Multi-Modal Literacies: Comparing Naruto to Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer

Text and Dialogue

Balloons (words/thoughts)- In Naruto the words and thoughts were mostly in the form of thought bubbles of various shapes and sizes.  However, I did notice that when the characters spoke actual dialogue the text was in a thought bubble.  When the characters were thinking something internally the text was just written on the page without a bubble.  In Pinocchio, pretty much all the words and thoughts were in round text bubbles.

Captions- In Naruto it was difficult to find any captions because most of the action was conveyed through text balloons and sound effects with pictures showing the action.  In Naruto there was no need for the story to be conveyed through captions.  However, I did find a few captions including the one on page 121 that says “All night Naruto practiced, diligently pummeling an effigy off his teacher…”.  In Pinocchio captions were used in the beginning of the book to retell the original story of Pinocchio.  I also noticed they were used when Pinocchio tells Cricket the story of Geppetto’s murder by the monster. 

Emanata- In Naruto I noticed that exclamation points and question marks were used frequently throughout the book to represent the characters’ thoughts.  The author also used a combination of exclamation points and question marks to represent emotion.  Furthermore, I noticed the use of three periods (…) was also used to represent confusion.  In Pinocchio I didn’t find any emanata because the characters’ emotions were conveyed in other ways. 

Lables/Signs- In Naruto labels were used occasionally to convey the location of the characters.  For example, “The Ninja Academy” is clearly labeled on page 21.  Labels and signs are used similarly in Pinocchio.  For example, “Cherry’s Carpentry” is clearly labeled in the novel so that readers will know where the characters are. 

Lettering- In Naruto, the text bubbles use the same font throughout the novel.  However, it is sometimes bolded when emphasis is needed.  For the sound effects and emanata, a variety of different texts are used depending on the action that is being conveyed.  In Pinocchio, the same font is used for the text bubbles throughout the novel with bolded lettering being used for emphasis.  Different bolder fonts were used for the sound effects. 

Sound Effects- Sound effects were used similarly between the two novels with a few slight differences.  Both novels used sound effects to convey sounds such as “pow!” or “snap!”.  However, Naruto uses these sound effects more extensively.  Sound effects are used in all situations throughout the novel including those of little importance.  For example, “munch munch” is used to convey the sounds of Naruto eating on page 86 of the book. 

Visual Features

Characters- The characters of Naruto and Pinocchio are similar in the fact that they’re both on important quests of self-discovery.  However, they’re different in the fact that Naruto’s quest is to become a powerful ninja and Pinocchio’s quest is mostly about revenge.  Naruto has more characters and they seem to be more complex.  There is room for speculation about the characters.  In Pinocchio, the characters are more one dimensional with the defeat of the monster or the defeat of the townspeople as their only goal.

Objects- I couldn’t really find any significant objects in Naruto.   I think Pinocchio’s nose serves as an important object in Pinocchio despite the fact that it’s a part of his body.  It’s important because it’s his main weapon.  I also think the monsterminator is another important object used in the novel.

Icons- I didn’t observe the use of icons in either of the novels.

Scenery- The scenery in Naruto is very detailed with various uses of shading involved.  The artwork is very similar to the artwork used in anime television series.  The scenery in Pinocchio is depicted in various shades of black and white with some shading, just not as much as in Naruto.  The scenery in Pinocchio isn’t as detailed as in Naruto but the various shades of black and gray do a great job of conveying the mood of the story. 

Depicted Action (internal/external)- In Naruto the action was mostly depicted through pictures and sound effects.  In Pinocchio, the action was depicted by pictures and narrations by the characters.  In both novels internal action was conveyed through captions and text. 

General Layout and Design

Borders- Both novels use square and rectangular panels.  Naruto doesn’t really have clearly defined borders.  Pinocchio mostly uses a white border around the panels except on a few pages that are mostly colored black.

Gutters- Naruto doesn’t have clearly defined gutters.  Pinocchio has a white gutter on the bottom of each page except for the pages that are colored black.

Panels- Each novel uses square and rectangular panels.  In Naruto the characters have more freedom to roam outside the panels wherein Pinocchio the characters mostly remain inside each panel.

Open Panel- I noticed the use of open panels in Naruto mostly with text bleeding between more than one panel.  In Pinocchio, the characters mostly remained in their own panels.

Splash- Splashes were used throughout Naruto to depict fight scenes.  Some panels were even two pages large.  Splashes were also used in Pinocchio to depict action that had a heavy emphasis on it.  For example, a two-page splash was used in the scene where Canpenella was captured. 

Angles and Frames

Bleed- I noticed the use of open panels in Naruto mostly with text bleeding between more than one panel.  In Pinocchio, the characters mostly remained in their own panels.

Close-up- Close-ups were used frequently throughout Naruto, particularly when a character was experiencing a heavy emotion.  In Pinocchio, close-ups were used to convey intense action.

Head shot- Head shots were used throughout Naruto to convey the emotions of the different characters.  Head shots were used in the same way in Pinocchio.

Head-shoulder shot- Head-shoulder shots were used throughout Naruto so that readers could see the characters’ facial features better.  Head-shoulder shots were used in the same way in Pinocchio.

Full-figure shot- In both novels, full-figure shots were mostly used to convey some type of action.  These shots were used when the characters were doing more than just speaking to each other.

Longshot- In both novels, longshots were used to convey action.  Specifically intense fight scenes. 

Extreme Longshot- Extreme longshots were used in both novels to convey large scenes where there was a lot to take in. 

Reverse- Reverse shots are used in both books.

Rhetorical Techniques

Exaggeration- Exaggeration is used frequently throughout Naruto to convey strong emotions or fight scenes.  Exaggeration is used rarely in Pinocchio.

Mood/tone- In Naruto, the mood is mostly conveyed by the detailed scenes and the dialogue and interactions between characters.  In Pinocchio the mood is mostly conveyed by the use of dark colors and shading.

Simplicity/Complexity- In Naruto the characters and scenes were more complex than the characters and scenes in Pinocchio.

Realism/icons/symbolism- Both novels aren’t really realistic because neither of them have situations that could occur in real life.

Order/disorder- There was more disorder in Naruto than in Pinocchio because there was more bleeding between panels and much more was going on in each scene than in Pinocchio.  The panels in Pinocchio were more chronological and easy to follow.

Juxtaposition- I didn’t observe juxtaposition in either novel.

Relationships- The relationships between characters in Naruto were more complex.  In Pinocchio the characters were either all good or all bad.  In Naruto there were more shades of gray.

Point-of-View- Both books were told from the point-of-view of the main character.  However, in Naruto the readers could also see the thoughts of the other characters.