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[Jirotrom]

I might say "controversially" that the black population in the US is really giving a bad name to their race. When you've got all these 2pac and 50 cent clones represented in the media, the population starts associating that kind of behavior to the specific race. It's also up to the race to better represent itself, and these gangster rappers should behave with more maturity.

haha...trust me, don't even get me started on this aspect of it.

 

[StuBurns]

I was under the impression a lot of these lead characters are misinterpreted as a caucasian to the western audience - even if they are suppose to represent a japanese/asian/etc character.

There's a whole bunch of anime/games where if you look into the characters backstory - they're suppose to be asian. But people interpret them as whites because of their appearance in games.

Just because the characters don't have slanty eyes and/or yellow skin (all which depicts asians in many western cartoons) doesn't mean they are not representing an asian lead.

They are Asian. They always were, it's just that until FFX's CG cutscenes you couldn't really tell that well.
EDIT: I mean in FF's specifically.

 

[TheExodu5]

I was under the impression a lot of these lead characters are misinterpreted as a caucasian to the western audience - even if they are suppose to represent a japanese/asian/etc character.

There's a whole bunch of anime/games where if you look into the characters backstory - they're suppose to be asian. But people interpret them as whites because of their appearance in games.

Just because the characters don't have slanty eyes and/or yellow skin (all which depicts asians in many western cartoons) doesn't mean they are not representing an asian lead.

Yeah, if you look at Persona 3, none of the characters appear Japanese, but they all have Japanese names.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

I learned a lot from this thread.

 

[Barkley's Justice]

i think there's a need for game developers to be anything but 100% white nerd. there's some serious broadening that needs to be done there.

look how everyone handled the jade raymond thing...you guys are idiots...

 

[TheExodu5]

i think there's a need for game developers to be anything but 100% white nerd. there's some serious broadening that needs to be done there...

Way to start this one off with another racial stereotype. :lol

 

[Threi]

I learned a lot from this thread.

Me too. I will take this newfound knowledge and racial tolerance and apply it to my everyday life. If we all work together we can create a better world for our kids and grandkids to live in. The first person I am going to start with is the man in the mirror. I am going to ask him to change his ways, because i see that if you want to make the world a better place, you have to take a look at yourself, and make the change.

 

[BlackGoku03]

I might say "controversially" that the black population in the US is really giving a bad name to their race. When you've got all these 2pac and 50 cent clones represented in the media, the population starts associating that kind of behavior to the specific race. It's also up to the race to better represent itself, and these gangster rappers should behave with more maturity.

A lot of that can't be helped. The media loves to display those types of icons. So if that's all you see then that almost says that's what most blacks are like (untrue).

There are a lot of blacks who aren't like that, and they outnumber the rappers and 50 clones. However, they don't have their own CD and aren't in magazines and the news, so it's hard for people to see that.

Also, I hate to say it, but a significant portion of the black population (among a few others from different races) adopt that "gangster" culture. I live near a row of low-budget project housing filled with this crowd, and it just so happens that the majority of the people there are black. I try not to associate this type of behavior to a certain race, but it is hard when the majority of that race in the media and around me is portrayed like this. One of my best friends is black, and he certainly doesn't act anything near that.

I don't act like that either, mainly because I wasn't raised in the US, but call it what you want, certain people have a certain way of expressing themselves. I tend not to give it much thought.

But we're off topic.

 

[Oldschoolgamer]

I might say "controversially" that the black population in the US is really giving a bad name to their race. When you've got all these 2pac and 50 cent clones represented in the media, the population starts associating that kind of behavior to the specific race. It's also up to the race to better represent itself, and these gangster rappers should behave with more maturity.

Also, I hate to say it, but a significant portion of the black population (among a few others from different races) adopt that "gangster" culture. I live near a row of low-budget project housing filled with this crowd, and it just so happens that the majority of the people there are black. I try not to associate this type of behavior to a certain race, but it is hard when the majority of that race in the media and around me is portrayed like this. One of my best friends is black, and he certainly doesn't act anything near that.

