i just saw news about akira and when the host said "A STORY BASED IN MANHATTAN" i damn near had to catch my jaw from hitting my carpet. akira means so much to me growing up as a filipino kid.. all i had was cartoons and music.. akira, ghost in the shell, and gundam! PLEASE! You know when they say "Oh another adaptation Hollywood fucked up"? Well.. this isnt just ANOTHER adaptation. This movie is probably responsible for inspiring a lot of creatives we see today. i watch akira when i make music.
children the people on the screen do look like you they have two arms the have two legs they walk upright and they wear clothes on their body Oh you are saying you need asians on screen to have positive role models well why not just any person that is doing positive things The people of this planet will never climb out of the hole we are in because we identify ourselves with race far too much dont blame Hollywood for your parents wanting you to be on top by picking high end careers like doctors.
@erdnola Is it really THAT wrong of a thing for Asians, Blacks and others to have characters like themselves in the media with Whites too? Why does the media always have to be filled with White heroes and love interests?
@erdnola when I was growing up the only asians on TV and film were Long Duk Dong, and the occasional Vietnamese prostitute. Children identify with what they see in the media. I don't know what race or ethnicity you associate yourself with but Asians are the most underrepresented ethnicity percentage wise in the media. Is it wrong that we should be a part of a feature film that is based on a completely Asian Manga comic?
What I don't get is if they're going to Americanized "Akira" by changing the setting and the race then why keep the Japanese names? why even call it "Akira"? why not change everything?
Yeah there's nothing more American than "Akira", "Tetsuo", and "Kaneda".LOL White boys with Japanese names is just ridiculous especially if the setting is America.
If this video was about the white washing of airbender it would be awesome, but it is kinda disturbing having the kids asking about akira... which while is awesome, doesn't have anything close to rolemodels there O.o
You know what's going to happen? All the Whites are going to be the leads and all the Asians are going to be in the background as props and backdrops for the White leads. White privilege in the media--telling non-Whites they can't play characters that resemble them since forever.
Get the fuck outta here you think a bunch of asian babies speaking in the bastardized slave language of "English" are gonna get the White Zionists who control Holy-Wood to actually give a FUCK ABOUT YOUR ANIME?!
Hahaha you AmeriKKKans make me laugh, lemme guess you voted for Obama too?
Cute!!! I really hope this gets through to Hollywood and gets them to reconsider the effed-up casting ('cause who could deny adorable little kids?) The only mild issue I have is with the obvious fact that "Akira" doesn't mean anything to the younger children, who are just repeating what their parents are telling them to say to appeal to the audience. And while I get that saying things like "Dirty Asian" and "I don't wanna be a crack whore" are used to comedic effect, it's kinda off-putting, too.
But Hollywood just wants this movie to do well, so they hire FAMOUS actors!.... oh wait, but not famous minority actors because only white people can replace Asians, apparently....
So, the film is now called "Bob" and is set in New York? :)
Hollywood cries tears of bitter rage when someone, somewhere else in the world hijacks one of their ideas. How about leaving the **** alone in this case.
Akira is a story of Tokyo, not Toronto or Topeka......
This video is cute but the reality as Asians are so white washed already, that I don't see yall standing together and saying, "let's not see this." Also, as a "group" in the US, yall don't have as much unity. I.E. someone who immigrated from Vietnam has a different background than someone from Japan. But over hera yall are classified as "Asian" but when you see each other you will see someone who is different/not a part of you. I wish yall well of course.
@abret69 Cool, I understand what you're saying. But just a clarification: The "whitewashing" here doesn't refer to cultural assimilation of mainstream American mannerisms, language, etc. The whitewashing refers to the practice of taking Asian characters in movies and turning them into Caucasian characters. (This is different from "yellowface" where Caucasian actors put on makeup and play Asians.
@MrMavin15 Yellowface...never heard that one before. I understood the distinction. My point was, in my experience a significant number of Asians are so happy to be accepted by Whites, and to be assimilated by them is a part of this, that I don't see you all overcoming something like this in the near future. I was using the term "white washed" to define that. SO I purposely used this term differently to express what I have observed.
