Akira has opened some old wounds

Recently Mr. George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) has set up a petition in regards to the proposed casting of white actors in Mr. Katsuhiro Otomo's Anime masterpiece, Akira.  Mr. Takei has expressed further concern that the production company, Warner Brothers, is ignoring the pool of talented Asian and Asian-American actors to portray in the film.  Warner Brothers' argument is that they are trying to make the film more accessible to a global audience.  If they want make this film more global, then hire a more variety of actors and actresses.

Warner Brothers has also changed the setting of the story, for example instead of having the movie set in the old remains of Tokyo (as told in the original story), the new film is set in the remnants of New York.  The city change drew some ire from dedicated Anime fans, but the casting of white actors drew the biggest ranting, namely from Mr. Takei and others.

I agree with Mr. Takei and it is hard to argue his pedigree of 50 plus years in the industry.  His sage incite shows that something like this shouldn't be taken lightly.  While it is easy to read off more than 5 well-known white and African-American actors/actresses.  It is harder to know one let alone 5 well-known Asian or Asian-American actors/actresses.  Very few shows in the US have well placed Asian or Asian-American actors.  Only a few shows come to mind, such as Hawaii 5-0, Out-Sourced, Glee, and Big Bang Theory.

While I would hypothesize that this kind of news wouldn't mean much in Europe or Asia, but I could be wrong.  For those of us born in the US (2nd generation Asians), we are still sometimes regarded as second class citizens.  This way of thinking needs to stop. 

The casting of white actors in Akira has struck a raw nerve from those who were bullied in school because you were "different."  Time will tell what Warner Brother's decision will be regarding of Akira. 

I have one last question, I wonder if Mr. Otomo has anything to say about this matter?