20 Anime that Censored Lesbian Scenes Overseas but Kept Them in Japan

Localization teams and international broadcasters often modify content to align with regional standards or target younger audiences. This practice frequently results in the alteration or removal of same-sex relationships and intimate scenes between female characters. While original Japanese releases typically retain these moments in their source format or home video versions, overseas airings often receive heavily edited cuts. These changes range from rewriting romantic dialogues to obscuring visuals with bright lights and fog. The following titles experienced significant censorship of lesbian scenes when they made the journey out of Japan.

‘Sailor Moon’ (1992–1997)

The original Japanese broadcast of this magical girl series featured a romantic relationship between Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Haruka and Michiru were openly affectionate and clearly depicted as a couple in the source material. The initial English localization by Cloverway famously altered their dynamic in an attempt to make the show more suitable for children. The dub rewrote their dialogue to identify them as cousins rather than lovers. This change inadvertently created a confusing subtext for viewers who noticed their lingering romantic tension and physical closeness.

‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ (1998–2000)

Clamp designed this series to explore various forms of love including the affection Tomoyo feels for the protagonist Sakura. The original Japanese version makes it clear that Tomoyo loves Sakura more than just a friend. The North American broadcast version titled ‘Cardcaptors’ removed this subplot entirely to focus more on the action elements. Editors cut scenes where Tomoyo expressed her deep feelings and altered dialogue to frame their bond as strictly platonic best friends. These edits removed a significant layer of character motivation that was present in the Japanese release.

‘Revolutionary Girl Utena’ (1997)

This surreal series deconstructs the fairy tale genre and features intense intimacy between Utena and Anthy. While the television series is subtle, the movie adaptation ‘Adolescence of Utena’ features a much more explicit romantic connection. The climactic kiss between the two leads was famously cut or shortened in several international releases. Some regions felt the scene was too mature for the intended teenage demographic. Fans had to seek out uncut home video releases to witness the full resolution of their relationship.

‘Magic Knight Rayearth’ (1994–1995)

The antagonist Nova holds a complex and possessive love for the protagonist Hikaru in the second season of the anime. The original Japanese script depicts Nova declaring her love for Hikaru in a manner that mirrors romantic obsession. English dubs often changed this dialogue to reflect hatred or a desire to kill Hikaru instead of love her. This alteration completely changed the context of their final confrontation and the nature of Nova’s existence. The emotional weight of the finale relies heavily on this romantic connection that overseas viewers missed.

‘Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid’ (2015)

The entire premise of this show revolves around female characters sharing intimate kisses to activate powerful weapons. The Japanese AT-X broadcast and Blu-ray releases show these scenes clearly with full detail. Simulcasts outside of Japan were covered in massive beams of light and holy fog that obscured almost all the action on screen. The censorship was so heavy that audio was sometimes the only way to tell what was happening during battle preparations. Viewers found the international broadcast version nearly unwatchable due to the intrusive visual blocking.

‘Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya’ (2013)

This spinoff of the popular Fate franchise features magical girls who must kiss to transfer mana and sustain their powers. The scenes involving Illya and her friends Kuro or Miyu are often prolonged and framed in a suggestive manner. International streaming services received the broadcast video that placed fog and light over their faces during these transfers. The Japanese home video release removed these visual obstructions completely. Western fans often noted the jarring difference between the censored simulcast and the eventual uncensored disc release.

‘Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons’ (2014–2015)

Sunrise produced this mecha anime which contains frequent nudity and intimate situations between the female pilots. The protagonist Ange engages in several compromising scenarios with other women that were censored for international streaming. Dark shadows and convenient steam were applied to cover skin contact and suggestive poses. The Japanese Blu-ray release removed these censors to reveal the original intended artwork. The overseas broadcast version effectively sanitized the gritty and mature tone the creators aimed for.

‘Seven Mortal Sins’ (2017)

This series focuses on the demon lords of hell and contains high levels of fanservice involving the female cast. Scenes of intimacy between the demons and their human followers were heavily censored on international platforms. Large stickers and bright lights covered key parts of the screen during simulcast airings. The uncensored version remained exclusive to Japanese premium channels and physical media for some time. The censorship was pervasive enough to cover almost half the screen during certain episodes.

‘Yurikuma Arashi’ (2015)

Kunihiko Ikuhara directed this symbolic anime about bears who transform into girls and form relationships with humans. The show uses metaphor to explore lesbian relationships but also includes scenes of physical intimacy. International broadcasts often dimmed the screen or panned away during moments where the characters engaged in the “Promise of the Kiss” ritual. The visual metaphors remained but the direct physical contact was often obscured in the simulcast versions. This censorship dampened the impact of the show’s central theme regarding forbidden love.