@abret69 I guess you didn't hear too much about Asians protesting and boycotting The Last Airbender. Asian "unity" exist as much as there is unity with Whites, Latinos, people from the Middle East, etc. respectively. You can find mixtures of different ethnicity in each but there's always going to be groups of people who like to keep their own circle. The other minority groups are not as loud as the Black community, but it doesn't mean they don't try to voice their opinions.
@akatura you are right. I never heard of that. Was there an actual gathering of Asians someplace where yall protested? If so, how many? I guess we will have to agree to disagree. The Latino community is definitely more unified and louder in their complaints. But I think that part of that comes from how strongly you are discriminated against. Blacks and Latinos face harsher discrimination in the US so that might be why we are more vocal/unified.
@abret69 you should read up on the farm workers movement lots of Asians were protesting,Philip Vera Cruz was a well known Filipino organizer who worked with Mexicans and specifically with Cesare Chavez
Adorable, funny video, though this is a serious issue and I hope Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are listening. To be perfectly honest I highly doubt they are going to cast two Asian-American males as the leading roles, it's just not going to happen but I would be satisfied with the Kaneda being asian and Tetsuo being white. As much as I love Akira I would find it difficult to watch another film where we are whitewashed.
Children's programming is actually above and beyond adult programming in regards to both gender equality and racial representation. That trend needs to be pushed into adult movies and tv programming as well. That's why I don't like this video - it's trying to send a message by being funny, but it's not sending the right message - as the comments show.
Akira was hardly a children's movie (though Hollywood might make into one, since they ruin everything good). Good message though, I'd rather see more Asian actors than lawyers. We've got too many lawyers.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Good motive, bad execution. In California, Asian-Americans make up 12% of the population - but 40% of the college students! While Asian-Americans aren't fairly represented in American media, it certainly isn't causing homelessness. Next, you have kids saying their favorite manga is something adult they shouldn't be reading. Lastly - how can Asian-American kids who are so aware of Japanese pop culture "never see themselves" - Japanese TV and Movies aren't full of white people.
@Jaxomy Japanese TV and movies aren't really American TV and movies, are they? Also, you're implying that Asian-Americans don't face poverty or social ills or discrimination like all other groups, too, which itself is problematic considering what the recent Census showed us. As distant as you might think media representation and poverty is, it's telling that people that are dismissed from being faces of media reflects how they're dismissed from other facets of economy and industry.
A recent study in England didn't just break down standardized testing scores by race, but by race and income. The students who did the worst were poor white males. It isn't any one factor that gives advantage or disadvantage, but a combination of race/gender/sexuality/religion/immigration status/accent that all intersect. Poverty is a greater indicator of academic failure then race. And Native Americans can't see themselves in TV if it isn't in America - Asian Americans can.
If the Akira movie is PG-13 than Ill know its not worth watching
BaronUnderbite 2 months ago
i just saw news about akira and when the host said "A STORY BASED IN MANHATTAN" i damn near had to catch my jaw from hitting my carpet. akira means so much to me growing up as a filipino kid.. all i had was cartoons and music.. akira, ghost in the shell, and gundam! PLEASE! You know when they say "Oh another adaptation Hollywood fucked up"? Well.. this isnt just ANOTHER adaptation. This movie is probably responsible for inspiring a lot of creatives we see today. i watch akira when i make music.
stachistoscope 3 months ago
Well if they have affirmative action for colleges I don't see why they can't do the same for movies, especially when the role fits.
fosterslover 4 months ago
@fosterslover if afirmative action was in place in hollywood movies we then would see a rise in asian males in lead roles.
nonconservative 4 months ago
East & South Asian roles are always given to white actors. They even gavce the role of a persian to an american actor.
maju786 9 months ago
children the people on the screen do look like you they have two arms the have two legs they walk upright and they wear clothes on their body Oh you are saying you need asians on screen to have positive role models well why not just any person that is doing positive things The people of this planet will never climb out of the hole we are in because we identify ourselves with race far too much dont blame Hollywood for your parents wanting you to be on top by picking high end careers like doctors.
erdnola 9 months ago
@erdnola Is it really THAT wrong of a thing for Asians, Blacks and others to have characters like themselves in the media with Whites too? Why does the media always have to be filled with White heroes and love interests?
FlamebergeDuster 7 months ago
@erdnola when I was growing up the only asians on TV and film were Long Duk Dong, and the occasional Vietnamese prostitute. Children identify with what they see in the media. I don't know what race or ethnicity you associate yourself with but Asians are the most underrepresented ethnicity percentage wise in the media. Is it wrong that we should be a part of a feature film that is based on a completely Asian Manga comic?
