<p>This is an example of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathetic_fallacy">pathetic fallacy</a>, more specifically an <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EmpathicEnvironment">empathic environment</a>. i.e. giving an environment a percieved emotion. It is a common literary technique.</p>

<p>Some other examples include:</p>

<ul>
<li>Rainy scenes when a character dies / delves into depression.</li>
<li>A calm breeze after turmoil has subsided.</li>
<li>A big storm buffets the castle walls as the evil king rages</li>
<li>The sun appears from the clouds as the characters see a new path to follow after being downtrodden</li>
<li>It snows and the land is harsh when a man is exiled from the city. </li>
</ul>

<p>In this case, midnight - is commonly associated with spookiness, feelings of unease and the supernatural. </p>

<p>It also conjures images of darkness, which is commonly associated with evil - where light is usually a good force.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-03T01:04:48.913Z
I would be really interested to know if this association came from Western influence or if it existed in pre-contact Japanese literature.
Torisuda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-04T08:52:37.047Z
@Evilloli I don't know for sure, but I believe a lot of Japanese poetry like Haikus feature the seasons/setting almost as a character
Toshinou Kyouko
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-02T22:53:06.977Z
2016-06-02T22:53:06.977Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>A recurring story element that I've noticed is the accessibility of certain evil/dark devices at midnight.</p>

<p>A few examples:</p>

<ol>
<li>In the <a href="http://sailormoon.wikia.com/wiki/Mysterious_Sleeping_Illness!_Protect_the_Girls&#39;_Hearts_in_Love" rel="nofollow">third episode</a> of <em>Sailor Moon</em>, girls listen to a midnight radio show that is hosted by the antagonists illegally. Girls that wrote into the show and are read on air receive a brooch which steals their energy. </li>
<li>In <em><a href="http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Midnight_Channel" rel="nofollow">Persona</a></em>, there is a midnight channel which broadcasts the shadow of the person that is currently missing.</li>
<li>In <em><a href="http://myanimelist.net/anime/228/Jigoku_Shoujo" rel="nofollow">Jigoku Shoujo</a></em>, there is a website that is only accessible at midnight, which will allow the user with a grudge to send someone to hell. </li>
</ol>

<p>Why do all three of these anime use midnight as a time for evil? What is special about midnight that sets it apart from any other time?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-03T00:01:14.810Z
Come on. Midnight is a time obviously privileged by the fact that it is, as the name suggests, in the middle of the night. If night is spooky and evil, then clearly midnight - the most nightish of all times - is the most spooky and evil.
senshin
<tropes>
What is the meaning behind dark works often taking place at midnight?
# What is the meaning behind dark works often taking place at midnight?
Posted by: username_0 on 2016-06-02
A recurring story element that I've noticed is the accessibility of certain evil/dark devices at midnight.

A few examples:

1. In the [third episode](http://sailormoon.wikia.com/wiki/Mysterious_Sleeping_Illness!_Protect_the_Girls'_Hearts_in_Love) of *Sailor Moon*, girls listen to a midnight radio show that is hosted by the antagonists illegally. Girls that wrote into the show and are read on air receive a brooch which steals their energy.
2. In *[Persona](http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Midnight_Channel)*, there is a midnight channel which broadcasts the shadow of the person that is currently missing.
3. In *[Jigoku Shoujo](http://myanimelist.net/anime/228/Jigoku_Shoujo)*, there is a website that is only accessible at midnight, which will allow the user with a grudge to send someone to hell.

Why do all three of these anime use midnight as a time for evil? What is special about midnight that sets it apart from any other time?
**Tags:** tropes
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Come on. Midnight is a time obviously privileged by the fact that it is, as the name suggests, in the middle of the night. If night is spooky and evil, then clearly midnight - the most nightish of all times - is the most spooky and evil.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2016-06-02. Score: 5
This is an example of [pathetic fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathetic_fallacy), more specifically an [empathic environment](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EmpathicEnvironment). i.e. giving an environment a percieved emotion. It is a common literary technique.

Some other examples include:

* Rainy scenes when a character dies / delves into depression.
* A calm breeze after turmoil has subsided.
* A big storm buffets the castle walls as the evil king rages
* The sun appears from the clouds as the characters see a new path to follow after being downtrodden
* It snows and the land is harsh when a man is exiled from the city.

In this case, midnight - is commonly associated with spookiness, feelings of unease and the supernatural.

It also conjures images of darkness, which is commonly associated with evil - where light is usually a good force.
> **Comments:**
> **username_3** (2016-06-03): I would be really interested to know if this association came from Western influence or if it existed in pre-contact Japanese literature.  
> **username_2** (2016-06-04): @Evilloli I don't know for sure, but I believe a lot of Japanese poetry like Haikus feature the seasons/setting almost as a character  
---
