Summary
Characters with disabilities have always been present in anime. Many may not be memorable because they’re background characters, but they’ve always existed. In recent years, there have been somegreat anime movieslikeA Silent VoiceandJosee, the Tiger and the Fishthat have put people with disabilities in the spotlight to depict their lives and the struggles they face. It’s great because more and more of these stories are appearing in serialized media.
Luckily, there’s already a diverse collection of anime featuring people with disabilities and the interesting lives they live, including both mundane and fantasy settings. Not only do they provide a perspective most people have never experienced, but they also explore a variety of impairments, both seen and unseen.
In anime, disabilities are usually depicted obviously, mostly as a means of developing a character. InIn/Spectre, Kotoko carries a cane and has an obvious limp. However, most people wouldn’t be able to tell she’s also missing an eye just from her design. When she was young, Kotoko sacrificed those two body parts to become the God of Wisdomfor the youkai, and ever since, she’s been mediating conflicts that arise between them and humanity.
The great thing about this anime is that it’s incredibly casual in its depiction of Kotoko’s physical impairments. They aren’t made into spectacles, and she has no problem removing her prosthesis if they get cumbersome or uncomfortable. When her disabilities do become a hindrance, she has the support of her boyfriend, Kurou, who more than makes up for her lack of physicality.
Living with disability can be hard, especially when there’s trauma that accompanies it. InTaisho Otome Fairy Tale, Tamahiko Shima lost his mother and the use of his right hand in a car accident, and after that, his father sent him away to live in the mountains alone. After months alone, he developed a severe depression that left him devoid of joy and unable to sleep. However, his life begins to turn around when Yuzuki Tachibana appears.
This anime is a very sweet and wholesome romance that delves into the consequences of physical and mental disabilities while also showing the importance ofproper support and care. Despite the situation created for the plot, this story is actually quite innocent and focuses more on the bond between Tamahiko and Yuzuki as they both attempt to heal from their given circumstances.
Chronic illness is pretty common, but it’s rarely given much importance in media unless it’s fatal. When Urano Motosu getsisekai’d into a fantasy world, she suffers from the poor constitution she inherits as Myne. Not only does she deal with frequent fevers, but her physical ability is severely impaired, leaving her incapable of moving for long periods. It takes her a long time to overcome it.
Even though this is an isekai story,Ascendance of a Bookwormis a more mundane story that focuses on daily life. In fact, Myne’s goal after waking up in a new world is to be able to read more books, a goal she’s willing to accomplish even if she must make them herself. This story is enjoyable for many reasons, and Myne’s perseverance in the face of her illness is one of them.
When it comes to school romances,Clannadis one of the most well-known and well-loved in the history of anime. Originally a visual novel, it tells the story of a budding relationship between Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa. Nagisa’s chronic illness is the catalyst for the events in the anime, and although the plot focuses on their school life, it remains the underlying reason for everything that happens.
Aside from Nagisa, there are other characters who are also suffering from some type of impairment, like Tomoya, who has permanent physical injuries from his father’s drunken outbursts, and they all get their own time and space to overcome their struggles and move on. Clannad’s character writing is what makes it so great, and it’s hard not to empathize with the characters' very relatable situations.
For Yuki Itose, the world is small. Due to her deafness, her ability to communicate is severely hindered, which prevents her from interacting with others. Then she meets Itsuomi Nagi, who tries to meet her halfway. Having been deaf all her life, she was accustomed to using texts and writing to communicate, so when Itsuomi acts like it’s no big deal, she appreciates it. This small interaction starts an incredibly sweet and wholesome relationship.
ASign of Affectionis great when it comes tointeresting and unique romances, but in terms of the representation of the deaf and hard of hearing, it is lacking. For many, the whole premise is a bit unrealistic, and the way Yuki interacts with others is inconsistent with many people’s lived experiences. That’s not to say it’s a bad anime, but people looking for complete accuracy should watch with this in mind.
In anime, the most common form of disability seen is the loss of a limb or body part, but none takes it quite as far asDororo. In this anime, Hyakkimaru is born without limbs, eyes, a nose, or ears, and he only survives by the kindness of a passing medicine man. He’s able to live and grow, but to live normally, he must find the demons who stole his body parts and kill them. On his journey, he meets Dororo, a young thief on the lam, and the two become partners.
Dororois set up like a normal revenge story, but it’s much more emotionally complex. Hyakkimaru’s fight isn’t just to reclaim his body; it’s also to take back the agency and humanity that he lost due to the circumstances of his birth. Of course, he’s angry, but he’s also experiencing a plethora of other emotions as he’s able to feel and identify new things about himself. It’s an incredibly interesting anime that has the bonus ofgreat action and animation.
When it comes to anime about deaf characters,Ranking of Kingsis a show that puts a lot of time and effort into the portrayal of its characters. It’s gained a lot of fans because of its accurate representation of living with a disability that’s recontextualized into a fantasy setting. Prince Bojji is both deaf and physically weak, and as a result, he’s ridiculed by the subjects of the kingdom as well asthose closest to him.
Despite its simple visuals,Ranking of Kingshas some extraordinary emotional depth as it discusses the weight of responsibility and the constant trials of living with physical impairments. Bojji’s growth is incredible because the audience can understand his position, which feels very relatable despite the fantasy setting. The sign language used is also accurate due to the involvement of the Tokyo Foundation of the Deaf in the production process.
Despite coming out in 2014,Your Lie In Aprilis still notorious for being a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking anime about life and music. The main character of the story is Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy who can no longer play music, but the most influential character is Kaori Miyazono, a terminally ill violinist who wants nothing more than to perform with Kousei.
Despite starting like a normal teenage romance,Your Lie In Aprilis a beautiful story about overcoming loss and coming to terms with what is left behind. Rather than about living with a disability, it’s about having a relationship with someone with a disability and all that entails. With fantastic, bright animation and a wonderful musical score, it’s an incredibly memorable anime.
Prosthesis are essential for many people who have lost body parts to continue living their lives, and in fantasy stories, prothetic limbs are often more advanced than what is realistically possible. Violet’s new hands are technological marvels that allow her the dexterity to use a typewriter, but despite regaining their utility, it’s clear she’s missing other things that her hands afford her, like feeling warmth and texture.
Violet also suffers from intense PTSD and survivor’s guilt, and while it doesn’t prevent her from living normally, it does stop her from experiencing normal human emotions. The plot ofViolet Evergardenis about her journey to understand her feelings, and she does it through interpreting the words of others. By writing letters on behalf of people,she’s able to glimpseinto their world and learn to empathize, leading to a better understanding of herself.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhoodis one of the most popular anime to ever exist and for good reason. It has a great plot, interesting characters, and amazing world building. In fact, Edward and Alphonse may be two of the most recognizable protagonists, which is why their disabilities are so important. Ed’s loss of limb and Al’s lost body are important parts of the story as well as to their individual characters.
Of course, this anime is about more than just their disabilities, but they are an important factor in everything that happens. The reason the characters embark on their journey is to reclaim what was lost, and while it’s not the focus of the story, the consequences of their injuries are often discussed.Fullmetal Alchemistdoes a great job of using the fantasy setting to reflect real-world problems faced by people with disabilities.
