A few years ago we put out a holiday gift guide with some of our favorite indie storefronts, including a big list of Black-owned kawaii and goth/punk brands. This time around we’re spotlighting Black writers, artists, and media outlets that cover or create art inspired by Japanese pop culture. They’re all making wonderful work — […]
Feb 21, 2023 • Subscribe
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Life in an Anime Fandom
This was originally a response to Scott, but I ended up weaving my own post about a topic I wanted to write about anyway, so…here we are.
#97 - Pride Month Special! LGBTQ+ Indentity in Anime, Manga, and Fandom feat. Meta and RetroSofa
Sully and Tori are joined by two amazing guests to have a candid discussion about LGBTQ+ representation in anime, manga, and fandom spaces. Meta you know as the editor…
Japanese webtoon creators prefer LINE Manga
Plus: Cool Japan criticized by prominent scholar; 'Suzume' becomes the top Japanese film in South Korea; One studio's decision to hire its animators full time; and more
Fandom in the ’90s: Anime, Hong Kong, Godzilla and Power Rangers
The 1990s was an exciting period to enter fan cultures, especially in New York. I plunged heavily into anime in 1992, thanks to a chance encounter at a…
This Week in Anime - When Criticism Meets Anime Fandom
More often than not, critics take the hot seat when reviewing a work subject to the ire of its fandom when it does not align with their views.…
A Timeline of Anime Fandom in the UK
While putting my thesis together I realised it would be necessary to build up a timeline of anime fandom in the UK, listing dates for the key moments…
I’m Sick of Source Material Fandom In Anime
Let me form an opinion on Aira from Dandadan based on what I’ve seen of her, please. And not what she’ll grow into.
Goldorak Go! Early Anime Fandom in Côte D’Ivoire
People often think of the countries in Africa as not having much in the way of anything, a stereotype that doesn't reflect a much more complicated truth. This…
Goldorak Go! Early Anime Fandom in Côte D’Ivoire
People often think of the countries in Africa as not having much in the way of anything, a stereotype that doesn't reflect a much more complicated truth. This…
Weekly Round-Up, 27 May – 2 June, 2020: Protest Resources and Celebrating Black Creators
As with yesterday’s Talk post, this week’s Links round-up is slightly different. Below, we’ve listed links to AniFem articles penned by Black contributors, as well as our podcasts…
[Feature] What We Owe to Creators: Burnout in manga artists and how to prevent it
While manga artists have done a great service for international comics, we readers see an unsettling trend of writers and artists burning out. The post [Feature] What We Owe…
Asexuals and Aromantics in Anime and Manga
…it’s still the 29th of October where I am as I write this. It’s the end of Ace Week, but depending on your definition of “where your week…
Kenji Miyazawa in Anime and Manga
This is the second out of three planned post about Kenji Miyazawa. 1) The Life, Works and Themes of Kenji Miyazawa 2) Kenji Miyazawa in Anime and Manga:…
Anime & Manga Deals: Black Friday Week Edition
A lot of stores have already kicked off their Black Friday specials. Here’s a list of some of the best sales you can find already. And on to…
Tokyopop vs its Original English Language Manga Creators
Go to https://Surfshark.deals/RedBard and use promo code REDBARD to get 83% off a 2-year plan and 1 extra month free! --- ►DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE! --- SUPPORT MY CHANNEL! BUY ME A…
Black-and-White in 1960s Hollywood
Black-and-white films were regularly produced and released by the major Hollywood studios right up through 1966, which happened to be the last year that the Academy Award categories…
Artistry in Manga and Anime, and What’s Lost in “Translation”
Every so often, I come across someone on Twitter who talks about how they love anime but don’t really mess with manga. To them, manga is inherently inferior…
Artistry in Manga and Anime, and What’s Lost in “Translation”
Every so often, I come across someone on Twitter who talks about how they love anime but don’t really mess with manga. To them, manga is inherently inferior…
From Saint Seiya to CCXP: the Past and Present of Anime Fandom in Brazil
Part of the reason anime became a cultural sensation in such a short span of time is because the ground had already been prepared by nearly a century…
Introduction to Copaganda in Anime and Manga
Media from all over the globe contains an abundance of pro-law enforcement storylines and themes. Anime and manga are not exempt from this, with some of the most…
The Greatest Villain In Anime And Manga.
Johan Leibert. The Greatest Villain In Anime and Manga (Remastered). Let's talk about it. CHECK OUT OPERA: https://operagx.gg/TheMaskedMan FAQ from Opera: https://www.opera.com/gx/ai-browser My manga: https://mangadex.org/title/bd2146ff-c86b-41c9-bd2b-f02d253516de/devoro https://bato.to/series/164190/devoro Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maskedasura Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/masked_asura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_masked_asura/?igshid=OGQ2MjdiOTE%3D 0:00 Intro 1:20 OperaGX 2:46 Johan…
Famous Kitsune Characters in Anime and Manga
Kitsune characters, the legendary fox spirits of Japanese folklore, captivate anime fans with their charm, mystery, and emotional complexity. Representing both benevolence and mischief, these fox spirits are…
Inu X Boku Secret Service, InuYasha, Kamisama Kiss, Naruto, The Helpful Fox Senko-san
In Defense Of Anime And Manga Piracy
With the recent crackdown on Kissanime, and possibly other sites, I wanted to put my thoughts on piracy out there as somebody from a country with almost no…
Star Wars' Place in Anime and Manga
It's fair to say that Star Wars would not look or feel the way it does without its roots in Japanese cinema, but do those roots extend to…
Biggest Character Downgrades in Anime and Manga
An anime and manga blog, devoted to all kinds of amazing things from Japan. Reviews, articles, lists and more!
