From Hollywood movies to sitcoms to anime, representation is more important than ever.
However, not all works of fiction show seriousness.
Attempts at representation may instead seem conniving if the planning and execution are wrong. Or worse, it can reinforce negative stereotypes, which is arguably one of the biggest problems with character misrepresentation.
But a lot is changing these days. And it's changing for the better.
Luckily, anime has had a lot of memorable, well-designed black characters throughout its history, so let's take a look at some of the most memorable right here.
25. Jason Ozuma
Anime: Fighting spirit
I start the list with Jason fromHajime no Ippo , an African-American boxer and former soldier whom Ippo faced at the Rookie King Tournament.
Do you notice anything special about his appearance? Of course, Jason has a muscular build and can land a punch that can rival Mamoru Takamura's hooks.
But as you might have guessed from his eyes, Jason Ozuma is far from being violent outside of the ring. Jason doesn't fight because he wants to provoke.
Truth be told, he's a great guy who only wants to make money to support his gym and help out his boxing peers.
24. Blood of Cain
Anime: banana fish
His name alone will make you reconsider your approach to him, but Blood Cain is not a terrible person.
Yes, he is the head of the gang. No, this does not mean that he will beat someone just for looking at him.
Cain starts out as this intimidating guy with his tattoos, torn shirt and sunglasses.
But Ash Lynx didn't let Kain's looks take over -and it worked .
The Black Sabbath boss agreed to his request. Moreover, Cain even took the sidebanana fish MC to defeat the dreaded Dino Golzine.
Plus, you just have to love his bold personality. No wonder his gang members respect his leadership.
23. Coffee
Anime: Cowboy Bebop
This voluptuous bounty hunter only appeared in one story involving Edward and Domino Walker (and his hallucinogens).
It wasn't even a delightful experience, as it started with the authorities asking her why Ed and Ein ended up in the trunk of her car.
Still, it didn't take long for Coffee to make a strong impression:
From her afro hair and tight black outfit to a rocket launcher and a matching sexy convertible, Coffee had a presence that could make her a spin-off series - or a cameo in something similar to an anime likeLupine the Third .
22. Yoruichi
Anime: Bleach
She appears intimidating due to her gaze (and the fact that she is a former captain and commander), but Yoruichi also knows how to socialize and have fun with her peers.
Besides, how can you not love her when sheliterally can turn into a black cat?
So when she's not busy teasing her buddies, she can just live like a cat, which basically means sleeping all day.
Her design is one of my favourites.Bleach , especially with her golden (or amber) eyes, purple hair, and orange top. And Yoruichi looks great whether her hair is long or short.
21. Karako Koshio
Anime: Deadman Wonderland
In Deadman Wonderland there is no shortage of interesting characters. And Karako is one of the coolest.
I love her short white hair and her slender yet seductive figure.
But don't let her sweet smile and previous nursing career fool you:
Karako is feared for her fighting abilities. She is exceptional in martial arts and makes full use of her Branch of Sin, Fists of Blood.
You should applaud not only her appearance and skills, but also her leadership qualities and moral stance.
20. Niels Nielsen
Anime: Gundam Build Fighters
Gundam Build Fighters gave fans Nils Nielsen, a 13-year-old boy who was committed to science and research.
Thus, Niels was not interested in the action and excitement inherent in Gunpla Battle. Although he was the representative of America.
Nils was more focused on the unknown elements and technology behind this. But his disinterest eventually dissipated as he sincerely enjoyed his experience of fighting the Gunpla against Sei and Reiji.
And don't forget to check what happens in seven years - try to guess who he will marry and what career he will have.
19. Philly the Kid
Anime: Cannon Busters
Netflix has no intention of slowing down anime releases and one of its recent shows isCannon Busters 2019.
Philly the Kid is the lead, immortal dude who is understandably self-confident.
I mean how cannot be arrogant if you can die and… well, not stay dead?
Of course, I didn't really like the series, although I prefer the original anime.
But Philly is far from being easily forgotten, even if that's partly because of his less endearing qualities.
Also, he reminds me of all the people who are so confident in their driving skills, but the results say otherwise.
18. Claudia Lasalle
Anime: Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Here's someone from the 1980s with that vintage art style. Claudia Lasalle was a minor character in "Macrosse" .
She is a 26-year-old American second lieutenant who knows what it's like to love and be loved.
In fact, Claudia is always eager to help Misa Hayase understand her growing feelings for Hikaru Ichijou.
I'm sure many fansMacross they just want Claudia to get the love she deserves, especially after what happened to her lover.
Interestingly, her voice actor also lent his voice to the series - and this applies to both the Japanese and English dubs.
17. Atsuko Jackson
Anime: from Michiko to Hatchin
Not many anime characters can rival Atsuko when it comes to the sheer size of her afro hair and how great it moves, courtesy of Manglobe Studio.
