Anime That Fans Boycotted Over Hyper-Sexualized Underage Designs

Anime often receives criticism for how it portrays young characters, which frequently leads to public outrage and calls for boycotts. While creators often defend their work as artistic expression, many viewers believe that overly sexualized depictions of underage characters are unethical and reinforce damaging stereotypes. These issues can cause delays in releasing anime internationally, removal from streaming services, and widespread debate online. This article looks at fifteen anime series that faced significant criticism because of their character designs and the themes they explore.

‘Kodomo no Jikan’ (2007)

The series received strong criticism for its storyline involving a young student with romantic feelings for her teacher. This led Seven Seas Entertainment to cancel the English translation to avoid potential legal and ethical issues. Many critics found the way a child was portrayed to be overly sexualized and unsuitable for viewers, and as a result, the series was taken down from various streaming services and stores in Western countries.

‘No Game No Life’ (2014)

The show centers around two siblings who rarely leave their home and find themselves in a world where all conflicts are resolved through games. While the animation quality received praise, the series sparked controversy due to its portrayal of the young character, Shiro. Certain scenes, notably one involving a bath, led to accusations of the inappropriate sexualization of a minor, prompting many viewers to stop watching the show.

‘Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya’ (2013)

This anime series is a reimagining of the popular ‘Fate’ franchise, but with a magical girl twist. However, it quickly became known for its overly sexualized depictions of young, school-aged characters. This led to a strong backlash from fans of the original series, who felt it went too far with inappropriate content. The controversy also turned off many general anime viewers, who found the character designs exploitative and disturbing.

‘Eromanga Sensei’ (2017)

The anime follows a novelist and his sister, who secretly provides the illustrations for his books. It sparked controversy due to its focus on the trope of sibling relationships and the way the female main character was portrayed. Many online discussions revolved around whether the character designs were ethically problematic, with critics arguing the show overly relied on appealing to a specific audience by sexualizing characters who appeared to be underage.

‘Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!’ (2020)

The anime series centers around a college student who playfully teases an older student. It sparked widespread international debate when a poster featuring the main character, used to promote a Red Cross blood drive, was criticized for being overly suggestive. Critics argued that the character’s design looked too young, despite being officially a university student, leading to online protests and calls to boycott the show, ‘Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!’

‘The Rising of the Shield Hero’ (2019)

This anime follows a man transported to a fantasy world who needs to prove his innocence. The character Raphtalia sparked debate because she appears to grow up physically while still thinking and feeling like a child. Many viewers and critics felt uncomfortable with her design and the romantic implications of her relationship with the main character, leading to discussions about whether her portrayal was appropriate and a boycott by some fans.

‘Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation’ (2021)

The show follows a man who is reborn as a child named Rudeus in a fantasy world. It sparked a significant protest in China and was taken off the Bilibili streaming service due to concerns about the way the main character acted inappropriately towards young girls, and how those characters were depicted. While some viewers argued the show was exploring a flawed character, many others strongly objected to the sexualization of underage characters.

‘Made in Abyss’ (2017)

This animated series centers around two children who fall into a strange and perilous hole. Although the show has a colorful and innocent visual style, it features disturbing scenes of intense pain and nudity involving the child characters. The jarring contrast between the cute designs and the graphic depictions of their suffering has upset many viewers, leading to calls for a boycott and criticism of the creator’s choices.

‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’ (2017)

This lighthearted comedy follows the everyday lives of dragons who live among humans. Despite being well-liked, the show received criticism for how it portrayed Kanna, a dragon who appears as a little girl. Some scenes were seen as inappropriately suggestive, leading to concerns about the sexualization of her character. As a result, some viewers stopped watching ‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid,’ even though it was a well-made show.

‘Bakemonogatari’ (2009)

This show stands out for its striking visuals and intricate conversations. However, it often includes scenes with the main character and his younger sisters that many viewers consider inappropriate. A particularly controversial example is a scene in ‘Nisemonogatari’ that has sparked widespread criticism. Some fans and critics have even stopped watching ‘Bakemonogatari’ or certain episodes because of how young characters are portrayed in a sexualized way.

‘Interspecies Reviewers’ (2020)

This funny fantasy show features characters who review restaurants and other businesses for different types of creatures. It quickly ran into trouble, being removed from streaming on Funimation and several TV channels in Japan. The problem? Some characters looked too young, and their designs were considered overly suggestive. ‘Interspecies Reviewers’ became a well-known example of the difficulties in balancing artistic expression with what’s acceptable for international audiences.

‘Redo of Healer’ (2021)

‘Redo of Healer’ is a dark fantasy series known for its controversial content. It sparked widespread criticism and boycotts due to its explicit depictions of sexual violence and the overly sexualized portrayal of its female characters. The show’s mature themes and the young age of the characters led several streaming services to decline to air it, and it faced strong condemnation online and in the media.

Tell us which of these you’ve seen and whether you think we should add others to the list.

2026-01-08 10:45