EL ANIME Y LA REPRESENTACIÓN DEL ESPECTRO AUTISTA EN LOS MEDIOS: UN ANÁLISIS INTERPRETATIVO DEL PERSONAJE VIOLET EVERGARDEN

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing the character Violet Evergarden, the protagonist of the anime of the same name, as a possible symbolic representation of traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), even without the work explicitly assigning a diagnosis. The research question guiding the work is: To what extent can Violet Evergarden be interpreted as a neurodivergent figure, and what is the impact of this representation for viewers on the autism spectrum? The overall objective is to investigate how the narrative construction of the character expresses behaviors compatible with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for ASD. Specific objectives include: (a) identifying scenes from the anime that demonstrate difficulties with social interaction, emotional communication, and repetitive patterns; (b) relating these scenes to the clinical criteria for ASD; (c) discussing the symbolic impact of the character on neurodivergent viewers; and (d) reflecting on the role of Japanese media in representing atypical subjectivities. The methodology adopted is qualitative, exploratory, and interpretative, with content analysis according to Bardin (2011). Data collection and organization were based on the observation of key episodes of the series and the categorization of behaviors according to DSM-5 criteria. The methodological choices are supported by authors such as Minayo (2001), who emphasizes the value of qualitative research in interpreting social and cultural meanings. The results reveal that Violet displays traits such as literalness, cognitive rigidity, limited emotional communication, and hyperfocus on tasks—recurrent behaviors in neurodivergent profiles. The analysis also indicates that her trajectory has a significant impact on viewers with similar experiences, favoring processes of identification and subjective recognition. Thus, it is concluded that Violet Evergarden symbolically and sensitively represents aspects of neurodiversity in contemporary media.