There’s a term used in anime called 無国籍 “mukokuseki” which refers to “statelessness”. In a lot of anime, it’s really hard to tell what specific race, nationality, or ethnicity a character is purely out of their design. Anime characters have varying degrees of colored hair and eyes. Their eyes are round and very often they have light skin. When you compare them to racial caricatures, they probably look closer to that of a “Western person” (American or European).
Although one can make out a character is “Japanese” based on their practices and environment, it becomes difficult when they’re put in a setting that doesn’t indicate this (like in fantasy).
While I do appreciate diversity in anime, I hope the industry doesn’t go down the path that some Western studios and companies have taken. Particularly, commodifying cultures and ethnicities of marginalized people all over the world (Disney for example). There’s already a lot of misrepresentations in anime and otaku culture in general (not just in terms of race and ethnicitity but also in gender, sexuality, mental health, etc), and there’s a lot of room for improvement. It becomes increasingly important though as anime “globalizes” and there’s an increasing demand and interest for such representations.
There’s a term used in anime called 無国籍 “mukokuseki” which refers to “statelessness”. In a lot of anime, it’s really hard to tell what specific race, nationality, or ethnicity a character is purely out of their design. Anime characters have varying degrees of colored hair and eyes. Their eyes are round and very often they have light skin. When you compare them to racial caricatures, they probably look closer to that of a “Western person” (American or European).
Although one can make out a character is “Japanese” based on their practices and environment, it becomes difficult when they’re put in a setting that doesn’t indicate this (like in fantasy).
While I do appreciate diversity in anime, I hope the industry doesn’t go down the path that some Western studios and companies have taken. Particularly, commodifying cultures and ethnicities of marginalized people all over the world (Disney for example). There’s already a lot of misrepresentations in anime and otaku culture in general (not just in terms of race and ethnicitity but also in gender, sexuality, mental health, etc), and there’s a lot of room for improvement. It becomes increasingly important though as anime “globalizes” and there’s an increasing demand and interest for such representations.