Charles

No, it really was. And it's like we're at this point where anime has reached the top of the tippiest top of Black culture, which is so wild to see because anime used to be an extremely niche interest. Right. And to be a Black person that is deeply invested in a very not Black subculture, it can be isolating at times. We're

No, it really was. And it's like we're at this point where anime has reached the top of the tippiest top of Black culture, which is so wild to see because anime used to be an extremely niche interest. Right. And to be a Black person that is deeply invested in a very not Black subculture, it can be isolating at times. We're

So to get into what's behind all of this, I talked to some Black fans at Anime NYC.

So to get into what's behind all of this, I talked to some Black fans at Anime NYC.

So to get into what's behind all of this, I talked to some Black fans at Anime NYC.

Yeah. So some of the things we heard were pretty familiar, right? There's like this long documentary relationship between Black folks and Kung Fu movies, which likely got Black people interested in East Asian media in general, especially in the 60s and 70s. But then, of course, you have people who just love anime for the fun of it. I mean, that's what it's there for, right?

Yeah. So some of the things we heard were pretty familiar, right? There's like this long documentary relationship between Black folks and Kung Fu movies, which likely got Black people interested in East Asian media in general, especially in the 60s and 70s. But then, of course, you have people who just love anime for the fun of it. I mean, that's what it's there for, right?

Yeah. So some of the things we heard were pretty familiar, right? There's like this long documentary relationship between Black folks and Kung Fu movies, which likely got Black people interested in East Asian media in general, especially in the 60s and 70s. But then, of course, you have people who just love anime for the fun of it. I mean, that's what it's there for, right?

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

The fantasy, the escapism, all that good stuff. But some of this change is because of generational shifts, right? Black millennials and Gen Zers grew up with anime shows like One Piece and Naruto. Shout out to Toonami on Cartoon Network. They did a big one. And now as adults, they're defining what's culturally cool.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

But I think that one of the bigger themes to all of this is that Black people are seeing parts of themselves reflected in anime.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Brittany, I feel like you had a similar experience when you watched Kiki's Delivery Service for the first time. Oh, my gosh.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.

Now, I don't think Miyazaki had that in mind when he made Kiki's Delivery Service. But what you are speaking to is an experience that a lot of Black anime fans have described. Of course, we heard that a lot at Anime NYC. But after we left, I still had some questions about the way Black anime fans find ways to identify with characters that are just so different from us.