On October 27, 2024, two districts in the state of Tennessee called for the removal of various manga titles from school libraries. The series, among which are beloved franchises like Attack on Titan, were deemed inappropriate for children. The government officials who approved the mandate determined that the manga series violated the state's Age-Appropriate Materials Act.

Followers of these great series immediately took to social media to share their displeasure with this decision. With more events like this occurring lately across the United States, fans are left wondering what will occur next to their favorite franchises. While things might look gloomy now, there is little evidence that anything major will occur with anime and manga beyond this point.

School Libraries Say Goodbye to Beloved Manga Franchises

The Volumes Were Taken from Shelves and Student's Hands

To comply with the state of Tennessee’s new Age-Appropriate Material Act, school districts have begun banning reading materials that have been deemed inappropriate. The banned books and manga were selected due to the topics or themes approached by the series in question, from excessive blood, nudity, violence, and LGBTQ-related subjects, among others. The list of forbidden manga is extensive, with many popular and well-known titles being included in this shocking ban. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Inuyasha, The Seven Deadly Sins, and Tokyo Ghoul are only some of the series that have been deemed inappropriate.

When asked about the topic, many school librarians lamented this decision, revealing how heartbreaking it was for them to have these beloved titles taken away from their children. The school district forced libraries to not only rid the shelves of the volumes but also take them from students who had already borrowed them. While only two districts have completed the ban as of November 28, 2024, Tennessee’s officials confirmed that these restrictions will be applied state-wide.

Manga Bans Had Been Increasing Across The United States Recently

Fans Have Become Worried About Further Actions

Tennessee’s manga ban might be the most recent action taken against the industry, yet it is not the only one. Many states across the U.S.A. have been issuing similar mandates in recent years, similarly, claiming that the forbidden titles are not appropriate. Assassination Classroom, a popular series that gained notoriety among Western fans, has been targeted with similar restrictions in states such as North and South Carolina or Florida. The BL genre has also been under constant attack recently, with various of its popular manga being removed from libraries.

Although these bans had already raised concerns among fans, the Tennessee prohibition is arguably the biggest and most worrisome yet. Such a long list of titles causes anguish among followers of these iconic series, who fear further measures can be taken in the future to prevent readers from accessing these manga. Other states like Florida have already spoken out about plans to follow Tennessee’s plans and do something similar with their school libraries. Given that the topics that can cause a manga to be banned are so broad, there is no telling what other series could be affected.

A Nationwide Ban On These Series Is Unlikely

Only Certain States Have Suggested These Measures

Even though it might be alarming to see states banning manga in such a manner, the probability of this becoming a norm throughout the United States is extremely low. During the last couple of years, the popularity of both anime and manga has seen a massive increase among Americans. Characters like Goku or Luffy have become a part of mainstream culture, as few people do not know who they are. Restricting these franchises would cause a major backlash.

Moreover, these bans have only affected public school libraries as of November 2024, leaving many other options for fans to have access to their favorite series. Local libraries, bookstores, and even online sites like Manga Plus can help fans continue enjoying the franchises that have been banned in schools. In time, these restrictions can be lifted, as has occurred in the past with similar measures taken against books or music. The popularity of manga and anime in the U.S.A. will likely not be significantly hurt due to these prohibitions.

Anime and manga fans can rest assured that their beloved series will not suffer greatly from restrictions such as Tennessee’s. Nevertheless, it is important to keep spreading awareness about these circumstances, as it can prevent more extreme measures from being approved.