Understanding Aspect Ratios: Why Some Anime Have Black Bars

You're watching an anime on your brand new widescreen TV. The show looks great, the colors are vibrant, but… wait, why are there black bars on the sides?

Or maybe you're watching an older series, and suddenly there are thick black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.

You might be tempted to zoom in or stretch the image to fill the screen. But before you do that, let's talk about what's really going on.

Those black bars aren't a mistake. They're not a flaw in your video file. They're actually there for a very specific reason: aspect ratio.

Today, we're diving deep into the world of aspect ratios. We'll explain what they are, why anime uses different ones, and whether you should keep those black bars or remove them.

Trust us – by the end of this article, you'll never look at black bars the same way again.

What Is Aspect Ratio, Anyway?

Let's start with the basics.

Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or video. It's usually expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, like 4:3 or 16:9.

Think of it like the shape of the screen. Some screens are more square-like. Others are wide and rectangular. The aspect ratio tells you which shape you're dealing with.

Common Aspect Ratios in Anime:

Why Do Black Bars Appear?

Now that we know what aspect ratios are, let's talk about those black bars. They come in two flavors:

1. Pillarboxing (Black Bars on the Sides)

This happens when you watch 4:3 content on a 16:9 screen.

Imagine trying to fit a square photo into a rectangular frame. You have two choices:

• Add black bars on the sides to preserve the entire image
• Stretch or crop the image to fill the frame

Pillarboxing is the first option. The black bars preserve the original image without distortion.

2. Letterboxing (Black Bars on Top and Bottom)

This happens when you watch ultra-widescreen content (like 2.35:1) on a 16:9 screen.

Movie theaters use extremely wide screens to create a cinematic experience. When those movies are shown on your TV, black bars appear on the top and bottom to preserve that wide format.

The History: Why Did Aspect Ratios Change?

Aspect ratios didn't change randomly. They evolved with technology and viewing habits.

The 4:3 Era (1960s - Early 2000s)

For decades, televisions were designed with a 4:3 aspect ratio. This was close to a square shape and matched the film standards of the time.

Almost all classic anime was produced in 4:3:

• Astro Boy (1963)
• Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
• Dragon Ball Z (1989)
• Sailor Moon (1992)
• Cowboy Bebop (1998)

These shows were designed to be viewed on boxy CRT televisions. The directors composed every shot with 4:3 in mind.

The Widescreen Revolution (Mid-2000s - Present)

In the early 2000s, widescreen TVs (16:9) started becoming popular. They offered a more cinematic experience and matched the way human vision works (we see more horizontally than vertically).

By the mid-2000s, most anime studios switched to 16:9 production:

• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
• Attack on Titan (2013)
• My Hero Academia (2016)
• Demon Slayer (2019)

Modern anime is designed for widescreen from the start. Directors can compose wider shots and include more background detail.

The Great Debate: To Crop or Not to Crop?

Here's where things get controversial. When you watch 4:3 anime on a 16:9 screen, you have options:

Option 1: Keep the Black Bars (Pillarboxing)

Option 2: Stretch to Fill

Option 3: Zoom/Crop

Special Cases: When Black Bars Are Intentional

Sometimes, black bars aren't about aspect ratio mismatch. They're actually part of the artistic vision.

Cinematic Letterboxing

Some modern anime use letterboxing even on 16:9 displays for dramatic effect. Directors use it to:

• Create a more cinematic feel
• Focus attention on specific parts of the frame
• Build tension during dramatic scenes

The "Anime Film" Look

Many anime films are produced in 2.35:1 (ultra-widescreen) to differentiate them from TV anime and create a theatrical experience. When you watch these at home, letterboxing is supposed to be there.

What About Remasters and Re-releases?

When old anime gets remastered for Blu-ray, studios face a choice:

Option A: Preserve the Original 4:3

Most high-quality remasters keep the original aspect ratio with pillarboxing. This is the purist approach.

Examples done right:

• Cowboy Bebop Blu-ray (preserves 4:3)
• Sailor Moon remaster (preserves 4:3)
• Dragon Ball Z Kai (preserves 4:3 for early episodes)

Option B: Crop to 16:9

Some studios crop old anime to widescreen. This is highly controversial among fans.

Examples that caused controversy:

• Naruto Shippuden HD broadcast (cropped)
• Some One Piece remasters (cropped)

Option C: Re-compose for 16:9

Rarely, if the original production files still exist, studios can re-compose the show for 16:9 by extending the background. This is the best of both worlds but very expensive.

Example done right:

• Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) - some releases extended the background

How to Handle Aspect Ratios in Your Media Player

Most media players give you control over aspect ratio. Here's what to look for:

VLC Media Player:

• Go to Video > Aspect Ratio
• Choose "Original" to preserve the source ratio
• Avoid "Stretch" or "Zoom" unless you have a specific reason

Plex/Jellyfin:

• Usually defaults to "Auto" which preserves the original
• Check settings under Video > Aspect Ratio
• You can set preferences per library

Smart TVs:

• Look for "Aspect Ratio," "Picture Size," or "Screen Fit" in settings
• Choose "Original," "Just Scan," or "16:9" (not "Zoom" or "Wide")
• Avoid "Stretch," "Cinema Zoom," or "Wide Zoom"

Common Misconceptions

Let's clear up some myths about aspect ratios and black bars: