‘Isle of Dogs’ Backlash: Wes Anderson Criticized for Racial Stereotypes and ‘Marginalizing Japanese Culture’

Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” has received near universal acclaim from film critics (the movie currently has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes), but even some who have enjoyed the stop-motion film have taken issue with the director’s representation of Japanese culture.

The film is receiving criticism for racial stereotypes just ahead of its March 23 release.“Isle of Dogs” takes place in a dystopian Japanese city called Megasaki.

A note at the beginning of the film states that all of the dog’s barks have been translated into English, which is the reason actors like Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, and Edward Norton are voicing canines.

The Japanese characters are heard speaking their native language and Anderson does not rely on subtitles.

Sometimes an interpreter character voiced by Frances McDormand translates the Japanese into English.The Los Angeles Times review, written by Justin Chang, has received lots of attention for calling out Anderson for cultural stereotypes.

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