(no subject)

[yagathai]

So I remember the brou-ha-ha that erupted the last time that I implied that the live-action whitewash of obviously Asian animated characters was questionable ethically, morally and artistically (specifically, the mega-blockbuster Oscar-winning epic critically panned, turgid piece of shit box-office flop by M. Night Shyamalan, Avatar: The Last Airbender). Because of what went down last time I was initially reluctant to talk about this, but then I remembered that, like the honey badger, I don't give a shit. Also like the honey badger, I kill cobras with my teeth -- but that's neither here nor there.

This time Hollywood is whitewashing Akira, which is extra-stupid because Akira is a fundamentally Japanese anime that is, at its core, an exploration of the psychology and consumerization of postwar Japan.

Here is the shortlist of actors being considered for the roles of the two leads, Tetsuo and Kaneda:



I'm going to say this again. These are the actors being considered for the role of Neo-Tokyo residents Tetsuo Shima and Shotaro Kaneda, the protagonists of a cyberpunk parable about the conflicted identity of Americanized postwar Japan.

George Takei is far more eloquent than I am about this topic, both on his twitter and in various interviews around the web. Me, I'm just going to tell you to look at that picture above, and then watch Akira, and then draw your own conclusions. Unless they're stupid, in which case don't do that and just take it on faith that, just like last time, this is ethically, morally and artistically bankrupt.

Comments

Re: WTF.

[thealiwoman.livejournal.com]

I know he's Korean, but let's call a spade a spade and admit that the majority of the American (Western) viewing audience won't know the difference. People still confuse Chinese and Japanese culture all the time; Korea still doesn't rate as anything more than China's Carribbean in the eyes of the American public.

Hollywood has made major bank on Asian actors in the past (Jackie Chan and Jet Li, as referenced before). They would be lying through their teeth to say it wouldn't be a lucrative casting choice.

And, John Cho is free to create love-children with me at anytime. Just saying.

Re: WTF.

[addienfaemne.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was referring to Rain as being Korean - but yes, Cho is too... why are the bankable actors currently Korean? Perhaps it's hallyu - the Korean wave.