Mental Illness in Anime
Besides having simp-worthy characters and gorgeous visuals, anime is known for its deep, complex themes and touching on serious issues through its storylines and characterization. Mental illness is one theme that has often been portrayed in anime. Mental illness can be an important part of an anime’s plot because it can explain a character’s motives and change how other characters perceive them. On the one hand, characters with mental illnesses can appear more frightening, on the other hand, more sympathetic. While mental health often lacks realism in the media, the mentally ill are generally more humanized in anime. However, in anime, there are a few types of mental illnesses that are given more visibility and certain stereotypes are perpetuated, which has the potential to be harmful.
The main types of mental illnesses portrayed in anime are: mood disorders (abnormal moods, e.g. depression and bipolar disorder), stress-related disorders (caused by stress and anxiety), psychotic disorders (abnormal behaviors and delusions, e.g. schizophrenia) and personality disorders. Certain stereotypes about mental illnesses are perpetuated in anime. People with mental illnesses are made to be feared and excluded from society. They are depicted as irresponsible and incapable of making decisions on their own. Furthermore, they are portrayed as highly dependent, needing to be cared for at all times. These stereotypes are harmful and have a problematic message. They imply that people with mental illnesses lack self-determination and are essentially dangerous to society.
Characters in anime rarely display clear and obvious signs of diagnosable mental illnesses.
For example, in ‘Code Geass,’ Mao is labelled as “insane” because of his outrageous and strange behavior, although this may be because his supernatural powers hinder his ability to form relationships with other people. Additionally, the issue of mental illness is sometimes swept under the rug and not taken seriously. Nozomu Itoshiki from ‘Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei’ actively attempts suicide multiple times with a noose throughout the show for bizarre reasons and it is meant to be received as comical.
There are several anime series that serve as social commentary about mental illness and their impact on society. One prime example is ‘Psycho Pass’, a series about a dystopian society that monitors the mental states of everyone living in the city. The aim of this technology is to root out criminals or others who might be dangerous to society and arrest people with mental illness before they commit a crime or wreak havoc. The show’s storyline is a social commentary on the link between mental health and criminal activity. It shows the many ways in which people can become mentally ill and how they are stigmatized in society. ‘Welcome to Irabu’s Office’ takes place in a psychiatric ward and explores different mental illnesses through the various characters that experience them.
Not surprisingly, many antagonists in anime have mental illnesses, which may be the cause of their problems. However, in many cases, their circumstances cause their mental illness. For example, Shion Sonozaki from ‘Higurashi: When They Cry’ has a dramatic mental breakdown after the boy she is in love with disappears out of nowhere. She blames the powerful families of her suburban town and becomes enraged as a result of dealing with her grief and loss, leading her to go on a killing spree.
On the other hand, many protagonists in anime deal with their own mental illnesses and overcome their struggles, showing admirable progress throughout the course of the show. In turn, this sets a good example for viewers who are going through similar situations and gives them motivation and inspiration. The protagonist Rei Kiriyama in highly-acclaimed ‘March Comes in Like a Lion’ is a prodigy at the Japanese game of shogi (similar to chess) but finds little joy in life, choosing to isolate himself because he does not view himself as worthy of anyone’s kindness. This is a result of his adoptive father who refused to see Rei as an actual person and only viewed him as a skilled shogi player. The anime focuses on Rei’s journey as he deals with his mental health and the emotional trauma from his past.
Many anime series have different takes on mental illness and it is fascinating to see the various ways in which it is depicted. As a source of entertainment and escapism for millions of people, anime can play a significant role in portraying mental illness. Anime showcases the depths and complexity of these issues, while the interesting characters and compelling storylines make it even more entertaining yet still educational.