From the themes of immigration, the actual use of Spanish, the music itself in the series, feels like it’s referencing Latin America, especially Chief, Marla and the whole Casa group
I still find it insane how underrated this series is. They way it navigates themes of immigration and the effects it has on minorities is so mature and complex, you rarely see it handled with such care. I will forever love this serie and always recommend it to anyone interested in anime.
SPOILERS i really love how joe loses the last fight, for real. it really nails down the point that joe is practicing boxing as a sport instead of a as horrible coping mechanism. which i think is beautiful
They can be both black and Mexican. This video acknowledges them as afro-latinos, which I'll say is adequate. Ignacio Martinez, Mio and Marla (Mio's mom) all have black features (dark skin tone, coily hair, wide noses and locs), so I think it's very reasonable to read them as black. I get the conflict though, I'm Mexican (born and currently living in Mexico) and we tend to think of race a whole lot different than people do in the US, we've been told for the past 200 years or so that all of us Mexicans are mixed race or "mestizos", but this attempt at homogenization didn't really work to destroy racial biases and make us all think of each other as "equals", to this day you'll still see people side-eyeing you if your skin is too dark, tell you you should date a white or lighter skinned person to "better the race" or they'll say "tienes el nopal en la cara" to say you have indigenous features, more often than not in a demeaning way. But I'm getting side-tracked. Point is, people who in other parts of the world would be thought of and called black do exist in Mexico, and even if us Mexicans may or may not explicitly refer to them as black, and they probably share experiences of racism with black people abroad. In the show, they for sure do experience racism, even if I do think their identities as immigrants in this video warranted more attention.
@@taquito865 I just don’t think they look half black. I’ve seen black Latinos and they don’t look like character like Joe. That’s just me. To me he looks full Hispanic
This video made me realize why I was so touched by the characters' healing journey. Seeing this part of the black experience visualized so beautifully in an anime makes me really happy, since it's so rare in that medium specifically. Awesome video!
it's really cool to see the perspective of this story through a different lens cause I always saw this as just trying to find yourself after the person you once were can no longer survive I love this analysis!
dude, i haven’t even seen this show and u got me invested. you have a great personality and great writing and speaking skills, i can see why fd is lifting u up. keep it up, easy sub
I Think Mac is from the either the Philippines, Cambodia, or Laos. Same with Mugen. This makes sense since the more fair skin characters are Japanese, Yuri and Liu. And there is quite a lot of history of oppression between those groups.
The world of Megalo Box has some really great, unanswered lore especially with the sequel. Japan became heavily heterogenized where English is a major language (to the point where it's used as much, if not more than Japanese). You could say it's because of globalization, but there's a distinct "Americanness" to this world's Japan, where the border town we were shown was culturally Mexican. Our world mostly has immigrant Brazilians in Japan, but here, they're distinctly Mexican. Maybe in this world, the Philippines has a deeper Spanish-Mexican culture. I wish they talked more about the world in a historical sense. We know how their world looks in the moment, but I wish someone made a video breaking down the show's alt-historyness.
Dude holy crap I never put the 2 and 2 together this was one of my favorite anime’s of all time but I always thought about the show as a guy struggling against all the odds to overcome and succeed I never thought about the aspect of race in it and undertones of the characters actions. Thank you for this video I’m gonna go rewatch it again.
You didn't see it because it isn't there. The only time race affected the story is the Chief arc which is 4 episodes long. All the other meanings this video claims there are is wishful thinking at best.
I loved part 2 a lot right up until about half way through the final episode. The first half of part 2 is some of the best shit I’ve seen in recent years. Still very much loved both seasons of this and man the second season, watching him beat his demons back. Nice video.
I remember seeing the Netflix trailer for this over a year ago then forgetting the title, only for FD Signifier to give you a shout-out in his latest video and find you did a video about this 2 months ago. This video was very well done, I appreciate it and subbed!
I didn't know there was a season 2 of this, I feel watching this video was more impactful than watching the 2nd season would have been though so thank you. Ps victory the creator brought me here
Classic example of stolen Identity crisis. Characters don’t have to be black for you to relate. With that being said they don’t even look close to being black
I'm so happy to see someone talking about Nomad! It's one of my favorite anime and there's so much love in how they write blackness and love and grief and healing. Thank you!
