Evolving Depictions? Black Characters in Anime
Rich L.
Given the increasing popularity of anime, it is critical to strive for maximum inclusivity and representation on television and the big screen. Anime now features a greater number of positive and prominent representations of Black characters, marking a significant shift in the way they were portrayed in the past. When anime first started including Black representation, it wasn’t pretty. Stereotypical images filled the screen as animators encompassed “Mr. Popo” like characters showcasing Blackness in all its stereotypical ignorance. However, over time, the portrayal of Black characters in anime has undergone significant changes and improvements, gradually moving away from harmful stereotypes toward more nuanced and authentic representations that tend to hit hard and are memorable. So, moving forward, I'm going to discuss three anime with great Black character representation that I've watched from beginning to end.
Keep in mind, I may not mention all of them from each anime, just some that stood out for me.
Naruto Shippuden
It took a while in Naruto for any Black characters to appear, however when they did, it definitely mattered. The world of Naruto is split into multiple villages, and The Village Hidden in the Clouds is hardly brought up until later in the Shippuden series. When Sasuke and his new crew, Team Taka, joined the Akatsuki, they were assigned to track down and capture the eight tails Jinchuuriki, named Killer B. Team Taka encounters Killer Bee and he gives them a huge run for his money. Beating them down, dancing with multiple blades, using electric attacks, and even showing that he's in perfect harmony with his tailed beast companion, a giant..bull..octopus creature that pushes them to their very limit. Killer B. defeats team Taka with ease and does all of this while rapping and talking trash to them.
I understand that it may be a bit problematic that the first Black character in Naruto is a rapper, however Killer Bee became very entertaining and memorable since he's the one giving the beatdown to Sasuke and succeeding. After this fight, Killer Bee goes on to become a valuable ally to Naruto, teaching him how to get along with his tailed beast, and he even becomes the new wielder of the Samehada, the shark skin sword that belonged to the then fallen major villain, Kisame. Killer Bee is also voiced by the actor Reno Wilson.
Killer B’s brother is also introduced shortly after; the fourth Raikage of the village, Ay (or A). He helps kick off the Great Ninja War Arc at the Five Kage Summit, when he also takes on Team Taka and delivers a good beatdown. Ay also fights a reincarnated version of his father and even joins the other Kage to take on the penultimate villain of the series, Madara Uchiha. Ay is much more serious, sterner and stronger than his brother (Killer B), and he also specializes in lightning jitsu. He moves and fights like a wrestler, and one of the coolest moments he had with his brother is when they did a double sided lariat on Kisame which decapitated him. While on the subject of the Raikage, Ay's reincarnated father, the 3rd Raikage, was a powerful and prominent foe in the same arc as well. Ay is also voiced by Beau Billingslea.
Last but certainly not least, is Darui, one of the Raikage's right hand men. He also has a bit of an encounter with Suigetsu of Team Taka earlier in the series. Like Ay and Bee, Darui uses a big machete like blade, and lightning jitsu that, in my opinion, is the most stylish and the most powerful: A Lightning Release Black Panther. Darui is also voiced by Catero Colbert.
While I love all of these guys, Darui is probably my favorite. Darui stands out as my top choice, because he gives off a vibe that’s similar to Kakashi; as if he were the "Hidden Cloud Village's counterpart" to him. They both sport spiky white hair, have similar eye shapes, specialize in lightning jutsu, they both have a technique that involves an animal lightning construct, and they both work closely with their respective Kages. They even had a chance to become a leader of their village at one point.
Although these characters make their appearance later in the series, they completely steal the spotlight with their powerful presence when they finally do.
Bleach
Bleach remains a highly significant anime for current conversations, notably due to its consistent portrayal of Black characters throughout its entire run, making it a prominent example of diversity within the realm of major shonen anime. Here are some characters that I found interesting:
Kaname Tosen
Kaname Tosen (pic right), the former Captain of the Ninth Division of the Gotei 13 is one of the prominent characters in the series. One of his features is that he's completely blind, and possibly plays on the “blind swordsmen” trope. He is also one of the three captains that betrays Soul Society at the end of the “Rescue Rukia” arc. For Tosen, it’s all about justice and obtaining that at any cost.
If there was any particular theme to Tosen, it would be that “Justice is Blind”. His zanpakuto creates frequencies of vibrations and sounds that not only help take down his opponents but also helps him see on the battlefield. Tosen even transformed into a hollow during his final fight with his best friend Kommamura and his lieutenant, Hisagi stated at one point that he did get his sight back while in that form. While Tosen was not voiced by a Black actor at first, going forward from episode 377 he was later voiced by actor, A.J Beckles.
Zommari Rureaux.
