Anime is a massive industry that is only expected to grow, however, censorship in China may hinder the medium’s growth in the region. According to a new report by Japanese news siteMantan Web, censorship has become far stricter in Japan with Mantan Web’s source noting, “Stories about overthrowing the government and works depicting middle school romance are now no longer allowed.”
Of course, this kind of broad ban on specific plot points has the potential to effectively outlaw some of the most critically acclaimed anime of all time. BothFullmetal Alchemistanime,Attack on Titan, and evenOne Pieceall feature elements of overthrowing governments. WhileAttack on Titanwas already banned,One Pieceis fairly popular in the country, making it unclear how these new restrictions will affect series that are already airing in China. Restricting massive series like these could seriously hurt the anime industry’s growth in China.
Anime Restrictions In China Have Broader Implications For The Industry As A Whole
China’s Restrictions May Hurt More Than Just Chinese Anime Fans
This potential ban on certain types of anime is obviously bad for Chinese fans of the medium who might not be able to watch some of the biggest series, however, this refusal to release certain anime in the region has far broader implications. It’s no secret that anime production costs have ballooned in the last few years. Ideally, the rising cost of anime is offset by its increased visibility.Anime is set to become a $4 billion industryin the United States alone within the next handful of years.
One key area of growth for anime has long been China. Not only isChina producing its own animated series, but it is also importing hits from Japan. Given the large size of the country, this represents massive potential profits. The fear, then, is that the restrictions on what will or won’t air in the nation will, down the line, impact the development of anime in Japan. Just from a monetary perspective,an anime unlikely to air in China makes less sense to fund for producers and studiosalready just scraping by.
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Rebellion Is Just Too Popular
Given this, any sort of ban on anime about broad topics like middle-school romance and anti-government rebellion has the potential to reshape the industry in a negative way. Rebellion is a popular subject for stories of all types, not just anime. Even massive media franchises likeStar WarsandThe Hunger Gamesare built almost entirely around the idea of overthrowing oppressive governments. Banning the subject outright might prove difficult given its popularity as a subject or theme.
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The end result could well be that Chinese officials ultimately pick and choose which rebellion stories are fine and which aren’t.One Piecemight evade the ban, sure, but that’s partly due to the sheer size and scope of it. Even if it was banned in China, the franchise would survive relatively unharmed. What fans should be more worried about are the smaller anime that need international attention to turn a profit. Unfortunately, it’s too early to tell how China’s new restrictions on anime could impact the industry, but the potential consequences could extend far beyond one country.
