Top 10 Banned Anime Around the World and Why

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

There is hardly a genre that anime hasn’t conquered. While anime is super entertaining and fun to watch, it can get quite crazy and questionable. Yes, anime is animated but the content is mature. From violence to incest and other controversial issues, anime can be offensive sometimes. Due to this, some countries have banned anime shows for its viewers – especially for younger audiences.

Want to find out what anime shows they are and why they are banned? Well, you are in the right spot. Today, we will talk about the top 10 banned anime shows and why they are banned. So, let’s find out! 

• Part 1: Top 10 Banned Anime List
• Part 2: Where to Watch Anime Online for Free

Part 1: Top 10 Banned Anime List

Here is a list of the 10 banned animes you should know about and why they are banned: 

1. Shoujo Tsubaki (Banned Everywhere）

It has a very dark, depressing, and intense storyline and it is considered one of the most controversial anime movies ever. This is a 1992 anime film about a young girl whose mother dies. The girl meets a man who tells her he will help her if she ever needs anything. So, after her mother’s death, she goes to find the man and ends up at a circus where she gets abused and raped. Thus, Shoujo Tsubaki is about child sexual abuse with unbearable gore scenes. The horrific and disturbing visuals of this anime have left many viewers traumatized – so much so that the tapes of this film were also destroyed. Therefore, Shoujo Tsubaki is banned almost everywhere, including Japan itself.

2. Osomatsu-San (Banned in Japan)

Osomatsu-San is banned in Japan due to copyright issues. The series' first episode had parodies of famous anime shows including Attack on Titan, Naruto, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, and more. Thus, due to copyright, the show's first episode was removed from airing. It is still not available on mainstream anime websites. You can find the DVD version of the show, but even those do not have the first episode. 

3. Excel Saga (Banned in Japan)

Excel Saga is based on a popular manga of the same name. It is about a secret ideological organization whose purpose is world domination. The entire Excel Saga is available to watch except for its last episode, called “Going Too Far” – very fitting indeed. It is even banned in its home country, Japan. The reason why this episode got banned is that it's too long, violent, pornographic, and offensive. Fun fact: The Director of the show, Shinichi Watanabe, purposely got the last episode banned to make it daring and unforgettable. The last episode of Excel Saga is only available on DVD. 

4. Death Note (Banned in China)

Death note is one of the most famous anime shows ever and while it’s gruesome, bloody and horrific, it is easily available on mainstream platforms, including Netflix. However, there is still a country that did not appreciate the dark premise of this show. Death Note is banned in China due to its theme. The show is about death, justice, murder and violence so it is considered as a corrupting influence on kids. 

5. Attack on Titan (Banned in China)

Another cult-favorite anime on the lists is Attack on Titan. Due to its bloody, disgusting and disturbing visuals, it has been banned in China. While millions of viewers love this anime, China thinks this show portrays a lot of excessive violence which is very unhealthy for the younger audience. With that being said, if you are 18 and above, do not miss out on Attack on Titan. It is truly one of the best anime out there!

6. High School DxD (Banned in New Zealand)

With very high viewer ratings, it’s a bit of shock to see this show on the list. High School DxD follows the story of Issei Hyodo, a perverted high school kid who is killed on his very first date. But he gets reincarnated by Rias Gremory as a demon. Now, how come a show about angles and demons gets banned? Well, the premise of the show focuses on corrupt high school kids with a perverted mindset. This show is very sexual and shows a lot of nudity in certain scenes. This is why New Zealand has banned High School DxD for its sexual, harem themes based around high school kids. 

7. Puni Puny Poemy (Banned in New Zealand)

Puni Puny Poemy sounds super cute and childish but don’t let the name fool you. Puni Puny Poemy is a spin-off inspired by Excel Saga – no wonder is it banned. This anime has a lot of sexual content surrounding very young characters. The nudity, explicit sexual scenes and harem inspired content is what makes this show so questionable. Thus, it is banned in New Zealand for being overly vulgar and sexual for young viewers. The show does not have a high viewership such as popular titles like Death Note or Attack on Titan, so many countries ignored it.