KenzoLeeActor 3 months ago
What I don't get is if they're going to Americanized "Akira" by changing the setting and the race then why keep the Japanese names? why even call it "Akira"? why not change everything?
Yeah there's nothing more American than "Akira", "Tetsuo", and "Kaneda".LOL White boys with Japanese names is just ridiculous especially if the setting is America.
ImWitStupit 9 months ago 3
If this video was about the white washing of airbender it would be awesome, but it is kinda disturbing having the kids asking about akira... which while is awesome, doesn't have anything close to rolemodels there O.o
Romanticideitzcoatl 9 months ago
You know what's going to happen? All the Whites are going to be the leads and all the Asians are going to be in the background as props and backdrops for the White leads. White privilege in the media--telling non-Whites they can't play characters that resemble them since forever.
FlamebergeDuster 10 months ago 2
Get the fuck outta here you think a bunch of asian babies speaking in the bastardized slave language of "English" are gonna get the White Zionists who control Holy-Wood to actually give a FUCK ABOUT YOUR ANIME?!
Hahaha you AmeriKKKans make me laugh, lemme guess you voted for Obama too?
fernandoiscrazy 10 months ago
@Kemet93 Thats what you think, you racist piece of white trash
StreethingX 10 months ago
@StreethingX
no mannnn
im not white
i say all prince charming are white in all movie.
Kemet93 10 months ago
ALLLL prinche charming are white.....
Kemet93 10 months ago
@Kemet93 Well prince charming can get his arm blown off in Akira if they white wash it.
Kamiasade 10 months ago
@Kamiasade
the industry should stop the hate
Kemet93 10 months ago
Cute!!! I really hope this gets through to Hollywood and gets them to reconsider the effed-up casting ('cause who could deny adorable little kids?) The only mild issue I have is with the obvious fact that "Akira" doesn't mean anything to the younger children, who are just repeating what their parents are telling them to say to appeal to the audience. And while I get that saying things like "Dirty Asian" and "I don't wanna be a crack whore" are used to comedic effect, it's kinda off-putting, too.
TwilightTsukasa 10 months ago
But Hollywood just wants this movie to do well, so they hire FAMOUS actors!.... oh wait, but not famous minority actors because only white people can replace Asians, apparently....
ChCheckOutMyMelody 10 months ago
I hate racists!!!!!
dwizzlefilms 10 months ago
So, the film is now called "Bob" and is set in New York? :)
Hollywood cries tears of bitter rage when someone, somewhere else in the world hijacks one of their ideas. How about leaving the **** alone in this case.
Akira is a story of Tokyo, not Toronto or Topeka......
BunrakukenIII 10 months ago
one of these kids actualy looks like Akira!
neelay123 10 months ago
Aww three people dont like the truth when it is told,mostly by children
KiomeTsukashi 10 months ago
The film industry will do a re-make of this video with white children.
elsongs 10 months ago 48
@elsongs That's VERY SAD of them!
mrconfusion87 10 months ago
@elsongs
ahahahahahahaahahahahahahhahahahahhahahaha
Kemet93 10 months ago
This video is cute but the reality as Asians are so white washed already, that I don't see yall standing together and saying, "let's not see this." Also, as a "group" in the US, yall don't have as much unity. I.E. someone who immigrated from Vietnam has a different background than someone from Japan. But over hera yall are classified as "Asian" but when you see each other you will see someone who is different/not a part of you. I wish yall well of course.
abret69 10 months ago
@abret69 Cool, I understand what you're saying. But just a clarification: The "whitewashing" here doesn't refer to cultural assimilation of mainstream American mannerisms, language, etc. The whitewashing refers to the practice of taking Asian characters in movies and turning them into Caucasian characters. (This is different from "yellowface" where Caucasian actors put on makeup and play Asians.
