Top 20 Most Controversial Anime Moments of All Time
Script written by Jonathan Alexander
#20: The End of Eren Yeager
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“Attack on Titan” (2013-23)
After ten years, almost a hundred episodes, and more jaw-dropping moments than we can count, the ending of “Attack on Titan” was never going to please everyone. Especially since it committed to killing off Eren Yeager himself. The vengeful Eldian spent the show’s final season as a total renegade. So, some vocal fans weren’t happy to see him die as a crying kid mourning the life he could’ve had with Mikasa. It’s a moving moment in a fantastic final episode, but clearly, a subset of the fanbase would’ve preferred to see Eren go out on the top of his game. Either way, no one’s forgetting this finale any time soon.
#19: Lover’s Quarrel
“Oreimo” (2010-13)
Like most romance anime protagonists, Kyosuke has girls practically banging down his door. But, he doesn’t want any of them. He only has eyes for his little sister, Kirino. Unfortunately, she has eyes for him, too. Look, it’s one thing to hint at an unsavory relationship, and another entirely to show a brother and sister trying to get married. As you can imagine, it didn’t take long for the masses to condemn “Oreimo” for its gross central pairing. There were a select few defending Kyosuke and Kirino’s romance, which only stirred up even more controversy. Given that the show is a very acquired taste, it’s not even worth arguing about, anymore.
#18: Episode Four
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“Gurren Lagann” (2007)
Simon’s time inside the titular mech may be considered a modern classic these days, but not every one of its episodes was as warmly received at the time. Looking at you, episode four. Helmed by a guest director, the divisive installment used a very eclectic art style that left many wanting. Fans were extremely critical, and made sure “Gurren Lagann’s” production company, Gainax, knew it. In response, Gainax’s co-founder made some not-so-professional comments comparing fan criticism to his behind. That only fueled the fire, and eventually, he was forced to resign altogether. After all the hubbub, it’s a wonder “Gurren Lagann” is still as beloved as it is.
#17: What’s in the Dish?
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“The Pet Girl of Sakurasou” (2012-13)
When it comes to anime, cooking food for a sick friend seems as innocent as you can get. But, somehow, “The Pet Girl of Sakurasou” found itself in hot water, anyway. Viewers noticed that Jin prepared Korean food for his pal instead of the Japanese dish he makes in the source material. Through some wild leaps in logic, fans began arguing the show was an offensive marketing ploy for Korean grub. Despite assurances from the production company, things only got worse when a future episode edited out the Japanese National Anthem. Whether intentional or not, “The Pet Girl of Sakurasou” is now remembered more for its scandals than its plot.
#16: Impersonation Evasion
“Gintama” (2006-18)
Even a show as funny as “Gintama” can go too far sometimes. In the name of a good joke, they released an episode in 2011 featuring some biting critiques for a well-regarded Japanese politician. He didn’t take kindly to being parodied, though. The word “defamation” started getting thrown around a lot, and before things got messy, the episode was yanked off airwaves and heavily censored. You can still watch it on streaming sites to this day; just be prepared for a lot of bleeps and black bars. Honestly, given “Gintama’s” subject matter, it’s surprising stuff like this doesn’t happen more often.
#15: Karen’s Pearly Whites
“Nisemonogatari” (2012)
There’s a lot of feelings that come to mind when watching a scene like this. The first, of course, being plain and simple “discomfort.” While the “Monogatari” franchise is far from kid-friendly, Koyomi’s up-close and personal look into Karen’s mouth was something else. The question is, in what direction? Fans spent weeks debating the scene’s creative merits. Is it plain-and-simple fanservice? An animation flex? Or, is it just meant to make you squirm? No one knew for sure, but boy did everyone have an opinion. Who knew dental hygiene could cause such a fuss?
#14: The Cabbages
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“Crescent Love” (2006)
You heard that right. In this charming slice of life, there’s no graphic violence, uncomfortable romances, or taboo themes. Nope, it garnered attention because it showed someone cutting a cabbage. Or, rather something that’s supposed to be a cabbage. The animation left a lot to be desired, leaving most viewers in a state of shock, laughter, and amused bafflement. The production got wind of the backlash and fixed the visual for the DVD release. But it was too late. By then, the perfectly smooth vegetable was already a widespread internet meme. There’s no outrunning a cabbage like this.
