open/close all folders
The Anime Crimes Division
Joe Furuya
That green stick is a matcha Pocky of anxiety.
Played by: SungWon Chonote , Cade Michael (young)
The protagonist of the series. An experienced cop in Neo Otaku City's Anime Crimes Division. He's a rough-around-the-edges cop who is jaded because of his fandom experiences but is nonetheless very passionate about anime.- Almost Kiss: Has one with Diesel in Prestige TV City
- Broken Pedestal: Experiences this after finding out that the Chief in Season 1 was Evil All Along and responsible for the murder of his Gundam.
- Childhood Friends: With Hideki and Officer Vink.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Joe does this in Season 1 with marble soda.
- Family-Friendly Firearms: Has an airsoft pistol because it was banned from using real guns after a bit of Reckless Gun Usage.
- Fingore: Breaks both his pinkies after Hideki and Officer Vink are murdered in succession because he pinky-promised the former that if one of them were murdered, the other would avenge him and the latter that he would never let him die.
- Drunk on Milk: Has been seen smoking Pocky and drinking Marble Soda on many occasions.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: The bad cop to Diesel's good cop
- Good Is Not Nice: Is very rough around the edges and abrasive, but is on the side of justice.
- Hallway Fight: Joe fights a squadron of prestige TV mooks in a hallway.
- Hard on Soft Science: Pulls the In-Universe equivalent of this on Diesel when he doubts her credibility as an anime fan because her favorite anime is Digimon
- The Hero Dies: Implied to be his fate in the Season 2 finale, where he is fatally wounded by Nancy's Last Breath Bullet before he destroys the limiter. His death scene is a Shout-Out to Spike's death scene in Cowboy Bebop.
- He's Back!: In Season 2 he comes out of his slump after his Gundam was murdered in order to solve the case of the serial killer.
- I'll Tell You When I've Had Enough!: When he gets drunk on Marble Soda in Season 1, the bartender attempts to cut him off, but Joe wrenches the bottle out of his hands. Due to his inebriated state, however, Joe struggles for about half a minute to actually open the bottle.
- Old Cop, Young Cop: The old cop to Diesel's young cop. In a reversal of the typical roles, the older one is the Cowboy Cop while the younger one is the By-the-Book Cop.
- Out-of-Genre Experience: Experiences this with Diesel in Prestige TV City.
- Nerdy Bully: He's a massive anime geek (which is pretty much the norm in Neo Otaku City) with a stereotypical nerdy appearance and tends to use his extensive anime trivia knowledge (and later his his newfound contempt for anime) as an excuse to be an asshole to people. This is seen in an Establishing Character Moment when he meets Diesel for the first time, calling her a "wannabe-abu" when she can't name which Yuri!!! on Ice character has "the juiciest butt" and then judges her for liking Digimon.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Gets one in Prestige TV City.Joe: You know, I once watched the first episode of The Wire. It was boring. [cue Hallway Fight]
- The Promise: Joe and Hideki pinky-promised that if one of them were murdered, the other would avenge him. Joe tries to get out of it by breaking his pinky, but it's too strong. Joe also made a similar promise to Officer Vink. He breaks both pinkies when they die.
- Reckless Gun Usage: Joe opened fire in a crowded underpass which resulted in him being banned from using real guns
- Reformed Criminal: Joe used to be an AMV creator and play Yu-Gi-Oh! for keeps, which in this world are considered criminal activities.
- Revenge Before Reason: In Episode 3 he swears revenge against the man who murdered his prized Gundam, despite Diesel's insistence that they bring him in by the book since he's the Chief.
- Seen It All: His debut episode has him complaining about the myriad of cases that he has solved, and mentions that the city "takes a toll on him."
- She Is Not My Girlfriend: Insists that he and Diesel are not in a relationship when Nancy asks them if they are. However they start to experience Unresolved Sexual Tension throughout the episode due to Prestige TV City's dynamics, and the effects linger even long after they leave.
- Stout Strength: He's on the heftier side, and he can absolutely kick ass and take names.
- Super Mode: Joe embracing his love of anime in Season 2 Episode 6 makes him shoot lightning, cause a storm, raise a Pillar of Light, temporarily resurrect his friend Hideki, and scream for nearly 3 minutes straight.
- Transformation Sequence: He gets one when he picks up his badge in Season 2, ala Magical Girls like Sailor Moon.
- Tsundere: Namedropped and explained in "translator's notes" by the Chief in "The Gundam Killer" with regards to Furuya's initially cold but later on friendly relationship with Diesel. Actually exploited, since Furuya being nice to her resulted in him inviting her and the Chief over, and got the Chief access to Furuya's prized Gundam.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Diesel.
- Will They or Won't They?: Has this dynamic with Diesel, even long after they leave Prestige TV City where it springs from.
- You're Insane!: Says this to the Chief after seeing his cobbled-together Gundam.
- You Shall Not Pass!: Covers for Diesel while she runs away by taking on Nancy's goons The Beach Episode. Eventually he is overwhelmed, captured, and brainwashed.