Why the fuck do people use this dumb sentence? I'll never understand it. It in no way strengthens your "points" or opinions, especially when its in regards to a huge stereotype. And that goes to anyone referring to any race.

-_-


And when everyone stops buying into the flavor of the month/year/century/millennium, then it will go away. That image ain't going anywhere for a while, especially when things are as bad as they are in those neighborhoods. And most of the people you described are entertainers. So whose at fault more: the people selling it, or the morons buying into it and labeling an entire race negatively because of it?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

One of the things that I remember hearing bandied about at the Oscars a few years back is that a black man has never won an Oscar for a role that did not specifically call for the character to be black.

This seems to be an issue when creating minority characters in video games. It is damn difficult for developers to create a character who is a minority without making them a minority character. We can go all the way back to FFVII, where Barret was a jive-talkin' Mr. T wannabe or the more modern example of Cole Train. How many times have we had asian characters that didn't know an ancient legend from a village no one ever heard of or inexplicably studied martial arts? It's only now that we're finally getting some hispanic characters that don't play guitars and wear sombreros.

 

[MWS Natural]

I was under the impression a lot of these lead characters are misinterpreted as a caucasian to the western audience - even if they are suppose to represent a japanese/asian/etc character.

There's a whole bunch of anime/games where if you look into the characters backstory - they're suppose to be asian. But people interpret them as whites because of their appearance in games.

Just because the characters don't have slanty eyes and/or yellow skin (all which depicts asians in many western cartoons) doesn't mean they are not representing an asian lead.

Really? Don't think I've ever seen any asian people in real life that look like the majority of their anime characters.

Well that is terrible if that's the case, maybe the fact I haven't experienced, witnessed or ever spoken to anyone who has experienced racism here has distort my views on racism as a whole. I'm going to duck out of this discussion, I guess I need perspective to discuss it at all accurately.

Thank you I appreciate you realizing this. I was just about to respond to your previous post.

 

[TheExodu5]

Why the fuck do people use this dumb sentence? I'll never understand it. It in no way strengthens your "points" or opinions, especially when its in regards to a huge stereotype. And that goes to anyone referring to any race.

I'm making a fucking point that not all people act as their stereotypes, you illiterate twat.

What, am I not allowed to say that one of my closest friends is black? Just because some people use this as a defense mechanism, doesn't mean I do. Stop stereotyping me.

Really? Don't think I've ever seen any asian people in real life that look like the majority of their anime characters.

Is that really what they made Light look like in the movie? :lol

<3 Deathnote

 

[MWS Natural]

I'm making a fucking point that not all people act as their stereotypes, you illiterate twat.

What, am I not allowed to say that one of my closest friends is black? Just because some people use this as a defense mechanism, doesn't mean I do. Stop stereotyping me.



Is that really what they made Light look like in the movie? :lol

<3 Deathnote

If they wanted him to look like he did in the anime they would probably have to get a Caucasian actor; which is basically my point.

 

[TheExodu5]

If they wanted him to look like he did in the anime they would probably have to get a Caucasian actor; which is basically my point.

I simply think they do it to give their characters more distinguishing features. The main attribute would likely be the hair, as while all/most Japanese people have natural black hair, anime characters tend to have varying hair color (and hair is about the most distinguishing feature for any anime character).

(paragraph fixed as I don't view anime characters as caucasians)

Regardless, I don't exactly see anime characters are white or asian...I just see them as anime characters. I mean, how many people walk around with long locks of blue hair anyways.

 

[Acid08]

That's seriously fucking stupid what N'Gai says.

When I first saw the RE5 trailer I wasn't like "ZOMG I get to shoot black people?! Day one confirmed!" It was more like "Holy shit a new RE and it looks fucking incredible."

