Have you ever pondered the possibility that an anime character could be based on your appearance? Or maybe an anime character who has the same thoughts as you do? Or perhaps a character in a cartoon who faces the same problems that you do in real life. In Japanese animation, people of color are rarely depicted on screen. Even when they do make an appearance, they are frequently depicted as secondary characters or in a manner that is stereotypical. But, to our great relief, this is not always the situation. In recent years, a growing number of characters with black complexion have been given prominent roles in a variety of anime shows. Let’s take a look at the five black characters from anime that you absolutely must not overlook.
Andrew Gilbert Millis
Despite having only a small amount of screen time, fans of Sword Art Online have developed a deep affection and admiration for the minor character Andrew Gilbert Millis.
In-game, he is an axe wielder, but when things start to go wrong in the world of Aincrad, he decides to give up the weapons and instead play the role of Agil, who runs a tavern. In real life, he owns a cafe with his wife.
He is a level-headed African-American man who exudes a cool presence and is responsible for bringing the group together in more ways than most people realize.
Casca
One of the three main characters in Berserk, Casca has a story that is both tragic and dramatic at the same time. She had humble beginnings as a peasant who was forced to the edge of destitution by the patriarchal mountain village in which she was raised.
As soon as she is given a chance to save herself by Griffith, she successfully fends off her pursuers and then joins the Band of the Falcon to follow Griffith and his party as a respected unit commander.
Casca does not place a great deal of importance on the fact that she is a female because she is intent on proving herself regardless of her sex, gender, or skin color.
Therein, she is not defined by any of them; she refuses to stand down nor behave in a subservient manner, and her loyalty to men is one of the factors that cause her the most emotional anguish.
Dutch
Black Lagoon, a film produced in the 2000s by Studio Madhouse and set aboard a mercenary boat and following a misfit group of criminals on the make, features Dutch as the film’s central character.
To begin, he is enormous and exudes an awesome presence, thanks to the fact that his lines of dialogue and voice acting are perfectly in sync with the cool character design he possesses.
If it weren’t for him, the rest of them wouldn’t have jobs. He started out serving in the United States navy before transitioning into a career as a mercenary. If it weren’t for him, the rest of them wouldn’t have jobs.
Yoruichi Shihoin
Yoruichi, who initially appeared in the manga and anime series Bleach as a black cat but is later shown to be a formidable human fighter on par with the rest of the series’ main cast, is a fan favorite among a great number of readers.
People are attracted to her striking eyes and streamlined design, but it’s her funny and badass moments that keep them coming back for more.
Before she removed herself from their league in order to maintain a low profile in the Human World alongside Kisuke Urahara, she served as the Captain of the Second Division for Gorei 3.
Carole Stanley
A musical love letter written by Shinichiro Watanabe and set on Mars, Carole Stanley is one of the two titular protagonists in the story.
The first half of the show is where the show really shines, with an X-Factor competition taking place in the future serving as a great tournament arc for us to get to know the main characters better.
After meeting Tuesday, Carole, who is 17 years old and hopes to make it big as a musician, realizes that her dream could become a reality and is excited about the prospect.
Her humble beginnings and lower-class family make her instantly endearing to the vast majority of viewers, and her fantastic voice actors with wonderful vocal range only serve to enhance this endearment.
Mugen
The character Mugen is a made-up one that appears in the anime series Samurai Champloo. Mugen may come across as rough around the edges, but he is capable of displaying humility and intelligence in his speech at times. Due to the fact that he was born in the Ryukyu Islands and was unable to establish a relationship with either of his biological parents, he does not have any connections to his past. The fact that he became friends with Jin and Fuu brought about a positive change in his life, despite the fact that he had been a pirate and pretended to be dead.
He is Jin’s adversary and is always looking for a chance to fight him in the series. He and Fuu are traveling together in order to help Fuu find “Sunflower.” Mugen is a bit edgier than Jin, and he also provides some comic relief to the situation.
His method of combat includes elements of break dancing, martial arts, and swordsmanship. He is able to surprise his foes through a combination of instinct and reflex. On the other hand, you could say that Mugen is a throwback to the past and that his fashion sense is a glimpse into the future. He has dark skin and hair that, in most cases, is disheveled and styled in a manner that is reminiscent of an Afro. He is an anime character.
Afro
One of the most overpowered black anime characters on our list is Afro, also known as Afro Samurai. Afro’s name literally translates to “Afro Samurai.” In the anime series Afro Samurai, he plays the role of the series’ primary protagonist. As a young boy, he was present when Number One took the life of his father and watched it happen before his very eyes. In addition, as he gets older, he develops a great deal of talent, becoming, among other things, a highly skilled swordsman who is particularly adept at employing katanas.
After going through a harrowing experience, Afro is resolved to exact retribution on the person who was responsible for the death of his father. There is only one thing that can stop him from reaching his goal, and that is the fact that as Number Two, the rest of the world is after him! Simply because there is no one else who can compete with Number One except Number Two. Afro is in the crosshairs of numerous adversaries who are vying for his position. If he wants to exact his vengeance once and for all, he will have to put up a fight against a wide variety of adversaries and triumph over challenges.
Black Anime Protagonists: Conclusion
The black characters who play the lead role in each of the aforementioned anime series couldn’t be more different from one another. Nevertheless, all of these characters have something in common: they are courageous, imaginative, and exceptionally bright. In point of fact, rather than reducing characters with black hair to unfavorable stereotypes, the protagonists of these stories have characteristics that are extremely desirable. Ryuuga Shiro, Shion, Boanndo, Grenda, and Ged are the five black anime characters that you absolutely must pay attention to. The presence of these characters demonstrates that even those with dark skin are deserving of the limelight.
Also, black people are moving into production side as well. One of these people is Arthell Isom, who runs D’Art Shtajio, Japan’s first black-owned animation studio, in addition to his other responsibilities as CEO and art director of the company. His work has been included in the music videos of a number of different musicians, including Jay-Z, The Weeknd, and Pharrell, amongst others.
Based in Meguro, Tokyo, American LeSean Thomas is a television animation producer, director, comic book artist, animator, writer, character designer, and storyboard artist. He has also worked in the field of animation for television.
Recent and noteworthy examples of his work include the television series Black Dynamite for Adult Swim, The Legend of Korra for Nickelodeon, Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks for Sony Pictures Television, Children of Ether on Crunchyroll, and the original anime series Yasuke and Cannon Busters for Netflix.