A German state media outlet has sparked controversy by accusing Japanese manga and anime of promoting a “Nazi cult in comic style” and an obsession with right-wing and military ideologies.
In its mini-documentary How Manga are Obsessed With Nazis and Military, published on November 18, Deutsche Welle highlighted what it described as “dangerous content” in the medium. The video, shared on YouTube, has garnered 10,000 views so far.
The documentary points to depictions of swastikas and anime characters in SS uniforms, claiming they reveal an uncritical use of Nazi aesthetics. “For many Germans, it’s shocking to find out that manga and anime series seem to be making uncritical use of Nazi aesthetics,” the narrator stated, while images of anime girls in military attire were shown. However, much of the cited material appears to come from fan art and memes, not official content.
An interviewed expert criticized Japan’s lack of government intervention to address such imagery, calling the absence of censorship “a huge problem.” The documentary also suggested that Japan’s growing fascination with military themes could be fueling these portrayals. Popular series like Attack on Titan and Girls und Panzer were mentioned as examples of using German-inspired imagery in ways the creators deemed irresponsible.
While the documentary acknowledged that 99% of manga focuses on fantastical or unrelated themes, it suggested that some series “break taboos with relish but also ignorance.”
Deutsche Welle has not responded to requests for comment, and the report continues to draw mixed reactions, particularly from fans who argue that the claims unfairly generalize a diverse medium.