Atsuko Jackson just oozes composure, from her fashion sense to her demeanor.
She also has a rather interesting relationship with Michiko, which goes back to when they were kids in an orphanage. They do help each other, but Atsuko also wants to arrest Michiko.
Michiko - Hatchin is full of thrills and fun character dynamics, and fans have Atsuko to thank for helping make this possible.
16. Simon Brezhnev
Anime: Durarara!!
Simon is one of the most popular charactersDurarara And he's not even the main character.
I'm not the only one who found him intriguing when he appeared in the opening theme animation.
So what is there to love about it?
Simon works at Russia Sushi, which doesn't serve traditional sushi at all. His job is to get as many clients as possible by handing out pamphlets.
Secondly, the hard-working Simon exudes that gentle peaceful aura despite his large build and insane physical strength.
Last but not least, I love his big smile.
He knows that people immediately judge him by his appearance and hesitate to come closer, but he still tries his best.
15. Willetta Nu
Anime: Code Geass
Villetta Nu has eyes similar to those of Yoruichi and Karako Koshio, though it can be argued that her eyes are more yellow than gold or amber.
On a deeper level, Villetta plays a critical role in highlighting the issue of discrimination. About how life could be so much better if people weren't taught to hate others just because they're different.
I was shocked by the events surrounding her temporary memory loss.And this is one of the anime betrayals that I still remember.
In the second season, things improve for her. But I don't think I can forgive her if Code Geass only had one season.
14. Anti Chememia
Anime: Revolutionary Girl Utena
One of the most famous works of Kunihiko Ikuhara, "Revolutionary Girl" Utena , was created with meaning behind every aspect.
This is perhaps one of the most important works covering gender issues in society, and Anti Himemiya was there to work wonders.
She was one of two female MCs who subverted gender roles and expectations, evoking the image of a harmless (to her own detriment) princess and witch.
But Anty is no ordinary sweet lady.
She has had a traumatic experience of abuse, and Utena must go beyond her limits to save Anty, not only from her abusers, but from herself.
13. Andrew Gilbert Mills
Anime: Sword Art Online
Since the series that took off in the early 2010s and paved the way for longtime dominanceisekai in the animeSword Art Online continues to attract new fans, and on your wayappears even more material.
One of the most famous supporting characters is Andrew Gilbert Mills, an affable African-American merchant and ax owner.
But, despite the profession, he did not care about profit and loss.
Money is not as important as helping other players, especially those at lower levels.
In addition, Andrew is just as wonderful in the real world: he and his wife have a coffee shop and a bar called Dicey Cafe.
12. Afro Samurai
Anime: afro samurai
Yes, they call him the Afro Samurai.
The anime featured voice actors ranging from Samuel L. Jackson to Phil LaMarr, and its creation was unexpected. But also very welcome.
You really don't need to know much about Afro Samurai to get hooked.
TV series (and movie "resurrection ”) does give more about him, but his main attraction is his insane sword fighting skills. An absolute treat to see him brandish his blade in the show without fear of showing all the blood and gore.
This is a man whose happy childhood was thwarted when he saw Justice decapitate his father, a man coveting the number one headband.
11. Alex Benedetto
Anime: Gangsta.
It's still a pity that Manglobe had financial problems when they adaptedGangsta . The first episodes and teaser impressed and intrigued many anime fans with adult characters and refreshing music.
Even though the quality of the series is low, it doesn't spoil the amazing character designs of the three MCs, one of which is Alex Benedetto.
Alex -incredible an attractive woman, although she is not attracted to anything special - no flashy accessories. She is just a charming woman with long black hair, blue eyes and a curvaceous figure.
Similarly, she may remain silent, but will stand up for you if it is the right thing to do.
10 Bob Makihara
Anime: Tenjou Tenge
Tenjou Tenge is a series infamous for its scenesecchi and outrageous school battles.
It's been 16 years, but I'm sure people in their 30s and 20s still remember it well, if only because Madhouse was doing the adaptation.
15-year-old South African Bob Makihara is one of the five presenters.
Judging by his appearance alone, you will understand that he is one of the strongest students in Toudou Academy, which is teeming with powerful people.
However, he is not only muscular - his strength is complemented by his passion for fighting and the ability to judge the level of strength of others. In addition, he sincerely loves his girlfriend Chiaki Konoike.
9. Canary
Anime: Hunter x Hunter
Hunter x Hunter there are two amazing anime adaptations.
The Nippon Animation version was already good, but the 2011 adaptation of Madhouse took it to another level - and both featured Canary.
Canary is one of the first black characters I ever saw in an anime.
She is only a butler to the Killua family (and she is very loyal to Killua), but getting this position is already a testament to her deadly abilities.