Diesel
Played by: Riley Rose Critchlow
The Deuteragonist of the series and Joe's partner. Her credibility as a weeaboo is initially doubted but later on, proves to be a very capable cop in her own right.- Action Girl: Is very skilled with a gun and was able to take down Chief Brody and his goons by herself with little to no effort.
- Almost Kiss: Has one with Joe in Prestige TV City
- All of the Other Reindeer: Her childhood in Prestige TV City consisted of being shunned and mocked for her love of anime. She also got no support from Nancy, who constantly bemoaned her weeaboo traits and tried to dissuade her from them.
- Broken Pedestal: Temporarily experiences this after finding out that Joe plays Yu-Gi-Oh! for keeps.Diesel: I looked up to you, Joe... you were my Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
- Butt-Monkey: Despite being a fully-capable cop, she is looked down upon by everyone for her fairly broad taste in anime. Taken to parody levels in Season Two, where she's turned into the ACD's punching bag because her partner quite the force, relegated to "Tapetective" (apparently banning her from using her skills except for anything tape-related) and her sound and reasonable advice are condescendingly dismissed. Though later this is given an explanation when the new Chief that put her on tape-duty was secretly an agent of TOXIC.
- Closet Geek: When she was growing up in Prestige TV City she was forced to hide and feel ashamed about her interest in anime.
- Defector from Decadence: Turned her back on live-action TV and by extension her mother for anime.
- Determinator: Will keep the fight for anime alive in spite of all the obstacles and setbacks being thrown her way.
- Gender-Blender Name: Has a masculine name.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: The good cop to Joe's bad cop
- He Is Not My Boyfriend: Insists that she and Joe are not in a relationship when Nancy asks them if they are. However they start to experience Unresolved Sexual Tension throughout the episode due to Prestige TV City's dynamics, and the effects linger even long after they leave.
- I Just Want to Be Special: Her primary motivation. She left her privileged upbringing in Prestige TV City for Neo Otaku City, and hoped that by joining the ACD she would gain acceptance in this community.
- Like Mother, Unlike Daughter: Diesel is a nonconformist Otaku who moves with all kinds of people and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Her mother is an Obsessively Normal Rich Bitch who thinks that live-action TV is the most superior medium in existence and spends most of her time executing her plans through others.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Her mother is the head of Prestige TV City's housing board, thus she is very well off. But due to her love of anime in a city where it is seen as childish, she had very few friends and spent most of her life alone.
- Naïve Newcomer: Starts out as this at first, but quickly proves herself when she helps Joe to solve a Mob War between the Subber and Dubber gangs.
- Never Accepted in His Hometown: Her backstory. She was born and brought up in Prestige TV City and was one of the very few Otaku there. She moved to Neo Otaku City in order to be among like-minded people and gain acceptance from the community her heart belongs to. This is why she is so hell-bent on solving the case of the serial killer in Season 2 despite odds being stacked against her.
- Old Cop, Young Cop: The young cop to Joe's old cop. In a reversal of the typical roles, the older one is the Cowboy Cop while the younger one is the By-the-Book Cop.
- Only One Name: Though her name is technically Diesel Prestige, nobody refers to her by her last name.
- Only Sane Woman: Is more level headed and "normal" than the rest of her coworkers. Justified due to actually being from Prestige TV City.
- Out-of-Genre Experience: Experiences this with Joe in Prestige TV City
- Pre-Mortem One-Liner: She gives one to Chief Brody and his goons.Chief Brody: Did you think this was like Fairy Tail, that friendship would save you in the end?
Diesel: No, I'm more a fan of Digimon, and in Digimon, you just fuck people up. [proceeds to shoot each of them one by one] - The Smurfette Principle: Diesel is the only female ACD officer to be given focus.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Diesel looks like a younger version of her mother, Nancy.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: With Joe.
- Uptown Girl: Comes from a rich family, while Joe appears to be poor.
- Will They or Won't They?: Has this dynamic with Joe, and admits that these feelings for him still linger even after leaving Prestige TV City, from where it originated.
TOXIC
In General
The nefarious organization behind the serial murders in Season 2. They are overzealous gatekeepers who wish to eliminate "fake fans" from Neo Otaku City and have anime be exclusively available to the most hardcore of Weeaboos by placing a limiter on its newly installed fiber connection. They are being backed by Prestige TV City, who plans to take the expelled "fake fans" under its wing, turning them into live-action TV fans.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: TOXIC is comprised of anime fans who are so hardcore in their love of the medium that they treat those more moderate than them as enemies to be purged, hoarding it from those they deem to be "fake" and turning Neo Otaku City into what could be called an Otaku ethnostate.
- Take That!: While most of Neo Otaku City represents the broad anime/manga fanbase and represents some of its more positive attributes, TOXIC (as its name implies) represents its dark side, the group comprised of overzealous Stop Having Fun Guys and Fan Haters. Their self-entitlement and hatred of more "normal" anime fans are portrayed as selfish and childish.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: Once TOXIC takes control of Neo Otaku City and puts a limiter on the fiber connection, all "fake fans" have their anime taken from them and AMV Alley is ransacked by the Anime Exterminators.