Speaking of hollows, after the events of the Hueco Mundo arc, the next character of discussion is an antagonistic arrancar named Zommari Rureaux (pic left) , who held the position of espada number 7. Most of Zommari's screen time is during his fight with Byakuya Kuchki. Yet Zommari is a stoic yet, arrogant character, that specializes in being able to control parts of his opponent's body. He probably has the strangest transformation in the series, as he seems to have a strange embryo-like pumpkin on the bottom half of his body. Every espada is associated with an aspect of death, and Zommari's type is Intoxication or Hedonism, due to him essentially getting drunk on his own power. Zommari is voiced by actor, Neil Kaplan
As Bleach transitioned into the Thousand Year Blood War arc, we were also introduced to several awesome Black characters…
Oetsu Nimaiya.
One that actually debuted recently in the Thousand Year Blood War anime, was one of the captains of Squad Zero, Oetsu Nimaiya (Pic Right). He actually has a huge role in the Bleach universe as well as in Ichigo's path to finding out the truth about himself. He’s the one that actually crafted the zanpakuto. He’s powerful but he’s a total goofball; literally breaking out random instruments with greetings, while yelling to both Ichigo and Renji. Being the creator of zanpakuto, he has an unlimited disposal at his arsenal, yet he doesn't seem to have one for himself (perhaps this is something the anime could change?) He's also voiced by the same actor that portrayed Darui, Catero Colbert.
Yoruichi Shihouin
Yoruichi Shihouin is a character that's been around since the beginning of the series. A major player from the royal Shihouin clan, and former lead of the assassination squad of Soul Society, she is considered one of the most popular female characters in the series. She, along with Urahara, were exiled from Soul Society, and they help Ichigo throughout the series to help him control his soul reaper abilities, and gain new powers with them. Yoruichi isn't a character you see join a lot of fights, but when she does, it usually means things are getting serious. She is one of the few characters from the Soul Society who doesn't fight with a Zanpakuto, since she “doesn't play nice with it”. One could only imagine how powerful she'd be if she did. Yoruichi Shihouin is voiced by actress Wendee Lee
Lille Barro
There is also Lille Barro (pic right), but I'm only going to touch on him briefly due to not wanting to spoil anime only watchers. He's a part of the Schutzstaffel and one of the elite squads of Sternitters (the main antagonist force in The Thousand Year Blood War arc. I will just say with him is that he specializes in very long range weapons. Currently, there are no English voice actors for him.
Harribel
Next we have Harribel, espada number three. Without a doubt, she easily holds the title of my favorite female character in Bleach as her design, in both of her forms, is truly captivating. She not only possesses the power to manipulate water but can also manifest shark-like constructs with incredible finesse. Her major fight was with Toshiro Hitsugaya, which is fitting due to her using water shark constructs, and Hitsugaya using ice dragon constructs. Harribel is voiced by actress Laura Bailey.
Her aspect of death is sacrifice, due to her always being ready to throw down her life for comrades. Thankfully her sacrificial ways weren't the end for her, because she was one of the few espada to survive the Hueco Mundo arc and get a small bit of screen time in the Thousand Year Blood War Arc. She actually received a new scene in the anime that wasn't in the manga, and here's hoping that trend continues for her when the arc resumes later this year.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is an anime that takes a lot of inspiration from different kinds of cultures. The main character that comes to mind in my analysis is Mohammad Avdol, one of the most important characters in JoJo's, Stardust Crusaders. Avdol, an Egyptian fortuneteller, becomes a very close friend to Joseph Joestar during the series. He's incredibly useful to the heroes in educating them about stands, how they work, and exactly who Dio is and where he's located. Avdol is also a force to be reckoned with in combat due to be his powerful fire based stand, Magician's Red, a humanoid red bird like stand with control over fire.
Avdol is loyal to his friends, and while he is in a large part of Stardust Crusaders, he unfortunately doesn't make it to the end...twice technically. He appears to meet his end during the fight with the gunslinging Hol Horse and then, he meets his abrupt and final end, against the penultimate villain of the series, Vanilla Ice. Due to JoJo's always using musical references for their names, Avdol is named after Paula Abdul. He is also voiced by actor Chris Tergliafera
Final Thoughts
The representation of Black characters in anime extends far beyond what we have seen as many creators are starting to understand that diversity matters. These characters not only bring variety and representation to their respective series but they also stand out as enjoyable and entertaining. By introducing diverse and well-crafted personalities, manga and anime creators have been able to captivate viewers with unique storylines and relatable experiences with these characters.
With this in mind, the increasing popularity of manga and anime, along with the emphasis on diversity in popular culture, will continue to be a prominent and mainstream trend among viewers…..
But to what extent should Black character representation be taken? How profound should it be? Should it encompass just the character and their abilities, or should it also extend to their voices? Furthermore, what about Black anime creators? How should their content and work be acknowledged and included in the ongoing rise and popularity of anime on major streaming anime sites?
After all, Afro Samurai was voiced by Samuel L. Jackson, but the manga was made by Takashi Okazaki and produced by Gonzo and won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.
Something to think about moving forward.
