Hello, fellow anime fans! In November, everyone is thinking about Thanksgiving, friends, and holiday stress. This month, we’re embracing the concepts of family and togetherness with (*insert dramatic drumroll here*) the mafia! Okay, not exactly the mafia itself, but some anime and manga that have bits and elements of the mafia and yakuza in them.
Gangsta (volume 1 available here) is a manga about two men who call themselves the “Handymen” that take care of the dirty deeds no one else wants. The story is carried by characters with traumatic and painful backstories that leave them broken yet functional in a world of gangs, mafia families, and people with enhanced abilities. The duo finds themselves in the thick of all the conflicts they can handle (or, rather, all the conflicts that can afford them). Violent and resilient, elements and characters of this story combine to show a different way to think of friends, family, and love. It’s a solid concept that I thought was executed in a unique and entertaining way. (It’s also way more serious and mature than Knight Hunters, so it’s good to have a balance!)
Up next, we have an anime film Tokyo Godfathers which was released in 2003. Plot twist: These aren’t the Italian American mob “godfathers” you might be thinking of. This movie might be a nice bridge into the holiday season, as it takes place during Christmas. An unlikely homeless trio of a runaway teenager, an alcoholic man, and a transgender woman happen upon an abandoned infant in the trash on Christmas Eve. Accompanying the infant is a note pleading to take care of the child, as well as hints that might lead to the child’s parents. The three argue about what to do with the baby before ultimately deciding to try and reunite the infant with its parents. It’s a beautiful story that sheds sympathetic and understanding light on not only unhoused individuals but interpersonal relationships with family as well.
Gobble, gobble, friends! Take care of yourselves and each other!
-Bryn
