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You ever come across any anime that you may consider as propaganda?

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May 10, 5:03 AM
#1

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I swear Cowboy Bebop was sponsored by cigarette brands because every single episode it tries its hardest to reinvent smoking as the coolest, sexiest thing since sliced bread. It is blatant propaganda to turn weebs into chain smokers.

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May 10, 5:14 AM
#2

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The entire anime of Okinawa de Suki ni Natta Ko ga Hougen Sugite Tsurasugiru felt like one big promotional campaign to increase tourism to Okinawa. I must say it kinda worked cause after watching it, I do wanna visit Okinawa.


What have I done?!
It's too late for me now.
I guess I won't be the sane
level 5 of Academy City anymore.

May 10, 5:17 AM
#3

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Reply to Dark_Mikoto
The entire anime of Okinawa de Suki ni Natta Ko ga Hougen Sugite Tsurasugiru felt like one big promotional campaign to increase tourism to Okinawa. I must say it kinda worked cause after watching it, I do wanna visit Okinawa.
@Dark_Mikoto Haha, true, but to be fair I wanted to visit Okinawa prior to this show or manga.

I will also add Gate as JSDF's favorite anime.
https://myanimelist.net/anime/28907/Gate__Jieitai_Kanochi_nite_Kaku_Tatakaeri
May 10, 5:24 AM
#4

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Reply to Dark_Mikoto
The entire anime of Okinawa de Suki ni Natta Ko ga Hougen Sugite Tsurasugiru felt like one big promotional campaign to increase tourism to Okinawa. I must say it kinda worked cause after watching it, I do wanna visit Okinawa.
@Dark_Mikoto This had pretty much the same idea. https://myanimelist.net/anime/53421
May 10, 5:30 AM
#5

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gundam 0079 is anti-zeon propaganda, good thing yasuhiko remade it into an amazing story about war and drama with the manga
May 10, 5:35 AM
#6

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Majority of modern detective conan movie are just straight up tourism campaign for where the movie takes place in and the crazy thing is that after every movie those said place see a rise of tourist from other Japanese prefecture
May 10, 5:55 AM
#7

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zurame said:
@Dark_Mikoto Haha, true, but to be fair I wanted to visit Okinawa prior to this show or manga.

My prior impression of Okinawa was that it was the "Hawaii of Japan", a tropical paradise that the mainland Japanese visit for their beach vacations. Beaches aren't my thing, which is why Hawaii does not interest me much either. Okinawa being the former Ryukyuu Kingdom does interest me in terms of its historical and cultural differences compared to mainland Japan. The anime did illustrate the differences in a comedic way, so it did make me more interested in Okinawa as a potential future vacation destination.

IrnFox said:
This had pretty much the same idea. https://myanimelist.net/anime/53421

Oh yea, forgot about the Hokkaido one. Definitely on my list of places to visit one day. I believe the Hokkaido girls wearing mini-skirts in the snow thing inspired the character of Dawn in Pokemon. The Sinnoh region was based on Hokkaido and Dawn is depicted as walking around in the snow in both the anime and the games in a mini skirt.


What have I done?!
It's too late for me now.
I guess I won't be the sane
level 5 of Academy City anymore.

May 10, 6:45 AM
#8

Online
Mar 2026
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Reply to Dark_Mikoto
zurame said:
@Dark_Mikoto Haha, true, but to be fair I wanted to visit Okinawa prior to this show or manga.

My prior impression of Okinawa was that it was the "Hawaii of Japan", a tropical paradise that the mainland Japanese visit for their beach vacations. Beaches aren't my thing, which is why Hawaii does not interest me much either. Okinawa being the former Ryukyuu Kingdom does interest me in terms of its historical and cultural differences compared to mainland Japan. The anime did illustrate the differences in a comedic way, so it did make me more interested in Okinawa as a potential future vacation destination.

IrnFox said:
This had pretty much the same idea. https://myanimelist.net/anime/53421

Oh yea, forgot about the Hokkaido one. Definitely on my list of places to visit one day. I believe the Hokkaido girls wearing mini-skirts in the snow thing inspired the character of Dawn in Pokemon. The Sinnoh region was based on Hokkaido and Dawn is depicted as walking around in the snow in both the anime and the games in a mini skirt.
@Dark_Mikoto I never thought of that but now that you mention it, it all makes sense.
May 10, 6:49 AM
#9

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Jun 2019
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Beyond the fact that, while simultaneously art, all are at some level a bought and sold capitalistic entertainment product marketed for profit and either pushing some form of source material they're based on and/or incorporating some other form of promotion or ad for other goods and products, services, etc., Super Cub really takes it to the next level with its Honda propaganda and pushing Cub motorcycle purchases.

