Visualizing the Afterlife and the Hero’s Journey: A Comparative Study of Hercules, Corpse Bride, and The Book of Life

Introduction: This study aims to conduct a comparative examination of the visual representation of the afterlife and the hero’s journey in the animated films «Hercules», «Corpse Bride», and «The Book of Life». The primary objective is to analyze how these works render abstract and complex notions of life after death through visual and narrative strategies. The study addresses the central research problem: In what ways do the selected films, through their use of the narrative structure of the ‘hero’s journey’ and the integration of visual and storytelling elements, construct a tangible, comprehensible, and believable representation of the afterlife?Research Method: Adopting a qualitative, descriptive–analytical approach grounded in Joseph Campbell’s ‘monomyth’ theory, the study examines visual evidence and library-based sources. Data analysis was carried out in two stages: analysis of narrative structure and analysis of visual elements.Findings: The representation of the afterlife in «Hercules», «Corpse Bride», and «The Book of Life» aligns with mythological, religious, and philosophical perspectives. Moreover, visual elements—particularly color, light, and form—not only help delineate the worlds of the living and the dead alongside character development but also render the more abstract aspects of the afterlife concrete and convincing within each film.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the selected works, by employing the hero’s journey framework and a rich array of visual devices, draw on the capacities, possibilities, and techniques of animation to reconstruct the afterlife—an immaterial and complex concept—in innovative and believable ways. Grounded in mythic traditions and religious beliefs, these strategies not only add narrative depth but also cultivate emotional resonance, thereby enriching the audience’s understanding of metaphysical concepts

کلیدواژه ها:

Animation ، Afterlife ، Corpse Bride ، Hercules The Book of Life