Ask John: Why Is Bible Black So Successful?

Question:
I was wondering what makes Bible Black so popular in the West?

Answer:
Bible Black really is a unique series. It’s the only adult anime I personally know of that has been represented in cosplay at American anime conventions. Any adult anime that’s popular enough to generate a devoted fan following that actually exhibits its devotion is an unusually popular title. I don’t think that Bible Black’s popularity can be attributed to a single thing. Part of the show’s uniqueness is it combination of factors that all equally contribute to its popularity. The character design, story, tone, and content of the Bible Black series all compliment each other and cooperate to make an effective impression. It must be a combination of these factors, because individually they aren’t strong enough to raise Bible Black to the height of popularity it enjoys.

Bible Black is a continuing erotic horror story about the seductive and corrupting influence of black magic on a school campus and among its students. The series features unusually provocative character designs and above average animation quality for an adult anime series. The franchise also features very graphic and intense sex that’s varied but not excessively fetish oriented. Moving beyond the introduction, it’s interesting that the hentai series Discipline: Record of a Crusade and Cleavage both feature character designs very similar to those of Bible Black, yet neither Discipline nor Cleavage is as popular as Bible Black. Adult anime series such as Shintaisou Kari (“Princess 69” in America) have more fluid and lifelike animation quality than Bible Black, but also aren’t as popular. Series such as Urotsukidoji and Oni-Tensei have a stronger and more graphic horror content than Bible Black, yet again aren’t as popular as Bible Black. So the secret must be that Bible Black achieves just the right combination of multiple components.

Undoubtedly the crisp, colorful and striking art design of Bible Black contributes to its popularity. The Bible Black anime is undeniably nice to look at. But looks alone are superficial and easily dismissed. The characters in Bible Black are interesting because they’re well developed with distinctive personalities, goals, and desires. Unlike conventional hentai, in which characters are archetypal roles, the characters in Bible Black are unique individuals that viewers can empathize with and like or dislike. It’s also significant that Bible Black is dark, atmospheric, and highly sexually charged, but isn’t lewd or gratuitous. There’s plenty of sex in Bible Black, but the sex is presented with some degree of class. Unlike the Shintaisou Kari or Yakin Byouto (“Night Shift Nurse”) series that take their sex to offensive, disgusting extremes, Bible Black is erotic without ever becoming crude or offensive. Even when the series depicts rape or violent sex, Bible Black carefully remains sexy and exciting without becoming repulsive. American anime viewers have always been attracted to dark and sinister anime. The popularity of titles like Akira, Ninja Scroll, Hellsing, Berserk, and Vampire Hunter D prove that. Bible Black comfortably nestles within that realm. It’s horror, but it’s not as gruesome as excessive erotic horror like Urotsukidoji and Adventure Kid that are also popular in America, but not as popular as Bible Black.

Bible Black is arguably America’s contemporary favorite erotic anime because it coincidentally happens to contain exactly the right elements, in exactly the right combination necessary to impress and entertain the tastes of American viewers. There are many hentai series which are popular in America, and many of them have great looking character design, plenty of atmosphere, interesting story and characterizations, good animation quality, and lots of graphic sex. But Bible Black is the one show that combines all of these elements in just the right measure or not too much and not too little to be just perfect for American viewers.