But somehow that just accentuates its offbeat charm.
May 10, 6:52 AM
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Feb 2025
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This OVA felt a lot like a big commercial for communism. My weekly group laughed about how heavy handed it felt when we watched it recently.

It was pretty fun to watch, though. I'd recommend it.

May 10, 6:54 AM

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Mar 2019
2386
Golden kamuy is probably one big ainu propaganda🤔
May 10, 7:01 AM

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Apr 2020
237
Dr. Stone is a big Science Propoganda
May 10, 7:04 AM

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Jul 2014
878
Momotaro, the first feature length anime film, is literal propaganda.
"Most anime makers are basically autistic" - Hideaki Anno
May 10, 7:12 AM
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May 2024
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Jashin-chan Dropkick is literally Hokkaido tourism propaganda and it doesn't even try to hide it. The later seasons were funded through fan crowdfunding and sponsorships and in exchange the show constantly has characters hyping up Hokkaido food and local spots.

QorvMay 10, 7:25 AM
May 10, 8:27 AM
May 10, 8:28 AM

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Mar 2026
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@Zarutaku I remember pizza hut sponsored this show
May 10, 8:41 AM

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Sep 2016
26870
Reply to zurame
@Zarutaku I remember pizza hut sponsored this show
True, but that isn't the propaganda I'm referring to.
*kappa*
May 10, 8:48 AM

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Sep 2013
977
I played the Summer Pockets VN and it was clearly a "have children" propaganda

so I'm sure the anime is the same as well
May 10, 9:06 AM

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Sep 2018
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I can think of a few

https://myanimelist.net/anime/40256/Cannon_Busters
Essentially the black panther version in anime form.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/58913/Hikaru_ga_Shinda_Natsu
Yaoi without shoujo/josei tag

https://myanimelist.net/anime/36432/Toaru_Majutsu_no_Index_III
An anime that literally glazes the british royals for some reason.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/51553/Tongari_Boushi_no_Atelier
The creator showed up into a UN meeting about protecting fictional girls and pushing ___.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/54855/Senpai_wa_Otokonoko
Pretty much take the idea of traps and remove all comedy from them.

There are a lot of dub only examples, but that is unfair to mark since the og sauce lacks such ideas like Dragon Maid dub.

As a conclusion, propaganda really is everywhere, but noticing and becoming aware of it is a good defense against such messaging.
rohan121May 10, 9:11 AM
May 10, 9:29 AM

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Reply to Catalano
gundam 0079 is anti-zeon propaganda, good thing yasuhiko remade it into an amazing story about war and drama with the manga
@Catalano
News flash: Zeon isn't real.
その目だれの目?
May 10, 11:26 AM
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Feb 2024
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Isn't there that one show, "GATE: The JSDF Fought There" or what have you, which was basically just a recruitment tool for the JSDF with a bit of denying Japanese warcrimes from WW2 on top if memory (At least of the discussion of the series, I didn't watch it myself) serves.
May 10, 11:30 AM
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Apr 2013
119
Gate was confirmed draft propaganda funded by Japanese military.

Nourion was funded by agricultural ministry as an propaganda to funnel people into living in rural area.
May 10, 11:33 AM

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Aug 2013
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Is it just me or people became so stupid that they call a mere advertisement as propaganda nowadays.
May 10, 11:34 AM

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Apr 2020
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Momotaro: Sacred Sailors
https://myanimelist.net/anime/2765/Momotarou__Umi_no_Shinpei?q=momontaro%20sacred&cat=anime

Also, there is that ova from Kyoani, which was produced by a cult, if that counts.
https://myanimelist.net/anime/13441/Shiawasette_Naani

May 10, 11:50 AM

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Mar 2026
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Reply to Lawgun
Is it just me or people became so stupid that they call a mere advertisement as propaganda nowadays.
@Lawgun maybe you just grew up, idk what answer you are expecting here.
May 10, 11:55 AM

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Code Geass with Pizza Hut. Literally no censors, and they have best girl eat it all the time too.

