Where do Black characters and other People of Color stand in our favorite medium? To understand where the journey might lead, it’s worth looking back at its beginnings.
The journey to characters like Static Shock and Killer Bee was long and challenging. Image credit: Warner Bros. / Studio Pierrot
Anime and cartoons have been an important part of our childhood (and, let’s be honest, our adult lives too – otherwise, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now).
But what our innocent childhood eyes once absorbed without question would probably make us pause and reflect today. Animated series and movies have always transported us to fantastical worlds, but they have also served as a reflection of the society in which they were created. And in some cases, that reflection was quite distorted. Twenty, forty, or even sixty years ago, societal awareness was very different from what it is today – especially when it comes to the representation of People of Color (PoC).
In the 1940s, Black characters in American cartoons appeared only as exaggerated caricatures, and even in the anime of the 1970s, PoC characters checked off every box on the stereotype bingo.
So, what has changed in animation over the past few decades? Do Western cartoons approach the topic differently than Japanese anime? Which characters have marked real progress, and where is there still room for improvement? One thing is certain: good representation is more than just a supporting role.
A Look Back: How PoC Were Depicted in Early American Cartoons and Anime
Let’s turn back time a little. From today’s perspective, the early appearances of Black people in American cartoons are, at the very least, eyebrow-raising.
In the early decades of the 20th century, American society was deeply rooted in racist structures, and this was reflected in the entertainment industry. Influenced by the so-called minstrel shows, Black people were depicted in cartoons with exaggerated visual features, over-the-top gestures, and caricatured speech.
A classic example of this one-dimensional portrayal of PoC is Warner Bros.’ 7-minute short film Jungle Jitters from 1938. It features an African tribe whose members are shown as childish, uncivilized, and primitive. They are depicted with thick, bright lips and bones in their hair.
To give credit where it’s due: at least PoC were given a leading role in this movie – though in hindsight, one could argue it’s a role we all would have been better off without. In the vast majority of cases, Black people were relegated to ungrateful supporting roles – if they appeared at all.
Throughout its history, Tom & Jerry has shone with numerous successes and countless awards, but it has also earned its fair share of questionable laurels. One of the most infamous examples is Mammy Two-Shoes, who has become a symbol of the racist portrayal of African American stereotypes. From 1940 to 1952, she appeared in a total of 19 episodes, and after that, until 1964, her presence was reduced to just her voice until she vanished completely. Her role was that of a nagging housekeeper, whose appearance matched the then popular stereotype of Black domestic workers of the time – the so-called "Mammy."
Her voice carried a thick Southern accent, she wore loose, colorful dresses, and her demeanor was gruff. Essentially, Mammy Two-Shoes embodied all the racist clichés that were fashionable in the United States during the first half of the 20th century.
Over time, however, it became clear that such portrayals were more than inappropriate. The 1960s, with the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, brought about significant societal changes, but the entertainment industry was slow to reflect these advancements. Black characters often remained relegated to supporting roles or token appearances.
Unlike Western nations, Japan did not have the same level of contact with PoC during the early decades of anime. However, it still adopted visual stereotypes, often borrowed from American movies and cartoons. Black characters were extremely rare, and when they did appear, they often reflected racist caricatures.
Mr. Popo has been responsible for quite a few outraged faces. Image credit: Toei Animation
I know, we all love Dragon Ball, but we have to address the elephant in the room. Mr. Popo remains one of the most well-known problematic examples in anime to this day. Back in 1986, the creators definitely went overboard with the color palette. With his jet-black skin, oversized red lips, and servant role, Mr. Popo embodies similar stereotypes to those seen in Mammy Two-Shoes. The controversy primarily revolves around his appearance, which bears a strong resemblance to Blackface caricatures. This even led to his skin color being changed to blue in the English version of Dragon Ball Z Kai.
That said, Mr. Popo is still considered an iconic character, and at the very least, he’s portrayed as both likable and powerful. In Japan, such problematic depictions are less a result of deliberate racism and more a reflection of cultural isolation, a lack of awareness, and the borrowing of Western stereotypes. However, with the global success of anime – Dragon Ball in particular – a slow shift began to take place.