Nancy Prestige
Played by: Monique Parent
The leader of TOXIC and the main antagonist of Season 2. She intended to have her daughter, Diesel, someday carry on with her cause. However, she chose to identify with Otaku culture rather than her own. Frustrated by her daughter's rebellion, she plans to convince her to give up on her ambitions and join her side.- Affably Evil: Is relatively pleasant, albeit slightly obnoxious and overbearing when interacting with Joe. Even when she shows her true colors, she still manages to keep this facade.
- All There in the Script: Her first name is only found in the ending credits.
- Anti-Villain: The fact that tries to convince others that her "maternal love" for Diesel is the reason for all of her actions shows that she styles herself as one. Naturally, this is mocked in Season 2's finale.
- Divide and Conquer: What her plan basically amounts to. The "fake fans" who have been booted out of Neo Otaku City by TOXIC will be taken in by Prestige TV City to be turned into live-action tv fans.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Nancy insists that when Diesel is captured, she is merely convinced to join with her mother's cause without subjecting her to any harm, as even though she is misled, she is still her daughter. Lampshaded in Season 2 Episode 6 when her bodyguards say that she is a "complex and nuanced" villain when she tells Diesel that she did everything she did to make her see the "error" of her ways and return to Prestige TV City to be with her mother again.
- Evil Matriarch: She's Diesel's mother and the leader of TOXIC. However, unlike most examples, she cares about her daughter even though she doesn't support the path she's taken in life.
- Expy: Basically a live-action version of Sophia Nishikinomiya.
- Fantasy-Forbidding Mother: Vehemently disapproves of Diesel being a Weeaboo and feels that by moving to Neo Otaku City and joining the ACD she threw away the bright future that she had planned for her.Nancy: "Diesel is the Lost of the family. She was so promising, but then she got way in over her head and forgot everything that made her interesting.''
- Follow in My Footsteps: Intends for Diesel to take the same path as she, whether she wishes to or not.
- Hypocrite: For all her talk about how inferior and childish anime is, she also acknowledges that live-action TV is not without its flaws. She just simply doesn't care.
- Last-Name Basis: In-story, Nancy is only known by her last name in contrast to her daughter, Diesel.
- Long Game: Was pulling the strings behind most of the conflicts in the series thus far.
- The Ludovico Technique: Subjects Joe to this via the Binge Chamber, which leads to him becoming Brainwashed and Crazy
- My Beloved Smother: The way she treats Diesel, expecting her to be a carbon copy of herself, gives off this vibe. In addition, she does not appear to be happy when she suspects that Diesel might be in a relationship with Joe, and she straight-up asks him if they are dating.
- Obsessively Normal: Believes that anime is "childish" and that enjoying live-action TV is the only way to "join the ranks of adulthood."
- Orcus on His Throne: Was this for much of the series until her debut in The Beach Episode.
- Rich Bitch: As the head of the housing board, she is very well off, but also quite pompous and looks down on fandoms she deems inferior.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Diesel looks like a younger version of her.
- Villain in a White Suit: Nancy shows up on the Prestige TV beach wearing a crisp white pantsuit and ready to interview Joe. She's the head of Prestige TV City, showing her sophistication and prestige, and she's the Big Bad of Season 2 as she brainwashes Joe and masterminds a plot to take over Neo Otaku City.
- We Can Rule Together: Wants Diesel to join TOXIC and realize that identifying with Otaku culture was a mistake.
- Why Couldn't You Be Different?: How she feels with regards to Diesel being a free-spirited Otaku rather than a stuffy live-action TV fan like herself.
- Wicked Cultured: Prestige TV City's entire hat is that they represent fandoms of critically acclaimed cinematic shows, and Nancy is no exception. The only exception is that she claims that Dragonball Evolution (a critical and box-office failure) is superior to the anime that it was based on, but considered she knew who Joe was and she hold a knee-jerk dismissal towards anime, she likely only said this as a Kick the Dog moment.
Supporting Characters
Mama Sasuke
Played by: Celestial
Sasuke's grandmother, also an AMV maker and pirate who became infected with malware in an attempt to download Attack on Titan Season 3.- Better to Die than Be Killed: Part of the reason why she performs her Heroic Sacrifice in the first place.Mama Sasuke: I don't have much longer. And if I'm going to die, I'm going to die the way I lived: Loving anime.
- Fictional Disability: Malware, which is treated as a mix between dementia and cancer in this universe.
- Final Speech: Gives one to Diesel as she dies, dropping Season 2's Arc Words.Mama Sasuke: Diesel, Prestige TV, fake anime fans... none of it's real. There is only one truth you must remember. Anime is for everybody.
- Heroic Sacrifice: In Season 2 Episode 5, she transfers her malware-infected blood to a hard drive in order to help Diesel destroy the limiter on the fiber connection.
- Senseless Sacrifice: A Brainwashed Joe destroys the hard drive containing her blood before Diesel can transfer it.