Not black, mexican. They even acknowledge Día de Muertos which is a mexican holiday. This man wants to appropriate our fucking holiday LOL what a tool.
This is a good video and i dont usually do this but as a latino man who sees so little representation of latinos in pop culture - please dont take that away in this. They are not black. They look hispanic, they speak and sing in spanish, they celebrate a mexican holiday, they are treated poorly for being immigrants, and even the titles of each episode are in spanish. They are inspire by latinos not black. Like i said i feel latinos get very little representation so please dont take it from us when we do
good video, tho i think the emphasis on the black part wasn't necessary. I get that it's pretty common to suppress emotion in the black community, but that also extends to other cultures. And specifically for Megalo Box, the undertones are more Latin. Joe is also implied (if i remember correctly) to be at least half latin. Tho his hair ofc kinda implies an afro. Still, in this particular case, it wasn't necessary to put so much emphasis on the black part. The struggle of finding a home as an outside, whether literally, or because you cut ties, is relatable universally
This might be a bit of a stretch but I find the first part of Nomad with chief to be a far more compelling story then the entire first season of Megalobox.
Do you remember a Mexican Megaloboxer in season 1 by the name of Pepe Iglesias a.k.a The Spider?! Looked just like The Immigrant's from season Wouldn't you say? Also a Huge Give away is the Fact that they Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos a Big Mexican Holiday. It makes sense like Ashita no Joe Had Jose Medosa And Carlos Rivera! Hajime no ippo has Ricardo Martinez Megalobox has Chief a.k.a Ignacio Martinez Who were all Mexican Boxers. I think the Only Black Character i saw was Macs Old Partner Cop.
3mins in I'm sorry i can't watch this video. Talking about race and all those things just turns me off. Like native Americans and indians have zero representation in any media but i still watch all this without complaining, demanding off representation nore i get excited seeing a brown character. I see them as them without the skin colour and with a culture that those characters brings. They created an amazing story with very deep backstory having charectors that i just found this anime amazing. They didn't represent black or dark skin charectars they represent amazing charectars THAT happens to be dark skin that's it. Tomorrow I'm going to watch miles Spiderman movie not because they have a indian spiderman in it. i'm going because i love that movie's story. I'm saying don't see colour my friend in future if you see a black character as a bad guy you will complain of racism and bad representation. And this will stay with you for rest of your life you will judge the show of how progressive and diverse it is than watching the show. Rather then saying or seeing all the colours jist enjoyed the show. I see myself in creed,joe and goku none of those are Indian bit i still look up to those characters if i be like you i would have complaint my entire life for a indian brown representation in anime,movies,tv show man. I hope i made my point across. If not it's okey have a good day sir.
Could you at least watch the whole video before you make long ass comments on my videos ? Do you want a prize for not seeking representation in the media? If mass media is a reflection of our society, I would expect to see people of all races, ethnicities and beliefs everywhere. But that’s not the reality, so excuse me for enjoying and being able to identify with a great anime.
@@HiroZephyrrbeing able to identify with an anime and more so a story doesn’t hinge on the ethnicities or race of the characters. On top of that season 2 is clearly about Hispanic immigrants. I don’t know why it’s necessary for a story to show people that look like you for it to resonate with you. It’s crazy you sit here and pretend that this season is even remotely about black people.
Why you refered the characters as blacks when clearly they all all latin americans? Looks you are just forcing a narrative when actually the show deal with latin american problens
Good video and anime, but one big thing, you need to learn to differenciate latinos and black people, dude. 2:16 This was like calling koreans "chinese". "Oh, your skin looks darker than white or pink, you clearly are black"
They weren't black. They're mexican that's just how anime depicts them they have to exaggerated some features (think of Chad from bleach) I know you wanna include black culture here but nothing implies that in this anime, from him being undocumed to using boxing as his way of making it in the new country. Boxing has always been a coveted and cultural relevant sport in mexico. Chiefs name was literally Ignacio Martinez I never met a black person with a name like that. The collibri folklore, the song, the immigrant settlement. This was Japan's loveletter to Boxeo Mexicano. Which makes sense cause Japan loves mexico
Some of them are Afro Latino, but you’re taking away half their identity and culture, they are Latino. A black person in America and a black person in Cuba or Dr are different culturally.
