Introduction
If the political tumult of the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections revealed anything, it’s that digital media and memes are capable of mobilising strong support for a political cause. Since the early days of fringe message boards, like 4chan’s ‘politically incorrect’ (‘/pol/’) community, visual elements from popular online culture have long been present among political memes and messages. Emblematic of this phenomenon is the insertion of anime aesthetics and iconography into extremist propaganda. 4chan, which began as a site for fans of anime and Japanese media (otaku), is infamous for nurturing subcultures of extreme-right political extremists that spew hateful and violent rhetoric. As ‘/pol/’ has grown into a hub of fringe and accelerationist political activity, so too has the use of anime and recognisable anime characters in the dissemination of digital propaganda and memes.
This Insight will explore the extreme right’s use of anime characters and anime-adjacent visual elements and iconography in the sharing of online messaging and digital propaganda. For the purposes of this research, the ‘extreme right’ is defined as a decentralised collective of individuals who subscribe to anti-establishment conservatism rooted in xenophobic, racist, and misogynistic views.
Gamergate, Extreme Conservatism and Tribal Politics
In order to properly understand the tribal fandom that is anime culture, it is important to have a grasp of the Gamergate controversy. A decade ago, calls for greater inclusivity in the gaming industry were met with an onslaught of online backlash, revealing a level of toxic masculinity in the gaming world. Anime’s niche fandom became more apparent after the Gamergate incident because it brought to light the esoteric politics of male-dominated virtual spaces and how an internalised, antisocial tribal mentality pervades online spaces. Gamergate also revealed how the perceived degradation of men in gaming can transfigure attitudes related to the culture of video games, galvanising neoconservative idealism, or an attitude of racial and gender-based homogeneity. The idea that the call for greater inclusivity in the male-dominated games industry suggests a demolition of ethnic or racial existence is reminiscent of white nationalist conspiracy theories like the Great Replacement Theory. As such, the post-Gamergate Internet facilitated the genesis of a political fandom that became immensely popular between 2016-2020, alongside the rise of Donald Trump. Fans of niche subcultures moved to online spaces where they found the influence of liberalism and diversity to be minimal This coincided with the ascendance of fandom around Trump and the new GOP, with forums like 4chan’s ‘/pol/’ proving to be a perfect breeding ground for the extreme-right.
As 4chan evolved from being a platform for anime discussions to a means of right-wing convocation, users began co-opting anime imagery and iconography as a method of ideological camouflage. Many anime storylines in television shows and films represent nationalistic, militaristic or traditional themes, like Attack on Titan, Code Geass and GATE. As such, anime is an indirect hearkening to political philosophy. However, the use of anime as an attachment to political messaging is not exclusive only to anime worlds that are rooted in conservatism or anti-woke ideology. Even anime that is not directly conservative or does not directly include themes of traditionalism or conservative political ideology can be vehicles of extreme right-wing rhetoric. The co-opting of anime by the extreme-right is indicative of a behaviour that seeks to transfuse niche pop culture with fringe political messaging (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Post on X shows the influence of anime-style imagery on the extreme-right.
Otaku ‘Weeb’ Culture
As explained above, the extreme-right is a non-homogenous cohort largely made up of young, disenfranchised males. Many such individuals gravitate towards anime media and otaku culture for its colourful imagery and fantastical storyline. Those who are infatuated with anime and anime characters are commonly referred to as ‘weebs,’ using the world of anime and anime media as a form of social escapism. Attaching oneself to the storyline and characters from an anime television show or series can serve as a form of social legitimation, almost like one is a part of the story. In many anime and anime-adjacent media, female characters are often portrayed as having perfect physical characteristics and are sources of great affection for both their male counterparts and real-world male audiences. Many individuals find female anime characters sexually desirable, but the fact that they do not materially or physically exist means they are just out of reach, and therefore anime-obsessed ‘weebs’ are repeatedly trying to attain social fulfilment.
Online subcultures of anime fans are widespread on social media platforms, innocent and fringe alike, serving as hubs for similar-minded individuals discussing their favourite movies, shows and storylines. In anime-focused message boards, like 4chan’s ‘Anime & Manga’ (‘/a/’) community, users might discuss anime storylines or debate who is the best female protagonist. They might even mention their senpais or waifus, fictional characters from anime media that are the subject of enormous parasocial affection and sexual admiration. This obscure but seemingly innocent anime-related discourse pales in comparison to the dialogue found on /pol/, which is rife with hateful material. Here, anime imagery is used to convey extreme ethno-nationalist rhetoric, mostly pertaining to the state of race relations in the West, the mainstreaming of feminism and the destruction of the white race that the extreme-right believes is enshrined within a globalist agenda. While the range of online anime-inclusive discourse is quite broad, many of these individuals and groups share a strong admiration for anime culture, but more importantly, and by extension, Japanese society and its racial homogeneity. When anime infatuation is combined with obscure political views, extremist ‘weebs’ are chasing both political involvement and social gratification. This culminates in the promotion of an extreme political cause, often nationalist and pro-white in nature.