The game obviously takes place in Africa. Does it make sense that there would be a bunch of pasty white people walking around, or actually have the native people in the game? It has nothing to do with race and has everything to do with setting. If you really want to be hard on a game that takes advantage of the Black race look at the new 50 Cent game. Yeah, nothing like having stereotypical black thugs going around killing Iraqis to rap music!

Also why is it perfectly alright to kill white and hispanic zombies, but as soon as a black zombie walks in it's super racist?

 

[Pakman]

Really? Don't think I've ever seen any asian people in real life that look like the majority of their anime characters.

Did you even read my post? I said that people misinterpret them as caucasians because of their appearance. I never said that they accurately looked asian. It's just how anime style has always been.

 

[TheExodu5]

Why the hell does the Light actor have pink lipstick on? It's bugging me. And he's supposed to be popular with the ladies...that doesn't look like someone who would be too popular to me. =\

 

[Pakman]

Why the hell does the Light actor have pink lipstick on? It's bugging me. And he's supposed to be popular with the ladies...that doesn't look like someone who would be too popular to me. =\

The character is an horrible example to begin with. He's to old, hair style is all wrong, etc.

 

[darscot]

Anyone who thinks game development is done by a bunch of white nerds needs to get a reality check. It's one of the most diverse industries around. All races are represented in an accurate ratio. Sure there is not a lot of blacks or latino but there is not exactly a lot wanting to do it. It's laughable of the five people I can see right now there are 2 White, 2 Asian and one Persian. I just saw another so 1 East Indian.

 

[MWS Natural]

Did you even read my post? I said that people misinterpret them as caucasians because of their appearance. I never said that they accurately looked asian. It's just how anime style has always been.

That makes no sense...there is no misinterpretation....people think they are Caucasian because they look Caucasian! lol Just because "that's the way it's always been" doesn't make it right.

A good take on this which I agree with:

During and after the US-occupation following WW2, the Japanese aesthetic sense was gravely affected. Many Japanese people were brainwashed by the same prejudiced standards of beauty that is prevalent in the USA:
"white people are beautiful; Asian and black people are ugly."

Anyways...I don't want to get too far off topic.

 

[norinrad21]

I will just like to thank Dennis Dyack for Eternal Darkness and the Portrayal of positive black character that didn't speak like 50 cent

 

[TheExodu5]

That makes no sense...there is no misinterpretation....people think they are Caucasian because they look Caucasian! lol Just because "that's the way it's always been" doesn't make it right.

A good take on this which I agree with:


Anyways...I don't want to get too far off topic.

So Asian people are racist against...themselves? Quick...someone better sue!

Also, how do you propose they make their characters look different without altering their hair color? Do you think it would be easy making characters look distinct if they all had black hair? While Asian people do look different when looking at facial attributes, those differences are not easily illustrated. The main differentiating factor between characters in an anime is their hair.

Look at American cartoons. Since they don't really distinguish their characters with hair color, they usually do it by giving people ridiculously unusual proportions. Japanese anime artists go for a more realistic approach, so a different differentiating factor is needed.

 

[Dark Octave]

I was under the impression a lot of these lead characters are misinterpreted as a caucasian to the western audience - even if they are suppose to represent a japanese/asian/etc character.

There's a whole bunch of anime/games where if you look into the characters backstory - they're suppose to be asian. But people interpret them as whites because of their appearance in games.

Just because the characters don't have slanty eyes and/or yellow skin (all which depicts asians in many western cartoons) doesn't mean they are not representing an asian lead.

When was the last time you saw a Japanese person with blonde hair and blue eyes? This counts for pretty much every Final Fantasy lead besides Squall who has brown hair, blue eyes, and looks like Lionardo Di'Caprio. Even if they are suppossed to be a hybrid of Japanese and white, the obsession is still scary.

Japanese, they are not.

 

[TheExodu5]

Japanese, they are not.

They're not white either. Their facial characteristics are very Japanese.

Like I said, they use things like varying hair color to distinguish their characters.

