Note: The following article discusses sensitive topics below, including sexual assault, slavery, domestic violence, and more. Read with caution.
There are plenty of controversial anime series out there, but there are a handful that have affected both fans and the industry at large.These series are almost synonymous with their controversies, and even fans of these franchises can’t see their favorite characters without seeing the waves they’ve caused.
There are a few reasons why an anime series can become controversial. Some series have issues on-screen while others are marred by activity that happens off-screen. On-screen issues can make a series hard to watch, but off-screen issues almost always make a franchise unwatchable.
Rarely, an anime series will become controversial due to no fault of its own. These series have been adopted by groups with malicious intentions or used as a scapegoat by governments. Either way, the most controversial anime series of all time will have a hard time being known for anything else.
10Death Note
Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Manga By Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Death Noteis a hugely popular anime series that generated a lot of controversy. The series features one ofthe smartest characters in anime, Light Yagami, as he finds a titular Death Note. By writing someone’s name in the Death Note, Light can kill them instantly.
It’s an interesting premise that, for whatever reason, has gotten the series banned in a number of countries.Death Noteis banned in countries like China and Russia, among others, because of its graphic nature and bleak themes. There have also been reports of children in the real world making their own “Death Notes” at school, adding more fuel to the show’s controversial nature.
9K-On!
Animated By Kyoto Animation, Based on the Manga By Kakifly
K-On!is one ofthe most adorable anime series of all time, and it has no business as one of the most controversial anime series. The series stars a group of girls who share their love of music with one another and start their own band. It’s a staple within the slice-of-life genre and an anime any fan of slower-paced series should watch.
Unfortunately forK-On!,its controversy has nothing to do with the series itself or the people behind it. Netizens online have used images and characters from the series to represent their malicious online personas in a twist of irony, as the characters in the show are the opposite of the views these internet users are putting forward.
8Darling in the FranXX
An Anime Original Series Produced by A-1 Pictures and Trigger, Animated By Trigger and CloverWorks
Darling in the FranXXgenerated a lot of hype when it first came out. It had the potential to become the nextNeon Genesis Evangelionin a few ways, but the series ultimately failed to capture the same otherworldly quality asNeon Genesis.Still,Darling in the FranXXis a quality anime series that is worth watching.
Darling in the FranXX’scontroversy comes from the fact that so many fans of the series felt left down by the ending. The ending ofDarling in the FranXXfeels rushed, disjointed, and undeserved. It was an unfortunate finale for a series that did so many things right, and even years later, fans have a hard time letting it go.
7Domestic Girlfriend
Animated by Diomedéa, Based on the Manga By Kei Sasuga
Domestic Girlfriendcould have been a good series if it didn’t take its premise so seriously. It’s a romance anime that revolves around a young man falling in love with both his one-time love interest and his high school teacher, who become his step-sisters in an incredibly odd turn of events.
The series feels uncomfortable the entire time. What could have been a lighthearted romantic comedy turned into a dark, depraved series that didn’t have many good moments. It’s a brutal watch, especially for someone who thought they would be seeing a relatively normal romance anime.
6Kokoro Connect
Animated By Silver Link, Based on the Story By Sadanatsu Anda and Shiromizakana
Kokoro Connectbecame a controversial anime series due to no fault of its own. At its core,Kokoro Connectis a great series that features students working together in the Student Cultural Research Club and growing stronger through the bonds they forge while in the club.
Kokoro Connect’scontroversy comes from an incident so childish and disrespectful that it’s hard to believe. During a promotional event, voice actor Mitsuhiro Ichiki’s character was going to be revealed to a live audience when the team behind the anime announced that he didn’t actually have a role in the series.
The team behind the anime then tried to save face, but it was too late. Ichiki joined as the head of the anime’s publicity team, but the damage was done.
5Goblin Slayer
Animated By White Fox, Based on Story by Kumo Kagyu and Noboru Kannatsuki
Goblin Slayerhas become a controversial anime series because ofthe very first episode. The show begins with a normal-looking set of adventurers as they explore a dungeon. The group is quickly overwhelmed by goblins, and the monsters butcher the adventurers graphically.
One of the adventurers is sexually assaulted while the rest of her party watches helplessly. It’s an intense, brutal, horrifying beginning to an anime series that Crunchyroll had to issue a content warning for. The odd part is that that level of brutality is not shown very much afterward.Goblin Slayerjust wanted to set the tone from the beginning, apparently.
4Please Tell Me! Galko-Chan
Animated By Feel, Based on the Manga By Kenya Suzuki
Please Tell Me! Galko-Chanis a fairly normal ecchi anime series filled with sexual innuendos and crude comedy. While that’s not controversial, there are several off-screen issues that have marred the series permanently.
The creator ofPlease Tell Me! Galko-Chan,Kenya Suzuki, was convicted of possessing material depicting child sexual abuse. Suzuki later admitted that the material was under his ownership and that he had imported it from Russia.Galko-Chan’spublisher, Kadokawa, suspended the mangaka after he was convicted, stopping whatever success his series was going to garner.
3Redo of Healer
Animated By TNK, Based on the Story By Rui Tsukiyo and Shiokonbu
Redo of Healeris a fever dream of an anime series, and not necessarily in a good way. It’s one of the most well-known controversial anime series around because it doesn’t hide its controversy in the slightest.Redo of Healeris controversial from the very beginning, and it doesn’t change in the slightest bit as the story progresses.
Redo of Healerstars Keyaru as a fairly powerful character who gets taken advantage of because of his abilities. He’s sexually abused by nearly everyone he comes across. He gets an opportunity to rewind time by four years, however, and uses the opportunity to get revenge on everyone who wronged him.
While Keyaru has a right to return to the past and change his future, his revenge is incredibly sadistic. He treats his former/current enemies similarly to how they treated him. His path of dark vengeance has cementedRedo of Healeras one of the most controversial anime series to ever air.
2Rurouni Kenshin
Animated By Liden Films, Based on the Manga By Nobuhiro Watsuki
Rurouni Kenshinis one of the most beloved anime seriesof all time. On-screen, there are no issues with this acclaimed franchise. Off-screen, however, the issues surrounding this series are so brutal that they’re hard to stomach. Series creator Nobuhiro Watsuki was found possessing materials depicting child sexual abuse.
In November 2017, Japanese police raided his home and studio and found almost 100 DVDs containing explicit images of girls under the age of 15. Watsuki later admitted that he “liked girls in higher grades of elementary school to those in their second year of junior high”. Disgustingly, Watsuki faced no real punishment for his crime and was back at work at Shueisha just a few months later.
1Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Animated By Studio Bind, Based on the Story By Rifujin na Magonote & Shirotaka
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationis an anime with controversy both on- and off-screen. Despite all the series' and the author’s questionable choices,Mushoku Tenseihas a good chance of going down in history as one ofthe best isekai anime series ever. The anime covers Rudeus Greyrat’s entire life in amazing quality, featuring great side characters and an amazing plot.
There are a few morally questionable decisions within the series. Rudeus is born in a new world as a baby, but he still has memories from his past life. Technically, he has the mental age of a nearly 50-year-old man when he’s only 15 in the new world. He still develops romantic relationships with teenagers in his new world, and it’s pretty uncomfortable.
The author behindMushoku Tensei,Rifujin na Magonote, has created some incredibly off-putting spin-off series forMushoku Tensei.One series saw one of Rudeus' children running off with her half-nephew and starting a romantic relationship. It was such a controversial arc that the author took it offline and revised it.
