... the other Black experience
Black Anime Characters
I reckon someone needs to start this off:
So, over the last 3 years, Afro Samurai has been in the anime world, & has gotten some great reception,but only by its African audience. Now, this is obvious why, but for those who aren't aware, most anime fans are "purest" when it comes to the genre. Meaning the main character cannot be african, or african decent.
These so called "purest" say "its not anime, its just A cartoon" even though its creator is JAPANESE-
Yet, in many anime, there are african/african american stereotype characters. In the original movie "Blood; The Last Vampire" there was A big lipped, 1940's WWII guard, & several jazz musicians. In "Cowboy Bebop" there are several references to basketball & known martial artist star Kareem Abdul Jabbar, African American 1970's character Shaft & also Action Jackson. But these were merely blaxploitation devices, used for the show. None of those characters were recurring , even as enemies. Bo-bobo Bo Bo-bobo is literally drawn to look like A disco junkie , but isn't even an african character-he's japanese with A blonde afro.
Now, forgive me if I may have left out some anime, but these are the most notable I can reference at the time.
I wonder what you on afro punk have to say about this:Personally, wether the character created by A japanese writter, african writter, or anyone I would like to see more african based anime heros/characters in A steady recurring role, if not the main role. Afro Samurai is great, & we could use more anime like that. Instead of things like Samurai Champloo, which merely rip off our culture & sub-culture, to make it their own.
So, over the last 3 years, Afro Samurai has been in the anime world, & has gotten some great reception,but only by its African audience. Now, this is obvious why, but for those who aren't aware, most anime fans are "purest" when it comes to the genre. Meaning the main character cannot be african, or african decent.
These so called "purest" say "its not anime, its just A cartoon" even though its creator is JAPANESE-
Yet, in many anime, there are african/african american stereotype characters. In the original movie "Blood; The Last Vampire" there was A big lipped, 1940's WWII guard, & several jazz musicians. In "Cowboy Bebop" there are several references to basketball & known martial artist star Kareem Abdul Jabbar, African American 1970's character Shaft & also Action Jackson. But these were merely blaxploitation devices, used for the show. None of those characters were recurring , even as enemies. Bo-bobo Bo Bo-bobo is literally drawn to look like A disco junkie , but isn't even an african character-he's japanese with A blonde afro.
Now, forgive me if I may have left out some anime, but these are the most notable I can reference at the time.
I wonder what you on afro punk have to say about this:Personally, wether the character created by A japanese writter, african writter, or anyone I would like to see more african based anime heros/characters in A steady recurring role, if not the main role. Afro Samurai is great, & we could use more anime like that. Instead of things like Samurai Champloo, which merely rip off our culture & sub-culture, to make it their own.
Tags: African, Afro, American, Anime, Bebop, Blaxploitation, Blood, Bo, Bo-bobo, Champloo, More…
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Prototaph on -
There's a black main character called Dutch.
He is the leader of a gang of Mercenaries/smugglers in Black Lagoon and pleasantly he's not a caricature of a black person. It's a series about smugglers and EVERYONE in the show is a bad guy, but at least Dutch isn't portrayed as a "black" smuggler.He's just the ringleader of a smuggling team and he just happens to be black. He's no one's sidekick and he calls the shots on the team.
In Blood+, the anime based on the movie you mentioned each of the two vampire queens has an assistant in their team, who just happens to be black. There is no mention is made or focus placed on their race at all. Their characters are not gimmicky nor are they used as a "blaxploitation device" :) as you say. They are solid well rounded characters, especially James.
Unfortunately, in the English dub of the anime, Aniplex decided that maybe English speakers or just Americans, wouldn't buy into a black, CIA trained operations and weapons expert living in Japan unless he had some kind of ethnic accent.That isn't fact it's just what I think happened. So Aniplex decided to give him a "Jamaican" accent in the English dub of the anime. Of course to anyone who grew up in the islands, or even if you just have Jamaican friends or family, the "Jamaican accents" are always laughable and done very poorly.
This is one of the reasons why I watch my anime subbed. -
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Blak on -
Ok, first off I now HAVE to watch Black Lagoon, based on this info.
& For my reference, about how far into Blood+ is this side character? I couldn't sit through it, admittedly due to the fact that I saw it as taking away from the main story from which it drew.
It is quite sad to see that once it is crossed over into English, it becomes purely based on stereotype to appeal to the masses. -
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Permalink Reply by Dre Vanity on -
Bleach has Tousen Kaname and Yoruichi. DBGT has Uub what about Killer Bee from Naruto Shippuden.And Full Metal Alchemist has a few dark skinned people but I don't know if I can call them African American.
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Permalink Reply by Dre Vanity on
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it's this other chick from bleach too her name is Halibel and it a dude too from bleach but i forgot his name
DeAndre Jones said:Bleach has Tousen Kaname and Yoruichi. DBGT has Uub what about Killer Bee from Naruto Shippuden.And Full Metal Alchemist has a few dark skinned people but I don't know if I can call them African American. -
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