7 Controversial Anime Banned in Several Countries, Sailor Moon Makes the List!

Kapanlagi.com - Anime, as a form of entertainment enjoyed by many, is not always well-received around the world. Some anime titles have been banned in various countries for a variety of reasons, ranging from violent content to sensitive issues.

In fact, some countries prohibit certain anime broadcasts because they are deemed unsuitable for viewers, especially for children. The banned anime contain controversies, sexual content, and excessive violence.

What are these 'controversial' anime? Check out the list below..

1. Midori: The Girl in the Freak Show

This anime is also known as Shojo Tsubaki, and is one of the most controversial anime of all time. This anime has been banned in almost every country, including Japan, due to many scenes that are sadistic and cruel.

Midori: The Girl in the Freak Show tells the story of a young girl who joins a circus troupe. It is not just an ordinary circus, as the other performers treat Midori cruelly, wickedly, and often engage in sexual abuse.

2. High School DxD

High School DxD Anime Poster (Credit: IMDB)

High School DxD can be said to be one of the most famous ecchi anime that is definitely not suitable to watch with parents. This anime has become somewhat of an icon in the ecchi genre, with its interesting characters and—yeah, it can't be denied—many super sensual scenes.

Although this anime is not as dark or as bizarre as some other controversial anime that have been banned, it doesn't mean that this anime is 'perfectly safe'. Some countries, like New Zealand, have even banned this anime due to the portrayal of high school characters that are overly sexualized, among other reasons.

3. Hetalia: Axis Powers

Hetalia: Axis Powers Anime Poster (Credit: IMDB)

Hetalia: Axis Powers reimagines World War II, where each country involved is depicted as a human character. So just imagine the darkest war in human history, but wrapped in a light and funny style… yes, you can guess, many people immediately raised their eyebrows.

The characters, including the Nazis from Germany and the Fascists from Italy, are portrayed in a cheerful and very humorous way. But not all countries can accept this. South Korea, for example, feels that their suffering and tragedy are not suitable for jokes. As a result, this anime was immediately banned in South Korea shortly after it aired.

4. Kinnikuman

Anime Poster Kinnikuman (Credit: IMDB)

Kinnikuman is one of the legendary anime that is super popular, so it was quite surprising to learn that this anime was banned from airing in France in 1990. In fact, Kinnikuman itself is not considered a very controversial anime, so the decision left many people puzzled if they didn’t know the reason behind it.

It turns out that in the early '90s, this anime had a character named Brocken Jr., whose design was inspired by German Nazi soldiers. His costume closely resembled a Nazi uniform complete with the swastika symbol and its distinctive ornaments. This clearly violated France's anti-hate laws, and as a result, Kinnikuman was pulled from TV screens there.

5. Tokyo Ghoul

Anime Poster Tokyo Ghoul (Credit: IMDB)

Tokyo Ghoul can be considered one of the cult classic animes known for its extreme violence. The bloody scenes are not only intense but also nearly nonstop—so much so that this anime was temporarily banned from airing in Russia. The country is indeed known for being quite strict about content, and in 2021, a Russian court decided that the violence in Tokyo Ghoul was deemed excessive, leading to its distribution being blocked.

It is said that the court was concerned that teenagers might imitate the brutal scenes from the anime or even be inspired to commit violence like in the story. But that reason sounds a bit exaggerated, as it is very similar to the old argument that playing video games can make people aggressive—when, in fact, it is clearly not that simple.

6. Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon Anime Poster (Credit: IMDB)

Sailor Moon can be considered one of the foundations of the anime world, especially for viewers in the West. This series became a major pioneer by giving the main stage to female characters, showing that anime is not just for boys. Usagi, also known as Sailor Moon, is also one of the strongest characters in the anime world, and although it has inspired many people, it turns out that this is actually the reason why the anime was banned in several countries.

In Saudi Arabia, for example, Sailor Moon was blocked because it was deemed contrary to their religious values. The country also does not allow magical girl genre anime to air, as this genre depicts girls as main characters with powers and important roles. Additionally, there are also several themes in Sailor Moon that are considered inconsistent with their views, which is why this legendary anime was banned nationally.

7. Record of Ragnarok

Record of Ragnarok Anime Poster (Credit: IMDB)

Record of Ragnarok is an anime that gathers the strongest gods from various mythologies to battle one-on-one against the greatest humans throughout history. The concept is very simple—perfect for those who just want to watch epic fights without much fluff.

Although technically not really banned, this anime was pulled from Netflix India due to the depiction of Shiva, the destroyer god in Hindu belief. Record of Ragnarok is indeed quite free in designing and interpreting its gods, but it seems that certain parties in India were not pleased with how this anime portrayed one of their most important deities. As a result, the series was removed from the Netflix India catalog.

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