The Most Controversial Anime Series

It goes without saying that every anime fans has their own preferences when it comes to shows.

Whether you’re into shojo or shonen, the world of anime has titles of all kinds to keep audiences interested, but lots of shows managed to cross one line or another.

Today, anime is more open to adult-content than ever before, but there are just some topics which never needed to be touched. And, for that, even Japan has had to pull back from some of its more controversial anime series.

Here at ComicBook, we are listing five of the most controversial or surprisingly banned anime titles. Some of the anime series clearly warrant their gag order whilst others may seem innocent enough.

Still, you will want to proceed through these next slides with caution.

Kokomo no Jikan / Boku no Pico

First, we’ll start with series which have no redeemable qualities. With the growing popularity of shota and lolita content in anime, audiences are bound to get upset with these series and their overt sexualization of young characters. In the past decade, no other series have made fans more irate than Kokomo no Jikan and Boku no Pico. Both series follow young protagonists who face gross sexualization, and audiences were right to accuse the titles of showing pedophilia. The former series finds a 12-year-old girl blatantly seducing her new teacher while the latter taboo show amounts to little more than child pornography. If you get caught watching either of these shows, you may have some serious explaining to do to the police.

Hetaltia Axis Powers

If you have never heard of Hetalia Axis Powers, then you should know the off-the-wall series reimagines world history with a funny twist. Each country is giving a human avatar that interacts with others in whacky, stereotypical ways. While many fans have come to love the show for its levity, plenty of nationalist audiences aren’t so fond of their countries being poked at. In South Korea, the show was forced to off the air when studio executives began receiving death threats, and complaints continue to file in from other irate viewers.

Death Note

Let’s face it: Death Note is a dark anime. The supernatural thriller sees a young boy go mad with power after he’s given the ability to kill anyone scot-free at will, and the anime delves into the lead’s crazed psyche. Over the years, Death Note has become one of Japan’s most notable exports, and plenty of fans have taken it upon themselves to idolize Light Yagami’s homicidal hopes. All around the world, reports have surfaced of people writing their own ‘Death Notes,’ and both Russia and China have taken steps to outright ban the series.

Pokemon

Some of your childhood memories are about to be ruined. While millions of children grew up with Pokemon, plenty more were kept away from the show thanks to several controversies over the year. The anime was intended for wholesome fun as it follows Sataoshi – or Ash Ketchum – on his journey to become a Pokemon Master. However, the show was not always seen as being so friendly. In Saudi Arabia, the show was banned because of its perceived promotion of Zionist pedagogy, and Jewish advocacy groups slammed it for Nazi imagery. Other religious sects like Christianity took offense to the series, and other groups related to animal rights criticized the show’s brutal treatment of Pocket Monsters.

A Kite

It is impossible to watch A Kite without feeling sick to your stomach; Even reading up on the anime will make you want to hurl. The overly violent title tells the story of Sawa, an orphaned girl who is forcibly made into an assassin thanks to her corrupt father. Order to kill, Sawa eventually meets a boy whom she falls for, and the two dream of escaping their bloody lives. The anime is obviously full of bloodshed and graphic gore, but the show’s sexual violence that leaves people queasy. The anime famously depicts a brutal rape scene with Sawa, and numerous countries have banned the title because of its depiction of child pornography.