UWC2101F: Writing & Critical Thinking: Aesthetic Transformation

Norliza Sharifuddin
UWC2101F GP2 Paper 1
Dr. Julia Gardner
21st August 2002

Mashimaro is easily identified from the mass of other characters on DreamKitty.com by virtue of its snow white colour which is a stark contrast to some of the other more brightly coloured characters. Yet it is this very simplicity that attracts people to it; his rounded body, plain white colour and simply drawn features certainly present an image of cuteness. Still, the lure of cuteness is hardly enough to induce most people to watch episode clips of Mashimaro in action or to purchase the wide range of products that are available on the website when there are other equally cute characters. Why then do people single him out? Why do they buy his products? Surely, there is more to this rabbit than meets the eye. It is actually the contradiction inherent within Mashimaro, the disparity between its cute appearance and nasty personality, which draws people to it.

When we first see Mashimaro, we see a white ball of fluff that looks harmless. Indeed, there is nothing in his appearance that suggests otherwise; his rounded body devoid of sharp angles appeal to our need to hug and squeeze such a seemingly soft body, the two slits that serve as his eyes are mostly expressionless, giving him a benign air and his white colour gives a sense of purity and innocence. When we see the way he waddles, we are reminded of the way a baby is when he first learns to walk. Add to that his cute-sounding name (it is after all inspired by the 'baby' pronunciation of 'marshmallow') and we get a wholesome package. Everything about Mashimaro's appearance gives off an air of child-like innocence; so much so, that we expect him to be child-like in behaviour as well.

Yet, his behaviour and character are far from child-like. On the website, we are told that Mashimaro is "sarcastic and negative about himself" and "miserable and lonely". When we view the episode clips that are available on the website, we see his rudeness, lack of consideration for others and general surliness. It is difficult for us to believe what we read and see as it is at odds with out perception; we feel that a cute creature such as Mashimaro should happy and he should be smiling all the time instead of being "miserable and lonely". Our preconceived notions about the character are dashed and it is this very surprising disparity between appearance and personality that attracts people to it.

The way that we judge and form an impression of Mashimaro merely by its outward appearance can be seen as reflection of real life and real people. For example, when we first meet someone who is attractive, we are inclined to think that he or she is a nice person, based on their looks alone. We do the same to Mashimaro, and thus we are in for a shock when we realize that he is not nice at all. Through this aspect of Mashimaro, we may become more aware of our tendencies to judge on looks. Buying Mashimaro products may be a way for a person to remind himself to look beyond the surface and see what's important - personality.

Mashimaro's flawed personality, which is a departure from the usual happy-go-lucky, carefree attitude that other characters exude, also attracts people to it. His low self-esteem and search for happiness is something that people can relate to, especially teenagers and some young adults. In Mashimaro, they see traces of themselves and they view him as a kindred soul, making them feel as though they aren't alone in the world. When they buy goods with Mashimaro on them, it bolsters their self-esteem and confidence as it is a reminder that there are others like them. In this way, Mashimaro acts not only as a 'security blanket' but also as a form of escapism that takes them away from their troubles.

Mashimaro, with all his flaws, may not only be a manifestation of how some people really feel but also how they wish they could act. For example, in one of the episode clips available which is titled "Fishing", not only is Mashimaro's aesthetic appeal apparent but we are also given a glimpse of his unique personality. When the clip first starts to play, we are struck by its simplicity; the use of muted colours, the surroundings that lack intricate detail and the dialogue that is only presented in speech bubbles.

In response to the fish's angry tirade about how a carrot is hardly suitable as bait, Mashimaro retaliates by releasing gas into the water and relieving himself. It is vindictive, mean and so outrageous that we find it funny. The humour of the situation is enhanced by the sound effect which is the only sound used throughout the clip. The sound effect also highlights the vindictiveness of Mashimaro's action. It makes us wish that we could get away with doing some of the things he does; that we could be able to speak our mind freely without consequence, or let our tempers run free or just retaliate without thought. Mashimaro is the epitome of a person who does what he likes without worrying about possible ramifications- something that most people cannot do as it oversteps the boundary of acceptable behaviour.

On the other hand, Mashimaro can be seen as the embodiment of everything that they don't want to be. The qualities that he displays- the lack of courtesy, his negative attitude towards life and his sarcasm- are traits that people don't want to have. People may find amusement in his actions, but they do not want to emulate him. Parents, for example, may use Mashimaro as a tool to teach their children about improper behaviour as children would probably be more receptive to learning about such values from a cute character like Mashimaro.

Bundle a fiery personality with a cute outer shell, and the masses are sure to respond to a character such as Mashimaro. Without his distinctly 'negative' personality, Mashimaro would be another face in the sea of cute characters. The juxtaposition of a cute appearance with a somewhat nasty and miserable personality is what makes Mashimaro stand out and makes it more appealing. Maybe Mashimaro's popularity can be seen as a reflection of real life as well; in the end, it is not merely appearance that attracts people but also personality (although in this case, we are attracted to a bad personality as opposed to be a nice one).