Portrayals of the US in Anime/Games

Questionable or Otherwise Interesting Portrayals of America by Japan:

• In G Gundam, we're represented by a cocky, spiky-haired boxer who acts as Domon Kasshu's (Neo Japan) most determined rival.
• In Death Note, America finally bends to Kira's demands after Light goes on a killing spree. (probably not a spoiler by this point, but eh). Near, in the anime at least, proceeds to call the fictional president "less than a maggot".
• In Gantz, America, "the world's strongest military power", gets blown apart in an alien invasion - also, the "American" alien hunters are a bunch of drug addict, sadomasochistic rapists/neckbeards. (Albeit, we later return as a group of Bad Ass Gantz'er's who more or less carry Earth to victory]].
• Teen Titans had the mostly American-style/ized superheroes head to Tokyo to beat the crap out of a bunch of Japanese concepts, catgirls, ink demons, and even a kaiju.
• I suppose there's also Punch Out, Little Mac's from the Bronx, and then there's Super Mario Bros, who in at least one portrayal is a plumber from Brooklyn.

I'm curious about how we're portrayed/represented in other Japanese media, even loosely. Particularly Axis Powers Hetalia, since I haven't seen that yet.

edited 3rd Apr '15 3:04:33 PM by Soble

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!

Alright, I'm gonna have to stop you because we're already hitting a problem: Teen Titans is an American Animesque show. Trying to hold it as any kind of example among or against Japanese media is ignorant at best.

I'm sorry I have nothing else right now, but that shoots a big hole in whatever point you're trying to make and it needs to go.

America doesn't figure much in Bokurano at all but whenever the country is brought up there's some very thinly veiled contempt, portraying it as a selfish militaristic superpower.

I dunno much about how the US is portrayed, but I know that Americans are generally portrayed as loud, boisterous Large Hams.

To pity someone is to tell them "I feel bad about being better than you."

Kekkai Sensen is coming up in one day and takes place in supernatural, inter-dimensional-breach New York. So that's exciting.

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

Although they're IN SPACE, I think Sleger from the original Gundam 0079 and Duo from Gundam Wing were supposed to be American.

They're both pretty cocky but Duo is actually the sanest Gundam Wing Pilot so that's something.

Somebody's going to bring up Metal Wolf Chaos eventually, so it might as well be me...

...and I apologise for commenting as an outsider, but the words "jingoistic", "trigger-happy" and "totally radical" come to mind.

edited 4th Apr '15 12:31:31 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Don't forget Bandit Keith, Pegasus, Rebecca, Arthur Hawkins, and Jean-Claude Magnum!

...What's the topic of discussion in this topic, anyway?

edited 4th Apr '15 12:09:26 AM by lalalei2001

The Protomen enhanced my life.

The discussion of recurring elements common to Japanese depictions of the US and / or their representatives (if any) in anime, manga, and videogames of Japanese origin, I guess.

edited 4th Apr '15 12:38:48 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Didn't Kira actually kill the sitting president in the manga? The president they showed in the anime was originally the vice-president, if I recall correctly.

Eagleland

Link to TRS threads in project mode here.

also, i forgot to mention that in Pluto there's a very obvious stand-in for the US called Thracia, which is part of a scathing critique of american imperalism and the Iraq War. it's also run by an evil supercomputer who manifests through a teddy bear. humorously he's called "dr. roosevelt".

I thought that he killed himself on his own volition.

Hmm? Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?

edited 4th Apr '15 2:36:20 PM by KarkatTheDalek

Oh God! Natural light!

the manga made it ambiguous about how the President died.In the manga,Mello assumes he may have killed himself out of fear that Kira would use him to press The Button after the failed assault,with Mello even praising his courage if that was really the case.Even the How To Read book doesn't give a clear answer and instead only speculates that Kira may have killed him as a punishment for the failed assault at Mello's hideout.

Parts Unknown.

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.

Majikoi has an America maid who dual wields assault rifles while wearing an American flag bikini and yelling Fuck! which I'm pretty sure was a parody of the normal Eagleland portrayal. Can't say for sure though.

Generally, the United States is presented as pretty shady and opportunistic at best, ala Infinite Stratos, and many others just flat out go with anti-imperialism.

Americans are usually presented as Hot-Blooded, battle-hungry, flirtatious, shameless, and unconcerned about conformity or group identity. At worst, we're presented as bloodthirsty ego-maniacs.

edited 4th Apr '15 6:50:48 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.

Makes me glad I'm Canadian.

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

One Strip! One Strip!

But Canadians are Americans, Rob. In fact, I would venture to say that you specifically are more American than most, what with your righteous fury and all (and I may be slightly drunk right now).

PSN ID: FateSeraph Congratulations! She/They

Canadians are European.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find an explicitly identified Canadian in an anime.

Isn't Kate from Sketchbook Canadian?

To pity someone is to tell them "I feel bad about being better than you."

What about Bandit Keith?

edited 4th Apr '15 8:34:28 PM by Ruise

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

What about Canada? (Who?)

I couldn't conceive a dream so wet; your bongos make me congo.

The guy literally being Canada is exactly why I didn't mention him.

To pity someone is to tell them "I feel bad about being better than you."