 

[StuBurns]

They are, Tidus is as well, check out the CGI for X, before that the problem is the quality of the CGI. They are meant to look overly simplistic because it's easier for producing, but they are Asian.

 

[Dark Octave]

They're not white either. Their facial characteristics are very Japanese.

Like I said, they use things like varying hair color to distinguish their characters.

They don't look Japanese to me. I should know, "some of my best friends are Japanese". :lol

 

[TheExodu5]

They are, Tidus is as well, check out the CGI for X, before that the problem is the quality of the CGI. They are meant to look overly simplistic because it's easier for producing, but they are Asian.

Yeah exactly. I'm thinking none of these people have even played FF X. Every single character in FF X is very clearly Japanese in terms of facial design. This shows that Japanese developers clearly view their characters as Japanese in origin

 

[Jirotrom]

I thought the reason anime looks how it is was to make the characters different. I thought it also falls in line with the birth of anime being because it was cheaper to produce and easier to have various cultures because they were not able to just easily put Europeans or africans or w/e cultures into live action films, so animation was preferred.

I understand I'm ignorant on the subject so please correct if need be.

 

[TheExodu5]

I thought the reason anime looks how it is was to make the characters different.

That's my take on it.

If you take every anime character and put black hair and dark eyes on every one of them, they're going to look a lot less unique. Look at the pictures above...if you gave Squall and Cloud the same hair, you couldn't tell the difference between the two.

 

[Dark Octave]

Yeah exactly. I'm thinking none of these people have even played FF X. Every single character in FF X is very clearly Japanese in terms of facial design.

I don't think so. Anyway, like I said, they have features of whites. Look at Squall's nose, eyes, and everything. Please, there is little to no Japanese there.

The guy in the middle, even though he has blue eyes is clearly Asian.

 

[Threi]

Asian or not? You decide GAF.

 

[TheExodu5]

Even if they are suppossed to be a hybrid of Japanese and white, the obsession is still scary.

I think your obsession with attributing race to anime characters is even scarier.

Asian or not? You decide GAF.

He's most definitely a black person with white face paint and locks of flowing blonde hair.

 

[Jirotrom]

Asian or not? You decide GAF.

fantastic *claps*

 

[Dark Octave]

I think your obsession with attributing race to anime characters is even scarier.



He's most definitely a black person with white face paint and locks of flowing blonde hair.

Why is that? Now we want to start with the personal attacks. Run out of ammunition to debate with, and now the "well...well, you're stupid" is setting in? That's cool. You keep telling yourself that Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Solid Snake, Bionic Commando (original or new), Dante, Silent Hill characters, Parasite Eve character (I can do this all day) are Japanese. :lol Keep telling yourself that.

 

[a.wd]

I learned a lot from this thread.

Good I hoped to have an intelligent group of people discuss a matter that is important to me. If you feel that you have gained from it also then everyone is a winner!

 

[Slavik81]

So much emphasis on race in this thread and you people can't even agree on what race a certain character is from? Perhaps it's not quite the defining characteristic it's made out to be.

Does it even matter what race anime characters are? Its not often made clear but nobody notices because it's rarely important to their character. They'll make their race clear if it is.

 

[Feral Youth]

I might say "controversially" that the black population in the US is really giving a bad name to their race. When you've got all these 2pac and 50 cent clones represented in the media, the population starts associating that kind of behavior to the specific race. It's also up to the race to better represent itself, and these gangster rappers should behave with more maturity.

Also, I hate to say it, but a significant portion of the black population (among a few others from different races) adopt that "gangster" culture. I live near a row of low-budget project housing filled with this crowd, and it just so happens that the majority of the people there are black. I try not to associate this type of behavior to a certain race, but it is hard when the majority of that race in the media and around me is portrayed like this. One of my best friends is black, and he certainly doesn't act anything near that.

The American government is giving all Americans a bad name.

2pac and 50cent is nothing compared to that, in fact they're probably one of your better exports of late.

