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Anti-Anime Law in the US Already in Effect

This proposed "Anti-Anime" bill in Texas could potentially affect a wide range of Japanese works, including those with depictions that might not intentionally involve minors, causing concern among publishers, retailers, and convention organizers.

Ahmed Hassan 14 September 2025 · 2 min read

Key takeaways

Senate Bill 20, also known as the Anti-Anime Bill, seeks to ban the sale and possession of manga and anime depicting underage characters in sexual situations, but its broad wording could potentially impact a wider range of comics and animation.
The bills interpretation is expansive, criminalizing not just real images, but also comics and animations featuring obscene scenes involving characters resembling minors, punishable by imprisonment.
The bill has already affected publishers such as JAST USA and J18 Publishing, with their content being deemed too provocative, leading to bans from Texas conventions and removal of certain volumes from stores within the state.
There is growing concern that the laws focus may inadvertently fall on Japanese animated and comic works, sparking debate about its implementation and potential unintended consequences.

Controversial 'Anti-Anime' Bill Widens Scope in Texas, Affecting Manga and Animation Industry

Texas lawmakers have advanced Senate Bill 20, legislation that fans have dubbed the "Anti-Anime Bill." This law seeks to make it illegal to sell or possess manga and anime depicting underage characters in sexual situations. However, critics argue the bill's broad wording could extend beyond its intended targets. The proposal specifically criminalizes any material, including comics and animation—not just real images—that features obscene scenes involving characters resembling minors, punishable by imprisonment. This expansive interpretation has already impacted publishers such as JAST USA and its imprint J18 Publishing. Authorities deemed their content too provocative, leading to their ban from Texas conventions and the removal of certain volumes from stores within the state. Andrew Balderas, manager of Kaboom Comics in Texas, highlighted the broad reach of the law. He recalled concerns that early volumes of Dragon Ball, featuring scenes between Goku and Bulma, might conflict with the new legislation, despite not being widely considered inappropriate. Though initially intended to combat AI-generated images involving minors, Senate Bill 20 has inadvertently focused its scrutiny on Japanese animated and comic works, creating significant discussion about its implementation.

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