Traumas and Recovery in Takaya Natsuki's <em>Fruits Basket</em>

<p>This thesis examines the various traumas within Takaya Natsuki’s anime series <em>Fruits Basket </em>and how the act of transformation triggers the beginnings of recovery for numerous characters. <em>Fruits Basket </em>bears striking similarities to the French fairy tale <em>Beauty and the Beast</em> (as well as later adaptations) originated by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve. Throughout, I draw parallels between the “Beauty and the Beast”-genre with <em>Fruits Basket </em>and how the anime expands upon shared themes, specifically trauma. Additionally, I analyse the birth of and recovery from traumas (caused by bullying, loss, abuse, and feelings of otherness) for “Beauty and the Beast” archetypes within <em>Fruits Basket</em>, along with others. Takaya’s anime demonstrates an understanding of trauma: the journeys various characters undertake stress the importance of a having strong, supportive social system to initiate the steps for recovery.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Year dc:date.available

2022

Author dc:creator

• North, Vesper

Contributors dc:contributor

• Justine Van Meter
• Stephanie Takaragawa
• Anna Leahy

• anime
• trauma
• recovery
• fairy tales
• fruits basket
• Japanese Studies
• Modern Literature
• Other Arts and Humanities
• Other English Language and Literature
• Other Film and Media Studies

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/english_theses/45

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.chapman.edu:english_theses-1047