 

[Pakman]

That makes no sense...there is no misinterpretation....people think they are Caucasian because they look Caucasian! lol Just because "that's the way it's always been" doesn't make it right.

A good take on this which I agree with:


Anyways...I don't want to get too far off topic.

I love how you post that one comment from that website and skip over:

(1) lack of anti-Japanese prejudice.

Japanese people see themselves only as humans. the
Japanese naturally don't think of themselves as ugly,
short, yellow, buck-toothed, slant-eyed, etc. ONLY
racist Americans think this way, and draw cartoon
characters accordingly.

and

3) naive internationalism.

most Japanese people have no idea that they are a target
of an intense racial prejudice, as in the USA. they
don't even really know what "anti-Semitism" is.

so most Japanese people have a "naive internationalism",
the belief that we can be simply human beings, without
specifying the race, national origin, social status, etc.

most of Tezuka's work for children (Astroboy, ribon no
kisi, etc) are done in this spirit.

Also it's well known in the anime community the reason anime characters have large eyes is because it allows animators to more easily and better express emotions of their anime characters. Just because you have racist ideas that all asians should be depicted by slanty eyes and yellow skin doesn't mean others do as well..

 

[TheExodu5]

The American government is giving all Americans a bad name.

2pac and 50cent is nothing compared to that, in fact they're probably one of your better exports of late.

Hey, I'm in Canada. I'm all good! :lol

 

[TheExodu5]

Also it's well known in the anime community the reason anime characters have large eyes is because it allows animators to more easily and better express emotions of their anime characters. Just because you have racist ideas that all asians should be depicted by slanty eyes and yellow skin doesn't mean others do as well..

Well said. Seems like a lot of people try to see racial prejudice when there is none.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

That's an outrage! Why would certain races be represented in varying degrees in movies and games!? Oh, wait...


U.S. population's racial distribution in 2006:
* White: 73.9% or 221.3 million
* Black: 12.2% or 37.1 million
* Asian: 4.4% or 13.1 million
* American Indian: 0.8% or 2.4 million
* Native Hawaiian: 0.14% or 0.43 million
* Some other race: 6.3% or 19.0 million

This can't be right? Where is the hispanic / latino representation? Are you telling me they are just part of "some other race"?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Why is that? Now we want to start with the personal attacks. Run out of ammunition to debate with, and now the "well...well, you're stupid" is setting in? That's cool. You keep telling yourself that Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Solid Snake, Bionic Commando (original or new), Dante, Silent Hill characters, Parasite Eve character (I can do this all day) are Japanese. :lol Keep telling yourself that.

What the hell are you talking about? Most of those characters are specifically American. They make no pretense of being Japanese.

Basically you're saying that Japanese developers shouldn't be allowed to make any game set in any country other than Japan? A game about an American spy should, for whatever reason, have a Japanese main character?

I can't tell if you're trying to argue an excessively retarded point you heard once on a message board and took as gospel or if you're just excessively nationalistic.

 

[badcrumble]

As a gay black jew, I find it kind of creepy that all these kids on XBL seem to instinctively know what my cultural background is.

 

[Prime crotch]

Why is that? Now we want to start with the personal attacks. Run out of ammunition to debate with, and now the "well...well, you're stupid" is setting in? That's cool. You keep telling yourself that Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Solid Snake, Bionic Commando (original or new), Dante, Silent Hill characters, Parasite Eve character (I can do this all day) are Japanese. :lol Keep telling yourself that.

Actually, Aya from Parasite Eve is Japanese, or better half-Japanese. There's a lot of instances where the character will be a half-japanese to accommodate for his "less asian" looks.

 

[GhaleonQ]

We oh-so-desperately need a greater variety of genders, races, ages, and sexualities represented in our medium, and having people who reflect them be in meaningful positions in the industry is a part of that but not the whole picture.

