Whether it’s a demand from the narrative or simply a reflection of the mangaka themselves, many series tend to turn towards political angles inadvertently. But sometimes the angle becomes too much, and we begin to question just how much is too much? From the ninja world of Naruto to the pirate expeditions of One Piece, here are six such anime titles that went too political by accident.
1. Attack on Titan
Well, to be completely transparent, Attack on Titan was a highly politically driven narrative to begin with. From the prescriptions of war and hierarchy, the series has the most politically illuminating ideas and concepts put into play alongside the supernatural factors of the Titans. But then, where was the accident?
Instead of focusing much on the supernatural aspect of the series, the narrative was too focused on the political play, which might not have been the main motive of Hajime Isayama. From walled societies that are ruled under strict propaganda, racial segregation, and military coups, the very concept of colonization filled the majority of the series. That’s just too political for the series; it should have been otherwise.
2. One Piece
One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation
You’d think, ‘What would an action-packed pirate adventure series with a happy-go-lucky protagonist have to do with politics, right?’ If we take a deeper dive into the narrative, One Piece shows that it can speak otherwise. The very introduction of the World Government is the opening needed to add politics into the mix.
Additionally, throughout the years, the series has provided us with other prime examples of how it can turn too political. During the Arlong Park Arc, the series gave us discrimination and systemic oppression of the Fishmen; the Enies Lobby Arc gave us the government getting rid of inconvenient people; and the whole Dressrosa Arc was about dictatorship and public manipulation.
3. Naruto
Naruto | Credits: Studio Pierrot
The Naruto series was primarily focused on Naruto’s storyline, that of a village orphan who craved love and aspired to become the Hokage. Instead, we got several side narratives that were almost directly or indirectly tied to the political system of the ninja world. The whole Uchiha Clan massacre should serve as the primary example.
But apart from that, was there any other accidental political motive? Of course, what about the ninja villages using their children as soldiers? The narrative was shaped by several political agendas: the power imbalance between the shinobi villages, militarized nationalism, and leaders deciding who lives and dies.
4. Code Geass
Code Geass | Credits: Studio Sunrise
If we really think about it, Code Geass might be one of the most classic anime series, with several ties to political notions. Firstly, regarding the protagonist, the series doesn’t clarify whether Lelouch is a freedom fighter or a dictator in training. He uses methods like terrorism and psychological warfare, lies to his allies, and ultimately becomes the tyrant he fought.
Additionally, from the state-controlled news broadcasts and public sentiment manipulation to stripping citizens of identity and rights, it screams the word politics, and that also in the darkest of ways. The entire narrative began with the fact that a Western superpower had colonized Japan; I rest my case.
5. Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist | Credits: Studio Bones Inc.
The classic Fullmetal Alchemist series by Studio Bones tells the story of two brothers with an unbreakable bond, who go to great lengths for each other. But there were some political implications in this series as well, and the word ‘some’ is used very lightly here.
While the nation of Amestris looks like a standard militarized European nation on the surface, it is more of a military dictatorship engaged in territorial expansion with an alchemy-based system fueled by human lives. And then there’s the Ishvalan Genocide, which was not at all subtly presented and pictured racism and dehumanization vividly.
6. Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass | Credits: Production I.G
Production I.G.’s Psycho-Pass from 2012 is just a huge compilation of political agendas bound to take it too far here and there, and often it did. The entire base government system of the series had a huge discriminative flaw- it turns people with trauma or “bad minds” into tools of the state, while giving the elites clean hands.
Furthermore, citizens’ lives are dictated by a massive AI-governed score system that predicts their potential to commit a crime after measuring their mental state. While there is no human being to decide someone’s fate, the system is so flawed that it decides whether they are fit to work, live free, or be eliminated.
TITLEAttack on TitanOne PieceNarutoCode GeassFullmetal AlchemistPsycho-PassSTUDIOMAPPAToei AnimationPierrotSunriseBones Inc.Production I.GRELEASE DATEApril 7, 2013October 20, 1999October 3, 2002October 6, 2006October 4, 2003October 12, 2012IMDb RATING9.1/109/108.4/108.7/108.5/108.1/10MAL RATING8.57/108.73/108.02/108.71/108.11/108.33/10
What are your thoughts on our list of anime series that took it too far with accidental political angles? Let us know your opinions in the comments below.
All the anime titles mentioned in this list are available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
