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Black people have always loved anime, whether their fandom began with “Sailor Moon” and “Pokémon” or they cut their teeth on “Naruto” and “Dragon Ball Z.” But much like other creative mediums, the relationship between the Japanese animation medium and its Black characters has been one in need of more accurate and diverse representation. Over the years, award-winning Funimation voice actors Anairis Quiñones and Zeno Robinson — best known for their roles as Mirko and Hawks in “My Hero Academia”— have seen more progression in anime away from its problematic beginnings. “‘Cyborg 009’is a legendary series from the ’80s, and its character Pynuma’s portrayal from the ’80s till now has drastically changed,” said Robinson, who has studied under greats like Phil LaMarr, Ginny McSwain, and Tony Oliver. “His first portrayal had big lips and exaggerated features, but as time progressed, his character design changed to look more like an actual human being. It’s a testament to the times.” Quiñones...
Talk about a dynamic duo! Idris and Sabrina Elba are set to executive produce a new animated series for Crunchyroll — the global anime-streaming service that will soon be sold to Sony’s Funimation group, Variety reports. The working title “Dantai” is the couple’s first anime title set to be produced through Sabrina’s Pink Towel Pictures and her hubby’s Green Door Pictures. According to Crunchyroll, “Dantai” is an Afro-futuristic sci-fi series set in a city where an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots is the result of a rise in biotechnology. “We’re really excited to be announcing this deal on our first anime,” said the Elbas in a statement, according to Variety. “We’re both fans of the genre and see a huge opportunity to create something unique for a powerhouse like Crunchyroll. The story of ‘Dantai’ is our first collaboration as producers together and is one that is close to our hearts.” Per Variety, the Sony group agreed to acquire Crunchyroll from AT&T’s...