Once feared as terrifying symbols of the supernatural, vampires have evolved into complex figures of existential conflict in both Western and Japanese media. In North American fiction, they are often portrayed as morally conflicted beings who grapple with blood rejection, desire and restraint. This article argues that such motifs have significantly influenced Japanese manga and anime, where vampire-like figures and hybrid creatures – such as ghouls – reflect similar ethical and alimentary tensions. Drawing on a literature-based, hermeneutic approach, the article explores the transnational and intertextual exchange that shapes these portrayals, focusing particularly on how core themes from Western vampire fiction inform the construction of morally ambivalent, hybrid identities in Japanese narratives. The paper is structured in three parts: first, it surveys the evolution of the vampire myth and classical works, to then further explore key North American works—Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (1976) and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga (2005–2008)—with an emphasis on feeding restraint. The third part analyzes Japanese reinterpretations, taking Tokyo Ghoul (2014–2018) as a central case study. Through the figure of Kaneki Ken, the series dramatizes the struggle between monstrous appetite and moral agency. Additional examples from other anime extend the intertextual scope of the analysis. The perspective followed is mostly intertextual, not empirical or fully comparative, a limitation that is acknowledged while inviting directions for future research.
Referencia completa: Riestra-Camacho, Rocío. “Influence of the North American Literary Motif of Feeding Restraint in Tokyo Ghoul”. Revista: Oceánide. Año: 2026. Volumen: 18. Páginas: 38-45. Editorial: Sociedad Española de Estudios Literarios de Cultura Popular (SELICUP). País: España. ISSN: 19896328.