‘Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne’ (2008)

This supernatural horror series features an immortal private investigator named Rin who has multiple female lovers. The show contains graphic violence and explicit sexual content that led to heavy editing for international TV broadcasts. Scenes depicting Rin in bed with her partners were often cut entirely or zoomed in to avoid showing nudity. The narrative flow was sometimes disrupted by these jagged cuts. Only the DVD and Blu-ray releases overseas managed to restore the missing footage seen in the Japanese premium broadcast.

‘Queen’s Blade’ (2009)

The franchise is built upon battle damage and suggestive interaction between an all-female cast of warriors. Broadcast versions sent to international licensors frequently used fog to cover the aftermath of attacks that shredded clothing. Intimate interactions where characters healed each other or grappled were also obscured. The Japanese home video release is famous for being completely uncensored compared to the TV edit. Western audiences watching on cable often saw a version that lacked the visual selling point of the series.

‘Ikki Tousen’ (2003)

Female fighters in this series engage in brawls that frequently result in torn clothes and exposed skin. The relationships between characters like Hakufu and Ryomou often include suggestive teasing and physical contact. International TV airings obscured these moments with light beams or digital blurring. The uncensored visuals were preserved strictly for the Japanese home market until uncensored localized DVDs became available. The censorship was often done to meet television rating standards in North America.

‘Strike Witches’ (2008)

The characters in this series do not wear pants and frequently engage in close physical contact to enhance their magical abilities. Scenes where characters like Yoshika and Lynette share a bed or bathe together were covered with steam in international broadcasts. The camera angles in the TV version were often modified to hide specific anatomical details. Japan released “director’s cut” versions on disc that removed all steam and visual obstructions. The overseas broadcast version felt much tamer compared to the original artistic intent.

‘Negima!’ (2005)

The premise involves a young wizard who must form pacts with his female students through kissing. While the show is largely a comedy, the kissing scenes were considered too frequent or suggestive for some US TV slots. Edits included shortening the duration of the kisses or cutting away to reaction shots. These cuts minimized the romantic tension between the female students who were often competing for the pacts. The result was a disjointed experience where the magical contracts seemed to happen instantaneously.

‘Kanokon’ (2008)

Chizuru the fox spirit is incredibly aggressive in her advances and often involves other female characters in her schemes. The show pushes the boundaries of television broadcasting with its suggestive content. International streams and broadcasts utilized the censored Japanese TV masters that blocked contact with massive logos and lights. The “AT-X” version in Japan remained uncensored and showed exactly what was happening beneath the censorship. Fans overseas had to wait for physical releases to see the show without obstructions.

‘Citrus’ (2018)

This popular yuri anime focuses on the relationship between two step-sisters named Yuzu and Mei. The broadcast version used for international simulcasts often darkened the screen or cropped the frame during the more aggressive romantic encounters. While the dialogue remained intact, the visual impact of their physical struggle was reduced. The Japanese Blu-ray release brightened these scenes and removed the cropping. The censorship was purely visual but altered the intensity of the melodramatic moments.

‘Netsuzou Trap -NTR-‘ (2017)

The story follows two girls who cheat on their boyfriends with each other. The anime consists of short episodes that are packed with secretive intimacy between the two female leads. International audiences watched a version where large timers and pixelation blocked their secret trysts. The uncensored version was sold as a premium feature in Japan or included on the home video release. The heavy censorship made it difficult to understand the progression of their physical affair.

‘Kandagawa Jet Girls’ (2019)

Jet racing in this anime involves pairs of girls riding together and shooting water guns at opponents to strip their wetsuits. The show features a racing aftermath scene in every episode where the winners shower together. These shower scenes were completely obscured by steam in the international simulcast version. The Japanese AT-X broadcast showed these scenes without the steam. The censorship removed a repetitive but central fanservice element of the show’s structure.

‘Inugami-san and Nekoyama-san’ (2013)

This short-form comedy anime plays on the personalities of a dog-like girl and a cat-like girl who are attracted to each other. Their kisses and daydreams were frequently covered by large animal icons or cartoon effects in the streaming version. The censorship was played for laughs but still obscured the romantic payoff of the jokes. The unblocked versions were only available on the Japanese disc release. Viewers overseas missed out on the clear visual confirmation of their relationship progress.

‘Simoun’ (2006)

The characters in this sci-fi war drama are all born female and choose their permanent gender later in life. The priestesses pilot flying machines in pairs and must share a kiss to activate them. Some international broadcasts trimmed the length of these kisses to make them appear more functional and less romantic. The relationship between the leads is deeply romantic and these cuts undermined the emotional intimacy of the story. The original Japanese DVDs retained the full length and framing of every kiss.

Please share your favorite uncensored anime moments or other examples you remember in the comments.