I don’t know of any other anime especially in the last twenty years to actually make mention of capitalism, capitalists, or anything to do with socialism, not just the concepts but the words themselves

It’s amazing how entire concepts that define human existence can just be obliterated wholesale from an entire medium of creative expression and entertainment

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (and second gig, the second season) explicitly mentions capitalism and makes it pretty clear that the world they’re in is cyber-hellworld.

It’s probably uncommon because anime is really expensive to make so you need some :porky-happy: to fund you.

permalink
report
reply

Probably also uncommon because of Japanese broadcast law. Broadcasting stuff on TV, like anime, requires a license that can get rescinded and by law requires “political fairness.” Journalists often censor themselves without oversight because of hypothetical formal censorship. So since Japanese media is often very wary of losing their broadcast license, they try to avoid topics that would be confrontational against establishment neoliberalism.

Also the target audience for most anime are otaku with money to throw around. Also Japan is a neoliberal hell that while theoretically has stronger unions and more social services than a lot of capitalist countries, is still in effect an imperialist ideology factory. Bunch of factors going on.

permalink
report
parent
reply
16 points

Probably also uncommon because of Japanese broadcast law. Broadcasting stuff on TV, like anime, requires a license that can get rescinded and by law requires “political fairness.”

Chapter 2 Article 4

lmao I fuckin knew it, watching Kaiji tipped me off that there must be some background constraint with broadcasting

The broadcaster shall stipulate standards for the editing of the broadcast programs (hereinafter referred to as “program standards”) in accordance with the classification of the broadcast programs (meaning the categories of cultural programs, educational programs, news programs, entertainment programs, etc.; the same shall apply hereinafter) and the target audience of the broadcasts, and shall edit the broadcast programs in compliance with such.

Article 5 is also pretty sus

permalink
report
parent
reply
13 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
8 points

Capitalist freedom be like

permalink
report
parent
reply

That makes a lot of sense. I’m curious if there’s more political content in OVA/direct to video and movie stuff. It wouldn’t surprise me if not, because otaku are more willing to buy expensive laserdiscs with sex/violence stuff on them, but it’s interesting that one of the first OVAs was Mamoru Oshii’s Dallos, which is explicitly leftist (kinda ehh, though, unfortunately).

Also Japan is a neoliberal hell that while theoretically has stronger unions and more social services than a lot of capitalist countries, is still in effect an imperialist ideology factory.

That kinda happens when :amerikkka: destroys and rebuilds your country. :yea:

permalink
report
parent
reply
30 points

:akkommunism:

permalink
report
reply

Family Guy

permalink
report
reply

Apparently there was a 2019 series named The Leader: Karl Marx, so likely not.

permalink
report
reply
22 points
*

That one was done by a Chinese studio, and literally funded by an office of the CPC.

That said there is a Japanese one that’s even better, although it’s only a manga. Capital is an approachable story about a cheese maker which demonstrates a lot of core Marxist concepts.

permalink
report
parent
reply
15 points

I was thinking of more the mainstream Japanese industry

permalink
report
parent
reply

yeah, i just take stuff too literally.

permalink
report
parent
reply
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
16 points

Deca-dence mentioned capitalism explicitly (once, I think), and thats about all I can think of.

permalink
report
reply
2 points

Was going to mention this, the ending was hamfisted and sent the wrong message but the series was explicitly about a class uprising.

permalink
report
parent
reply

askchapo

!askchapo@hexbear.net

Create post

Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions.

Rules:

  1. Posts must ask a question.

  2. If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.

  3. Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.

  4. Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you’re having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.

Community stats

  • 125

    Monthly active users

  • 7.3K

    Posts

  • 164K

    Comments