Thread: Anti-Americanism in Animes and Mangas ~reasons~???

Brasil? Fuck that.

How often to you hear Canada mentioned in Anime? I've only known of three instances, ever. One was in Ghost in the Shell: SAC, so I guess that makes up for it.

Originally Posted by Dante Obscuri

The fact is that they portray the Big Evil empire. I'm not going to deny, that at the very moment the US is the one that is seen as that way (and maybe because of the US politicians, that image, doesn't totally lacks of bases).

But as I already said, if at any moment any other nation (or Union) becomes the most powerful one, then that will be targeted as the evil empire.

Anyways, to the anime stuff. You're saying that they are Anti-American, because the have the Big Evil Empire (according to you, the US), and the weak power (according to you, Japan). But I see that as something like David and Goliath from the Bible. The little and weak one, against the big and powerful one.

Besides, we haven't seen that kind of stuff in anime/manga only, but in American movies as well. Star Wars for an instance?

Star Wars is a whole diffrent thing. I don't even know how that got into the argument. StarWars is sci-fi fantasy movie and it doesn't reflect on any current country nor race. But in the animes it is clearly visible. so i don't see how you can compare it to Star-wars.But I don't see how Japan can be mad about Nagasaki and HIroshima when they did Pearl Harbor. THe sanctions on Japan, though i don't understand them are favorable to us because that's one less country we have to worry about.

@Tevesh
Though Cadana is a super power, isn't it part of the CommonWealth under Queen Elizabeh II.? The headquarters(capital) of the Commonwealth is London,England.

Yeah, you're right, I think there does exist some semblance of "anti-americanism", to an extent; nontheless, I don't hate any person, object, animal, place, or thing, probably never could.

Originally Posted by ghost305

Star Wars is a whole diffrent thing. I don't even know how that got into the argument. StarWars is sci-fi fantasy movie and it doesn't reflect on any current country nor race. But in the animes it is clearly visible. so i don't see how you can compare it to Star-wars.But I don't see how Japan can be mad about Nagasaki and HIroshima when they did Pearl Harbor. THe sanctions on Japan, though i don't understand them are favorable to us because that's one less country we have to worry about.

@Tevesh
Though Cadana is a super power, isn't it part of the CommonWealth under Queen Elizabeh II.? The headquarters(capital) of the Commonwealth is London,England.

Star Wars totally relates so does Lord of the ring or any other fiction with a big evil super power.

Star Wars totally relates so does Lord of the ring or any other fiction with a big evil super power.

Eh, no it doesn't.

What he is saying, I believe, is that the anime and manga specifically point out the US as the evil super-power. Star Wars and LOTR do not make such a reference. Meaning, those are completely unrelated.

Ghost, what Century are you from?

It seems rational that the older generation in Japan would hold a grudge against us for nuking two of their cities. And it's only right to understand it.

As for mangaka literally making Americans and America bad in their stories: I guess it depends on the writer's age and/or background as to how they view the US. It might be safe to say that the younger generation doesn't feel the same way as the older.

Try asking your parents or grandparents their views on us bombing Japan and you may be surprised in the way they rationalize it.


I guess the original question was whether or not everyone else notices the same thing the OP suggested. And I'll say yes. But does it matter? No.
Watch some American sci-fi movies from the 50s and 60s, revel in the subtle nuances of DOOOOOM via the Red TERROR...

Originally Posted by Tayuya

As for mangaka literally making Americans and America bad in their stories: I guess it depends on the writer's age and/or background as to how they view the US. It might be safe to say that the younger generation doesn't feel the same way as the older.

Just had to point out the inaccuracy in this.
Almost all Japanese people that live in Japan, especially the kids, hate all foreigners. Well, by all foreigners, I mean as in all Americans, since they don't really know of the existance of other people. So yeah, all generations hate the US.

This topic is OLD news.

The US is the hegemon of the world. Every other country that isn't the US secretly hates it.

Originally Posted by kayangelus

Just had to point out the inaccuracy in this.
Almost all Japanese people that live in Japan, especially the kids, hate all foreigners. Well, by all foreigners, I mean as in all Americans, since they don't really know of the existance of other people. So yeah, all generations hate the US.

Based on what I've heard from people who have visited, the general populous was polite and helpful.

The people they met in bars and clubs were all there to mingle and have fun and didn't act rude or racist. My buddy even had a nice one night stand with a Japanese girl while he was there. /shrug