Bro I hate these types of arguments but like seriously not every tanned/dark skinned character is black, I’m saying this as a dark skinned Mexican. Joe is not black, he’s just tan with wavy hair…
Bruh, do you just not think there are Black people who look just like Joe? My interpretation is based on literally knowing people with the same characteristics in real life, but just so happen to also be apart of a separate community. It shouldn’t be an issue to say some of the experiences he goes through are directly tied to his race, class, etc.
@@HiroZephyrr would you consider someone with thick wavy hair to be black? Because joes characteristics are exactly like mine. And by that logic then I guess I’m also black
@@Hiro_the_fighter I’m not just considering his hair or his skin tone, racializing a fictional character encompasses a lot more phenotypic traits. There being Black people that *look* like this doesn’t make *every* non-Black person that also looks like this, Black by default. Some folk look a way while also belonging to a separate identity. And Blackness encompasses way more identities than you’re giving it credit for
![I REALLY love Nomad: Megalo Box 2 (and you will too) [Nomad Megalo Box Review Video Essay]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/auD-SXJgXeQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![I REALLY love Nomad: Megalo Box 2 (and you will too) [Nomad Megalo Box Review Video Essay]](/img/tr.png)
![The Boys: Ideology as Identity [ft. @lilbilliam]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2kL1KKCyqd4/mqdefault.jpg)
From the themes of immigration, the actual use of Spanish, the music itself in the series, feels like it’s referencing Latin America, especially Chief, Marla and the whole Casa group
You'd be correct. It does reference mexican culture.
I still find it insane how underrated this series is. They way it navigates themes of immigration and the effects it has on minorities is so mature and complex, you rarely see it handled with such care. I will forever love this serie and always recommend it to anyone interested in anime.
SPOILERS
i really love how joe loses the last fight, for real. it really nails down the point that joe is practicing boxing as a sport instead of a as horrible coping mechanism. which i think is beautiful
Late reply but it was also a really nice subversion of the original ending to Ashita no Joe
This was super dope man! Keep it coming
The immigrants are not black but Latino. They even celebrate Dia de los Muetos or Day of the Dead; which is a cultural holiday in Mexico.
Was just about to say, they don’t look black.
They can be both black and Mexican. This video acknowledges them as afro-latinos, which I'll say is adequate. Ignacio Martinez, Mio and Marla (Mio's mom) all have black features (dark skin tone, coily hair, wide noses and locs), so I think it's very reasonable to read them as black. I get the conflict though, I'm Mexican (born and currently living in Mexico) and we tend to think of race a whole lot different than people do in the US, we've been told for the past 200 years or so that all of us Mexicans are mixed race or "mestizos", but this attempt at homogenization didn't really work to destroy racial biases and make us all think of each other as "equals", to this day you'll still see people side-eyeing you if your skin is too dark, tell you you should date a white or lighter skinned person to "better the race" or they'll say "tienes el nopal en la cara" to say you have indigenous features, more often than not in a demeaning way. But I'm getting side-tracked. Point is, people who in other parts of the world would be thought of and called black do exist in Mexico, and even if us Mexicans may or may not explicitly refer to them as black, and they probably share experiences of racism with black people abroad. In the show, they for sure do experience racism, even if I do think their identities as immigrants in this video warranted more attention.
honestly this reminds me of the whole mexican immigrants being unwelcome in the US a few decades ago, kinda wild how people miss the background lol
@@taquito865 I just don’t think they look half black. I’ve seen black Latinos and they don’t look like character like Joe. That’s just me. To me he looks full Hispanic
@@MysteriousPerson1991ts prolly the hair it looks mixed like a mixed mix james brown type shit
Lawd this intro was a trip 😮💨 its criminal that this the first time I'm seeing ya work fam
Yooo Foreign, glad you vibed with it brudda!
