although not always) evil.
white - on younger characters, full, white hair gives a sense of dignity and style. on older characters, it may just mean they're ... well, old.
"exotic" colors:
blue- likable characters. shy, sweet, smart, funny. one
notable exception is the Kento of Samurai Troopers (sometimes
translated Ronin Warriors), who is the exact opposite. Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion might be another example. She's shy, but at least outwardly doesn't display most of the other characteristics.
green - these characters are usually good at heart, but misguided. Seen in an antagonist, it often means the character will defect to the side of the "good guys" by the end of the series. Sympathetic characters (good guys) tend to be rogueish but good-hearted.
pink - generally only seen in female characters, girls with pink hair are cheerfully cute, often to the point of being downright obnoxious (as if you needed hair color to pick up on that).
purple - your guess is as good as mine; there just aren't that many examples to work from. characters tend to be upbeat, but other than that, it's hard to generalize.
Source: moonbase.rydia.net/mental/writings/anime-hair-color
Blood types
Based on studies from ancient Greece to Carl Jung, Furukawa assigned character traits to each blood group as follows:
Type O -- calm, patient, in control of their emotions, strong-willed, unyielding and full of self-confidence despite a quiet appearance.
Type A -- reserved, mild-mannered, full of worry, indecisive, cautious, deeply moved by things, uncombative and self-sacrificing.
Type B -- cheerful, independent, light-hearted, talkative, sensitive, sociable, caring and flamboyant.
Type AB -- Group B on the outside, but group A on the inside.
Source:
www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20010916a3.htm
More links about the topic:
www2.justnet.ne.jp/~shozo_owada/watanabe-e.htm
www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2172/blood.htm
Eye colors:
BLUE - In most western cultures blue eyes are associated with beauty.
This is attributed to blue eyes being more visible, more expressive and strongly associated with youth. People possessing blue eyes are thought to be honest, full of goodness and have integrity. If the eyes are a deep blue it is thought that the individual will have a mature, sophisticated outlook on life. Blue colour contact lenses are ideal for those looking for romance.
GREEN - European myth associates green eyes with supernatural creatures. People with green eyes are thought to be mysterious, intriguing, secretive characters. Green eyes also indicate an expressive person but unlike expressive blue eyes, green eyes are a good deal more exotic. Rather than being vulnerable and childlike these people have strength of character. Hardly a surprise that green contact lenses are the most popular choice of eye colour.
BROWN - The owner of the average brown eye is thought to be responsible, sensible, trustworthy and caring. Deep brown eyes indicate a passionate, impulsive, sensual personality. As brown eyes lighten it indicates a sparkling, lively, interested and energetic character.
Chestnut brown eyes are also traditionally associated with passion.
Light-eyed people purchase brown lenses to be recognised for their more serious nature.
HAZEL - Hazel is made up from a mixture of brown and green, making the eye look different in different lights. The hazel eye suggests a supremely expressive and fascinating personality with abilities beyond the normal range. Personality is thought to change as the eye changes colour, the dominant colour at the time will affect the personality.
For people that like to change their personality often, hazel lenses are ideal.
Source: www.wpsoptometrists.co.uk/news_2000_8.htm (Unfortunately, this is based on western standards rather than Japanese standards, so if anyone known more, please share!)
Hair colors:
black - neutral. generally positive connotations -- keep in mind that this is the normal hair color in Japan; all other hair colors are "unnatural" in that culture, and consequently somewhat suspicious.
blonde - this hair color has two diametrically opposite interpreations, although which one applies in a particular case should be relatively clear. obvious power and intelligence. often calculating and self-serving. ditzy and immature. accident-prone. in either case, blonde-haired characters usually mean trouble.
brown - nothing screams "I'm a stock character" like having brown hair. there are of course exceptions.
red - in women, red hair generally connotes a brazen, confident character, often having special abilities. male characters with red hair tend to be quiet and humble, but skilled fighters.
grey - grey hair usually connotes a character with a hidden power that will be revealed later in the series. these characters are usually very intelligent and often (although not always) evil.
white - on younger characters, full, white hair gives a sense of dignity and style. on older characters, it may just mean they're ... well, old.
"exotic" colors:
blue- likable characters. shy, sweet, smart, funny. one
notable exception is the Kento of Samurai Troopers (sometimes
translated Ronin Warriors), who is the exact opposite. Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion might be another example. She's shy, but at least outwardly doesn't display most of the other characteristics.
green - these characters are usually good at heart, but misguided. Seen in an antagonist, it often means the character will defect to the side of the "good guys" by the end of the series. Sympathetic characters (good guys) tend to be rogueish but good-hearted.
pink - generally only seen in female characters, girls with pink hair are cheerfully cute, often to the point of being downright obnoxious (as if you needed hair color to pick up on that).
purple - your guess is as good as mine; there just aren't that many examples to work from. characters tend to be upbeat, but other than that, it's hard to generalize.
Source: moonbase.rydia.net/mental/writings/anime-hair-color