Off Our Watchlist: Anime Christians Should Avoid (Parents Too)

In this post, we will give a list of anime that Christians should avoid (in our opinion).

Introduction: Off Our Watchlist (Anime Christians Should Avoid)

As a faith-based anime review site, we often discover new titles in the anime genre, and there are plenty of fun anime options for Christians. However, in some cases, we discover concerning content that makes it difficult to justify watching—even for the purpose of writing a parent guide or review.

From a Christian perspective, the anime listed are so extreme in content that we strongly advise Christians, parents, sensitive viewers, and younger viewers to avoid them entirely.

This list highlights anime that are widely recognized for including content such as graphic violence, sexual exploitation, disturbing themes, or morally problematic content.

Most of the anime on this list are ones we haven’t watched (because, as previously stated, there are some anime Christians should avoid entirely).

This list will be updated as we come across new anime with concerning content or learn new information about anime we’ve listed.

It’s important to note that this is not a comprehensive list. There are so many anime out there, and each anime should be treated with heavy discernment.

To visit our list of anime that’s safe for Christians, click here. To visit our list of family-friendly anime, click here.

How to Identify Anime Christians Should Avoid

Since the list isn’t comprehensive, I wanted to offer you some insights in order to determine if a title belongs on the list of anime Christians should avoid.

• Look for certain tags on My Anime List, IMDB, or other anime sites to help you identify anime inappropriate for Christians. If a tag says ecchi or hentai, you will most likely want to skip this anime because that means it’s either very suggestive or actual p*rnography (I will point out that, for some websites with user submitted tags, ecchi may be applied when it’s not actually an ecchi, so do your research if you’re unsure. If hentai is a tag, however, most likely you should just skip the research and look for a different show).

• Use parent guide sites like IMDB or Common Sense Media to help identify anime that parents and children should avoid. I was actually surprised that Common Sense Media had reviewed some of the anime on this list. Their reviews are brief and to the point, so they can be helpful when making quick decisions.“IMDb’s Parent Guide section is user-submitted, which means the level of detail and accuracy can vary, but it can still be a helpful starting point.

• Use Reddit to help identify anime Christians should avoid. Reddit can be a bit chaotic, but sometimes you can learn quite a bit about an anime from existing threads (or even ask yourself by posting. But that leads me to this next point).

• Do not expect anime recommendations online from social media, Reddit, etc. to actually be legitimate anime recommendations. There are plenty of well-meaning and helpful commenters on there for sure, but there is a good chance that at least some of the anime suggested will be a joke answer.

• Never take a random person’s word when they say an anime is actually safe for someone to watch without legitimate evidence.

Anime Christians Should Avoid: How This List is Organized

The list is broken into two sections:

❌ Definitely Skip: Anime Christians Should Avoid

These anime contain content that is morally, spiritually, or emotionally problematic from a Christian framework. We strongly advise avoiding them due to the anime’s graphic nature, immorality, disturbing themes, portrayal of minors, profanity, sexual content/nudity, etc.

🚫 Absolutely Not (Do Not Watch or Look Up): Anime Christians Should Avoid at All Costs

This category lists anime that contains explicit content we consider disturbing. These are the shows that may, in many cases, be even more morally problematic, explicit, and graphic than the others listed from a Christian perspective. We just made a list instead of justifying our reasoning here because in many cases, even a quick Google search could expose you to content that we find very explicit and inappropriate.

Some titles in this category are common internet “jokes” which means that random people online recommend the anime to those looking for show recommendations (whether a parent, new anime fan, etc).

These anime are extremely disturbing and inappropriate from our perspective (especially for Christians, children, parents, etc.)—and we list them so that parents and other discerning viewers don’t have to look them up and risk exposing themselves to what we consider explicit or extremely graphic material.

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❌ Definitely Skip: Anime Christians Should Avoid

This section exists to warn Christian viewers and parents about anime titles that are extremely graphic, sexual in nature, exploitive, violent, gory, etc. from a Christian perspective. These are, in our opinion, anime Christians should avoid. Some of these titles are unfortunately recommended—even jokingly—to parents or children online. We do not promote or encourage looking up these shows, and we ask that you take our word for it—these shows are NOT recommended for discerning viewers.

Akame ga Kill! | 2014 | TV-MA
A hyper-violent series that pulls no punches when it comes to death, gore, and despair. Contains some sexual content/nudity. It also utilizes the Anyone Can Die trope, and there are many deaths in the series, and much of the violence is considered by some as “mindless.”

Another | 2012 | TV-MA
Known for its graphic violence and disturbing content, the horror-mystery series involves a deadly curse, supernatural deaths, and a ghostly presence that drives the narrative.

Basilisk | 2005 | TV-MA
A violent historical ninja tale with some sexual themes.

