It seems that the horror anime and manga genre has been making it’s rounds throughout the world, causing controversies such as heavy censorship and certain series being banned in different countries. It was recently reported on Anime News Network that China has banned 38 well-known anime series with a wide-range of content. Most feature scenes of violence, murder, abuse and other dark themes however, heavy sexual content-related ones have also been a target. Such series include smash hits such as Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan Death Note, and Black Butler, all of which are incredibly marketable, having many forms of media including print and merchandise.

The following series that have been banned thus far are:

Terror in Resonance

Blood-C

Highschool of the Dead

Ergo Proxy

Parasyte

The Skull Man

Another

Inferno Cop

Afro Samnurai

Sword Art Online

Tokyo ESP

Tokyo Ravens

Devil May Cry

RIN – Daughters of Mnemosyne

Attack on Titan

Corpse Party

Strike the Blood

Death Note

Deadman Wonderland

Date a Live II

Phycho-Pass

Devilman Lady

School Days

Those Who Hunt Elves

Elfen Lied

High School DxD

Samurai Bride

So, I Can’t Play H!

Girls Bravo

Kanokon

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Sakura Diaries

Black Butler

Claymore

Dance in the Vampire Bund

The reason for the ban? To prevent negative influences on China’s youth. So far there have been 29 websites that have received major warnings about the ban of these titles from The Ministry of Culture, most of which distribute streaming from Japan. As of April, if any website wishes to stream content, they will be required to seek government approval and as a result of the ban, so far, eight business have lost their licenses.

While a few of these certainly are dark, violent or perverted, we anime watchers know there are WAY more out there that are far more gruesome and dirty. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before 2/3 of anime get banned altogether.

 

On a side note, the character used for the header is Ban from Nanatsu no Taizai. It was funnier in my head.