Characteristics of likability, comparing UK and Japanese comic styles, settings, and endings, within children’s visual novel design.

Abstract

The likeability research undertaken by this thesis is shaped by an emergent design approach and the investigation of multiple research disciplines. This research analyses whether there is more of a likeability of the visual novel when compared to the choose-your-own-adventure (CYOA) eBook, as well as whether there is evidence for greater likeability for specific art styles, narrative settings and endings for UK children aged 10-11-years old. Using Social Constructionism, mixed-methods, and featuring a practical element, this research suggests that Japanese pop culture is influential amongst UK children and that Japanese Comic Styles and settings are recommended when designing visual novels for this demographic. The research suggests that while ‘good’ endings have greater likability, ‘bad’ or ‘neutral’ endings are not considered ‘awful’, and that children have greater likeability of the visual novel when
it is compared to the CYOA eBook.

This research provides designers and researchers with an understanding of the visual novel’s likeability with this new demographic, as previously it was predominantly marketed to players over 12. It is situated in, and its findings are applicable to, comic, children’s media, narratology, and video game studies. It is recommended that these researchers consider using the visual novel as a method to research likeability, children’s product design, narratology, ludology, semiotics, and acoustics. Moreover, the findings may also assist practitioners; UK children’s comic book artists are recommended to illustrate visual novels using Japanese Comic Style and use the style guide provided. Visual novel designers should also utilise the guideline of features for visual novel design provided to create likeable visual novels for this demographic.

Date of Award	May 2021
Original language	English
Sponsors	Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland
Supervisor	Ruth Brolly (Supervisor), Yuanyuan Chen (Supervisor) & Justin Magee (Supervisor)