This video made me realize why I was so touched by the characters' healing journey. Seeing this part of the black experience visualized so beautifully in an anime makes me really happy, since it's so rare in that medium specifically.
Awesome video!
Absolutely beautiful! Always glad to see more people who appreciate the touching grace of the Megalobox series
I haven’t even watched this anime but I nearly cried when you said Chief died 😭
It's so rad, victory, you gotta check it out! It's got a good story and great animation. Definitely one of the top sports anime of the last few years
I've been waiting to see someone talk about Nomad. Such a great season and anime.
The music and style alone make Nomad a goated show
it's really cool to see the perspective of this story through a different lens cause I always saw this as just trying to find yourself after the person you once were can no longer survive
I love this analysis!
2:57-3:18 is top tier. The withholding and releasing is pro level.
dude, i haven’t even seen this show and u got me invested. you have a great personality and great writing and speaking skills, i can see why fd is lifting u up. keep it up, easy sub
I Think Mac is from the either the Philippines, Cambodia, or Laos. Same with Mugen. This makes sense since the more fair skin characters are Japanese, Yuri and Liu. And there is quite a lot of history of oppression between those groups.
The world of Megalo Box has some really great, unanswered lore especially with the sequel. Japan became heavily heterogenized where English is a major language (to the point where it's used as much, if not more than Japanese). You could say it's because of globalization, but there's a distinct "Americanness" to this world's Japan, where the border town we were shown was culturally Mexican. Our world mostly has immigrant Brazilians in Japan, but here, they're distinctly Mexican. Maybe in this world, the Philippines has a deeper Spanish-Mexican culture.
I wish they talked more about the world in a historical sense. We know how their world looks in the moment, but I wish someone made a video breaking down the show's alt-historyness.
Mac is latino. He was very familiar with Joe's habits that he picked from Chief and knew El canto del colibrí's song.
This is still maybe one of the best videos I’ve ever watched on this site. Well done
This is one of my favorite anime ever, I'm glad to see someone explore it deeper.
YOOOOOOOOO THE DENZEL TRANSITION WAS PEAK🔥🔥🔥🔥
C’MON AUDIO QUALITY UPGRADE! I love the background music you used!
You see ittttttt
In the into you describe schema therapy so well
Dude holy crap I never put the 2 and 2 together this was one of my favorite anime’s of all time but I always thought about the show as a guy struggling against all the odds to overcome and succeed I never thought about the aspect of race in it and undertones of the characters actions. Thank you for this video I’m gonna go rewatch it again.
You didn't see it because it isn't there. The only time race affected the story is the Chief arc which is 4 episodes long. All the other meanings this video claims there are is wishful thinking at best.
Your ability to articulate such crazy social concepts is amazing I'm actively learning a lot from this.
I loved part 2 a lot right up until about half way through the final episode.
The first half of part 2 is some of the best shit I’ve seen in recent years.
Still very much loved both seasons of this and man the second season, watching him beat his demons back.
Nice video.
Megalobox is one of my favorite series ever and I watched Ashita no Joe growing up. Great analysis man, season 2 was perfection.
This actually one of the greatest animes ever in my opinion.
W vid. Gah damn bro I wish Megalo Box was more popular. It actually deserves attention unlike a lot of modern anime nowadays
why the hell are you taking hispanic characters and claiming them as black. if you even watched season 2 you would know this.
Afro Latino look at em
@@mercurymillions5786 Nah, they aren't LOL
I know right? This made me laugh. Yeah, Megalobox was made for young black men.
@@mercurymillions5786 these are mestinos chads not mutts
Yeah apparently Mexicans are suppose to look white 😂
I remember seeing the Netflix trailer for this over a year ago then forgetting the title, only for FD Signifier to give you a shout-out in his latest video and find you did a video about this 2 months ago.
This video was very well done, I appreciate it and subbed!
Most slept on anime and my fav, this anime is very much like Joe, the underdog legend
Great video but major misconeption, they're hispanic
Black people can be Hispanic as well
Megalobox is one of my favorite animes of all time!
I haven't gotten to watch Nomad yet but I'm gonna buy it rn and come back and watch this video after I binge it!
