Contrary to popular belief, there are many anime has social commentary around. Media products almost always reflect society in some form, as they are expressed through the views of their creators as well as the interests and needs of their audiences. However, anime as a medium often seems to prioritize idealistic viewpoints and fantastical escapism, with very few shows making the effort to discuss real issues, which is what makes anime with its commentary Society becomes much more interesting.
Social commentary can take many different forms, from subtle to obvious. At times, the main purpose of the title seems to be the idea of bringing up and discussing topics that are relevant to modern politics, albeit with fantastical or supernatural twists. Other times, this comment goes largely unnoticed, playing a lesser role in the story but still just as important.
10 Kino’s Journey
Kino’s Journey follows Kino, who, along with his talking motorbike Hermes, travels across different countries, always only acting as an observer. Although young, Kino is mature and never lets his emotions control him; she remains neutral and doesn’t try to change anyone, no matter how absurd she finds their lives. The places they visit are very different and so are the people they meet. As if highlighting and discussing humanity’s various issues and ideas, each place has its specific customs and cultures, and all offer great opportunities to learn.
9 Penguins
Penguindrum has a reputation as one of the most experimental and free-form shows in media, and rightly so. The story is about the Takakura family consisting of two twin brothers and a sick sister. After nearly dying from illness, Himari’s death was somehow prevented by her penguin hat, and a new entity began controlling her body, asking the boys to search for “ “Penguin Drum” mysteriously in exchange for keeping their sister alive. Strange storytelling and unusual symbolism combine to create a story whose meaning and themes are largely up to interpretation but always impact the viewer all the same.
The final tour of the 8 girls
Girls’ Last Tour revolves around two girls Chito and Yuuri, the last survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. With civilization dead and their world empty, it would make sense for them to have a hopeless outlook on life, but that’s not the case. So this seemingly depressing title is in fact an iyashikei (slice of life). Even though they sometimes feel lonely and wander aimlessly on their Kettenkrad motorbikes, the girls never give up or fall into despair. Instead, they focus on surviving each day, curiously exploring the ruins around them and finding excitement in each new thing they learn, remaining optimistic even in the bleakest of situations.
7 Individual taxis
Although ostensibly presented as a title about anthropomorphic animals connected to the case of a missing girl, Odd Taxi proves to be much more than that. The story follows Hiroshi Odokawa, a walrus taxi driver who gets into more trouble than he expected. However, while the mystery is explored in the background, the film also greatly describes and develops the characters, as everyone Hiroshi interacts with is engaging and realistic. From those suffering from mental health issues, to those struggling with addiction or an unhealthy obsession with social media, a variety of issues are expertly presented.
6 Gatchaman mobs
The events of Gatchaman Crowd take place in Tachikawa City, where heroes known as Gatchaman fight against dangerous aliens called MESS, using the power of NOTE, reinforced suits especially help enhance their abilities. Gatchaman’s recent recruit is Hajime Ichinose, an energetic girl who is perhaps not fully prepared for the power and responsibility associated with her role. Instead of being presented as perfect heroes, Gatchaman are realistic and honest, and they are not afraid to make mistakes, because the right answer is not always obvious. Furthermore, the show delves into the dangers of mass media and how they can impact public perception.
5 revolutionary girls Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena follows Utena Tenjou, a girl who was once saved by someone she believed to be a prince, who inspired her to become a prince. While it may seem confusing, the truth is that Utena was never bound by social expectations or gender norms and always refused to submit to others. This is how she gets caught up in a series of mysterious duels over the ownership of the Rose Bride Anthy Himemiya, whom she wants to save from disapproval. This highly metaphorical story discusses a variety of themes, from childhood idealism and identity to abuse and adulthood.
4 Welcome to NHK
Tatsuhiro Satou is a NEET with a deep obsession with society and the outside world, who dropped out of college and locked himself in his room, believing in the most obscure conspiracy theories. What seems to affect him the most is the existence of Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (NHK), an evil organization intent on turning Japanese youth into hikikomori. Welcome to NHK, following his journey and efforts to become better, along with Misaki Nakahara, who is also suffering from her own problems. This title openly presents common psychological problems and how they are treated and often ignored by society at large.
3 Aggretsuko
Aggretsuko revolves around the main character Retsuko, an office worker who is often assigned more work than is appropriate and whose main form of stress relief is death metal. Although the characters are anthropomorphic animals, they are more realistic than most human characters. Given the context of the title, it is natural that most of the film’s social commentary and themes relate to the workplace, with all its inherent drama and issues such as balancing work and life, a common problem in Japan. However, the film often goes beyond this, touching on broader issues of modern Japanese society and especially youth, such as mental health and the pressure to settle down.
2 planets
While most other Sci-Fi anime shows would focus on the wonders of space travel and discovering new planets, Planetes is completely different. Here, the fact that humans travel between Earth and the Moon every day is a dull reality. The story follows the lives of Technora Corporation’s Debris Division, where members are assigned the important but underrated task of clearing space debris that can cause significant damage to ships and device. Throughout its run, the story also covers various topics such as the relationship between countries at different levels of development, perspectives on ecology, and the problems of hierarchical corporations. step.
1 monster
The events of Beastars take place in a world of anthropomorphic animals; although all the animals seem to be able to live together in peace and harmony, there are actually many more. tension between carnivores and herbivores. Furthermore, this conflict only gets worse at Cherryton Academy, after an alpaca dies from a predator. While the characters themselves may not be human, they make for a wonderful allegory about dark themes like discrimination and racism. Other themes are also addressed, such as how society may view sexuality and how instincts may interfere with desire.
As evidenced by the entries on this list, one thing that seems especially surprising about these shows is how they are often characterized by their Science Fiction or unrealistic settings, despite their efforts discusses real and honest issues plaguing modern society. From micro-level issues like work-life balance, identity and mental health, to macro-level issues like discrimination and geopolitics, no topic is too controversial to be mentioned. So, anime has social commentary stands out through its efforts to create a clear positive impact.