The Growing Tide of Anime Censorship

Censorship has always been a part of the entertainment world, and anime is no exception. Recently, the topic has resurfaced due to China's stricter regulations on the content of Japanese anime. The news has sparked a new round of debates among fans about how censorship could affect the future of anime, especially when it comes to creative freedom and storytelling.

Censorship Always Existed in the Media

Censorship in music, movies, and TV isn’t anything new. Different countries have always had their limits, whether based on cultural values, politics, or just trying to control what their people see. But anime has gone global in a huge way, and even major Japanese broadcasters like TV Asahi and Fuji TV are now fully aware of how big the industry has become. That kind of attention brings pressure to deliver hit shows, but it also brings challenges—especially when content has to be changed to meet the rules of big markets like China.

China is one of the largest consumers of Japanese animation outside of the West, and with their stricter content policies, anime creators sometimes find themselves caught in the middle. Censorship might not always affect a show’s core themes, but it can influence how stories are told—or even which stories get made at all.

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Fans Are Worried About the Future of Anime Creation

This conversation blew up online recently when fans noticed that Dandadan had been censored for Chinese audiences. A scene involving Momo Ayase’s grandmother, Seiko, had her cleavage covered up in a way that clearly changed the original character design. Fans took to social media to express frustration, saying this kind of censorship could make studios hesitant to tackle bold or sensitive topics in the future, just to keep things safe for China’s massive market.

And it’s not the first time this has happened. Big-name anime like Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Tokyo Ghoul have all faced censorship in China before—for reasons ranging from violence to romance to supernatural themes. While these changes didn’t completely ruin the shows, they did point to a bigger issue: as anime becomes more of a global business, the balance between artistic vision and commercial success gets trickier.

Conclusion: Anime Community Should Support the Anime Creators No Matter What

Censorship isn’t going away, and with anime getting more international attention than ever, creators and studios are going to keep facing tough choices. On one hand, the growing market—especially in China—brings in money and exposure. On the other hand, it might force anime to play it safe, trimming down the very things that made it so bold and unique in the first place. As fans, it’s important to keep having these conversations and support creators who take risks. After all, anime became what it is today by pushing boundaries—not by hiding behind them.

More on this topic at CBR.