Beastars | 2019 | TV-MA
Although labeled as shonen, it includes sexual themes, violence, and disturbing content inappropriate for its target demographic. The story’s morally complex issues and predatory behavior make it unsuitable for Christian viewers.

Berserk | 1997 | TV-MA
Contains severe sexual content, grotesque, extreme violence, revenge, and very intense scenes. The 2016 Berserk is considered even worse in terms of content, and it contains more prominent occult/pagan concepts.

Black Lagoon | 2006 | TV-MA
It features excessive violence, strong language, and nudity/suggestive content.

Chainsaw Man | 2022 | TV-MA
Use of serious curse words, plenty of violence and gore, and sexual content. Visit Common Sense Media for more information.

Corpse Party: Tortured Souls | 2013 | TV-MA
Revolves around occult rituals/themes, child mutilation and murder, and extreme, graphic violence. Features disturbing imagery and panty shots.

Deadman Wonderland | 2011 | TV-MA
Extremely violent with very intense scenes, Deadman Wonderland contains body horror, sex and nudity, and severe profanity.

Dorohedoro | 2020 | TV-MA
Known for its violence, body horror, and plenty of gore, Dorohedoro is very intense and graphic.

Elfen Lied | 2004 | TV-MA
Known for intense violence, graphic gore, sexual content and disturbing themes.

Eromanga Sensei | 2017 | TV-14
Here’s a part of the synopsis from My Anime List: “While caring for what’s left of his family, Masamune earns a living as a published light novel author with one small problem: he’s never actually met his acclaimed illustrator, Eromanga-sensei, infamous for drawing the most lewd erotica. Through an embarrassing chain of events, he learns that his very own little sister was his partner the whole time!”

Future Diary | 2011 | TV-MA
A disturbing anime that contains graphic violence, severe sexual content, and very intense scenes. There is a cut and an uncut version, but we don’t recommend either.

Gantz | 2004 | TV-MA
A violent and hypersexualized series that features nudity, explicit content, severe violence/gore and frightening/intense scenes. It holds a bleak, nihilistic worldview.

Goblin Slayer | 2018 | TV-MA
Notable for its violent and disturbing content, including extreme sexual violence.

Hell Girl | 2005 | TV-MA
Centers around a website that people can use to send others to Hell. The cost of using this website, however, is that the user will also be sent to Hell after death. There’s a doll with a string that, when pulled, creates torment for the victim. The anime explores revenge and human darkness. Its ambiguous morality presents serious ethical and spiritual concerns.

Hellsing Ultimate | 2001 | 18+
Centered on vampire hunters, this redo of the original Hellsing anime includes gory violence, severe sexual content, severe profanity, and occult content. The original Hellsing is 16+ and up and compared to Ultimate (the remake), it is considered “tamer,” but neither are recommended.

High School DxD | 2012 | TV-MA
We’re just going to let the Wikipedia description speak for itself: The story centers on Issei Hyodo, a perverted high school student from Kuoh Academy who desires to be a harem king and is killed by his first date, revealed to be a fallen angel, but is later revived as a devil by the red-haired devil princess Rias Gremory to serve her and her devil family. Additionally, some censorship has occurred with the anime, and there is a LOT of suggestive content and nudity.

High School of the Dead | 2010-2011 | TV-MA
A horror anime with suggestive content, nudity, strong language, and extreme violence/intenseness.

Higurashi When They Cry | 2006 | TV-MA
Higurashi When They Cry is a psychological horror known for its violence, body horror, and gore. The sequel, Kai (2007) also contains violence, though some people may consider it less extreme.

Higurashi When They Cry (GOU + SOTSU) | 2020-2021 | TV-MA
Higurashi When They Cry (GOU + SOTSU) is a psychological horror known for its violence, body horror, and gore. Compared to its predecessor, this is a much more violent installment in the series.

Made in Abyss | 2017 | TV-MA
Infamous for its severe violence, body horror, nudity involving young characters, and extremely frightening scenes, Made in Abyss is not for the faint of heart despite its innocent visual style. The anime features body horror, abuse of children, and deeply disturbing themes. You may see this one come up in anime recommendations as it does have plenty of fans; however, the content is, from a Christian perspective, deeply troubling & not recommended at all.

Geeks Under Grace has a review of Season 1 available.

Ninja Scroll | 1993 | R
A dark, hyper-violent samurai film known for its graphic gore and sexual violence/nudity.

No Game No Life | 2014 | TV-14
Despite its colorful visuals, this ecchi anime features the sexualization of underage characters.

Now and Then, Here and There | 1999-2000 | 16+
Sexual content, including sexual assault/sexual violence and its resulting pregnancy. Severe violence including attempted abortion and violence towards children/by children.