Holy Knight, The Seven Deadly Sins, Naruto, Bleach, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Mapping the Generations of Anime Fandom in the UK - FSN2017
The next talk I delivered relating to my research was at the Fan Studies Network Conference, held at the University of Huddersfield in June ...
Calling All Prospective Writers and Content Creators
Anime coverage is a crazy job Yes, that’s right, the title doesn’t lie: Random Curiosity is once again in need of new recruits. And not just writing masochists recruits…
This is fandom reporting in 2020
Recently a brand I mentioned in an article praised my coverage and asked if they could send me some of their products as a thank you. I replied…
An Essay On Anime, Fandom, and Metaphorical Comets of Joy
Recently I've been thinking on those times when life is hard and then some piece of media comes blazing through your life like a comet, brin...
Buying anime, manga, and merch in 2021 (and beyond)
Sponsored only by my poor financial responsibility
Anime Fandom on Our Own Terms
I spend a lot of time on Twitter, mostly for the purposes of looking at cool art and memes and keeping up on anime news. It seems like…
The Anime Dispatch: Fans, Creators and Industry Heavyweights are Desperate for Validation
Fandoms love mainstream validation, but it comes at a huge cost and a big risk of enshittification.
The State of Anime Fandom in the UK - Minamicon 23 (2017)
Continuing my updates of panels and talks that I've run in the past few years is "The State of Anime Fandom in the UK", a panel I ran…
Anime Rule 34: Where Creativity Meets Anime Fandom
Explore the world of Anime Rule 34, a mix of creativity and fandom, giving rise to unique art forms beyond the anime realm.
Exploring the Mecha Genre in Anime and Manga
From towering battle machines to mind-bending psychological thrillers, Mecha anime and manga have shaped the sci-fi genre in ways you never imagined. Whether you're a hardcore Gundam fan…
How Can I Invest in Anime and Manga?
So, you want to learn how to invest your money in anime and manga and other Japanese companies? Why would you want to? If you live in the…
The Greatest Supporting Character In Anime And Manga.
Grimmer from the series Monster. Let's talk about it. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maskedasura Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/masked_asura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_masked_asura/?igshid=OGQ2MjdiOTE%3D ► "Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use'…
How Can I Invest in Anime and Manga?
So, you want to learn how to invest your money in anime and manga and other Japanese companies? Why would you want to? If you live in the…
Finding Positivity in Death Via Anime and Manga
Recently, my mother and I had a conversation about a topic a lot of Westerners don’t talk about - death. My mom discussed how she wanted to die…
The Role of Bunnies in Anime and Manga
What do Easter, moon myths, chaotic mascots, and bunny girls have in common? Anime and manga, of course! From gentle heroes to wild warriors, this fluffy (and slightly…
One Piece, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Is the Order a Rabbit?
The Most Confusing Villain In Anime And Manga.
Friend from 20th Century Boys. The most confusing villain in anime and manga. Let's talk about it. My manga: https://mangadex.org/title/bd2146ff-c86b-41c9-bd2b-f02d253516de/devoro https://bato.to/series/164190/devoro Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maskedasura Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/masked_asura Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_masked_asura/?igshid=OGQ2MjdiOTE%3D ► "Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of…
From Weird To Wired: The Internet and "Fourth Generation" Anime Fandom
Finally up! The video is low quality because Youtube was unable to process the high-quality version for some reason. I may see if I can reup...
In Fandom, Is Age Just a Number?
As I scroll down Twitter these days, I’ll occasionally happen upon what seems to be an insightful article or piece. I know it’s probably worth reading, and that…
Social change in fandom: Armadacon 07, 1995
From the historical point of view this is interesting for the very limited view we had of nascent anime world fandom, and the social change it documents.
ADVICE: Top tips for aspiring webtoon creators, from established creators
Webtoon creators offer their best advice for new creators starting their own series, with advice from Shen, Brandon Chen, and more.
Manga Pulse 415: Black Love
You move sixteen tons and what do you get? A nice payout because there was a bonus after the tenth and you’re the top performer at the mine.…
Manga Pulse 461: Ugly Black
Warning, awkward audio dips as we kept looking away from the mics. We made some adjustments to the output but it’s still going to be off a bit.…
Manga Pulse 515: Black-Chan
Looks like the boys are back in town. By that, we mean the two hosts you’ve come to know an love so, so much. And by town we…
Manga Review: Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler)
Don’t worry. Its spoiler free. There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to Black Butler. I picked up this series since I enjoyed the anime, and it…
Black Jack Returns to Manga
That's right, Osamu Tezuka's famous doctor character will soon be drawn again in manga form. Hitoshi Iwaaki , the creator of Parasyte , wil...