“Attack on Titan” (Shingeki no Kyojin) is by far one of the most praised works by critics and anime fans. A story that beyond the action and epic moments also offers reflections on our society and the human condition. Every fan would say that it is a must-see and highly recommended anime, but it turns out that this is not the case all over the world. Today we present 7 anime that along with “Attack on Titan” were banned in several countries.
Attack on Titan
For those who do not know, “Attack on Titan” (Shingeki no Kyojin) was strictly banned in China, because the authorities in the Asian country considered that the work had too much violence and incited the youth to rebel against the government. In addition, they also considered the show to have an “anti-Chinese” message.
Record Of Ragnarok
“Record Of Ragnarok” (Shuumatsu no Walküre) also received a “ban” but this time from the Indian authorities. The well-known story of gods versus the best of humanity competing for survival was not well received there, as they claimed that the representation of the god of Hinduism (main religion in India) “Shiva” was “highly offensive” so the anime is not available in the region.
Death Note
“Death Note” as well as “Attack on Titan” suffered a setback in China. Due to the content of the work, which shows violence, a story of revenge, justice by one’s own hand and illegal situations, the country decided to ban the work. The authorities also mentioned that this story had a bad influence on the country’s children.
Sailor Moon
Incredible as it may seem, “Sailor Moon” (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) was banned in Saudi Arabia because there is a law that prohibits the showing of series where a woman is the protagonist on television and mass media. Therefore, this work is not available in that nation.
Psycho-Pass
The police drama “Psycho-Pass” also received a ban from China. As many know, this story has some adult themes, violence and crime, but what really earned it the “ban” was that it touches on themes of dissent and defiance of established norms, so the Chinese government decided to “deregister” it from the region.
Pokémon
“Pokémon” received the “ban” in Saudi Arabia because the country’s religious laws consider the game (gambling) to be against the morals that the “teachings preach”. It was also accused of using Christian religious symbols and promoting Zionism, which caused a lot of upset within the church and ended up being banned.
Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul like “Attack on Titan” received a “ban” in China, but also in Russia. First in China, because it was alleged that it showed unpleasant scenes that violated “public morals” and promoted the country’s youth to self-harm by piercing or tattooing. And in Russia because Sony recently withdrew from the country due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Illya
The spin-off of the Fate/Stay Night saga, “Fate Kaleid/Liner Prisma Illya” was banned in Russia because the authorities claimed that the anime showed girls in a way that was inappropriate and offensive to society. Many anime of the “Isekai” genre are also banned in Russia because it is argued that these works incite young people to “take their own lives”.
Undoubtedly a very curious list that includes works as representative as “Attack on Titan” that were banned because the governments of the countries mentioned consider them “unsuitable” for their population. So tell us in the comments section what you think about this situation and if you think they really deserve the much feared “ban” from the authorities.
