Faculty Talks: Dr. Samantha Close

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 5:30 PM until 6:30 PMCentral Daylight Time UTC -05:00

What Can Naruto Fandom Tell Us About Feminism?

Naruto (2002-2017) is a blockbuster Japanese anime and manga franchise about a young boy who wants to become a ninja and lead his village. It’s not the most obvious place to find conversations about feminism—in fact, Sakura, the lead female character in the series, is often openly mocked by fans and continues to rank high on lists of the “most hated” anime characters ever, years after the series finished airing.

But this Sakura hate doesn’t sit right with all fans. This talk explores what happens when fans—mostly female fans—take Sakura seriously. We’ll analyze fanworks that make her the main character in order to explore dynamics of gender and class, before viewing a trailer that re-imagines what Naruto would be if Sakura were the main character. Whether you’re a Naruto fan or not, come along to learn about the power fans have in re-interpreting the narratives of popular culture.

Presented by: Dr. Samantha Close

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