OniAi (Oniichan dakedo Ai sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!) | 2012 | TV-MA
This ecchi anime contains incest between siblings and nudity.

Oreimo (My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute) | 2010-2013 | TV-14
Focuses on two minor siblings in a romantic relationship.

Perfect Blue | 1997 | R
A psychological thriller about a former idol losing her grip on reality after being stalked. This adult film contains graphic violence/gore, nudity, a sexual assault scene, and intense psychological horror.

Rosario + Vampire | 2008 | TV-MA
Combines supernatural themes with heavy fanservice. Some broadcasts even censored it due to its content.

Sankarea | 2012 | TV-MA
Here’s the synopsis from IMDB: “A zombie-obsessed boy attempts to resurrect his dead cat using an ancient text. He meets Rea, a troubled girl seeking rebirth, whose path intertwines with his supernatural pursuits.” The anime has sexual content (it’s an ecchi), horror/violence, and deals with themes of necrophilia.

School Days | 2007 | TV-14 (IMDB); R+ (My Anime List); 16+ (Crunchyroll)
Containing severe sexual content/nudity and violence, School Days is infamous for its content.

Shiki | 2010-2011 | TV-MA
A horror anime with intense violence, body horror, and disturbing content, Shiki is a very gruesome series, especially near the later half.

Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist | 2015 | TV-MA
Sexual content.

Tokyo Ghoul | 2014 | TV-MA
Tokyo Ghoul is extremely violent and contains graphic torture, gore, and cannibalism.

Tokyo Revengers | 2021 | TV-14 (IMDB) R – 17+ for violence & profanity (My Anime List)
Despite being a shonen, Tokyo Revengers is a very mature anime that contains intense violence, and frightening scenes.

🚫 Absolutely Not (Do Not Watch or Look Up): Anime Christians Should Avoid at All Costs

This section is reserved for anime that contains explicit content we consider disturbing (we consider them more explicit and graphic than the anime listed above). These are, in our perspective, anime Christians should avoid.

We do not recommend looking these up, even out of curiosity. This list exists to protect viewers—especially parents, Christians, and younger anime fans—from stumbling into what we consider explicit content.

This category includes anime that go far beyond the content concerns many Christians may have. Remember, this is written from a Christian framework and this is our perspective on the various anime Christians should avoid.

Some titles here may look innocent on the surface—like a typical romance or school story—but the content, in our opinion, takes extreme turns involving graphic violence, sexual exploitation, or psychological torment.

Unfortunately, some people online think it’s funny to troll newcomers, kids, or concerned parents by recommending these shows as if they’re harmless or popular picks—when in reality, they’re deeply inappropriate and disturbing from a faith-based perspective.

This list exists to prevent that kind of harmful misdirection from internet trolls and help you avoid the content altogether.

Anime Christians Should Avoid (In Our Opinion) Include:

• Angel of Darkness (Injū Kyōshi)
• Bible Black
• Blood C
• Boku no Pico
• Bondage Game
• Devilman Crybaby (plus Devilman series)
• Enzai
• Euphoria
• Genocyber
• Happy Sugar Life
• Hen (Strange Love)
• Imouto Paradise!
• Interspecies Reviewers
• Itadaki! Seieki
• Kodomo no Jikan
• Kuroinu: Kedakaki Seijo wa Hakudaku ni Somaru
• La Blue Girl
• Mahou Shoujo Site
• Metamorphosis (Henshin/Henshin Emergence) | [Manga]
• Midori: Shoujo Tsubaki
• Milk Money
• Night Shift Nurses
• Oni Chichi
• Overflow
• Pupa
• Redo of Healer
• Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne
• Sensitive Pornograph
• Shoujo Ramune
• The Testament of Sister New Devil
• Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend
• Violence Jack
• Wicked City
• Yosuga no Sora

These are some of the most inappropriate anime titles in existence (in some opinions, including ours). Some are even recommended (by random people online) as memes or “jokes” to anime newcomers, parents, or even children.

We strongly caution all parents and Christians to avoid these entirely and not even search them out—even out of curiosity.

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Disclaimers

Disclaimer: This list is curated based on personal knowledge, research, IMDB/Common Sense Media content guides, Brave AI, Google, Reddit, other resources, and ChatGPT.

Our list is intended for educational use only, and is consistently updated as we discover new information. We have tried to be accurate in emphasizing the content flags/concerns but we acknowledge that we could make mistakes. Always use wisdom and discernment.

The opinions expressed in this content are those of Renewed Mind Reviews. We are not affiliated with any of the creators of the series mentioned and are simply sharing our faith-based perspective on anime that our readers may encounter during their research.

The intent of this commentary is to inform and provide insight and our perspective.

All series mentioned are the property of their respective creators and studios.

FAQs for Anime Christians Should Avoid

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