Abstract
In three studies, the actual use of the cutting technique in animated cartoons was investigated. In Study I, the frequency of the use of cutting techniques was investigated comparing animated cartoons with other TV program genres. Study II focused on the relation ships between cutting frequency, theme of animated cartoons, and viewer rating. In Study III, different cutting were categorized according to temporal relationships. The main results were as follows. (1) The frequency of cutting techniques varied according to TV genre. Animated cartoons averaged about 14 cutting techniques per minutes. (2) Frequency of cutting was related to the theme and viewer ratings. For animated cartoons with a hero, a science fiction theme, and high viewer rating, the cutting frequency was highest. (3) In an animated cartoons the cutting techniques by which two sequencial scenes are juxtaposed simultaneously was observed with particular frequency. (4) The frequent cutting techniques in popular animated cratoons with a hero and a scienc fiction theme had an impact on male preschoolers' TV viewing. These findings clarify the actual conditions of the cutting technique in animated cartoons. The research suggests that the cutting technique may play an imoportant role in preschoolers' viewing of TV stories.
