Censorship of content in online media is a complex issue in China, particularly regarding materials related to anime, which often face strict scrutiny. The system of content censorship in China is notoriously rigid: films are categorized according to age appropriateness or outright banned, with no middle ground. The criteria for censorship can be arbitrary, broad, or obscure, making it difficult to predict what will pass or fail this evaluation, which has led to a thriving industry of self-censorship.
Twitter user “d0nut (@d0nut2x)” recently shared a comparison regarding the second season of Vinland Saga.
In one particular scene, we see Olmar in a room with a young woman. The two engage in conversation, but Olmar leaves upon realizing that the girl is trying to seduce him. The girl, who appears scantily clad, is obscured by a strategically placed curtain. However, in the episode that was reportedly subject to censorship, the girl was entirely removed from the scene, rendering the shot completely devoid of its original meaning.
Of course, there is always a possibility that someone might try to alter the content to fit current trends on social media, as has been previously confirmed with the censorship of titles like “Demon Slayer” and “Higurashi: When They Cry,” which turned out to be incorrect. Although accessing streaming content in China can be challenging, many segments are available on Bilibili, a Chinese video platform, so the availability of “Vinland Saga” remains unchanged.
Whether this censorship is genuinely occurring or is simply a case of user-generated edits to provoke interaction, this post has certainly garnered significant attention from the online community.