#13: Kaneki’s Love Life
“Tokyo Ghoul” (2014-18)
The power of shipping knows no bounds. Even though Kaneki had heaps of chemistry with best girl Touka, eager fans really wanted him to get in bed with his best friend, Hide. But, all those hopes went up in flames when Kaneki and Touka finally consummated their relationship. To say fans weren’t happy would be an understatement. Some went as far as calling “Tokyo Ghoul” homophobic, and even sent the author death threats. While we can appreciate wanting more diverse relationships in anime, this glorified hate parade went to the extreme. The unwarranted reaction is a black mark on the “Tokyo Ghoul” fan base that won’t be going away any time soon.
#12: Not-So “Super” Animation
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“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-18)
You’d think a property as beloved as “Dragon Ball” would get the time and care it deserves. But, in just five episodes, the hotly-anticipated “Super” turned fan excitement into internet-melting outrage. The show’s rushed production schedule meant the animators couldn’t keep up with the battle-heavy storylines. So, even though episode five was supposed to be “Super’s” first big fight, it ended up looking like a duel between stick figures. The production company gave a few hamfisted excuses, but in the end, “Super” went down as a cautionary tale amongst fans. On the bright side, the show did eventually get its act together. But, the horrors of episode five still haunt everyone’s nightmares.
#11: Makoto’s Murder & “Nice Boat”
“School Days” (2007)
In a scene that still drops jaws to this day, this shocking slice-of-life ends with some literal slices taken out of its leading man, Makoto. But, that’s not the most notable part of its finale. A day before the episode was supposed to air, a real-life tragedy in Kyoto forced the Japanese network to cancel its broadcast. Instead, they aired a scenery shot with the subtitles “nice boat.” The internet exploded; frustration turning into confusion turning into absolute hilarity. By the time “School Days’” final episode aired, “nice boat” had become the anime meme of the year. You gotta feel for Makoto; his death got upstaged by a freaking boat.
#10: Too Close for Comfort
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“Oshi no Ko” (2023-)
While it may seem bubbly on the surface, this show is actually all about exposing the dark underbelly of the rich and famous. But, in its sixth episode, “Oshi no Ko” blended fact and fiction a bit too well. The plotline follows Akane, an actress facing so much online harassment, she eventually tries to end it all. The specifics of her torment echo the situation of real-life pro-wrestler, Hana Kimura. Unfortunately, while Akane survived her circumstances, Kimura didn’t. Later, the wrestler’s mother denounced “Oshi no Ko” for using her daughter’s death as quote-unquote “source material.” Her comments struck a chord, with many agreeing “Oshi no Ko” should be more sensitive with its real-world parallels going forward.
#9: False Allegations
“The Rising of the Shield Hero” (2019-)
You only get one chance at a first impression, and for some, “Shield Hero” blew it. While it's fresh spin on the isekai genre drew rave reviews, others were quick to point out some of its more problematic elements. Namely, that its first episode depicts slavery and false sexual misconduct allegations. Viewers who stuck around found that “Shield Hero” handled its tough subject matter with finesse and maturity. But, unfortunately, several of its protestors had already written the show off. It’s a real shame. If they’d just given Naofumi more of a chance, they’d have seen that the first season “The Rising of the Shield” is isekai at its very best.
#8: The Endless Eight
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“The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya” (2006)
In this maligned storyline, Haruhi and her friends are stuck in a time loop, repeating the same summer vacation. Even though the second episode re-animated every scene, it rehashed the exact same events as the first. The third episode repeated the trend again. So did the fourth, the fifth, and so on, eventually wasting over half the season with the same, identical plot points. “Haruhi” fans went into a tailspin, and we can’t even blame them. The fanbase’s meltdown reached such a boiling point, the show’s former director had to issue an apology. But, “sorry” wasn’t enough to stop the Endless Eight from becoming one of the most hated arcs in anime history.
