Censorship in Anime

DVD/Uncensored Version of Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka

TV/Censored Version of Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka

This is indeed going to be a hard topic to write on… Even though I have strong (vehement) objections and feelings against censorship I may have trouble turning my thoughts into words.

Throughout this article/post, I hope to inform you about the current situation, different forms of censorship, the absurdity of it all and various conspiracies that have been brought up. I hope that you will be able to read this article in its entirety as it took a lot of effort to put together. Visual aids galore! (Obviously NSFW) :)

Some or most of the pictures are from the wonderful Sankaku Complex. They are indeed doing a fantastic service to the Anime community, informing others about blatant censoring. There are so many examples of censorship as each Anime contains various amounts of it, I’ll pick what I think is best.

Before actually getting into the topic, I ought to lay down the cards for those of you who don’t fully understand the situation.

Japan is awesome. Anime is super-awesome. Pantsu and fan service is the epitome of awesomeness. Now, there are tons of Anime that have humor and/or plot revolving around the fan service. Some examples include the famous Kodomo no Jikan, Kanokon, Sekirei and even To Love Ru. Some Animes just include fan service as a side note to tickle fans’ imagination one of which that may qualify is Strike Witches.

Recently, there has been a huge uproar about censoring even the mildest ecchi scenes in Anime. There are various kinds of censoring techniques that censors use to butcher the animation. They have indeed progressed from the good old days of the mosaic. These include:

 

Blinding Flashes of Light

Horribly distracting and obvious censorship.

One of the most obvious if done poorly. They can come in beams, flashes, glares and other creative forms. The above screencaps of Sekirei, Strike Witches and Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka (title picture) are fantastic examples.

Steam

Mostly used in shower scenes. Ample amount of steam is used to cover up oppai and other areas. Pictures are from Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka, Sekirei and Strike Witches. Even super-ero Anime Kanokon is not safe. Steam censorship is also seen in the third episode of Code Geass:

DVD vs. TV

Shadows

There are two kinds of shadow censoring techniques.

1. If anything is happening in the dark, there is a sudden application of dark patches here and there.

2. For up-skirt pantsu shots, light suddenly disappears and the skirt becomes a black hole.

Zooming/Shifting

A combination of both Shadows and Zooming.

If the good bits are at the edge of the screen, expect them to enlarge the picture…

Sometimes, the view can also be shifted slightly instead.

Blatant Censoring

Censorship cannot get more obvious than this. Most recently, this has been prevalent in Rosario no Vampire and Kodomo no Jikan.

Inconspicuous Redrawing

As if censorship can’t reach a new high (or is it low?). Again, there are various types of censorship that fall into this section.

 

– (Random) Foreground Objects

Two objects for the price of a fantastic scene? SOLD!

As the title states, a foreground object is drawn over the animation. Sometimes, this is hard to recognise as they blend in so well. Other times, the object can be completely random and out of place.

 

– Repositioning

Movement of objects and/or limbs to obscure good bits. Amazing. How they do this is beyond me.

 

– (Drastic) Outfit Change

Spot the Difference.

Redoing the animation to make characters wear more conservative clothes and redoing entire scenes.

 

– Tits Be Gone

Freaky.

This is the laziest form of censorship. It’s like they are saying, “Hey, we are forced to censor our Anime, and we can’t be bothered to do a proper job.’ Bah, humbug.

 

– Growing Hair

I suppose that this counts as a Foreground Object, but that point had too many examples aready. :)

Drawing of hair strands over oppai (especially used when the character has long hair).

The Cut

There aren’t many examples of scenes that were cut due to censorship issues (That’s GOOD!). Instead, most cut scenes are the result of a time limit of 23 – 24 minutes. These scenes usually make it to the DVD version, which is discussed later. The above scene can be considered as a censor/cut. A couple of frames of animation were removed in episode 19 of Code Geass which showed Kallen’s b(.Y.)s bouncing up when she is pushed to the ground and of course, turned up in the DVD.

