Analisis Youkai dalam Mitologi Jepang pada Anime "Naruto" Karya Masashi Kishimoto

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the representation of youkai in the anime Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto as part of Japanese mythology adapted into modern popular media. The main problem addressed in this research is how youkai characters are portrayed and how these representations reflect natural phenomena, morality, and the traditional beliefs of Japanese society. This research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive method through content analysis techniques. The theories applied in this study are Ferdinand de Saussure's semiotics and literary sociology to examine the relationship between the symbolic representation of youkai and Japanese sociocultural values. Data were obtained from eleven episodes of Naruto that prominently feature youkai elements. The findings indicate that youkai in Naruto are not only depicted as fearsome supernatural beings but also embody deep symbolic meanings related to spiritual values, social ethics, and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Thus, Naruto serves as a medium of cultural representation that reflects the dynamics of identity, self-acceptance, and morality within the context of contemporary Japanese society.