Ask John: What Recent Action Anime Star Adult Characters?

Question:
I’m a 30 year old guy and I’m pretty much stuck in the past when it comes to anime because I enjoy the more macho type of stuff like Fist of the North Star, Angel Cop, Devilman, Berzerk, Cyber City oedo, GITS and Black Lion to name a few… now I’m more interested in anime in which the art of the characters represent adults rather than child-like which to be honest not my taste at all, so the question is: are there any equivalent modern anime to the aforementioned list in which the characters are all adult looking? a nice list would be appreciated.

Answer:
Anime strictly including adult characters, and even narrowing down that specification further to such anime within the action and adventure genres, have never been especially common. Modern anime is a medium primarily targeted at Japanese children and young adult viewers, so the majority of all anime includes young characters that typical viewers can relate to. Even violent, grim, seemingly adult-oriented anime such as Devilman, Fist of the North Star, Black Lion, and Cowboy Bebop include young characters. And deceiving character designs cause viewers to frequently forget that all of the primary characters in Berserk are teenagers. Furthermore, a number of the recent past’s most intense, dark, exciting, and violent anime have actually been shows that prominently feature teens and young-looking characters. Fairly recent anime including Shigurui, Cannan, Claymore, Ga-rei -Zero-, and Nijuu Mensou no Musume are much more engaging and satisfying shows starring young characters compared to a numer of similar vintage anime starring older and older-looking characters. However, I have no authority or reason to undermine any viewer’s preferences. Whatever characteristics of anime that you enjoy most should determine which anime you watch.

When asked to identify contemporary action anime featuring adult characters, countless otaku will immediately recollect 2007’s Seirei no Moribito and Afro Samurai, so 2007, six years ago, is a perfect starting point. Afro Samurai and its sequel Afro Samurai: Resurrection are widely available very inexpensively. The two miniseries feature entirely adult characters and plenty of grim, bloody, albeit oddly unsatisfying action. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is likewise widely available very affordably. While it does prominently include three child characters, its protagonist is an adult who thinks and acts like an adult. Unlike Afro Samurai, Seirei no Moribito is not especially grim or bloody, but its action is far more compelling and satisfying than Afro Samurai’s.

The 2007 feature film Stranger -Mukoh Hadan- is now not as commonplace in America as it once was due to the demise of Bandai Entertainment, but the film can be called the closest anime has come to a “realistic” non-supernatural version of the fan-favorite samurai action movie Jubei Ninpucho since that film’s 1993 premiere. The comparable 2008 television series Kurozuka could be called Japan’s original reimagining of America’s Highlander film franchise, and can certainly be called superior to the literal 2007 Highlander anime film. The characters of Kurozuka are adults despite a somewhat youngish look.

The 2008 Mnemosyme -Mnemosyme no Musume-tachi- TV miniseries is one of a handful of 2000’s era anime throwbacks to the tone and style of Golden Age excess. The show excludes children characters entirely, which is absolutely justifiable considering the mini-series intense brooding atmosphere and heavy tone of provocative sexuality and grotesque violence.

While Mnemosyme evokes the feel of vintage “adult” anime, a number of recent productions starring adult characters have literally been revivals of vintage anime, among them the 2008 Golgo 13 television series, 2009 Shin Mazinger Shougeki Z-hen television series, and the 2010 Cobra the Animation television series.

The 2008 Blassreiter and 2009 Viper’s Creed television series were both 80’s inspired cyberpunk motorcycle action anime starring exclusively adult characters. Unfortunately, neither series was especially good.

2008’s dark cyberpunk action TV series Ultraviolet: Code 044 was inspired by the visionary but deeply flawed 2006 American live-action cyberpunk movie Ultraviolet, which was itself heavily influence by anime. The “Code 044” television series excludes children characters. Regrettably, it also excludes exciting action, interesting characterization, and involving narrative. But the series is available domestically in an English dubbed version. Madhouse, the studio that animated Ultraviolet: Code 044 along with superior anime including Kurozuka and Jubei Ninpucho, also animated the 2007 Devil May Cry television series based on the Capcom action game franchise. The DMC anime did include supporting children characters, but its lead character and his rivals were adults. In its favor, the Devil May Cry anime is at least slightly more exciting than the Ultraviolet anime.

2010’s Senkou no Night Raid, widely available in America under the title “Night Raid 1931,” was clearly envisioned as a mature, intelligent action/adventure spy anime revolving around young adult characters involved in the political events and conflicts that gave rise to WWII. While the show can be credited for its ambition and willingness to exclude children characters, the show suffered from poorly developed characters and soundly uninteresting narrative development, resulting in a tremendous case of unfulfilled potential.

Madhouse produced the 2010-2011 Marvel Anime quadrilogy that included the Iron-Man, Wolverine, X-Men, and Blade anime television series. All four shows were moderately dark and young adult oriented. X-Men, the best of the four shows, was the only one that included a prominent teenage character. The other three series that strictly included adult cast members were mediocre, at best.

The 2011 superhero satire TV series Tiger & Bunny included young supporting characters but was lead by adult protagonists. Ironically, the show feels more like an American superhero story than any of the four Marvel Anime series do, which may explain why Tiger & Bunny proved more successful among viewers than any of the Marvel Anime series did.

Fate/Zero is the prequel to the better known Fate/stay night, yet ironically the younger prequel anime features an older cast than the older sequel anime that revolved around teenage protagonists. The Fate/Zero series does include two teenage boy characters and a preadolescent Rin Tohsaka, but the remainder of the large primary cast is adults. Fate/Zero is a much more sophisticated narrative than anything from the Golden Era of anime, which creates some of its own, unique contradictions and weaknesses within its story development, but the show also evokes the morose, dark and violent atmosphere of classic Golden Era “adult” anime like Maryuu Senki, Yoju Toshi, Teito Monogatari, and Vampire Hunter D. Thanks to the show’s particularly hefty budget, especially the first half of Fate/Zero includes a number of elaborate and truly impressive action scenes.

Last year’s Jormungand TV series resurrects and arguably even surpasses the hard-boiled mercenary setting of the 2006 Black Lagoon anime. Despite the fact that the show’s two core characters are teens, no characters in the show ever feel like children, and the show’s surrounding cast is exclusively capable adults. Unlike the Black Lagoon anime, which consisted of far more tough talk than tough action, Jormungand actually does illustrate its shoot-first-talk-later attitude with more graphic and intense shootouts than Black Lagoon and “hero” characters that can be and do get killed.