Anime is widely popular with children, but many titles contain themes or images that are inappropriate for a child’s development. In fact, some countries have prohibited the distribution of particular anime due to the potential they have to negatively affect young viewers.
In the following 6 cases, most of them were banned for many reasons, from reasonable to extremely confusing.
1. Doraemon
Doraemon is a character known around the world for being a beloved icon in Japanese and other Asian cultures. Once praised for its endearing characters and magical themes, Doraemon has been banned in France and Pakistan for challenging beliefs. The French board of education sees Doraemon as dangerous to children’s development because it encourages reliance on magic instead of basic problem-solving skills, while Pakistan finds issue with some images as too sensitive. No matter what the true reasoning behind the bans may be, it remains surprising that such a highly regarded series could become so controversial in certain parts of the world.
2. 
Pokémon has been a beloved children’s game since the late 90s, enjoyed around the world. However, in countries that are heavily Muslim, the game has been completely banned due to its promotion of evolution and gambling. This is because these activities go against Islamic doctrine, which does not condone gambling or premises that deny Allah’s power over creation. Despite this, some Muslim countries have legalized video gaming, as long as it does not contradict Islamic principles or glamorize immorality. This is why Pokémon children’s superlatives have been forbidden from their homeland; however it still captures imaginations and games on elsewhere around the world.
3. Attack On Titan
Attack On Titan is a popular anime title around the world, but it remains relatively unknown in China for a variety of reasons. China has banned the series from appearing on air due to its extreme violence, disturbing visuals, and sensitive allusions to East Asian geopolitics. While this decision may be done with good intentions, there are still many fans in China yearning for a chance to observe firsthand the highly praised experience of Attack on Titan. For those who can’t access the series in official methods, Chinese fandom culture is driven largely by prohibited pirated materials and online streaming services.
4. Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki
The 2002 horror film Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki is undoubtedly one of the most terrifyingly disturbing films ever made. Its 18+ content has pushed viewers to their limits and led many to destroy the disc out of fear that they might be haunted by it forever. At its center is a 12-year-old girl, Midori, who is orphaned when her parents suddenly disappear. She finds herself all alone in the nightmarish world of a ghostly circus, facing relentless abuse from strangers that have no sympathy for a vulnerable child. It’s no wonder that this movie has been “banned” worldwide due to its intense graphic content, leaving it only available to those with an iron will.
5. Aki Sora
The anime village is renowned for it’s outrageous and sometimes downright ‘monstrous’ shows and topics, pushing boundaries in Japanese culture. One of these shows was Aki Sora which garnered so much controversy that it was banned not only in Tokyo but all across Japan. Aki Sora had content that was so chaotic and unacceptable to the nation that an imminent re-release planned for 2011 was axed at the last minute by a Tokyo governor who “embargoed” the series completely. While the show may have been previously limited to Tokyo, this wave of controversy caused it to be banned outright from showings nationwide.
6. Death Note
The Chinese government’s recent ban of the immensely popular anime, Death Note, has caused a lot of consternation amongst fans. While some may point to Attack on Titan as an example of censorship due to its violent content, the case with Death Note is somewhat different. China claims that the anime’s portrayal of lethal supernatural powers as wielded by a murderous anti-hero are “not conducive to social morality,” and might be detrimental to impressionable young children. Such reasoning seems highly questionable at best, since it’s no secret that there are much more violent shows and movies publicly available – not only in China, but across the world – so why single out this one title? Undoubtedly many agree it’s an unfortunate restriction of artistic expression, yet another valid reason for people to appreciate these kinds of stories: fittingly enough, a show about life and death just got caught up in the cultural death book of its own.
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