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Reframing human–AI relations in Japanese robot anime: a sociopolitical and thematic analysis.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Reframing human–AI relations in Japanese robot anime: a sociopolitical and thematic analysis.
Authors: Li, Zixuan1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Digital Scholarship in the Humanities. Apr2026, Vol. 41 Issue 1, p223-235. 13p.
Subjects: Human-machine relationship, Anime, Thematic analysis, Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984, Artificial intelligence & ethics, Power (Social sciences), Digital humanities, Transhumanism, Ideology
Geographic Terms: Japan
Abstract: Japan's enduring fascination with robots has become a pivotal cultural lens for examining technology, society, and identity. Among various art forms, Japanese robot anime offers invaluable material for exploring these intersecting domains. This study examines representative robot anime works from the 1960s to the present through thematic analysis and case studies, engaging in dialogue with Foucault's theories of power alongside contemporary artificial intelligence ethics and theories of subjectivity. Adopting a digital humanities approach, this study treats Japanese anime as cultural data revealing the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent machines within Japan's sociohistorical context. Findings indicate a three-stage transformation in human–machine relations: from "tool and other" to "subject and companion," ultimately progressing to "symbiosis and kin." This trajectory demonstrates the significance of cultural narratives in reshaping power dynamics, biopolitics, and posthuman subjectivity. Through the interdisciplinary integration of critical theory, media studies, and digital humanities, this research emphasizes that Japanese robot anime serves both as a mirror reflecting societal anxieties and as a creative framework for envisioning future models of human–machine symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:Japan's enduring fascination with robots has become a pivotal cultural lens for examining technology, society, and identity. Among various art forms, Japanese robot anime offers invaluable material for exploring these intersecting domains. This study examines representative robot anime works from the 1960s to the present through thematic analysis and case studies, engaging in dialogue with Foucault's theories of power alongside contemporary artificial intelligence ethics and theories of subjectivity. Adopting a digital humanities approach, this study treats Japanese anime as cultural data revealing the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent machines within Japan's sociohistorical context. Findings indicate a three-stage transformation in human–machine relations: from "tool and other" to "subject and companion," ultimately progressing to "symbiosis and kin." This trajectory demonstrates the significance of cultural narratives in reshaping power dynamics, biopolitics, and posthuman subjectivity. Through the interdisciplinary integration of critical theory, media studies, and digital humanities, this research emphasizes that Japanese robot anime serves both as a mirror reflecting societal anxieties and as a creative framework for envisioning future models of human–machine symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:2055768X
DOI:10.1093/llc/fqaf136