Cartoon Network’s Toonami once aired anime with violence, sex and adult themes that would now face heavy censorship or rejection. The piece argues these shows reflect a far less sanitised era of children’s television.
Follow the storyNever3 stories
01Summary
- 01The article names six Cartoon Network anime it says could not be made today, including Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, Dragon Ball Z and Outlaw Star.
- 02Yu Yu Hakusho is cited for graphic body horror, grotesque demon mutations, torture and bloody self-harm.
- 03Rurouni Kenshin is described as tackling state-sanctioned violence, political assassinations, prostitution and Japan’s Meiji-era transition.
- 04Dragon Ball Z is said to feature prolonged physical brutality, with characters impaled, beaten and bloodied across multiple episodes.
- 05Outlaw Star is noted for adult themes including nudity, illegal gambling, tobacco use and firearm violence, and it aired on Toonami from 15 January 2001.
02Why it matters
The story shows how broadcasting standards have changed and why shows once treated as normal afternoon viewing would now be considered too explicit for children’s television. It also underlines Toonami’s role in bringing more mature anime to a Western audience.
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