List of Banned Anime at ChinaJoy 2025 Causes Confusion Among Fans

The list of banned anime at ChinaJoy 2025 has sparked confusion and controversy among fans and cosplayers. The event, held from August 1 to 4 in Shanghai, is known as the largest digital entertainment expo in China, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

Banned anime at ChinaJoy surprises cosplayers

According to local media, the event followed an order from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, prohibiting cosplays and merchandise related to several anime, manga, and game franchises. The official reason was to prevent the spread of media that “violates core values, public order, and morals.”

Among the banned titles are Death Note, criticized for themes of social subversion, and Highschool of the Dead, due to sexual content. However, some bans raised eyebrows, such as Parasyte, which explores humanity’s coexistence with the environment, and games like Devil May Cry and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, both featuring heroes who fight against evil.

If the text looks strange in the name of some animes, it is because the image is originally in Chinese and a translator was used on top.

Censorship rules questioned

The decision has fueled debate online, with fans questioning the logic behind the blacklist. Many pointed out that some titles had already been censored nearly a decade ago, when cosplayers could even be fined for showing more than two centimeters of cleavage.

Another controversial case is My Hero Academia, which was recently banned after a character’s name unintentionally referenced WWII victims in China and Korea. Still, the inclusion of older titles from the 2000s and early 2010s has left many wondering why they remain restricted.

Despite criticism, the ban highlights the strict cultural control imposed at major events in China and is expected to fuel further debate on creative freedom and censorship in the anime and gaming industries.

via Você Sabia Anime