Breaking Stereotypes: Positive PoC Characters in Western Animation
As is far too often the case, it takes time for a society to evolve for the better. While openly racist portrayals declined on American television in the 1960s and 1970s, PoC in animation often remained relegated to side characters or continued to serve as comedic elements, frequently depicted in stereotypical ways. The real breakthrough finally came in the 1990s and 2000s.
Disney, the dominant player in American animated series and movies, began exploring new cultural territories with characters like Aladdin, who had a Middle Eastern background, and Mulan, a Chinese heroine. This trend has continued to this day. In 2009, Disney introduced Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, the first Black Disney princess, and industry peer
Pixar followed in 2020 with Soul, a heartfelt story about Joe Gardner, a Black musician on a journey of self-discovery.
Shows like The Proud Family (2001–2005) and Static Shock (2000–2004) brought Black characters and their cultural experiences to the forefront of home television. Static Shock, in particular, stood out for not only featuring a Black superhero but also addressing socially critical topics like racism, violence, and class disparities.
One series that may not immediately reveal its American roots is Avatar: The Last Airbender. While the world of Avatar is fictional, its cultures and characters are heavily inspired by Asian and Indigenous influences. None of the characters are Western-coded, and protagonists like Katara and Sokka are portrayed as strong, multidimensional figures with deep character development.
There we go!
Anime and the Lack of PoC Representation: Has it changed?
As previously mentioned, the global success of anime has had a significant impact on the representation of PoC in the medium. While characters like Mr. Popo were not perceived with the same racist connotations in Japan as they were in the West, they nonetheless helped spark a gradual shift in thinking.
In some anime from the 1980s, characters appeared sporadically who weren’t entirely based on stereotypes, such as Mohammed Avdol in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Although he still carried a few clichés, he was regarded as a brave and respectable character.
As the international market grew in importance, so did the pressure to create sensitive portrayals in order not to alienate viewers from different regions of the world. Characters like Jet Black from Cowboy Bebop (1998) or Yoruichi Shihōin from Bleach (2004) exemplify an increasingly complex characterization that largely steered away from stereotypes.
However, it’s also evident that anime hasn’t completely done away with clichés and exaggerations. That’s just part of the charm, I guess. The best example of this is Killer Bee from Naruto Shippuden. First introduced in 2010, he quickly became a fan favorite – as one of the very few explicitly dark-skinned characters in a mainstream anime. He plays a pivotal role as a mentor and supporter of Naruto himself, and his distinctly Western-inspired appearance makes him stand out from other characters. His style is heavily influenced by hip-hop culture, and naturally, he underlines his cool demeanor with rapped lines. Despite his playful humor, he is a loyal and disciplined ninja and one of the strongest characters in the series, capable of wielding up to eight swords at once. That’s no small feat! Despite his stereotypical hobbies (rapping, not the eight swords), he stands as a positive example of PoC representation in anime.
Even though the way they’re portrayed has changed a bit, black characters are still quite rare in anime. So there is a lot of room for improvement.
The Future of PoC Representation
The representation of PoC has made visible progress to this day. In the field of 3D animation, for example, more and more technologies are being developed to enable authentic portrayals of PoC, such as the realistic animation of afro-textured hair. Storytelling is also increasingly focused on respectfully and thoughtfully exploring diverse cultural backgrounds, as movies like Soul, Encanto (2021) und Coco (2017) show.
However, a significant difference between Western animation and Japanese anime remains evident. While Western studios like Disney and Pixar are increasingly prioritizing diversity, anime tends to be more reserved in this area due to cultural and historical differences.
The limited diversity in anime is largely rooted in Japan's cultural and ethnic homogeneity. Nonetheless, progress is being made, driven primarily by the global market. The reception of international fans to characters like Killer Bee and even Mr. Popo demonstrates that there is a demand for representation. And anime has the potential to meet this demand, as seen in newer series like Carole & Tuesday (2018) or Yasuke (2021). The opportunities are there; they just need to be seized.