Absolutely. It’s 2025 and LeSean Thomas is currently the only black American to create, produce & direct original TV-MA drama anime starring black leads w/top anime studios (Yapiko/Satelight/Mappa)actually released on global mainstream platforms (CR/Netflix). No one else. It’s crazy honestly.

Dude is the only one holding down authentic anime production originals in action/fantasy scifi TV-MA with brown leads. It makes sense Watanabe would fly all the way to NYC to LeSean’s Founded event to talk black culture and anime. Also both Lazarus and Yasuke were created & directed at Mappa by them

All 3 of those guys went on the create their own shows, LeSean Thomas, notably, is the only black American to create and direct original anime in Japan (Satelight/Mappa) starring black lead characters. He’s a pioneer and I hope he has more coming, Japanese or Korean-produced.

Yasuke was polarizing because most anime audiences (not critics) are wildly closet racists (just look at how fandom tortured black fandom/cosplay over decades). It was critically acclaimed as groundbreaking & nominated for an naacp image award (Black Oscars), the first anime to ever to do so.

yeah, it was his comic book series first, came out the same year as The Boondocks season 1. he turned it into an anime series at Satelight years later.

He downplayed successful projects based on Japanese nomenclature (didn’t have to) that he’d actually die to have a fraction of their success and audience reaction today, based on the projects he proudly touted his name on in the last 4yrs. Pretty sure he didn’t think he’d have to leave Twitter then.

Gotta take your own advice bro. A rising tide lifts all boats, Including African Immigrants trying to make waves in foreign country's animation media outlets. Cory is an influencer who watches videos. He & LeSean couldn't be further apart other than they black (one makes animes the other hopes to).