#7: Dio & the Quran
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“JoJo's Bizarre Adventure” (1993-94)
As if being a thorn in the side of the Joestar family isn’t bad enough, Dio Brando decided to take on an entire religion, too. During the 90s OVA adaptation of the series, the vampiric villain reads excerpts from something that looks an awful lot like the Quran. Obviously, Muslims weren’t thrilled to see such flippant use of their sacred text. Especially by a vampire who’s talking about murder. In response, the manga’s English release went on hiatus, and the OVA’s were pulled from storefronts. Nowadays, there’s a whole new version of “Jojo’s” to fall in love with - and this one hasn’t offended any religious groups yet.
#6: Meet the Goblins
“Goblin Slayer” (2018-23)
If you turned on this anime expecting a light-hearted action fantasy, you had another thing coming. In the very first scene of the very first episode, a group of unlucky adventurers get cornered by goblins - and it crosses more than a few lines. Let’s just say that some of these party members got treated to a fate worse than death. Almost immediately after it aired, “Goblin Slayer” was accused of using extreme violence for shock value. And, even worse, doing so without a content warning. For what it’s worth, the scandal did get a lot of eyes on the show. But, something tells us most of those viewers didn’t hang around for episode two.
#5: Nina & Her Table
“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion” (2006-07)
Love is love, but there’s a time and place for everything. This was most definitely not the right time for Nina. She’s caught red-handed in a dark room examining a photo of her beloved. Given Nina’s position, it’s heavily implied that she got it on with the corner of a table. Sorry, we mean “table-kun,” as some cheeky fans started calling it. Jokes aside, the scene’s unnecessary sexual content drummed up its fair share of drama. This kind of weird, fanservice-y scene feels incredibly out of place in a tense thriller like “Code Geass.” And yet, that’s part of the reason Nina and Table-kun remain the show’s most infamous ship to this day.
#4: Taboo Content
“Sword Art Online” (2012-20)
It’s almost ironic that an episode titled “Taboo Index” has a scene that literally had to be censored. To put it as vaguely as possible, Eugeo almost has to watch his comrades suffer the worst punishment imaginable. The moment went through heavy edits before it could even hit streaming sites, let alone public broadcast. But, clever cutting or not, the reality of Ronye and Tiese’s situation isn’t any easier to stomach. In the face of ever-mounting backlash, “Sword Art Online’s” original author assured fans that he’d moved on from using violence as a plot device. If only he’d come to that conclusion a few years sooner…
#3: The Real Kind of Revenge
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“Redo of Healer” (2021)
This show is like a contentious bag of chips; you can’t just pick one. After all, the entire premise is basically a walking PR disaster. Without getting too deep into the nasty details, “Redo of Healer” is about the disgraced wizard Keyaru, who goes back in time to get revenge on those who wronged him. And, boy, does he get creative. Keyaru’s vengeance is up-front, gratuitous, and so vile, we can’t even talk about it on YouTube. Or show any footage, for that matter. Whatever you’re thinking of, it’s worse. You can’t even watch “Redo of Healer” in some countries, and honestly, that’s probably for the best.
#2: The Porygon Episode
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“Pokémon” (1997-)
Gotcha catch ‘em all… unless it’s Porygon. During the monster’s debut episode of the anime, Pikachu went into the internet and delivered a shock that the industry is still reeling from. The repetitive, flashing lights triggered a series of epileptic reactions across Japan, sending more than 600 viewers to the hospital. “Pokémon” immediately pulled the episode down, and went on a four-month hiatus to address the issue. By the time they returned to their regularly scheduled broadcast, Japanese networks had written up entirely new guidelines on light effects in anime. All these years later, shows are still being held to those standards. As for Porygon himself, he’s been blacklisted from the anime ever since.
#1: Congratulations!
“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96)
The characters may be congratulating Shinji, but there’s nothing to be happy about here. Especially if you’re a hard-core theorist. Ever since the series ended with this ambiguous scene, the “Evangelion” fandom has been stuck in a complete controversy of interpretation. Did Shinji reject instrumentality? Or, are they congratulating him because he joined their universal consciousness? Does it even matter?
What anime scandal surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below!
