“Anime’s Missing Melanin: Painting Esso, Kurama, and Hiei with Power, Precision, and Purpose

In this live stream, I take you deep into the brushstrokes of resistance and representation. Watch as I ink, layer, and bring to life Esso—a powerful, feminine, unapologetically Black anime warrior—alongside iconic characters like Kurama and Hiei.

This isn’t just fan art. This is reclamation.

We’re talking real technique:

Dynamic line work

Layered Apple Barrel color theory

Advanced melanin shading

Hair and highlight realism

But we’re also unpacking the deeper issue:

Why are Black characters still underdrawn, underdeveloped, or erased in anime and animation?

Why was Static Shock—the #1 rated show with top-selling toys—canceled while weaker, whiter shows stayed on air?

If creators can parody Black culture, why can’t they represent us with dignity and power?

These paintings challenge that silence.

This isn’t representation. It’s elevation.

Watch me break it down—line by line, shade by shade—with commentary that hits as hard as the visuals.

Paints: Apple Barrel / Tools: Acrylic / Philosophy: Sovereignty.

> 🔱 Art by Xavier Savage, aka DXTheTrainer
🎯 DXTheTrainer.com | @dxthetrainer | Inertia Over Inspiration