I didn't know there was a season 2 of this, I feel watching this video was more impactful than watching the 2nd season would have been though so thank you.
Ps victory the creator brought me here
If you liked the first season, I still recommend watching Nomad! If not for the OST alone.
Classic example of stolen Identity crisis. Characters don’t have to be black for you to relate. With that being said they don’t even look close to being black
Thank you so much for making so good video, this often!
I'm so happy to see someone talking about Nomad! It's one of my favorite anime and there's so much love in how they write blackness and love and grief and healing. Thank you!
Not black, mexican. They even acknowledge Día de Muertos which is a mexican holiday. This man wants to appropriate our fucking holiday LOL what a tool.
Only 80 views is criminal, this shit is fantastic
this part
As a woman who grew up in Shanghai as an immigrant and outsider and then later immigrated here at the States, I relate to this so well.
This was some good stuff. I had no idea megalobox had a second season, but this was a wonderful breakdown
I watched a third os season 3 and immediately bout the box dvd sets.
Bruh they’re literally on about day of the dead and Mexican culture, hop off lmao
Black people can be Mexican and Hispanic as well
This is a good video and i dont usually do this but as a latino man who sees so little representation of latinos in pop culture - please dont take that away in this. They are not black. They look hispanic, they speak and sing in spanish, they celebrate a mexican holiday, they are treated poorly for being immigrants, and even the titles of each episode are in spanish. They are inspire by latinos not black. Like i said i feel latinos get very little representation so please dont take it from us when we do
It’s always gotta be about them
They literally look black. Holy shit you guys hate the fact that Afro Latinos exist
@@Ahuerta22Some of immigrants have black features. Big lips, wide noses and thick coily hair. Cope
This was anime of the year 2021
Absolutely, this and Ranking of Kings
this was a good video nice job man
This analysis is amazing.
Hype video!
good video, tho i think the emphasis on the black part wasn't necessary. I get that it's pretty common to suppress emotion in the black community, but that also extends to other cultures. And specifically for Megalo Box, the undertones are more Latin. Joe is also implied (if i remember correctly) to be at least half latin. Tho his hair ofc kinda implies an afro. Still, in this particular case, it wasn't necessary to put so much emphasis on the black part. The struggle of finding a home as an outside, whether literally, or because you cut ties, is relatable universally
This might be a bit of a stretch but I find the first part of Nomad with chief to be a far more compelling story then the entire first season of Megalobox.
Nah I 100% agree with you
This was super in depth
Very nice
He got his facts wrong though. It is definitely not about black culture lol.
I love this anime
Great vid!
nice video
I don’t know why I’m a woman and yet have problems with toxic masculinity.
sick, amazing, fantastic ❤️
Do you remember a Mexican Megaloboxer in season 1 by the name of Pepe Iglesias a.k.a The Spider?!
Looked just like The Immigrant's from season Wouldn't you say?
Also a Huge Give away is the Fact that they Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos a Big Mexican Holiday.
It makes sense like Ashita no Joe Had Jose Medosa And Carlos Rivera!
Hajime no ippo has Ricardo Martinez
Megalobox has Chief a.k.a Ignacio Martinez
Who were all Mexican Boxers.
I think the Only Black Character i saw was Macs Old Partner Cop.
They're not black, they're latino (specifically mexican). You can't just appropriate Día de Muertos my dude LOL.
Unbelievably dope👌🏽
MEGALO BOXING
great work
i remember enjoying season one and watching it with the weekly release, season 2 didint have the saem effect on me maybe saw 3 of the episodes
I too wander the slums 😔
3mins in I'm sorry i can't watch this video. Talking about race and all those things just turns me off. Like native Americans and indians have zero representation in any media but i still watch all this without complaining, demanding off representation nore i get excited seeing a brown character. I see them as them without the skin colour and with a culture that those characters brings. They created an amazing story with very deep backstory having charectors that i just found this anime amazing. They didn't represent black or dark skin charectars they represent amazing charectars THAT happens to be dark skin that's it. Tomorrow I'm going to watch miles Spiderman movie not because they have a indian spiderman in it. i'm going because i love that movie's story. I'm saying don't see colour my friend in future if you see a black character as a bad guy you will complain of racism and bad representation. And this will stay with you for rest of your life you will judge the show of how progressive and diverse it is than watching the show. Rather then saying or seeing all the colours jist enjoyed the show. I see myself in creed,joe and goku none of those are Indian bit i still look up to those characters if i be like you i would have complaint my entire life for a indian brown representation in anime,movies,tv show man. I hope i made my point across. If not it's okey have a good day sir.
