A Comment on Banana Fish Train Fight scene
Just feel like I need to say this as a native New Yorker for almost 3 decades. But as it’s known, the manga Banana Fish takes place in New York in the 80s. And the anime currently going on made some few minor changes to make it more relevant to the times now, mainly, instead of being post- Vietnam war and some other geographical references it’s now changed it to the conflict in the Middle East etc. Doesn’t actually impact the plot (which is kinda sad to say that shit going on then is shit still going on now just in a different place.). But anyway, so what I’m saying is because the anime changes the story’s time frame to fit more present day, that would actually make the whole train fight scene visual aesthetic entirely incorrect time period wise. Ok I’m not about to get into super detail and shit cuz I’m going purely from memory of me growing up. But the 70s-80s there was definitely a much higher crime rate in NYC. And graffiti was everywhere. So the graffiti you see on the trains? That is entirely 80s timeframe specific. I still remember early 90s and quite some graffiti in the trains. But to that level where the entire cars are covered inside and out? nah that was a bit before my time. Now definitely don’t quote me on the politics part cuz man I’m just a kid hearing this stuff from my parents but I think it might have been Mayor Giuliani who was responsible for really cracking down on the crime. Anyway, anyone else wanna confirm be my guest but that’s not my point. Point is, crime rate dropped, and you saw a huge drop of graffiti to that level.
And also the design of the train interiors? That was totally much later because I remember when the trains were changed to that design with the slim blue single-line benches (ugh I wanna say maybe late 90s early 00s????). That’s what most of the current trains are today. Before that was individual seats in twos and threes that were orange and yellow color (still got trains of that design running today though). And the images I added below got even older designs than that with the brown bench (before my time).
So TL;DR: In order to make the plot more relevant and changing the time period, the graffiti aesthetic on the trains becomes entirely inaccurate. But it’s ok, cuz I love it anyway haha EDIT: CASE IN POINT Google Results for NYC Subway 80s
Google Results for NYC Subway (today)
Banana Fish Anime scene where they combined the two:
Anyway, I’m not pointing fingers just for the sake of saying “YOU’RE WRONG!” Actually I just think it’s funny is all xD. I love Banana Fish and for me, there’s extra enjoyment that I get from reading the manga and having it take place in my home town where they mention different parts of Manhattan and I know *exactly* where they’re talking about. Especially I was born right at the end of the 80s decade so some of that manga aesthetic trickles into my memories of the early 90s. It’s exciting reading it, and in some ways I’m actively taking part in it because NYC is a part of me. So no matter where I go, there’s a place in my heart for this dirty gritty city of mine.












