#Black Excellence in Anime

[misslexsus]

Megan Thee Stallion

[paisholotus]

Will forever love Megan

[onikasbarbie]

[banana-peppers]

Black & Proud by Bri Pippens

www.instagram.com/bpeppersart

[kouhaiofcolor]

We absolutely need more Black voice actors. Tons more. I’d love to see it become a rise in popular professions among Black People — esp Black Women. More Black Women voice acting for cartoon characters, anime characters, Disney characters, etc.

[scarlett-bitch69]

Sailor Guardians 🌙 💫 ✨ reimagined by Shabine Dreams

[italovision]

What's your favorite Storm costume?

[crownmesimba]

Shaina West 'The Samurider'

📷: @thesamurider

[misslexsus]

Satoru the Stallion

[l1ghtbringa]

[onikasbarbie]

[bruce-morrow]

Sudan Archives, AFROPUNK, Brooklyn, NY, 2023

GIF: Bruce Morrow

[jenntastic10]

[nickysfacts]

Baby Esther “boop boop a doop” herself to stardom!💄

🎶👩🏾‍🦱🎶

[gothamite-rambler]

Anime Talk

Context: Red Robin and Signal were on a stakeout mission with Arsenal (Roy Harper). The night was slow, so Duke and Tim began chatting about an anime. Duke was a huge anime fan, and he made it clear that slander against anime would not be tolerated.

Signal and Robin had been discussing an anime called Fullmetal Alchemist for the past twenty minutes after an hour of tedious surveillance, watching a building from a distance and waiting for the signal to strike. Arsenal sat on the ground, contemplating whether he should have informed the sitter about Lian wanting a glass of water before bed.

Signal: I'm telling you, Edward should've killed the man. What he did to his daughter and his dog was messed up. The man did this twice, mind you. Edward should've shoved that medal down his throat. Why did Scar get the kill?

Red Robin: Because Elric knew it would be wrong.

Signal (incensed): He turned his daughter into a Chimera! He did the same to his wife! None of them deserved that, but the father deserved to choke on that medal!

Red Robin (shrugging): That doesn't mean he can react with murder. Elric knew he would regret it.

Signal (dismissive): See, if that was me—without the Signal persona—I would!

As the two heroes continued to debate this anime, Arsenal, who sat to the side with his bow resting on his lap, turned his attention to the conversation.

Arsenal (confused): What are you guys yapping about?

Signal (enthusiastic): Fullmetal Alchemist. Roy, weigh in on this. I think Edward should've killed Alexander. This dummy thinks Scar was the one who had the right to do it. What's your opinion?

Red Robin (insulted): Why am I the dummy here?

Signal (pointing): You're only saying Edward shouldn't kill him because he's the token good guy character. And mind you, I like Edward.

Arsenal (sighing, pinching the bridge of his nose): Arsenal. Call me Arsenal.

Signal glanced at Red Robin, who nodded with a shrug. Signal rolled his eyes but respected the man's request.

Signal (addressing Arsenal): Arsenal, my bad. Who do you think should've had the kill?

Arsenal (confused): Is this from a show?

Signal: Yeah, “anime” is the better word to call it.

Arsenal (in a condescending tone): You guys are talking about a cartoon, and that's what you want me to weigh in on?

Signal (exasperated): Yeah, it's a slow night. It’s not just a cartoon either, but I’ll give you a pass; it’s a common mistake. Fullmetal Alchemist is the best anime ever. I'm surprised you haven't watched it.

Arsenal rolled his eyes.

Red Robin: Fullmetal being the best is debatable. JoJo is top tier.

Signal (sneering): That's such a basic take.

Red Robin (crossing his arms with a smirk): A well-written and fun anime being top tier? Can’t get more basic than that.

Signal (defensive): Why do you have to pick the weirdest animes you think are better than Fullmetal?

Red Robin (smiling): I like variety; anime gives me that.

Arsenal groaned, snapping his fingers to pause the conversation.

Arsenal (frustrated): Hey, guys, this is an… enthralling conversation, but we are in the middle of a stakeout! And you're talking about cartoons!

Signal (insulted): Anime! Why are you saying that like it's a bad thing?

Arsenal (rolling his eyes): Correction: "Japanese cartoons." I swear I regret agreeing to team up with you. I thought you'd be normal, but I should've picked Orphan.

Signal (fake eager tone): Oh, okay, we got a non-anime fan. All right, I'll play along.

Red Robin (amused and not wanting to intervene): Be cool; don't go there.

Signal (tight smile): I'm good. I simply want to hear this man's reasoning for being a critique of a fantastic medium.

Arsenal (indifferent): It's just something I could never get into. High school girls dressed weirdly and strange cartoons with tentacles never interested me, and this was before I got into drugs, so that's saying a lot.

Signal (disgusted): What kind of anime were you watching? We are cultured anime fans—well, I am. Robin is a bit too welcoming of weird animes.

Red Robin (mumbling): Stuff like JoJo, Konosuba, and Devil is a Part-Timer are what I like. Again, variety.

Arsenal: This is the most inane situation I've been in. All anime is stupid, boring, or weird—in my opinion—and people who watch it are weird—

Arsenal's rant was interrupted when suddenly he was punched by Signal, knocking him to the ground. Red Robin covered his mouth in shock as Signal stared at his fist, equally surprised he did that, but not regretting it.

Arsenal (shocked): What the hell?!

Signal (composed): I'm sorry. My reaction was overblown, but when people talk badly about anime, it becomes an automatic response. It's like my fists have a mind of their own. Didn’t even hurt—cool.

Red Robin (smirking): You kind of had that coming, Arsenal.

Arsenal (trying not to shout to blow their cover): He hit me in the jaw for an opinion!

Signal (scolding): No, an opinion doesn't mean I have to agree with it, but we could've agreed to disagree. When you start being a judgmental jerk about people who watch anime, nah—you get a sore jaw.

Red Robin (nodding in agreement): You're lucky that's all he did. The last guy got knocked unconscious.

Signal (shrugging): Don’t insult Sailor Moon; the creator of that show set out to portray magical girls fighting bad guys. Are the sailor suits weird? Yes, but it's not a show for creeps. He just didn't understand that.

Arsenal (rubbing his jaw): You watch Sailor Moon?

Red Robin: Arsenal, you should stop talking unless you want to fight him. Jason isn't here, and I will not protect you.

Signal nodded, raising his fist.

Signal: And I’m still learning my powers; anything can happen. You could end up dazed or limping. I might even put my whole fist down your throat if you talk shit about anime again. You don’t have to like it; we all have our differences, but be respectful. Because I don't play—I was raised in the Bronx before working for Batman.

Arsenal sighed, annoyed, but he decided to follow Robin's advice and be civil, staying out of the anime talk.

Arsenal: I seriously thought anime stopped being popular years ago, but whatever, dude—I'm sorry. You clearly like this stuff, so continue your conversation about Japan—anime. I'll continue being the lookout and rubbing my bruised jaw.

Arsenal stood up and walked a few feet away. Signal gave him a thumbs up, then resumed his anime discussion with Red Robin, switching over to Dragon Ball and debating who was actually the strongest fighter and if Krillin deserves more respect.