A Critical Examination of Race in Anime: Part I
Given the recent inauguration of America’s first black president and, more importantly, the release of the first episode of Hetalia Axis Powers, the times call for a critical examination of race in anime.
Japanese People
Madarame is one of about five anime characters who actually look Japanese. The rest all look white.
Even Pesche admits that Ishida looks white through reverse implication. Here’s why the vast majority of “Japanese” anime characters are not Japanese:
- They don’t have black hair
- They don’t have brown eyes
We’ve all watched so much anime that we’re programmed to think anyone with a Japanese name is Japanese. Surely a character named Matsumoto is Japanese!
Show this picture to people who don’t watch anime. Tell them she’s Japanese. They’ll laugh at you. Make all the excuses you want. Say she dyed her hair, put on contacts, and underwent plastic surgery. Say her skeletal structure is Japanese (it’s not). It doesn’t pass the laugh test. She’s white, like nearly every other anime character.
Let’s try again. Which of the following characters is Japanese?
It’s the one with the lighter hair and lighter eyes. Yet some people are so divorced from reality that they believe only a Japanese person could convincingly cosplay either one.
Black People
There are two types of black people in anime:
- Black people who do anything remotely black, thereby coming off as stereotypes
- Black people who do nothing remotely black, thereby trivializing the richness of black culture and reducing the notion of blackness to a mere skin tone
Indian People
Indian anime characters suck, and I’m not just saying that because I hate everything about India. Look at it objectively. Many see Love Hina as the prototypical harem anime. However, one of the Love Hina girls didn’t evolve into a staple of the genre. Can you guess which?
- The Bitch
- The Slut
- The Pussy
- The Annoying Hyperactive Indian Girl
That’s not to say Indian characters can’t be cool. I almost liked Kougaiji. Then I noticed a shocking trend as the show progressed: he’s incapable of winning a fight. I suppose it’s not entirely his fault. I can’t reasonably expect him to put up a good fight if he eats nothing but shitty Indian food.
Chinese People
Sometimes I get the impression that Japanese people and Chinese people aren’t the best of friends. Of course, this only applies to men. Women are always exempt from racial animosity.
Chinese Women
Chinese Men
English People
The English love their tea. They really love their tea. Almost sexually. I wonder where these stereotypes come from…
Akikans
Few poorly animated fanservice anime satirize racial divisiveness quite like Akikan. There are two types of cans on the show: aluminum cans and steel cans. They transform into girls and talk shit to each other.
Are you an Akikan? Or an Akikan’t?
Mamiko Noto trash talking about the economics of the soft drink industry
These differences seem trivial to us humans. We judge beverages not by the composition of their cans but the contents therein. But the cans can’t get over their petty differences. They’re quick to find fault in others, yet they crave acceptance. Why can’t we all just get along?
42 people love sucking up to me
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Holy shit, a comment RSS feed!baka-raptor@baka-raptor.com
January 31st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I have one letter and one word for you – ‘G Gundam.’ The Indian pilot is fucking green and rides a 30 foot snake. The Denmark Gundam is a fucking windmill. The Kenyan gundam is literally a gundam designed to look like a black guy in zebra pelt. The American has guns and constantly swears in English. The french guy dresses like Napolean and his base is a giant Escargo. I could go on.
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January 31st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Hilarious. Keep up the good work
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January 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I don’t know where the ‘almost’ came from. There’s no ‘almost’ about it.
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January 31st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Momotaro has something to say in Japan’s defense.
“I’m not a bigot…at beating you up.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QaO8t-Tejk
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January 31st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
you forgot to point out the fact that japanese people have pink, blue, green, purple, what-have-you colored hair. and it’s amazing how the english people love their rap.
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January 31st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
For blacks and stereotypes all you need to do is watch Afro Samurai.
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January 31st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
True depiction of Chinese men. I look like that.
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February 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Really.
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February 1st, 2009 at 12:50 am
Baka-Raptor: “Why can’t we all just get along?” … ???
Were is the outstanding baka-raptor´s speech : “I hate people”
Or the classical global phenomenon (free beatings):
http://www.baka-raptor.com/FreeHugs/
Maaaaaaaaaaaaan:
First the sell-out,
And then, Oi Hayaku. (which i don´t even bother paying a visit anyway…)
What´s next ? Baka-Raptor becoming hippie ?
I guess i´ll go back to the best part of the site:
http://www.baka-raptor.com/archive.html
Anyone Following ?