END OF EXAMPLES

 

Out of all the different forms of censoring, I find ‘Inconspicuous Redrawing’ the most irritating. It is so hard to spot, and you are unaware most of the time.

More examples at the end of the article and over at Sankaku Complex.

Frankly speaking, there are too many techniques censors use to properly list them all. However, I hope that after seeing the various examples above, you will be able to spot the areas where censors massacre Anime. This is more prevalent than you think.

It is really surprising that there are numerous versions of the same animation. They actually put in effort to redraw certain scenes completely just to hide certain objects. I don’t know which is worse, knowing that they are censoring, or not.

The Concept of Regional Physics

Regional Physics is something that has been occurring in Japan for some time. From what I understand, different TV stations in Japan air different versions of the Anime. TV Tokyo usually showing the less censored versions.

When Sekirei Episode 9 was aired on Tokyo TV, there was again much controversy created as the episode was completely uncensored.

These days, they seem to be forced to show the censored versions of Rosario no Vampire Capu 2.

For more information head here.

Erratic Censoring

This ties in with the above points of Regional Physics and multiple versions of the same animation. We’ll be using Rosario no Vampire Capu 2 as an example again. I love the first season of that Anime. For the most part, the first season was aired uncensored. Despite the fact that there were numerous pantsu shots in the Anime (82 <3), there were no bare chests.

When the first episode of the second season started airing, Tokyo TV aired the uncensored version. Then, it slowly began adding bats. In some scenes, pantsu was censored and others weren’t.

Can anyone make sense of that??? Might as well let us have everything. The entire purpose of censorship is to prevent such things from being seen. Why the inconsistency?

Moka and Tsukune are shocked as well.

~Nose Bleed~

These two scenes were in the exact same episode.

Changes Over Time

Long before, I highly doubt that there was this much censorship. There were quite a number of scenes in certain Animes like Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, Zero no Tsukaima and others where there were pantsu galore. Even in Kanokon, despite the boob censoring with steam, there were no other instances of pantsu censoring. Something so mild cannot possibly cause any harm no matter which way you look at it. How did we get from this:

Mikuru~Chan

to this:

Note that they are all wearing something. That bat has no excuse to be there.

What’s with the change? What reason could they possibly have to deny us the pantsu? I know! The next point.

DVDs – The Beginning of a Controversy

Of course, I have yet to talk about DVDs. Those who are trying to make sense of everything have come up with a theory that companies are censoring just to sell DVDs.

This a stupid move. People say that it is a way for the companies to make money. They basically expect fans to purchase the DVDs to view the uncensored versions. However, there are numerous ways in which this can and probably will backfire. Viewership of the TV versions will most likely drop like a lead balloon.

Also, for most fans who already spurge hundreds of dollars on official merchandise such as figures, DVDs are just not worth it (especially for international fans like me). They cost around 60 US Dollars (not including shipping and tax) on average for 2 – 3 episodes, do not have subtitles and have to be imported. Waiting for the US release is just out of the question as it takes ages for a series to get licensed and released on a Region 1 DVD. Thus, for people like us, we will most likely never get to see the full version and be stuck with the butchered TV version. How (un)fair is that? We are FANS of YOUR WORK! Don’t treat us like this.

Regardless, how do you feel about rewatching an entire series to spot the differences? Not many people like or have the time to rewatch series. After watching the broadcast versions, I’m sure fans are compelled to watch the DVD versions. Now, I’m at a loss. Deciding if I should proceed to watch the broadcast version and then rewatch the entire series when I acquire the DVD-rips or just watch the DVD versions is killing me… I don’t know what to do…

We aslo suffer as we don’t get the other things that are included in the DVDs… Improved animation, DVD extras, etc… but I’ll talk about that another time. However, I’ll list some examples below.

The DVD version of Suzumiya Hauhi no Yuutsu had numerous snippets that were not included in the TV broadcast. Most of these scenes had absolutely nothing ecchi/perverted about them. One could conclude that they were either taken out due to time constraints or made post production. Some of them are:

Kyon looking over the rules for forming a club.

and

Mikuru tripping and falling, face flat on the Othello board.