8. Hetalia: Axis Powers (Banned in South Korea)

Every character in this show represents a country and the role they played in World War II. Even though it is a comedy anime, it offended a few countries. South Korea actually banned the show on the grounds of “offensive stereotypes” and was called a “national crime” by the country. Hetalia: Axis Powers continued to air, the character and all the references to South Korea were completely removed due to backlash. The censored version of this anime is still available in some parts of the country.

9. Pokémon (Banned in Saudi Arabia)

Pokemon banned? Pokemon is perhaps THE most famous and innocent anime ever. It’s kid friendly and super clean. So, why is a show about Satoshi and his pocket monster banned?  The religious authorities of Saudi Arabia declared that Pokemon promotes gambling and Jewish sentiments. Since then, there have been many conspiracy theories revolving around the show claiming it to be a Zionist conspiracy. Thus, it is banned in Saudi Arabia. Crazy right?

10. Kite (Banned in Norway)  

Kite follows the story of a girl who uses bullets to kill people and make them explode. Now, you must be thinking that the violent nature of the show got it banned in Norway. Nope! not the case.  Kite is banned in Norway due to a very graphic sexual assault scene on a minor. Norway has very strict laws against child pornography, thus the entire anime got banned.  Similarly, the United States also censored and removed certain parts of the movie but it is not banned there.

Part 2: Where to Watch Anime Online for Free

If you live in any of the countries mentioned in the list above and want to watch the anime banned by your country, we have got you covered. Here are top 5 websites where you can watch anime online for free: 

1. Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll has a wide range of anime shows and movies. This streaming service is available in different countries including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and some Asian countries. From old anime shows to all the latest ones, you will find everything here. It allows you to watch and share anime on social media. It is also available in different languages with subtitles and dubbing. Crunchyroll also offers a premium version for an ad-free experience. The premium version also has a popular manga. 

2. 9anime

9anime is a dedicated website for anime. It allows you to watch different types of animated content. From action, drama, and thriller to comedy, you can watch any anime show here. This website gives you access to all the popular anime shows, movies, and OVA (Original Video Animation). It is available across multiple countries including Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, and some Asian countries. If it is not available in your country of origin, you can also access this website on a VPN. 

3. 123anime

This is a great alternative to 9anime. This website is a free platform to watch anime online for free in HD quality. It is also mobile-friendly and loads video without buffering. You can watch all the famous anime shows and movies on 123anime such as Pokemon, One Piece, Death Note, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and more. It also allows you to download anime for free. 

4. VIZ

VIZ is one of the most popular choices for manga and anime. From publishing, to animation and to entertainment licensing, VIZ handles it all. It offers all popular manga as well as all the latest anime series. From classic cult favorites to latest hits, VIZ has the best collection of anime shows and movies. You can save your favorite show on the website and create your own library to binge watch anime shows. All the shows also come with English subtitles. 

5. Animelab

AnimeLab is a website that offers a huge collection of all the popular anime. Plus, all the videos here are dubbed and subtitled. It also allows you to watch all the latest shows and releases as soon as they are aired. From action, thriller, adventure and horror to drama and comedy, you can watch all types of anime here. It is also compatible with all android and iPhone devices. AnimeLab is available in only two countries currently i.e., New Zealand and Australia. You can use VPN to watch in any other country. 

While anime has entertained fans over the years, there are some anime shows that are very disturbing and offensive. They can toy with the psychology of the viewer and are often too inappropriate to handle. Such anime can be violent, sexual or gruesome. This is why some anime are banned in certain countries due to local laws, censorship, and copyright issues. In this article, we listed down top 10 banned anime shows and why they are banned. If you want to watch anime, especially banned anime, do check out the websites mentioned above. You will find all the anime shows you are looking for!

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox