Mzansi Jump: Anime’s influence in South Africa [Part 1]

Mzansi Jump Series: Part 1 from GrayMonstr 

It’s been a long, busy day. You’ve just arrived home from work or school and all you want to do is relax, unwind a bit from the day. You turn on your television, your PC, whatever device you’re on and see the greatest joy a weeb could have. A new episode of your favourite anime has dropped. This would be a scene that I believe many South Africans would remember, young and old. One of many examples of how Anime has ultimately influenced our livelihood. But has anyone asked, how much of it has it actually influenced?

Anime and Manga have been around for Decades, but it only truly started getting a hold of South Africans in the 1990s. 5 PM sharp, to this day, has been a time when you’d want to sit down with your after school/work snack with SABC 2. As this was the time when your TV screen became a magical portal where many got introduced to iconic anime, such as Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, DBZ, Pokemon, Beyblade, and Digimon. This alongside K-TV, airing Hamtaro, 2003’s Astro Boy (this was a personal favourite of mine), Yu-Gi-Oh, Yokai Watch, Zatch Belll, Speed Racer, Doraemon, and many more beloved classics, the growth of anime and its need in South Africa became more prominent with both Millennials and early Gen Z.

Only to be cemented with the rise of the internet, as Streaming services became more readily available to South Africa, there came Crunchyroll, Funimations (before its merger), and Netflix leading the charge. With a whole new world at our fingertips, Anime and Manga became more than just a late afternoon watch but the inspiration to people’s livelihoods. Out of the woodworks, incredible artists like Bill Masuku (creator of Tokoloshe Hunters) and Awali (creator of Siri Watu) come along, who now pioneer the Afro-Manga industry in South Africa.

But anime isn’t limited to just afro-manga, you can find it flowing through the streets of many South African cities. From street art like the works of Titan aka the Digital Canvas, and Yolo aka Zayl Arts to the very Fashion we all wear. Especially in the clothes being worn by the masses, many anime inspired clothing is made locally because of the difficulties of getting official merchandise into the country. Clothes that are designed by the locals that love Otaku culture, notably shown at SugoiiXApparel.

Communities are formed by the culture, creating bonds in places of learning. Such as Genshiken at the University of Cape Town, often hosting anime watch along nights and events. Events that have grown huge over the last few years with the rise of Comic Con Africa, to Anime Quiz Nights hosted from the skyline of Johannesburg to the Golden shores of Durban.

So… whether you’re at your local bookshop or just scrolling through a streaming service at home, you’ll find the likes of anime and manga popping up. Give that new Shounen a watch, maybe read that new volume of a Shoujo. Embrace the medium that has made South African Geek culture what it is today.

Find more at www.sugoiixapparel.com or at sugoii.xapparel on Instagram & Threads.