What genre is it - semi-surrealism???

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sunandshadow

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A few of my favorite stories fit a distinct pattern: There is a fairytale-style frame story, a realistic-style main story, but where the two stories interact the fact that fairytale elements are appearing in the real world makes it seem surreal, with lots of symbolism and magic realism elements. This mixing of realms increases until at the climax of the story the fairytale and real worlds have completely merged, including the characters having become identified with roles in the fairytale and having magical powers or natures superimposed on their original realistic selves. So, what genre or subgenre is this?

Also, if anyone has examples of this type of story I'd like to here more. Some of mine are:
- Zod Wallop (novel)
- Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)
- Princess Tutu (anime)
- MirrorMask (movie)
 
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ap123

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No clue, but I'm fascinated, and going to look up Zod Wallup.
 

VGeary

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My vote for genre would be fantasy. And though there's probably a sub-genre that might help narrow-down the specific elements you're describing here, I don't know what it is.
 

kuwisdelu

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I'd just call is surrealism or magic realism. What you describe could probably fit in one or the other or even both. It'd certainly fall within reader expectations for either genre.

Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami fits this pretty closely, except that the "realistic" part is also pretty surreal.

Mawaru Penguindrum would also fit that pattern at least as well as Utena.
 

CosmicLibrary

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Great topic! I'm working on a novel with similar themes that I've been struggling to describe. I've been thinking of it as magical realism, but it's tough to describe and I've been having a hard time finding examples so I'll definitely have to check out those you mentioned too.
 
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