In China several animes are banned. A series was banned due to an incident involving students in 2005.
Which anime is it about? Death Note takes place in a fictional world where high school student Light Yagami finds a special notebook. The so-called Death Note kills anyone whose name is written in the notebook. This way, Light Yagami can realize his own fantasies and kill all criminals.
The anime has become known for its elaborate psychological game and the plot twist in the middle of the anime. On MyAnimeList, the series is rated 8.62 / 10. However, fans in China unfortunately can no longer enjoy the anime, as it has been banned here.
China bans Death Note due to student prank
Why was it banned? As ANN reports, students in Shenyang took the anime as an example and created their own “Death Notes.” One student told Shenyang Night Report that he and his colleagues jokingly wrote the names of teachers they didn’t like in the book.
The newspaper subsequently called Death Note a “poison that creates evil hearts.” At that time, the Death Note manga was banned from all schools. Shortly after, the ban wave spread further in China until it was eventually banned nationwide.
Additionally, the anime addresses themes such as suicide, violence, bloodshed, and murder. The Chinese government had concerns about its impact on children, which also contributed to the ban.
What other animes are affected? Death Note was not the only anime that was banned. According to BBC News, there are at least 38 other animes or mangas that have been banned. These include Attack on Titan, Highschool of the Dead, and Parasyte, which feature either suggestive or violent content.
The largest wave of censorship of banned animes comes from 2015. By now, many further series have likely been added. A user on Reddit claims that there are now 100 animes that are banned in China.
The mangaka of Death Note revealed how he got into the profession of being a mangaka. He simply didn’t like regular work, which is why he decided to create mangas. You can find his background and other interesting facts on MeinMMO: “I didn’t like regular work” – Creator of Death Note had to survive, which is why he became a mangaka
