Since the 1980s, a common sentiment in Western societies has been that Japanese animated content is often weird, violent, and kinky. This perception arises even when compared to the bizarre nature of children’s entertainment produced worldwide. In recent years, it seems creators have become increasingly desperate for novelty and provocation, focusing more on what they can get away with rather than commercial success. This era might be considered a decadent phase for anime. Just remember, viewer discretion is advised.
Goblin Slayer
Premiering in 2018, Goblin Slayer quickly sparked controversy. The first episode depicts a group of adventurers setting out to exterminate goblins. However, the goblins prove to be more cunning than expected, leading to the brutal demise of the group, including the rape of a female character.
This show serves as a stark warning about the extremes some programs are willing to reach. Goblin Slayer is unique in its overt horror, using shock value to generate controversy. While much of the series is less horrific than that initial sequence, it still leaves a lasting impact. The creators seemed to blindly stumble into the horrors they presented.
Interspecies Reviewers
Interspecies Reviewers was originally intended as a lighthearted comedy. The premise involves a group of adventurers visiting various brothels to review the quality of prostitutes from different fantasy races, which is legal in this world. The sex workers range from fairies to deadly succubi.
American distributors like Funimation and Amazon Prime were caught off guard. By the third episode, the content had become so explicit that the entire screen was covered by a black rectangle. Shortly after, the program was pulled from these platforms. Even two Japanese networks removed the show from the air. However, this censorship inadvertently led to a massive spike in online popularity. The raunchy genie was out of the bottle, and there was no going back.
Jungle Emperor Leo
Known in the West as Kimba The White Lion, this show premiered in Japan and the US in 1966. Created by Osamu Tezuka, often credited as the “father of anime,” it popularized tropes like large, expressive eyes. Despite claims that The Lion King ripped it off, the show’s dark episodes are more noteworthy.
In “Too Many Elephants,” Kimba learns violent elephants are slated for extermination. After being dismissed by the lead elephant, Kimba saves only a baby elephant and its mother, leaving the rest to be killed. Kimba’s memorable line, “I wish the elephants hadn’t been so mean. Then they wouldn’t have had to be exterminated,” resonates chillingly.
Kanokon
Kanokon highlights the double standard where an underage male being pursued by an adult female is less disturbing than the reverse. This 2008 high school romance features Chizuru, a fox spirit, and Nozumu, a wolf spirit, vying for the attention of Kouta, a human.
Chizuru looks like an adult female, while Kouta is drawn as prepubescent. Many episodes feature scenes where Chizuru attempts to coerce him into sex. Kouta often voices objections or covers his eyes, and the English dub gives him a child’s voice, amplifying the discomfort.
My First Girlfriend is a Gal
This 2017 high school comedy centers on Junichi Hashiba, who asks a “gal” (a fashionable young woman) to be his girlfriend. She accepts, seemingly impressed by his courage. As the show progresses, more women vie for his attention.
The most disturbing element is Hashiba’s friend Minoru, explicitly portrayed as a pedophile. This is treated as a joke, with scenes of him making predatory remarks to children. Despite this, he’s treated as a heroic figure in the final episode.
Manyuu Hikenchou
The bizarre sexual themes intensify in this samurai show spoof. Set in a fictional Japan where breast size determines class, the Manyuu clan developed a technique to remove breasts from lowborn individuals. Chifusa Manyuu rebels, setting out with her friend Kaede, knowing a secret technique to absorb other women’s breasts. Its DVD outsold Disney films in 2011.
The show crosses into heinous territory in the fifth episode. Chifusa and Kaede encounter a group of pre-teen siblings who have lost their mother. They collectively overpower Chifusa and suck on her nipples until she expresses pleasure, a scenario that even South Park never attempted.
Seikon no Qwaser
This thinly veiled fetish program from 2010 centers on “qwasers”—alchemists who draw power (“soma”) by suckling women’s breasts. Even during its original run in Japan, the show was heavily censored.
The show’s most controversial element is Katerina “Katya” Kurae, a primary antagonist who draws power from many women, often non-consensually. She is designed to look underage and has an S&M relationship with her assistant. The director, Hikaru Kaneko, also directed Manyuu Hikenchou, exemplifying how problematic creators can continue to thrive in the entertainment industry.
Eromanga Sensei
Unlike the overtly raunchy shows that deter many viewers early on, Eromanga Sensei is superficially restrained, cutesy, and domestic, making its insidiousness creep up on the viewer.
The story involves a 15-year-old comic artist living with his 12-year-old shut-in half-sister, who is revealed to be the author of his most successful comics. The characters are written to express sexual interest in each other, appealing to audiences interested in underage sex and incest. The fact that they are half-siblings who don’t engage in actual sex seems more for plausible deniability.
Loveless
In this 2005 anime, Ritsuka Aoyagi, a twelve-year-old transfer student, investigates his brother’s murder. He has cat ears, representing virginity in this world. He meets his brother’s 20-year-old friend, Soubi Agatsuma, and they form a relationship, leading to Aoyagi losing his cat ears.
The 12-episode show contains numerous fight scenes. The discomfort of the central relationship is a significant aspect, leading Comic Book Resources to rate it as the worst same-sex anime of all time.
Our Maid is Way Too Annoying
This 2018 program stars Kamoi Tsubame, a buff female special forces veteran, as the personal maid of a little girl named Misha Takanashi. Tsubame is openly a child predator. In the pilot, she states she loses interest in women after they start menstruating. She also sniffs Misha after touching her and enjoys dressing her in uncomfortable outfits.
The bright side is that the show only had one season. Despite efforts to push boundaries, audiences don’t seem to reward anime studios for appealing to prurient interests. There’s hope in that.
The anime industry continues to push boundaries, sometimes delving into disturbing and controversial themes. While some shows use shock value for attention, others reveal uncomfortable truths about societal perceptions. Despite the varying degrees of success, these shows prompt discussion and reflection on the limits of entertainment.
What are your thoughts on these disturbing anime shows? Leave your comments below!