Also wasn't there some anime that had Hokkaido girls are awesome or something as a title?
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May 10, 12:01 PM

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Aug 2008
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Oishinbo had a 2 episode arc of "muh whaling is japanese culture" and the anti-whaler organization had a Bond villain meeting.
May 10, 12:12 PM
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First - most of anime is propaganda of Japan tourism.
Second - it goes with propaganda of Japaneese culture,
like before anime you ask someone on streets - Who is Samurai?
The answer was - shit man, isnt it some chineese food?!
Or, - hay man, how`s your toyota doing?
Answer - fuck man, that chineese car is so good!
Third - people knows what manga is, theese days...
May 10, 4:15 PM

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Jul 2014
7517
Angel Cop is basically a Groyper anime if you watch it with its original audio track. In the last few episodes, it's revealed that everything that transpired over the course of the show was orchestrated by a cabal of Jewish bankers who want to take over Japan and turn it into a nuclear waste dump. Transparent far right propaganda lmao. They altered this in the English dub though.

fr though, this shit is so out of pocket lmao
LoveLikeBloodMay 10, 4:19 PM
Take care of yourself

May 10, 4:24 PM

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May 2014
2503
Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru? and a few other that followed it were clearly propaganda to make weebs to do some exercice, out of their dark flat rooms through cute girls manipulation. Thankfully, I resisted it and I'm still a lazy weeb.

Speaking of cute girl manipulation, there is this alcohol propaganda where you see cute girls drink a lot streaming right now.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/61186/Kamiina_Botan_Yoeru_Sugata_wa_Yuri_no_Hana

That one is good propaganda :) sport is bad, wine is good.
May 10, 4:24 PM

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Feb 2016
18534
Reply to Lawgun
Is it just me or people became so stupid that they call a mere advertisement as propaganda nowadays.
@Lawgun
You are not the only one thinking this.
その目だれの目?
May 10, 7:51 PM

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Oct 2017
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Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement did this video series about these fucking insane anime movies made to promote the Happy Science Cult. It's a real trip and I would heavily reccomend watching his videos about these movies as they are really funny and give you some insight into the genuinely insane world of a bizarre cult that feels like the Japanese equivalent to Scientology. It genuinely has to be seen to be believed how insane this bullshit is lmao

This post is brought to you by your local transfem gamer goblin. Will not tolerate bigotry and will fight against "anti-woke" sentiment to make the anime community a safer place.

May 10, 8:06 PM

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Reply to LSSJ_Chloe
Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement did this video series about these fucking insane anime movies made to promote the Happy Science Cult. It's a real trip and I would heavily reccomend watching his videos about these movies as they are really funny and give you some insight into the genuinely insane world of a bizarre cult that feels like the Japanese equivalent to Scientology. It genuinely has to be seen to be believed how insane this bullshit is lmao

@LSSJ_Chloe Yo, I heard about this. Good call.

@LoveLikeBlood haha yeah, good ol' Angel Cop. When I see someone defending/ favoring it I immediately get the picture of who they are.
May 10, 8:14 PM

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Oct 2016
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Reply to LSSJ_Chloe
Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement did this video series about these fucking insane anime movies made to promote the Happy Science Cult. It's a real trip and I would heavily reccomend watching his videos about these movies as they are really funny and give you some insight into the genuinely insane world of a bizarre cult that feels like the Japanese equivalent to Scientology. It genuinely has to be seen to be believed how insane this bullshit is lmao

@LSSJ_Chloe I can't imagine watching any of these movies. Fuck

Speaking of anime about/from cults, there's Chouetsu Sekai.
May 10, 8:23 PM

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Oct 2017
3856
Reply to CaptainKenshiro
@LSSJ_Chloe I can't imagine watching any of these movies. Fuck

Speaking of anime about/from cults, there's Chouetsu Sekai.
@CaptainKenshiro

Holy shit I completely forgot there was an Aum Shinrikyo anime. That's fucking wild
LSSJ_ChloeMay 10, 9:52 PM
This post is brought to you by your local transfem gamer goblin. Will not tolerate bigotry and will fight against "anti-woke" sentiment to make the anime community a safer place.

May 10, 8:37 PM

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Yes the recently aired anime Darwin incident felt like a propaganda
Yesterday, 1:16 AM

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Just so you know, smoking was extremely common in Japan up until really recently. Cowboy Bebop aired in the late 1990s, when it was estimated over half of working businessmen smoked. They got smoking breaks during work. They could smoke indoors too, and even on some trains and airplanes. It's not so much "propaganda" as it was more just a super common thing.

It's almost like watching a movie set in the US and seeing everyone driving and you going, "I swear this movie is sponsored by car companies".

