Shame, as anime takes centre stage in French riots

What the report says

The Observer reports that anime imagery has appeared in protests and unrest in France, where demonstrators have been seen using symbols from series such as One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball and Jujutsu Kaisen. The article links this trend to wider unrest that began on Sept. 17 with a teachers’ strike at Antoine de Saint-Exupéry High School in Créteil over staff shortages, before expanding into broader demonstrations over issues including fuel prices, the cost of living and dissatisfaction with the political climate.

According to the piece, some young protesters have adopted the One Piece Jolly Roger as a symbol of resistance, drawing on the story’s themes of opposition to an oppressive state. The author notes that anime cosplay and related references have circulated online and at protests, but argues that the movement has also drifted into rioting and vandalism, prompting criticism from people who say the unrest is harming ordinary residents.

The article also says some commentators in Japan have objected to the use of anime symbols in this context, with concerns that fictional characters and logos are being repurposed to endorse violence or destruction. More broadly, the piece frames the episode as an example of how popular culture can be reinterpreted once it enters mainstream use, raising questions about who controls the meaning of art after it becomes widely shared.