There are so many other minor changes to animation that it would be impossible to list them all, though there are a couple of videos on YouTube that give a good comparison.

In the 6th installment of the Bamboo Blade DVD set, there was a special ending. It featured the same ending song, Star Rise, with completely new animation. As this scene was of the girls in a bath house, it was probably taken out as it did not fit the overall theme. Either that, it was an extra purely made for the DVD.

EDIT: Found the video for you guys on YouTube! Aren’t I great!?

My Opinions on Censorship

I personally feel that censorship is ridiculous. There are so many arguments for censorship. They range from protecting the young to a bid to sell DVDs. When I view something that is censored, I feel cheated. I hate knowing that that there is something more behind that flash or object. It feels that the censors do not treat the viewers with respect and don’t give them enough credit.

As for protecting the young. I know many children. They range from my cousins to other people’s children. Most normal children are not interested in these things. Girls think that boys are ‘gross’ and boys think that girls are ‘icky’. I highly doubt that they will be influenced even if they watch uncensored Anime. Even if they do get influenced, there are so many other ways in which they can get their fill of Sex, Violence and whatnot. Such vices are omnipresent on the internet and in movies. There is NO way to completely stem out the influence.

Censoring is one thing, but the recent Rosario no Vampire Capu 2 episodes were utterly unwatchable. Those bats were so distracting that they ruin the picture. Censoring such shows that base their humor around fan service is practically taking away the whole purpose of the show. The DVD version of Kodomo no Jikan is a whole world of a difference as compared to the TV version. Things make sense.

I don’t know how revenue is earned, but I know that TV Stations already pay the producers to air their programmes. I would also like to quickly bring up a point on fansubs. These fansubs serve to increase the amount of fans and creates awareness about the show. In doing so, these fans are sure to buy officially licensed products like figures. I’m sure they also make money that way.

Final Words

In all honesty, I love pantsu and oppai. I really do. Hold on, which normal man doesn’t? This article is just a way to air my views and opinions about the things that have been going on recently. I know that it kinda turned into a rant at the end as I get really passionate when something terrible happens to something I love. It makes one wonder how the future of Anime and media as a whole will turn out.

Being fair, I say that everyone has their own opinions. You are entitled to your own and don’t have to agree with me. However, I’m pretty sure that many fans feel the same way I do, based on the myriad of comments on various forums.

I would also love to know the guidelines or who the people behind this are. How much of this is due to the Goverment? If you recall, episode 9 of Sekirei was aired uncensored, though late at night, and TV Tokyo has stated that it was intentional. This makes me believe that there is something bigger going on behind the scenes.

So, all that remains is how the fans will react. Will they boycott the DVDs in a bid to make a stand? Or will they perhaps submit to the censors and allow their favourite Animes to continue being butchered? Only time will tell.

…and remember:

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Here are more random examples of censorship and DVD/TV differences:

From top to bottom, we have: Zooming, Repositioning, Foreground Object, Steam, Shifting, Foreground Object, Light + Zooming. All this in one episode. Joy.

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Anime referenced in this article:

Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka
Bamboo Blade
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Kanokon
Kodomo no Jikan
Rosario no Vampire Capu 2
Sekirei
Strike Witches
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu
To Love Ru!
Zero no Tsukaima: Princess no Rondo

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Picture Sources:

Zero no Tsukaima III DVD Uncensored – Oppai Raep Anime

Pantsu Trouble – To Love-Ru Decensored DVD Beats Manga

Sekirei Massacred by Censors

Even Bamboo Blade Gets DVD Ero Up – Bath Scene Back

Nipple Witches Unveiled

Sekirei DVD Nipple Packed & Uncensored

Sekirei Massacred to the Bitter End

Rosario + Vampire Capu 2 Massacred by Censors

Total Censorship + Vampire

My other sources include various articles from Blogs and Forums, Anime News Network and Wikipedia. This article took 6 solid hours to write, including compiling and creating pictures. Wow.

Thanks for reading! :)