Could you at least watch the whole video before you make long ass comments on my videos ? Do you want a prize for not seeking representation in the media? If mass media is a reflection of our society, I would expect to see people of all races, ethnicities and beliefs everywhere. But that’s not the reality, so excuse me for enjoying and being able to identify with a great anime.
@@HiroZephyrrbeing able to identify with an anime and more so a story doesn’t hinge on the ethnicities or race of the characters. On top of that season 2 is clearly about Hispanic immigrants. I don’t know why it’s necessary for a story to show people that look like you for it to resonate with you. It’s crazy you sit here and pretend that this season is even remotely about black people.
Joe isn't black ::D
Coded
@@theelectricant98 dude is literally a Mexican man lmao
The show literally has shots of dia de los muertos
@@mellamojeff458 Right?
I don't think the creator of this vid thinks the characters are black. He was fomulating thoughts through that lens of masculinity and Blackness.
BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So what you're saying is... misjudged the series when I dropped it after the 2nd episode? :x
Absolutely 🥸
Great interpretation. Joe isn’t black though.
Joe comes off, Hispanic
Uhhh am I stupid or is Joe not black?
Why you refered the characters as blacks when clearly they all all latin americans? Looks you are just forcing a narrative when actually the show deal with latin american problens
Good video and anime, but one big thing, you need to learn to differenciate latinos and black people, dude.
2:16 This was like calling koreans "chinese".
"Oh, your skin looks darker than white or pink, you clearly are black"
👑
Why is this about race? And mac isnt black.
They weren't black. They're mexican that's just how anime depicts them they have to exaggerated some features (think of Chad from bleach) I know you wanna include black culture here but nothing implies that in this anime, from him being undocumed to using boxing as his way of making it in the new country. Boxing has always been a coveted and cultural relevant sport in mexico. Chiefs name was literally Ignacio Martinez I never met a black person with a name like that. The collibri folklore, the song, the immigrant settlement. This was Japan's loveletter to Boxeo Mexicano. Which makes sense cause Japan loves mexico
brah, joe isnt black XDD
He is now!
@@HiroZephyrr I know that's right!
@@HiroZephyrr which results a gut punch from his fists lmao
Some of them are Afro Latino, but you’re taking away half their identity and culture, they are Latino. A black person in America and a black person in Cuba or Dr are different culturally.
Joe is black?
He's seemingly low class japanese but the themes are mexican not black. This man is tripping balls LOL.
Bro I hate these types of arguments but like seriously not every tanned/dark skinned character is black, I’m saying this as a dark skinned Mexican.
Joe is not black, he’s just tan with wavy hair…
Bruh, do you just not think there are Black people who look just like Joe? My interpretation is based on literally knowing people with the same characteristics in real life, but just so happen to also be apart of a separate community. It shouldn’t be an issue to say some of the experiences he goes through are directly tied to his race, class, etc.
@@HiroZephyrr would you consider someone with thick wavy hair to be black? Because joes characteristics are exactly like mine.
And by that logic then I guess I’m also black
@@Hiro_the_fighter I’m not just considering his hair or his skin tone, racializing a fictional character encompasses a lot more phenotypic traits. There being Black people that *look* like this doesn’t make *every* non-Black person that also looks like this, Black by default. Some folk look a way while also belonging to a separate identity. And Blackness encompasses way more identities than you’re giving it credit for
@@HiroZephyrr I’m curious now, what else does blackness encompass as an identity?
who in this show is black ??? certainly not the immigrants right? cos theyre latin american and theres no way u think joe is black ????
The only person in notice that was black was Mac's cop friend who found him in the truck.