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Anime has a Race Problem: Let’s Talk About It
Dear Hyphenly Readers,
Six years ago, anime was a controversial form of media in the western world… and anime fans were “cringey” and “nerdy.” Now, it’s one of the most watched genres, surpassing sales of the traditional Hollywood blockbusters. 42% of American Gen Z watch anime and the streaming service Crunchyroll has over 18M global subs.
This spring season gave us some refreshing storytelling in a world saturated with sequels and nostalgia bait. I just finished watching season two of Frieren: Beyond the Journey’s End and reading all fifteen of the Apothecary Diaries light novels. It’s safe to say that I’m obsessed.
I grew up in India and the only anime I watched as a kid was a beautiful rendition of the Ramayana (we dedicated our Diwali 2025 edition to this!). But in college, I started exploring Studio Ghibli movies like Grave of the Fireflies and Princess Mononoke. I was surprised at how different they were from the fairytales I’d grown up with. They showed a hopeful and optimistic view of life without shielding the viewer from pain. Good and evil were not necessarily black and white categories. The point of the fairytale wasn’t a happy ending.
Once I tuned into anime, I never looked back. But there’s no surprise that anime has problems. You will find countless articles about the treatment of women in anime, gratuitous violence and oversexualization of characters, fan service over storytelling, etc. There’s also a lot to be said about the anime industry overall. Japanese animators are some of the most overworked and underpaid artists in the world. They are forced to work long days, experience harassment in the workplace, and often have to take second jobs to survive. Suicide is rampant in the industry.
Not only that, but non-Japanese fans of anime are often called “tourists” and the problematic storytelling aspects of anime are simply explained as cultural differences. But with anime’s surge in popularity, many are calling out the industry for what it is. I believe a pivotal point has come from the live action adaption of the beloved Gachiakuta.
Black characters in anime are often depicted with hyper sexualized bodies and exaggerated facial features. Moreover, these characters are often labeled “racially ambiguous” or just “tan” to prevent backlash. Kei Urana, the mangaka behind Gachiakuta, worked on properly representing black characters and their work has won the heart of fans worldwide. The show, that debuted in 2025, became one of Crunchyroll’s most watched series of the season with over 184,000 ratings and climbing. The anime became so popular that it was set to have a live adaptation stage play in 2026. Everything was going well until the actors of the stage play were announced. The characters of Arkha Corvus and Semiu Grier were going to be portrayed by Japanese actors in blackface rather than black actors, despite the mangaka’s wish.
With Semiu and Corvus, it truly felt like the anime industry was moving toward better racial representation, especially since Gachiakuta has become such a modern hit. So it was a punch in the gut for fans when it was revealed that the stage play’s cast not only scraps the source material's widely praised diversity but also portrays its most significant dark-skinned characters using blackface.
The issue of race runs deep in the anime community. Beyond the shows themselves, Black cosplayers, are often subjected to harassment. They cosplay is often criticized for being “inaccurate” or “inauthentic.”
In late 2025, a young Black cosplayer, Ash, also known as @squidkid1111, tragically passed away by suicide at 19. Ash was known for cosplaying various characters that are traditionally Asian and or white, which resulted in them receiving a lot of racist comments and attacks online. Ash’s Instagram page stated that their death was primarily influenced by online racism.
While the anime industry and community has a long way to go in terms of addressing racism and harassment, there’s also a LOT of good content out there. We have three picks for you this week:
Michiko and Hatchin
2008, 1 season
In the fictional South American country of Diamandra, the criminal Michiko Malandro escapes from prison and kidnaps her former lover's daughter Hana Morenos, whom she nicknames "Hatchin", saving her both from her abusive foster parents and equally cruel foster siblings in the process. The show is known for its groundbreaking Afro-Brazilian representation.
The Glassworker
2024, 99 mins
Vincent and his father, Tomas, run the best glassworks in the country, but the onset of war turns their lives upside down. Vincent falls in love with Alliz, the daughter of a colonel, and they both must find the courage to confront their fathers. This is a hand-drawn Pakistani anime anti-war film directed by Usman Riaz.
Carole and Tuesday
2019, 1 Season
Part-timer Carole meets rich girl Tuesday, and each realizes that they've found the musical partner they need. Together, they just might make it. This show directed by Shinichirō Watanabe best known for Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy. It also features a song by Thundercat.
Want more anime recommendations? Check out our Banterly episode from the archives:
Until next time,
Team Hyphenly
This newsletter was curated by Suhasini Patni.
Hyphenly curates the latest news, art, and businesses from immigrants around the world. Have a tip or story we should feature? We’d love to hear from you.
Visit us at www.immigrantlypod.com
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