Perceived Perfection of Japanese Homogeneity and The Fall of Western Society
While it is difficult to pinpoint why exactly the extreme-right is obsessed with anime and Japanese society, it can be linked to how Japan is largely viewed as a ‘perfect’ society by this movement. In other words, the racial homogeneity, social cleanliness, and growing Japanese aversion to foreigners and foreign immigration are perceived as idyllic and desirable by those in the West who subscribe to the conspiratorial view that white people are being intentionally driven out of society. These ideas are contained within the extreme-right’s ecosystem of conspiratorial views, which posit that Western society is increasingly moving toward a point where white people no longer have a place. In short, Japan serves as a source of inspiration for the establishment of a wholly white ethno-state.
Being that anime is a Japanese creation, the socio-political idealism of Japan is blanketed across all anime for the extreme-right. This means that anime iconography, no matter the source, is transfigured to represent a perfect society. The rise of a novel ultra-nationalist extreme-right movement in Japan has compounded this phenomenon. In the belief system of the extreme-right, the demise of society has been galvanised by a perceived expulsion of white people through the broad promotion of multiculturalism. This is largely characterised by the pushing of an agenda rooted in mass immigration into the United States and Europe, and through interracial marriages, homosexuality and transgenderism, and more social and economic policies aimed at equity across various institutions. Conceptually, the call for a white ethno-nationalist state hearkens to growing racial dysphoria in America and Europe. Rioting in the United Kingdom following a heinous stabbing attack in Southport on 27 July 2024 was led by quasi-militia nationalist groups. The riots were Islamophobic in nature, with organised groups on Telegram calling for further violence towards those believed to be taking the place of ethnically white English people – non-British immigrants and ethnic migrants deemed to be Muslim. These accelerationist beliefs are discussed rampantly on ‘/pol/’, where anime is frequently attached to extremist political rhetoric in order to transcend the political correctness of Western society.
Memes and Accelerationist Ethno-Nationalism
Figure 2. Post from X showing Donald Trump with Japanese girls dressed in cosplay and making a typical Japanese picture pose.
As suggested by author Michael Feola in his book The Rage of Replacement, it is a demographic fear that fuels the extreme-right’s ethno-nationalist views. In other words, the fear of racial replacement fosters accelerationism. The use of anime as a visual supplement for these beliefs assists in the contrarian threading together of ordinarily innocuous images with fringe political messaging. This behaviour, prevalent on 4chan and X, builds a sense of belonging and identity indicative of popular internet culture. During the 2016 US presidential election, anime imagery was used to depict Donald Trump as a hero, aligning with the extreme-right’s desire to “meme” their political ideals into the cultural discourse. More recently, in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s second election victory on 5 November, many Japanese online users and influencers expressed massive support for Trump, posting images of him doing traditional Japanese poses and as a military leader in anime style, referring to his friendship with the now-assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Figures 2 and 3). Central to extreme right-wing ideology and as an extension of the now-commonplace conspiracies that have emerged in the wake of the Great Replacement Theory is the belief that an all-powerful Jewish cabal runs the world and is attempting to eradicate the white race. In November 2024, in response to a 4chan post about unemployment, a user posted an anime image of Lara Croft, the main protagonist from the video game series Tomb Raider. The message attached to the image hearkens to both an anti-semitic conspiratorial belief system as well as a growing accelerationist movement, whereby the anti-establishment extreme-right seeks to ‘drain the swamp;’ in other words, to completely uproot the government of the United States and to upheave all corrupt American political institutions through violent and authoritarian means.
Figure 3. Anime rendition of Donald Trump in military uniform.
Figure 4. Screenshot from a 4chan user using an anime rendition of popular video game character Lara Croft to discuss hatred for Trump’s Jewish influence and what is really desired from populism
Recommendations
To address the exploitation of anime by the extreme-right, anime creators and tech companies might consider employing digital watermarking. Using this method might assist in monitoring the spread of repurposed anime content online and give rights-holders more power in identifying the misuse of their intellectual property. Content moderation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) might also provide support in flagging the attachment of anime imagery to extremist discourse, aiding in taking down potentially violent dialogue that may seem unharmful due to anime’s art style. Additionally, adjustments to social media algorithms might reduce the visibility of anime-specific posts that are flagged by AI tools as potentially dangerous or extreme in nature.
Conclusion
For the extreme-right, anime can be a vehicle of socio-political propaganda that befits ethno-nationalist sentiments. The admiration of otaku culture and anime aesthetics is directly interlinked with calls for neo-Nazism, white nationalism and accelerationist ideology, delineating a tapestry of dangerous thought and action. Fringe political movements infuse such rhetoric and imagery into their discourse and propaganda, juxtaposing ordinarily innocent and innocuous iconography against extreme political dialogue.