DISCOVERING WABI-SABI: THE REDEMPTION OF THE FLAWED CHARACTERS IN MASASHI KISHIMOTO'S NARUTO

None of this world is born perfect and this is one of the realities in this world. Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that focuses only on the flawed beauty of this world. Using one of the popular animated series, this study analyzes it's flawed characters and their redemptions. This qualitative study utilized Jacques Derrida's Deconstruction that viewed the flawed characters in Masashi Kishimoto's animated series Naruto. Along with the Formalistic approach to characterize the characters, the study also employed Psychological Approach using Abraham Maslow's theory of Hierarchy of Needs that identified their motivations and goals of the selected flawed characters in existing in the series. Moreover, Moral-Philosophical Approach was used to determine the values of the redemption of the flawed characters. The result showed that Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, Gaara of the Sand, Senju Tsunade and Uchiha Sasuke were characterized as flawed characters. These characters also showed their motivations and goals in which they exist in the series. Bearing with them their own flaws, these characters also showed their own redemptions throughout the series. These characters revealed that despite of having flaws and imperfections, they prove that they can still survive to live in this world. Imperfections mold and made them who they are and change the perceptions of the society about them.