animax returned to India in the form of a little-heralded release in jiotv. Currently, the channel can be seen on the streaming service. However, it is said to be in the testing phase, as the shows are only available with Japanese audio and no English subtitles.
In addition to the testing phase, it appears that, at least in its current form, Animax is censoring some representations of female characters. Anime has often been controversial for the way it portrays women, especially when it comes to their physical appearance. This often includes exaggerated features, such as large breasts.
When anime is broadcast on television, especially in countries like India, with strict broadcast regulations, networks can choose to censor certain content.. This can include sexualized depictions of female characters, or just extreme cleavage. Censorship can be done by blurring the parts in question or by removing parts of the program. Animax seems to be embracing the first method of censorship.
According to the report of IGN Indiaduring the broadcast of the anime Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e (To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts), the breasts of some female characters appeared very blurred. The viewer experience can be less than ideal, especially when a permanent blur appears on one of the supporting characters, Liza Runecastleevery time it appears on the screen.
It’s understandable that channels must adhere to broadcast regulations, but it can be frustrating for anime fans who enjoy the source versions of their favorite series.. It is also likely that the decision to censor is an attempt to reach a wider audience and maintain a more familiar image. However, censoring the cleavage of female characters by blurring it can be particularly annoying because it can interrupt the viewers’ full immersion in the story. It can also unnecessarily draw attention to the censorship itself.
Anime censorship is also present in other media, not just television
Censorship on anime content is not limited to television. According to IGN India’s report, when attending a screening of jujutsu kaisen 0 at a local cinema, it was discovered that the film had also been the victim of censorship. Despite the fact that the mature themes and contents of the film were announced, verbal sexual jokes were censored with muted audio and subtitles that had been altered to remove any hint of suggestive dialogue. The censorship not only surprised, the change audibly frustrated the entire public.
Also, some anime fans may think that censoring female characters perpetuates double standards. This is because the male characters often appear uncensored, even though they are portrayed in a similarly sexualized way.
It should be noted that in the trailer for Animax Asia of Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e (To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts) does not show any type of censorship. The anime channel may be choosing to enforce stricter censorship policies in India compared to other regions, due to laws and regulations regarding content deemed inappropriate or offensive here.
animax returned to India through KC Global Mediawhich acquired the channel from Sony in 2020. The company has already announced that programs such as Golden Kamuy, Naruto, Kuroko no basket and gintama will be seen on Animax in India.
Both Naruto and Gintama contain fanservice and many sexual innuendos and references.. There’s also a healthy dose of nuanced humor including suggestive dialogue and double entendres. It remains to be seen if the censorship applied in Animax will extend to both verbal references and visual content. If censorship is excessive on Animax, it could negatively affect the viewer experience, as the humor and content of the shows could be altered or lost entirely.
Fountain: IGN India
The entry This is what anime censorship looks like in India was first published on Kudasai.
