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| Banned : 5 Anime That Were Deemed Too Controversial |
Anime is a global phenomenon, celebrated for its diverse stories, stunning animation, and creative freedom. But sometimes, a series pushes boundaries so far—or clashes with local cultural, moral, or political values—that it gets the ultimate restriction: a ban.
The reasons for censorship are varied, ranging from concerns over graphic content and violence to religious or political sensitivities. Here are five major anime titles that have been banned or heavily restricted in various parts of the world, and the reasons why.
1. Death Note
Banned in: China and Russia (restricted in schools and distribution)
One of the most popular psychological thrillers in anime history, Death Note follows a brilliant high school student who gains the ability to kill anyone merely by writing their name in a supernatural notebook.
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| Death Note |
The Reason for the Ban:
The core concept proved to be a little too influential for some. In China, the series was restricted after reports surfaced of students altering notebooks to resemble the "Death Note" and writing down the names of their teachers, classmates, and others they disliked. Authorities deemed the anime promoted anti-social behavior, graphic violence, and encouraged criminal activity among minors.
2. Pokémon (The Franchise)
Banned in: Saudi Arabia (original card game and later Pokémon Go) and Turkey (a specific episode)
It may seem unbelievable that a franchise centered on collecting cute monsters and friendship could be banned, but the global phenomenon of Pokémon has run into serious religious and cultural roadblocks.
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| Pokémon |
The Reason for the Ban:
● Saudi Arabia: In 2001, the country’s highest religious authority issued a Fatwa (religious edict) against the franchise. The clerics cited several reasons, including the games promoting gambling (the card game), and the belief that the series promoted Zionism due to symbols resembling the Star of David allegedly being present in the franchise's merchandise. The concept of "evolution" in the game was also cited as inconsistent with Islamic teachings.
● Turkey: A specific episode was banned following an incident where two children reportedly jumped off a balcony attempting to imitate a Pokémon character. The show was deemed detrimental to children's well-being.
3. Attack on Titan
Banned in: China (delisted from streaming platforms)
This mega-hit, famous for its intense action, dark themes, and gory depiction of humanity's fight against giant, man-eating Titans, was one of many foreign titles targeted by Chinese censors.
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| Attack on Titan |
The Reason for the Ban:
In 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture cracked down on a large list of anime. Attack on Titan was blacklisted due to its "extreme violence, gore, and content that induces minors to commit crimes or features terror." The graphic nature of the battles and the themes of warfare and destruction were deemed inappropriate for the public viewing.
4. Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki (aka Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show)
Banned in: Virtually everywhere, including Japan (heavily restricted)
The 1992 OVA (Original Video Animation) film is one of the most infamously restricted anime in history due to its extremely disturbing and graphic content.
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| Midori |
The Reason for the Ban:
The film depicts a harrowing storyline involving a young girl who joins a grotesque and abusive circus freak show after her mother dies. It contains explicit and unsimulated scenes of graphic sexual violence against a minor, child abuse, extreme gore, and animal cruelty. Its content is considered so universally offensive and disturbing that it is not legally available on any mainstream streaming or distribution platform and is often only found through unauthorized or pirated sources.
5. Kinnikuman (aka Muscleman)
Banned in: France (over half the series)
A classic comedy-action series about a clumsy superhero wrestler, Kinnikuman was a popular show in the 80s, but a certain character design in the manga and original anime led to a ban in some European territories.
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| Kinnikuman |
The Reason for the Ban:
The character Brockenman and his son Brocken Jr. (both German wrestlers) wear a uniform with a swastika emblem on it. While the Japanese context was likely meant to simply evoke a German military-style look without political intent, the use of the Nazi symbol is illegal and highly offensive in many parts of Europe, most notably France and Germany, leading to the series being heavily censored or banned outright.
The life of an anime can be fraught with peril outside of its home country. Whether it's to protect children from perceived harmful influence, adhere to strict religious doctrine, or avoid political controversy, a single series can reveal a great deal about the cultural values and censorship laws of the country trying to restrict it.