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February 1st, 2009 at 3:14 am
In the manga Solanin the characters actually look Japanese. So does Marvelous Melmo in her own way, and don’t say she’s entirely jailbait because she can take magic candies which make her an adult.
I agree, Madarame does look Japanese, but so does the fat guy from Genshiken who stutters.
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February 1st, 2009 at 9:16 am
I lol’d at the Indian people comment. Sure that girl from Love Hina annoyed the hell outta me XD.
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February 1st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
But…but…but I don’t like vinegar. And British rap sounds nothing like that!
Is it just me or are the majority of American’s in anime black?
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February 1st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
@Marmoset:
It’s just you. We’re all blonde.
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February 1st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Don’t forget nearly everyone in Yakitate Japan
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February 1st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
nvm, I typed that before I watched the video.
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February 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
“There are two types of black people in anime:”
It would be good as to explain what doing something “remotely black” means.
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February 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
1. Can you find the picture of the black anime character with white characters standing behind him with the caption, “What is that?”
2. Also, why don’t they ever have Native American anime characters? Or Mexican ones? Why do they always leave us out of the equation?! *sniffle*
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February 2nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
@Eroshiyda
heh, that was yang wenli. what an awesome character.
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February 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Yakitate Japan is pure gold when it comes to racial stereotypes.
I especially loved the german girl living in poverty over here becoming a breast surgery slut par excellence when becoming an american citizen.
I also love that in Animes every foreigner is capable of halfway decent japanese except the chinese ones
Good times,good times
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February 2nd, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Eroshiyda,
I think everyone in Michiko to Hatchin and El Cazador de la Bruja are supposedly Mexican.
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February 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I don’t care what can it is, just as long as there’s no such thing as a male can.
Oh and, they make Chinese people look like gangsters who rape anyone in sight. wtf.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
@Epi : Michiko to Hatchin = Brazilia, for Heaven’s sake.
Nice post, as always.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Oh I dunno, I only saw the first episode ahha.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Is it bad that digitalboy’s description of G Gundam made me want to go watch it?
@ Eroshiyda – Atl in Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi is Aztec.
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February 4th, 2009 at 5:00 am
It’s about time somebody rambled about this race and anime. I love thee, in a non-gay manner.
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February 4th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
@digitalboy: No need, I’ve got the idea and decided not to watch it.
@Kratos X & Windspirit: I agree, this was a great post. I’ll buy myself a cake to celebrate.
@LJ: Will post a response comment when I get around to watching that video…
@IKnight: I apologize. But if the tea is less than 18 years old, you’re pedophile.
@biankita: I forgot nothing. I merely pushed it off to a Part II that’ll never happen.
@Jarmel: I’ve been meaning to. lelangir’s been pushing me for a while now.
@The Sojourner: The one on the left? Right? Both?
@Laguna: Don’t get me wrong, I hate people more than ever. But when you hate people as much as I do, you find much better reasons to hate people than race. Dr. Tenma made a similar statement about Johan’s hatred in Monster. Haven’t seen it yet? It was the first anime review I wrote.
@Asperger’s: Do those anime/manga sell well? Japanese people seem to like pretending they’re look white.
@kanzeon: I didn’t even know she was Indian until they explicitly brought it up in the show.
@Marmoset: Not all Americans are black, but the only black people who matter in anime are American. Nobody seems to care about Africa.
@lelangir: I accept your apology.
@TheBigN: Doing something remotely black means any possessing any trait other than skin color that is associated, either legitimately or stereotypically, with black people. For example, the rapping jinchuuriki from the Naruto manga, the breakdancing black kids from Soul Eater, and the running back on Eyeshield 21 named “Panther” all possess non-skin color traits that are remotely black. An example of someone who isn’t remotely black is Mashengo from Legend of the Galactic Heroes (see below). It’s expected in a show that takes place in a future where 21st century cultural associations have so long that many don’t even know that human life originated on Earth. He doesn’t rap, break dance, have a stereotypical name, or possess any trait that’s remotely black (although you could argue that his role as the big tough bodyguard is slightly stereotypical. Even if a character isn’t black, dark-skinned characters in anime are typically larger than their lighter-skinned counterparts). So what’s his role on the show? To be the black guy. What’s wrong with that? A sense of forced political correctness. It’s something that stands out particularly to American audiences because of the one-third black rule in American media. Also see Marmoset’s comment (#12).
@Eroshiyda: There are a few Mexican characters, though the rest of Central and South America are completely ignored.
@Eroshiyda & gulag:
@Blowfish: I’ll get to American stereotypes in Part II. Breast size analysis is inevitable.
