Animating Pokémon as local mascots in the Japanese pokéfuta manhole cover promotion

演講語言：英文  
 
摘要：
Since 2018, the globally famous Pokémon characters are increasingly reconfigured as domestic Japanese tourist resources, becoming location-specific ‘Ambassador Pokémon’ and/or used on colorful, decorative utility hole covers called Pokéfuta ‘Poké + lid’. Beyond Pokémon’s existing appeal as a pantheon of Japanese characters par excellence, these characters are undergoing localization in Japan similarly to the wacky local mascots. The Pokémon are reimagined as belonging to their respective locations through linguistic and cultural references. The Pokemon depicted on these pokéfuta are not only implanted in the landscape but are also animated as agents resembling yuru kyara local mascots including live appearances as kigurumi, character suit actors that allow fans proximal interaction with a Pokémon. My presentation will begin with an overview of the Japanese local mascot (yuru kyara) phenomenon and then show how the Pokéfuta render Pokémon into a similar type of characterization.

報名資訊：
報名網址：https://pse.is/8paa9z
報名期間：即日起至3月3日（星期二）23:59截止
錄取須知：經大會審核通過方得參加，恕不接受現場報名。
錄取與否通知：大會將於3月4日（星期三）展開審核作業，預計於3月5日（星期四）前以email通知，屆時請留意收信，並請詳閱通知信內容，謝謝。
備註：若3月5日（星期四）16:00前還未收到通知信，敬請來電或來信詢問，感謝。
聯絡人：林音秀  （02）2652-3484  world66@as.edu.tw