Traumatic Experiences in the Main Character of Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

Abstract

This research examines the representation of traumatic experiences in the main character of the animation series Blue Eye Samurai (2023), with a focus on Cathy Caruth's ideas of belated trauma and the process of numbness. As one of the most popular animations at the end of 2023, this animation reveals the impact of trauma on the main character's behavior and life over time. This research used the close viewing method to analyze each episode's text and visual content in order to determine how narrative and visual structures portray unresolved trauma and the trauma's long-term behavioral effects on Mizu. The results show that Mizu's trauma is fragmented and occurs in nightmares and flashbacks. Mizu's behavior and life are also altered by the trauma, leading to emotional numbness and challenges with feeling, expressing, or accepting particular emotions. This research concludes by highlighting Blue Eye Samurai as an intriguing example of how modern animation might investigate themes of trauma, identity, and resiliency, adding a fresh perspective to literary studies.