7 Anime That Are Banned or Censored in Various Countries Due to Their Brutal Stories

YO-KAI WATCH: The anime YO-KAI WATCH was first released in 2014 in Japan with a G rating, but when adapted to the American version by Disney XD, several scenes were deemed inappropriate for children. In one episode, the character Nathan Adams and his friends watch an adult TV show featuring women in bikinis and shirtless men.

SAILOR MOON: When SAILOR MOON entered the American market in 1992, the anime faced massive cultural censorship. The characters Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, who are a lesbian couple in the Japanese version, were changed to "cousins" to avoid LGBT controversy on children's television. In the DiC Entertainment dub version, several of their romantic scenes were edited, including a flashback moment where they kiss.

YU-GI-OH!: Unlike other brutal anime, YU-GI-OH! underwent censorship not due to excessive violence, but because of the American adaptation by 4Kids Entertainment in the early 2000s. In the original Japanese version, some scenes featured firearms and themes of death. However, in the American version, weapons were replaced with threateningly pointed fingers, while the concept of death was changed to "Shadow Realm".

TOKYO GHOUL: The anime TOKYO GHOUL, which aired on July 3, 2014, is known for its extreme censorship. Every bloody scene is covered with thick black shadows, blur effects, and even color inversion where all the colors on the screen are reversed. In its second episode titled Incubation, the fight scene between Kaneki and Nishiki, which is covered in blood, is completely transformed into a color negative.

GANTZ: Released in 2004, it immediately sparked debate due to its extreme brutality. The story follows people who have died but are forced to participate in dangerous missions against aliens in order to regain their lives. The murder scenes and blood splattered throughout each episode led some television stations in Europe to refuse to air it without additional censorship.

ELFEN LIED: The anime ELFEN LIED is often mentioned in lists of the most disturbing anime of all time. Its first episode opens with a bloody scene in a laboratory featuring dismembered bodies and blood everywhere. The main character, Lucy, is a girl with deadly telekinetic powers. Despite the tragic story behind the violence, many viewers find the violence depicted to be too explicit.

REDO OF HEALER: This anime has received strong reactions from the Japanese and international public. The story revolves around Keyaru, a healer who suffers severe torture, then gains the ability to rewind time and take revenge. However, the execution of the story is considered to cross moral boundaries. Many view this series as exploiting sexual violence for entertainment, leading AT-X to air a heavily censored version, with some platforms even refusing to air it altogether. Come on, read articles about other anime recommendations on Kapanlagi.com. If not now, when?