@Aizen: I’m not how many people would mind being raped by Chun Li.
@Epi: If El Cazador taught us anything about Mexico, it’s that Mexicans love their taco taco tacos, delicious tacos, the best tacos are Amigo Tacos
@Day: It’s bad but not unexpected. Digitalboy is creepy and writes hentai reviews, just like you.
@Rakuen: Geyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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February 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Fish and Chips! Fish and Chips! I watched that video 8 times just now. Now I will be forced to watch that show.
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February 4th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
completely unrelated but catch up on claymore manga.
The reason?
RAKI IS NOW GAR.
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February 5th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Have to say this post is pretty overdue. Anime has tons of racial profiling; all Chinese women in qipaos, black people with MASSIVE lips…Still, I think the Japanese do recognize different varieties of white people. Like you pointed out, there’s the English, but you forgot to cover Japanese depictions of French people (Tamaki from Ouran springs to mind) and Americans (best example might be Terry, from King of Fighters – “AH YOO OH-KAY!?”).
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February 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Not sure how you missed that 8 out of 10 American females in anime is a huge drunk, a huge slut, or a hugely drunken slut. Also, they are blonde, and while Japanese characters get to be blonde sometimes, they’re not actually blonde. It’s cartoon blonde. They never acknowledge blondeness unless the character is American and thus blonde for real. Usually it’s an object of envy to some teenage Japanese girl character, who probably has purple hair.
Then the American girl gets drunk and sleeps with the Japanese girl’s boyfriend.
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February 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Isnt Bear Walken indian?
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February 5th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
But I love cute japanese girls with purple hair… T_T
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February 6th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
I love you, Baka-Raptor. Will you be my flaming lesbian rapist girlfriend in a man’s body?
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February 8th, 2009 at 12:36 am
@ Baka-Raptor – I’m not creepy. If I were a guy, I’d be creepy, but because I’m female and can be convincingly moe, I am not creepy. Duh.
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February 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Will the next part include Jews? I think I know only of Benny of Black Lagoon.
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March 8th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Ha! Well, I guess the Japanese view themselves as such an homogeneous race that in their fiction they like to exploit all of the colors and varieties they can think of. At the same time, there is a yearning in the Japanese subconscious for Caucasian looks (starting I think in Meiji times) so blond and white will predominate. Plus they’re scared of Africans. Then again those last two factors are present across East Asia..
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March 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 am
[...] get the good-looking heroine, the loli, the pesky Indian girl that Baka-Raptor hates, the drunken slut, and my favorite– the miko-samurai. But is this the only reason why I hate [...]
April 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
[...] For the most part you get spiky hair and huge fuckin eyes. The character’s rarely even look Japanese, but instead look more western, if anything. I must say that this style draws me in a lot. I like [...]
August 1st, 2009 at 9:19 pm
What do you got against Indian people? I don’t think that girl in Love Hina is Indian you silly wapanese.
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September 6th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
How do you know if Kougiji is Indian?
He was pretty cool and I dont got shit against Indians, I mean I got a lot of them there pretty chill I guess, but did it ever say in the anime that he was?
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November 30th, 2009 at 11:37 am
What about Anthy and Akio in “Revolutionary Girl Utena”? They are supposed to be Indian. Anthy even has a bindi (red dot) in the movie.
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January 23rd, 2010 at 10:30 pm
I swear all of us Americans are blonde! I watched this anime video and this blonde american lady said she isnt good at talking in japanese(she was doing just fine) and then the Japanese dude comes up speaking jacked up English and the American lady’s english is even worse.
Not to mention that all the black people I see in anime arent black. Take Yoruichi for example, she isn’t “black” she is dark-skinned. I don’t watch Afro-Samurai so I wouldn’t know. I don’t really see a lot of black people in anime so I…I don’t know what to say about this one, haha.
It also gets me irritated with all these blonde japanese characters or “looking-more-white-than-the-white-person” japanese characters. Seriously, what is wrong with have dark brown hair and brown eyes? I may be stereotyping by saying this but I have never seen a big-breasted japanese lady unless they are heavy.
Oh well. Japanese people will be japanese people. Plus, its not like we don’t stereotype. All the Indian-Americans in american cartoons have an accent, all south asian people have to know some sort of martial arts or have an obsession with technology. The black stereotype is dying down since a lot of black people in cartoons are becoming nerds (i.e. AJ from Fairly OddParents or Tucker Foley from Danny Phantom)and the latino(preferably Mexican) stereotype is still alive.
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