Sorry, but that's hardly compelling. Which is more useful? "This game was directed by a Hmong, 1st-generation female," or "This game was directed by someone who enjoys Orthodox Christian theology and the works of Dostoevskii and Tarkovskii?"" Diversity comes from viewpoints and interests, not chromosomes.

I don't understand why people are calling for ethnically black people to do the job better accomplished by, say, people well-read regarding Cameroon, African/American demography, or urban history.

It's scary how important this race crap is for you guys. I feel, and I'm sure many of you will try to prove me wrong here, that especially people from the US like to talk about it.
All. Day. Long.

No kidding. The notion put forth by some here, that the United States is more racist and less ethnically integrated than ANY European country leads me to believe that they are just silly people, generally.

The American government is giving all Americans a bad name.

2pac and 50cent is nothing compared to that, in fact they're probably one of your better exports of late.

I'm sure that you're charming at parties.

 

[Slavik81]

I love how you post that one comment from that website and skip over:

(1) lack of anti-Japanese prejudice.

Japanese people see themselves only as humans. the
Japanese naturally don't think of themselves as ugly,
short, yellow, buck-toothed, slant-eyed, etc. ONLY
racist Americans think this way, and draw cartoon
characters accordingly.

Of course, that isn't a hard rule. Particularly when it's not being developed for a Japanese audience. See:

(Then again, Yashimoto was a fucking awesome character... But his episode was skipped over upon subsequent airings of the show because of his design.)

 

[GhaleonQ]

As a gay black jew, I find it kind of creepy that all these kids on XBL seem to instinctively know what my cultural background is.

Since I assume that you're also mentally handicapped, I won't scold you for not capitalizing "Jew."

 

[monchi-kun]

When was the last time you saw a Japanese person with blonde hair and blue eyes?

have you been to Japan lately? i saw a few when i was walking around harajuku station

 

[TheExodu5]

Why is that? Now we want to start with the personal attacks. Run out of ammunition to debate with, and now the "well...well, you're stupid" is setting in? That's cool. You keep telling yourself that Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Solid Snake, Bionic Commando (original or new), Dante, Silent Hill characters, Parasite Eve character (I can do this all day) are Japanese. :lol Keep telling yourself that.

Okay, now give some examples of characters who aren't "specifically" meant to be American.

have you been to Japan lately? i saw a few when i was walking around harajuku station

:lol

 

[Dark Octave]

That's my take on it.

If you take every anime character and put black hair and dark eyes on every one of them, they're going to look a lot less unique. Look at the pictures above...if you gave Squall and Cloud the same hair, you couldn't tell the difference between the two.

:lol That explains why the last 4 FF leads (save VIII) have had blonde hair.

So much emphasis on race in this thread and you people can't even agree on what race a certain character is from? Perhaps it's not quite the defining characteristic it's made out to be.

Does it even matter what race anime characters are? Its not often made clear but nobody notices because it's rarely important to their character. They'll make their race clear if it is.

Yeah, I'm gonna duck out of this one. I'll try anyway. I don't wanna be "the guy who focuses on race" cause when it comes down to it, I'm a gamer, and I have never not played a game because of the main character's race. I think that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.

While it's important to me that more races are represented in media, it's not something I focus on while playing a game or watching a movie, or walking down the street. We are all human beings, so why should it matter that this character is black and this one is white? Exactly. It shouldn't matter at all, but it does. It matters because the guy from the movie 21 is white while the real guy that the movie was based on was Asian. It matters because you rarley see an Asian lead in any AAA American movie unless he's doing Kung-Fu or jumping from a roof. It matters because there are only 11 or so black leads in games out of millions and half of them are not even original game characters (Michael Jackson ect...). It matters because someone out there feels the need to make every character especially the main character, a certain race in order to cater to one particular group, or they feel they will risk sales. That is what's wrong with media and America.

So all you talking about, "there is no problem", "too many people focus on race" and "it's not an issue" can put that in you're pipe and smoke it. Because what you're really saying is, "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

I'm done.