Yakitate Ep. 22 & The Power of the Afro.
Well, there was really nothing to report so much with this episode. Pretty much just setting the stage for the start of the finals. So instead I’m going to provide screen caps and rant about a very serious and devastated topic in the anime world today…
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As you can see in the screen caps, it seems like we’re about to see a lot more afros in this series future very soon. However, this isn’t really to much of a surprise. After all, anime and the afro has have quite a long history together. What? Don’t believe me? See for yourself!
Mr. Satan from Dragonball
Nabeshin from Excel Saga
Michael Hanagata from Wandaba Style
Bo-bobo from Bo-bobo
Store Manager from Yakitate
(if anyone can think of any others, let me know!)
As you can see, that’s quite a timeline of puffy hair. But I think that we can all owe it to Nabeshin, the pioneer of the ‘fro in anime. Just what does the afro offer to these anime heroes?
- Provides storage to hide objects such as weapons for a sneak attack.
- Big hair takes the attention away from the big eyes.
- Makes you look taller and therefore more threatening
- Tickles your opponent if they get too close
- Will make people mistake you for Shaft, and nobody f****s with Shaft!
- Practically a helmet because of its cushioning
- If you wake up and forget to fix your hair, no one will notice!
We are in the afro renaissance, my friends. And the best is yet to come. Spike TV has announced a joint project with Gonzo to adapt Takashi Okazaki’s manga Afro Samurai. And who do they have lined up for the lead role? Samuel Jackson.
Samuel
“Muthafucking”
Jackson!
Damn, son. Samuel Jackson playing an afro-wearing anime samurai… I think my dreams have finally come true. If someone were to ask, “Hey Scott, if you had a chance to make the perfect anime, what would it be?” I would have to say, “Well, how about a series where Samuel Jackson plays an afro wearing badass samurai? Oh, and add some cute girls too for him to accidentally walk in on at the hot springs.” Well, I guess I can’t get everything, but this is still pretty damn cool.
Prepare yourselves… the afro is taking over. And I have a feeling that we will all be conquered by its big, hairy glory.
Afro-kun from Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san.
Comment by hayama — May 6, 2005 @ 5:43 am
That’s cool and disturbing at the same time. Hey, he has had experience with the noble warrior role as a Jedi. A samurai is… similar? XD
Comment by Token Asian — May 6, 2005 @ 5:52 am
Luffy wears an afro in the Davy Back Fight arc.
Comment by rixot — May 6, 2005 @ 2:24 pm
Smauel L. Jackson! It’s my beer! It’ll get you drunk!.. ohh also.. This rocks.
Comment by Brad — May 6, 2005 @ 2:45 pm
Seen Cromartie High yet? I forget the guy’s name, but he pops up in about the fourth or fifth (or third; somewhere around there!) episode (not sure about the manga).
Comment by DJ — May 6, 2005 @ 9:09 pm
That is, he’s got a *monster* afro. (forgot that part, heh-heh…) *sweatdrop*
Comment by DJ — May 6, 2005 @ 9:10 pm
You forgot to mention the first anime charactor we ever saw rock the afro: Abdul Hakim from the second episode of Cowboy Bebop.
Abdul Hakim is based on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who played the role of “Hakim” in Bruce Lee’s final movie the Game of Death.
Comment by Gary — May 8, 2005 @ 10:23 pm
Keroro from Keroro Gunsou when he appears with his friends in the ending song (I know he is an animal but he counts). The show also refers a lot to a singer called “Dance Man” who is also a frog with an Afro. Actually, I think Keroro tries to imitate Dance Man in the ending song.
Comment by Mohammad — July 9, 2005 @ 12:01 pm
In One Peice the main chara ter puts on a fake afro for boxing match. Quote from the episode:
“Does the champion make the afro, or does the afro make the champion? Science has yet to uncover the truth.”
Comment by Dat duderino — March 18, 2007 @ 5:07 am