Pokémon anime

I wouldn't of brought it up if his dad(?) wasn't very clearly meant to be black - his skin tone, his hair texture... there's no denying they were going for a character of African descent there. His English voice actor is also the very black Marc Swint, so there's that.

His mother, too, albeit she's not as blatant. The character I'm assuming is his sister thus stands out for being much lighter than the other three, and her features are that anime neutral (there's a term for it that starts with an 'M'.)

edited 17th Jan '17 2:00:45 PM by Hashil

Mukokuseki.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

If I remember correctly Iris was dressed up in south Asian and sometimes Indian looking clothing in episodes. I don't think she was intended to be black, either the game or anime version.

Same with characters like Shauna and Mallow. They have darker skin than most pokegirls. Mallow's obviously intended to be Hawaiian, and Shauna probably of hispanic descent. Given Kalos is based on France and its near Spain, it wouldn't surprise me.

Given her method of cheering for Ash when he fought Roxie, I jokingly concluded that Iris was a Cleveland Indian in the Anime. Even still, In Harmony with Nature is a Trope often than not assigned to aboriginals, and Africans would not be aboriginal to Unova.

Also: "First Genuinely Black Character". So Lenora's not "Genuinely" Black?

Plus, there are White Hispanics in both hemispheres. Being Hispanic is not a function of skin color but a function of cultural heritage, see the Latino Is Brown page. Conversely Shauna could have had ancestors from any part of the ''Moorish Diaspora, not just the Iberians.

Anyway, did the last episode of Ash's adventures in Kalos already air in Canada? Because, if not, then it's time for some Prop "Bets" for the dub of that airport episode.

edited 17th Jan '17 5:03:09 PM by DonaldthePotholer

No? Pokemon takes place on an alternate version of Earth. Why would they not have the races/ethnicity that we're used to?

edited 17th Jan '17 5:04:48 PM by Chariot

To answer that question, we also need to figure out why there's a Ninja Village in Not-France.

One Strip! One Strip!

• Looks at Laverre City*

Wake me up at your own risk.

There were no real dark skinned characters in the anime until BW.

I remember people commenting on it all the time when Kanto/Johto, AG and DP were airing. Other than people with slightly darker skin like Brock, everyone always had light skin for the first 4 gens of the anime. Its really weird not even any of the filler characters or random trainers in episodes were black either.

Considering Kanto, Johto, AG and DP made up the majority of the anime for 13 years and 600+ episodes, that's pretty staggering.

Eh, those regions are based in Japan areas, so I don't think natives go beyond kinda tan. Unova is basically New York, so I guess they feel the need to show some black people.

Now that I think about it, how do you difference Asian and Caucasian in the anime?

edited 17th Jan '17 5:30:08 PM by Blueace

Wake me up at your own risk.

You can't really. Although some girls look more Japanese than others, such as Dawn for example. Its more noticeable with her game incarnation who has darker black hair instead of blue. Dawn always looked the most Japanese of all the main girls. Her long, straight dark hair and skirt also resembled the Japanese schoolgirl look.

Serena is obviously how Gamefreak sees a blonde French girl. May looks the most "white" looking of the girls due to her brunette hair and clothing style, even if her name is Haruka. Although you could say her father Norman was Japanese while his wife was white, hence why May looks more like her mother while Max looks more like Norman. Given May was the first playable girl at the start of a gen in the games and first new girl in the anime, I wouldn't be surprised if she was designed for more western appeal. Whereas by the time Gen 4 started and DP launched with the DS, Dawn was made to look more Japanese.

Oh my God, Kiawe also has a little sister? Is this show purposefully trying to cram as many adorable imoutos as it can?

Beach Episode. And James has a new friend...

edited 19th Jan '17 2:26:44 AM by Shadao

Nice Bounsweet bra.

Secret Signature

On the one hand, yay Lana. On the other hand, augh noooo there was already so much creepy schoolgirl swimsuit fanart of her before this episode...

She did want to find a Strapping Young Swimmer to save, though....can you really blame them.

Watch Symphogear

YES. THAT WAS A RUSE. SHE'S NOT A HOT-AND-WILLING SWIMSUIT LOLI SHE IS A CLEVER LITTLE MASTERMIND WITH A TWIRLY MOUSTACHE AND A TINY LITTLE TOPHAT. GRARRRRRGH.

She could be both, you know. The anime seems to be going with it too, and Ash is that Strapping young swimmer. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Watch Symphogear

With a region set in fantasy Hawaii, I wouldn't ever think the Pokemon anime writers had the ability to resist making a Beach Episode.

edited 19th Jan '17 5:48:01 AM by VeryMelon

I think this episode looks great! And yes, I am saying that exclusively because of the chance to see Lana, Lillie, and Mallow's bare feet.

Freaking hell.

What? It's a lot more tame than what everyone else is looking forward to.

Sort of...? Like, I was only half-serious with that reaction. I'm playing up my frustration to make it funny. On the other hand I still am a little frustrated! I don't want to make a big deal out of a foot fetish or anything, I don't care about that. I've just been growing more and more disillusioned with how much anime has been turning into a medium that makes most of its money with images of pretty girls catering to men's wish fulfillment.

... in any case, don't take it personally. I'm gonna assume you're in your early-to-mid teens and whatnot, so do what makes you happy as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. I'm just being grouchy about the state of affairs in general.

That's more of a minority. Fujoshi bait is also more prevalent then ever, as are action shows that even westerners can enjoy. Plus, the elements you talk about have always existed in the medium, they just weren't as known because of the lack of Internet.

I'm 25, anyway.

edited 19th Jan '17 7:55:22 AM by Demongodofchaos2

Watch Symphogear

No, no, there's definitely a trend. It has to do with the whole financial aspect. Anime make most of their money through merchandise, and cute girls are what sells best. The fanservice stuff always existed, but it's not like the past few years where basically every show has been about cute and/or hot girls in some capacity or another. I mean, I also hear that these kinds of shows are in the minority in Japan and the stuff with the girls is just what's being exported to the West, but that just makes me all the more frustrated that that is what the Western fandoms focus on.

... but as I said, I don't want to start a big thing now. I was just exaggerating my grouchiness for comedic effect and then I wanted to explain myself to make sure bubbles-person isn't feeling personally attacked and I just blabbed more than necessary because that's what I do and I'm procrastinating on my thesis.

I'm almost 29 and I wish there was more innocent cute stuff that's actually innocent and more edgy and intelligent stuff that's actually intelligent. That is my story.

A bunch of socially awkward people on the internet ogling cute girls in swimsuits doesn't sound like something to be frustrated about. At best, it's kind of sad but mostly harmless. At worst...well, I don't wanna go into that but you get the idea.

Long story short, you can't stop the Rule 34 no matter what. Like you said, there was already lewd art even before this episode, so nothing would have changed with or without it.

And besides, regardless of how the fandom are going to react (and fully expect fanart to blow up after this episode), I'm pretty sure it's meant to be a harmless and fun Beach Episode.

A lazy millennial who's good at what he does.