Don't Worry,
Everything Is
gonna Happy ♡
Yesterday, 1:51 AM

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Jul 2014
7517
Reply to LSSJ_Chloe
Geoff Thew from Mother's Basement did this video series about these fucking insane anime movies made to promote the Happy Science Cult. It's a real trip and I would heavily reccomend watching his videos about these movies as they are really funny and give you some insight into the genuinely insane world of a bizarre cult that feels like the Japanese equivalent to Scientology. It genuinely has to be seen to be believed how insane this bullshit is lmao

@LSSJ_Chloe

Funny story, my brother and I ran into a Happy Science booth at a book fair in Cape Town where they were promoting their books when we were teenagers. Neither of us knew anything about the cult or even that it was a cult, and the lady at the booth was both disarmingly friendly and really cute. This led my brother to buying one of the books lol. He read some of it and told me it was some of the most unhinged shit he's ever read.
Take care of yourself

Yesterday, 2:03 AM

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Reply to SapioGalion
Just so you know, smoking was extremely common in Japan up until really recently. Cowboy Bebop aired in the late 1990s, when it was estimated over half of working businessmen smoked. They got smoking breaks during work. They could smoke indoors too, and even on some trains and airplanes. It's not so much "propaganda" as it was more just a super common thing.

It's almost like watching a movie set in the US and seeing everyone driving and you going, "I swear this movie is sponsored by car companies".

@SapioGalion
Yes, we know...just some people can't stop dissing on Cowboy Bebop for whatever reason.

Personally I don't smoke and never did, seeing people smoking or vaping doesn't even register.

Yesterday, 2:53 AM

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Ranking of Kings has that really nasty part that paints an entire culture as a degenerates who weren’t grateful enough to their colonizers, which is exactly how Japanese right-wingers talk about Koreans. I don’t trust it anymore.
Yesterday, 3:32 AM

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Honestly, most Chinese anime feel like propaganda to me, so I haven't watched any of them.
Yesterday, 3:57 AM

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Feb 2021
8413
Thankfully no. I like to relax when watching.
Yesterday, 5:11 AM

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155
There's a lot of shows that promote products, activities and locations
(Dagashi Kashi, Edomae Elf, Yuru Camp, Super Cub etc, etc), but,
I wouldn't go as far as to call those propaganda.
I suppose maybe Gate felt a little too glazy about the JDF? But, I can't really think of anything more egregious.

I'm sure there IS stuff like that, but I just haven't really stumbled upon it.
Yesterday, 5:13 AM
lagom
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Jan 2009
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wasnt darling in the franxx called making babies aka procreation propaganda
Yesterday, 9:27 AM

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Apr 2025
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Reply to rohan121
I can think of a few

https://myanimelist.net/anime/40256/Cannon_Busters
Essentially the black panther version in anime form.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/58913/Hikaru_ga_Shinda_Natsu
Yaoi without shoujo/josei tag

https://myanimelist.net/anime/36432/Toaru_Majutsu_no_Index_III
An anime that literally glazes the british royals for some reason.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/51553/Tongari_Boushi_no_Atelier
The creator showed up into a UN meeting about protecting fictional girls and pushing ___.

https://myanimelist.net/anime/54855/Senpai_wa_Otokonoko
Pretty much take the idea of traps and remove all comedy from them.

There are a lot of dub only examples, but that is unfair to mark since the og sauce lacks such ideas like Dragon Maid dub.

As a conclusion, propaganda really is everywhere, but noticing and becoming aware of it is a good defense against such messaging.
rohan121 said:
Yaoi without shoujo/josei tag
I like how you are singling this anime out while engorging all of the other BL anime that aren’t tagged as shojo/josei, such as Sasaki to Miyano and Love Stage. Also how does that even count of propaganda?
Yesterday, 11:16 AM

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445
Reply to alshu
@SapioGalion
Yes, we know...just some people can't stop dissing on Cowboy Bebop for whatever reason.

Personally I don't smoke and never did, seeing people smoking or vaping doesn't even register.

alshu said:
Personally I don't smoke and never did
Me too! Yayy smoke free buddies! (^ω^)人( ´▽`)

Smoking is also very much a character archetype thing too. Some characters just works really well with the personality when you have them smoke in certain scenes.

Don't Worry,
Everything Is
gonna Happy ♡
Yesterday, 11:23 AM

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Feb 2016
18534
Reply to StarBloom_64
rohan121 said:
Yaoi without shoujo/josei tag
I like how you are singling this anime out while engorging all of the other BL anime that aren’t tagged as shojo/josei, such as Sasaki to Miyano and Love Stage. Also how does that even count of propaganda?
@StarBloom_64
None of the anime he cited are propaganda.
その目だれの目?
Yesterday, 11:33 AM

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Apr 2024
1903
There's a difference between ads and propaganda. I know plenty of anime with ads in them. Even a bunch of anime that are basically ads.
As far as propaganda goes, most if not all fantasy anime promote race-mixing, but in a very naive way without considering consequences for the world and only in a feel-good way.
Yesterday, 12:04 PM

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Sep 2017
616
from all the anime iv seen over the years


86 comes to mind

and big suprise its from the 2020s
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