Also, I like her design. She looks so formal, but she's a teenager who can take on a hundred men on her own.
8. Zapp Renfro
Anime: Blood blockade front
Kekkai Sensen is one of the most unique anime shows of the 2010s. It had eccentric characters, detailed urban settings, and a decent soundtrack.
Zapp Renfro is one of the hosts.
He is a 24-year-old man with a slender build, gray hair, a white suit and an appearance that drives the ladies crazy.
Character design aside, Zapp caught my attention with his ability to manipulate blood, which made him a good fit for Deadman Wonderland.
He can be a short-tempered troublemaker, but I'd rather have him by my side than face him and his ignited blood.
7. April
Anime: Darker than black
April was one of the first black women I saw in anime - and I still consider her one of the coolest female characters.
Just look at her:
Short light blue hair, pink lips, eye catching pink fur collar coat, necklace, boots and golden eyes (like a few entries on my list).
Then you consider its ability to create rain, heavy clouds, and strong winds. If that's not cool enough, her reward is drinking alcohol.
She fought Hei, but no one wanted her to die. Her team from July and November was perfect, like Team Rocket fromPokémon .
6. Sister Krona
Anime: The Promised Neverland
Do you remember the first time you watched (or read)"The Promised Neverland" ?
I thought it was cute when I saw the first few pages - that's when the series showed its true colors.
I know Isabella scared people at first, but Sister Crown had her own nerves, especially because of how nimble she turned out to be.
This is a 26 year old woman with afro hair, gorgeous lips and a huge muscular body. Sister Cron's smiles are more like a death threat than a real awakening of happiness.
In the end, however, Krone knew what was bad and was simply trying to save herself from the terrible system.
5. Kuzan
Anime: one piece
Many of you expected Kuzan (or my next pick) to take first place, but that's already a commendable position.
So what makes him the second most beloved black character in animeshonen ?
Well, Kuzan was the first Marine admiral introduced to the audience. This title meant that Kuzan was one of the strongest men inone piece .
Likewise, he had the ability to change.
Undoubtedly, he had been loyal to the World Government for a long time. But he eventually realized he couldn't stay with a brutal, corrupt organization, so he resigned after being defeated at the hands of Sakazuki.
Finally, I liked how he seemed lazy yet had a clear sense of duty.
4. Killer bee
Anime: Naruto hurricane chronicles
naruto is a completely different take on the ninja, especially with the character designs (yes, the orange tracksuit) and the use of digital technology.
Then debutedeight-tailed killer beejinchūriki .
Is he a ninja? Yes.
Does he rap? Yes.
Is he a good rapper? No, but that won't stop him from pursuing a rap career.
In a world where some superpowered characters are primarily driven by the desire to save or destroy humanity, here was Killer B, a loud but considerate rap-loving man.
3. Carol Stanley
Anime: Carol and Tuesday
Did I expect that in the next anime seriesShinichiro Watanabe afterZankyou no Terror two girls will sing against AI on Mars?
No. But I'm happy that he took the risk and created characters like Carol Stanley.
The 17-year-old Alba City resident wants to make it in the music industry, but she's an orphan who has to work multiple jobs to make ends meet first - and who can't be involved in her struggles?
Even though Carol has an end, she remains a positive person. She is smart, friendly, and although she needs money to survive, she will not tolerate bad behavior.
Finally, I love her simple yet classy style with a ponytail, jumpsuit, earrings and brown boots.
2. Dutch
Anime: Black Lagoon
Black Lagoon - one of the treasures of the lunatic asylums of the 2000s - and it's time for Revy to get some rest to get the Dutchman the attention he deserves.
Dutch is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs over 220 pounds.
He enjoys wearing sunglasses and military attire such as jungle boots, military uniforms, and body armor.
According to him, he served in the US Navy before he founded The Lagoon Company.
But the best thing about Dutch is that he's a great negotiator who just wants to get the job done with as few civilian casualties as possible.
He can fight, but he's better off choosing and planning mercenary missions for Revy and the others.
1. Michiko Malandro
Anime: from Michiko to Hatchin
Longtime friend (and foe) Atsuko Jackson takes the crown as my favorite black anime character.
Michiko Malandro is a free-spirited, attractive woman who has been in prison several times.
She is very aware that she is sexy and likes to flaunt her good physique, preferring to wear clothes that reveal her belly and the like.
Despite her recklessness and rampage, she is not selfish.
Her plan to give gifts to the children at the orphanage proved dangerous for Atsuko, and she would even steal to help a friend. But the fact is that behind her bad (and criminal) actions are hiddengood intentions .
It's fun to watch her wild journey featuring Hatchin, Atsuko, Pepe, and Hiroshi, among others.
I also like how it endsMichiko Hatchinu .
