Ask John: Are All Anime Set in Japan?

Question:
I consider myself a hard-core anime fan, but with all the series I’ve seen and completed, none of them take place out of Tokyo! Not that I have anything against that (I mean, it is intended for the citizens of Japan), but it’s been on my mind. And I’m not talking about a character moving from another country such as Asuka moving from Germany in Evangelion. Have you seen an anime series exclusively taking place somewhere outside of Japan?

Answer:
As you’ve said, most anime takes place in Japan and specifically in Tokyo because anime is primarily intended for Japanese viewers, so using familiar settings makes the anime more accessible and believable. Furthermore, it’s easier for Japanese animators to create believable settings and circumstances when they use settings and locations they’re familiar with. However, not all anime is set in Japan. And that international scope is part of what makes anime, as a film genre, unlike any animation created elsewhere in the world. I initially thought I’d be able to come up with a longer list than I was able to, excluding fictional locations, of course, but this short list should still provide a fairly convincing argument.

Although never specifically stated, Riding Bean is presumed to occur in Chicago because Gunsmith Cats occurs in Chicago, Illinois. The Hellsing anime is set entirely in London, England. The action in the Read or Die OAV series occurs in locations across the globe, but is also centered around a home base in England. Noir similarly travels the globe, from France to New York to Greece. The comedy TV series Miami Guns, naturally, occurs in Miami, Florida, albeit an alternate universe Miami that includes mountainous cliffs and a desert. The You’re Under Arrest: No Mercy OAV is also set entirely in Los Angeles, California. The Lupin the 3rd: Alcatraz Connection TV movie occurs entirely in San Francisco, California. While it’s set in the distant past, Like a Cloud Like the Wind is set in historical ancient China. The Samurai Troopers Gaiden OAV series occurs in New York City and the Kikoutei OAV series occurs in Africa. The Kimagure Orange Road Hawaiian Suspense OAV occurs, as you’d guess, in Hawaii. Little Snow Fairy Sugar is set in “Muhlenburg” (probably Muhlenberg) Germany.