MrMavin15 10 months ago 4
@MrMavin15 Yellowface...never heard that one before. I understood the distinction. My point was, in my experience a significant number of Asians are so happy to be accepted by Whites, and to be assimilated by them is a part of this, that I don't see you all overcoming something like this in the near future. I was using the term "white washed" to define that. SO I purposely used this term differently to express what I have observed.
abret69 10 months ago
@abret69 I guess you didn't hear too much about Asians protesting and boycotting The Last Airbender. Asian "unity" exist as much as there is unity with Whites, Latinos, people from the Middle East, etc. respectively. You can find mixtures of different ethnicity in each but there's always going to be groups of people who like to keep their own circle. The other minority groups are not as loud as the Black community, but it doesn't mean they don't try to voice their opinions.
akatura 10 months ago
@akatura you are right. I never heard of that. Was there an actual gathering of Asians someplace where yall protested? If so, how many? I guess we will have to agree to disagree. The Latino community is definitely more unified and louder in their complaints. But I think that part of that comes from how strongly you are discriminated against. Blacks and Latinos face harsher discrimination in the US so that might be why we are more vocal/unified.
abret69 10 months ago
@abret69 you should read up on the farm workers movement lots of Asians were protesting,Philip Vera Cruz was a well known Filipino organizer who worked with Mexicans and specifically with Cesare Chavez
Nikko1Brown 10 months ago
@Nikko1Brown Thanks. Will do.
abret69 10 months ago
Adorable, funny video, though this is a serious issue and I hope Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are listening. To be perfectly honest I highly doubt they are going to cast two Asian-American males as the leading roles, it's just not going to happen but I would be satisfied with the Kaneda being asian and Tetsuo being white. As much as I love Akira I would find it difficult to watch another film where we are whitewashed.
solidte 10 months ago
Children's programming is actually above and beyond adult programming in regards to both gender equality and racial representation. That trend needs to be pushed into adult movies and tv programming as well. That's why I don't like this video - it's trying to send a message by being funny, but it's not sending the right message - as the comments show.
Jaxomy 10 months ago
looking into mirror smiling: "i hate you!"
they are all cute as buttons!! i hope this melts the cold heart of hollywood. but probs not.
brideonfire 10 months ago
I just really wish Hollywood wouldn't make a live action version of Akira, period.
cloudhidden 10 months ago
Win
foghorn2002 10 months ago
Satire is not for the faint of heart nor the slight of mind. Feel kind of bad for Jaxomy.
profscot 10 months ago
29 likes and one retard!
reelavenue 10 months ago
i love the reaction of the parents. the youngest ones are too amusing.
stellawanj 10 months ago
<3 sooooooooooooooooo cute.. i don't wanna be a lawyer! lolz
gychen 10 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Majority of these kids are "whitewashed." What are they complaining about?
JlNSU 10 months ago
Akira was hardly a children's movie (though Hollywood might make into one, since they ruin everything good). Good message though, I'd rather see more Asian actors than lawyers. We've got too many lawyers.
liarsclub75 10 months ago 15
Whoever dislikes this video is a booger face.
johnminh01 10 months ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Good motive, bad execution. In California, Asian-Americans make up 12% of the population - but 40% of the college students! While Asian-Americans aren't fairly represented in American media, it certainly isn't causing homelessness. Next, you have kids saying their favorite manga is something adult they shouldn't be reading. Lastly - how can Asian-American kids who are so aware of Japanese pop culture "never see themselves" - Japanese TV and Movies aren't full of white people.
Jaxomy 10 months ago
@Jaxomy Dude, you missed the point! It's a comedy channel! It's a comedy video posing as a PSA!
Of COURSE no kid is going to grow up to be homeless because of Akira! Or a crack whore. Of COURSE a 2 year old isn't going to be even AWARE of Akira!
MrMavin15 10 months ago
@Jaxomy Japanese TV and movies aren't really American TV and movies, are they? Also, you're implying that Asian-Americans don't face poverty or social ills or discrimination like all other groups, too, which itself is problematic considering what the recent Census showed us. As distant as you might think media representation and poverty is, it's telling that people that are dismissed from being faces of media reflects how they're dismissed from other facets of economy and industry.
Cyke101 10 months ago
A recent study in England didn't just break down standardized testing scores by race, but by race and income. The students who did the worst were poor white males. It isn't any one factor that gives advantage or disadvantage, but a combination of race/gender/sexuality/religion/immigration status/accent that all intersect. Poverty is a greater indicator of academic failure then race. And Native Americans can't see themselves in TV if it isn't in America - Asian Americans can.
Jaxomy 10 months ago