Ask John: Why Is Anime More Censored than American Animation on American TV?

Question:
I don’t get this. How come some “adult” American cartoons (such as South Park and Family Guy) can get away with sexual content, violence, etc. on American TV and anime can’t? Anime shows always have to be edited, even on Adult Swim!

Answer:
I believe that the absence of fully uncut and unedited anime on American broadcast television is a result of the continued misunderstanding of Japanese animation in America, and the scale of anime popularity in America. I suspect that mainstream America, and especially American television network executives, still operate under the belief that anime is merely children’s cartoons. Furthermore, mainstream American awareness of anime and demand for anime is still minimal, which leaves it relegated to broadcast on networks that specifically target young viewers.

American created animated series including South Park and Family Guy can include profane language, references to sex, and depictions of graphic violence because they’re American productions. These programs are created by American artists, for American viewers, so they have American artists that can and do defend the content in these shows. Viewers are apt to be shocked by the content of some American animated series, yet still accept that content because it’s specifically addressed to American perceptions and expectations. On the other hand, Japanese animation doesn’t have influential proponents in America that demand anime be broadcast on American television unaltered. Bandai and Sunrise Studios of Japan made specific demands regarding the way Gundam Wing was to be treated for its American television broadcast, but I’m not aware of any other case of a Japanese copyright owner demand particular treatment for an anime series broadcast on American television. Unfortunately, most American distributors aren’t influential enough to make demands of national television networks regarding the presentation of anime. I believe that most domestic distributors are glad to have their titles receive nationwide TV exposure. They’re grateful for the exposure, and not in a position to start making demands because there are far too many other anime series available that a television network could choose instead.

Although there is a lot of anime available in America, awareness of anime in America hasn’t increased at the same pace. Programs like Family Guy and South Park attract a wide audience, but imported anime in America remains mainly popular among only a select percentage of younger Americans. As a result, the only national television networks in America that broadcast anime in any significant amount are niche market channels and networks that target children and teen viewers. Networks and broadcast blocks like G4 and Kids’ WB are obligated to adhere to national broadcast standards for children’s programming because they are channels whose primary audience is children and teens. The Cartoon Network and Adult Swim likewise respect FCC regulatory standards, and more importantly consider market conditions and the commercial ramifications of particular broadcast decisions. While anime fans may want uncut, mature audience anime on American network television, American television networks consider their entire viewing audience, not just their viewers who are hardcore anime fans.

I’m not an American television network employee, so I don’t know for certain what motivations and decisions networks deal with. I don’t know for certain that my theories are correct, but I suspect that they do play a big role in why certain animated series on American television can be much more adult oriented than others. American produced animated programs with adult content are specifically designed to appeal to adult American viewers. As a result, they’re more popular among American viewers than imported Japanese animation. They’re also able to “get away with” more than Japanese imports because they’re specifically intended to be controversial. While American produced animation has native advantages, imported anime will seemingly always fight an uphill battle in America because it’s foreign. Since it’s not as easily digestible for mainstream American viewers as original American programming, television networks that are primarily in business to earn profits alter anime to make it more easily consumed by mainstream American viewers. American networks, including even Adult Swim (which is consciously trying to broadcast less heavily edited anime), edit anime to meet the tastes of the majority of their viewers.