Persona of Anime: A Depth Psychological Approach to the Persona and Individuation

Abstract

The persona is an essential part of personality development that allows individuals to exhibit conventionally acceptable behaviors and to adapt them as necessary in social situations. The Jungian concept of the persona is underrepresented in depth psychological studies and so merits more development. This research aims to answer how the persona affects character development and individuation journeys through the narratives of Japanese anime. Also included was the exploration of the archetypal presence of Dionysus. Using a hermeneutic analysis of four anime series, both the protagonists and antagonists were explored at length. Additionally, pivotal fighting scenes were considered to demonstrate persona development or dissolution. Through the process of the research, I found that analysis of villains yielded more results in regard to the persona. Findings indicate that Dionysian myth is often apparent within anime, despite its cultural dissonance. A broader understanding of the persona could have an influence on the field of media studies as a way of exploring narrative within and outside a specific tradition. Findings also indicate that the depth psychology concept of the persona may also be more complex than initially thought; specifically, it may be a multilayered structure, rather than a singular one. Persona identification turns individual characters into a vessel for unconscious contents. Further analysis of persona identification can be a tool to help make inferences about the personal and collective unconscious.