In recent years, the world of anime has gained widespread popularity for its diverse genres and captivating storytelling. However, not all anime series find acceptance in every corner of the globe, with some facing bans in certain countries. China, known for its strict content regulations, has implemented bans on several anime titles, citing reasons ranging from historical sensitivity to explicit content.
My Hero Academia
Widely recognized on a global scale, “My Hero Academia” stands as a popular anime set in a fantasy world where individuals possess superpowers known as quirks. The narrative revolves around Izuku Midoriya, a powerless boy who unexpectedly inherits the abilities of the world’s top superhero. With its availability on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Crunchyroll, the anime holds a PG-13 rating, featuring mostly censored gore.
However, the show has faced a ban in China due to a character named ‘Maruto Shiga.’ This character has triggered controversy within the Chinese government, leading to the prohibition of the anime across all platforms. The term “maruto” finds its origins in Japanese, used in addressing Chinese and Korean victims of experimentation during World War II. Adding to the sensitivity, the character, portrayed as a professor conducting experiments on people, has generated significant offense in China and other nations, prompting the ban on the series
Highschool Of The Dead
Set in a dystopian world gripped by an unidentified pandemic turning people into zombies upon infection, this anime unfolds the story of a group of high school students and their nurse on a quest to reverse the devastating infection. Despite addressing issues of corruption and immorality within the plot, the show faced a ban in China for various reasons.
One significant factor contributing to the ban was the anime’s borderline pornographic content. Given that the show primarily targets a younger audience and features a cast predominantly composed of high schoolers, China swiftly implemented the ban even before it had the chance to air on any platforms.
Attack on Titan
Widely regarded as one of the best anime in history, “Attack on Titan” features stunning graphics and a unique storyline. The show tracks the main character, Eren Jaeger, and his companions as they struggle for survival against the Titans—unintelligent, human-like giant creatures that have devoured and hunted mankind to near extinction. Faced with this peril, the last surviving humans have enclosed themselves within giant walls for safety.
Despite its undeniable quality and compelling narrative, this dark seinen anime has received an R rating due to its substantial amounts of gore and violence in every episode. However, China has chosen to deem the show inappropriate for public consumption, resulting in its prohibition within the country.
Parasyte
Parasyte” is a relatively popular show that unfolds in a world where parasitic aliens seize control of human hosts, manipulating them entirely. These extraterrestrial beings engage in battles among themselves, showing little regard for human life and often consuming anything they consider prey. Many have lauded this anime as an underrated masterpiece due to its innovative approach to the alien genre and its impressive graphic depiction of parasitic gore.
The protagonist, Shinichi, an average high schooler, becomes a target for these alien parasites but successfully prevents complete takeover, coexisting with the symbiote named Migi. Like several others on this list, the anime carries an R rating, featuring intense violence and very realistic gore scenes. Owing to its content, the show has faced an indefinite ban from Chinese television.
Deadman Wonderland
Another R-rated anime that faced a ban due to its extreme violence and gore is centered around a boy named Ganta Igarshi. Framed for the murder of his entire class, he finds himself incarcerated in a unique prison. Within its confines, Ganta discovers a peculiar talent that can only be described as ‘blood bending.’ He, along with others, possesses the ability to manipulate their blood as weapons and is pitted against each other for the entertainment of the wealthy—a spectacle of violence and gore.
The anime’s captivating yet shockingly unique storyline, coupled with underlying themes of corruption, led China to swiftly ban the show from airing.
Psycho- Pass
This anime is particularly intriguing because, while it maintains a level of violence, its ban is primarily influenced by themes of delinquency and rebellion. The narrative unfolds in a world where a computerized system serves as the primary enforcer of criminal justice. This AI-like mechanism assesses the threat level of each citizen based on various factors, and those deemed threatening are eliminated by enforcers.
China prohibited this anime due to its portrayal of a system rife with imperfections and corruption. The combination of these elements, along with violent and gore-centered imagery, classifies this psychological thriller as one to be avoided.
Tokyo Ghoul
In this psychological thriller, individuals live in constant fear of humanoid monsters known as ghouls, who have an insatiable appetite for human flesh. These creatures seamlessly blend into society, camouflaging themselves among the average crowd. Due to its violent and meticulously detailed action sequences, the anime received an R rating for viewers. Many scenes portrayed in the anime are highly disturbing, featuring graphic instances of torture and death.
However, China implemented a ban on the show for an entirely different reason: the practice of skin embroidery. Around the time this anime was released, China was grappling with a disturbing trend where individuals sewed pieces of string into their skin, creating various patterns. This epidemic led to the ban, as the anime depicted numerous characters engaging in the practice of skin embroidery.
Black Butler
Set in Victorian England, “Black Butler” is an anime that revolves around a young boy named Ciel Phantomhive, the sole survivor of a wealthy aristocratic family. At fourteen years old, Ciel finds himself alone and in possession of the largest toy company in England. Assisted by his demon butler, the two navigate the challenges of life and the abnormality of demon kin in the context of Victorian England.
Renowned for its terrifyingly dark premise and violent action, the production company spared no expense in creating this anime, with the graphics perfectly depicting these ominous themes. However, both the anime and manga faced a ban, ultimately prohibited due to the intense darkness embedded in their content.
Death Note
Centered around a teen named Light Yagami, this particularly dark yet famous anime revolves around the discovery of an ominous notebook that grants him the power to kill anyone whose name is written inside it. The psychological horror series garnered an R rating due to its extreme violence and profanity, leading the Chinese government to deem it unwatchable.
However, the most concerning aspect of the show wasn’t its content but its widespread viewership. Children and early teens were discovered to have created their own versions of the ‘Death Note,’ compiling personalized lists of people they wished to see dead. Fearing that the show could influence these young individuals to take matters into their own hands, officials swiftly banned the series.
Highschool DxD
We have an anime that focuses on intense and mature action sequences. The storyline follows Issei Hyoudou, a teenage boy who undergoes reincarnation as a Devil. The central theme of the show revolves around the main character forming close relationships with multiple women, creating a “harem.” Due to its explicit nature, the series faced bans in several countries, including China.
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