Is Russia Going to Ban Anime Figures?

Apparently, Russia going to ban anime figures, Labeling Them as “Pornography” — Why? They’re Considered Harmful to Children. The news comes from the portal RT.com, a news site funded by the Russian government.

Is Russia Going to Ban Anime Figures?

On May 12, the official account of the news site RT.com made the following post, using an image of a Hatsune Miku figure. The text reads: “Russia moves to ban anime figurines, saying they are dangerous for children and equating them to porn.”

The news shocked many, while others agreed with the move, saying it’s something that “should be banned anyway” — the typical dictator-like mindset that supports banning anything they don’t personally like. Some people were also confused about whether this was real, but apparently it is, since the post comes from RT.com — as mentioned, a website funded by the Russian government, meaning they likely publish what the Russian authorities want to promote.

The government’s claim is that these figures could negatively influence children and potentially violate child protection and anti-pornography laws. This measure is part of a broader effort by the country to regulate media content considered harmful to minors.

In recent years, Russia has enacted strict laws to protect children from content that could affect their development, such as Federal Law No. 436-FZ, which prohibits materials that cause fear, promote violence, or depict illegal activities. The Russian Criminal Code also criminalizes the creation and possession of pornographic materials involving minors — including certain drawings and animations.

The potential ban on anime figures follows a previously established pattern, such as the censorship of anime series like Death Note and Tokyo Ghoul, which were banned over concerns about their impact on young audiences.

For now, whether Russia will truly ban anime figures remains to be seen — so far, only RT.com has reported on the issue.

via Você Sabia Anime