Sometimesanimejust entertains. But every so often, it spills into the real world, leaving behind headlines, controversy, or even policy changes. From schoolchildren emulating a deadly notebook to acts of public service inspired by masked wrestlers and boar-headed swordsmen, these stories show how powerful animation can be when it collides with society at large. It’s not always pretty, but it’s never boring.
This list rounds upeight unforgettable moments when anime and manga leapt off the screen and into global headlines. You’ll find a studio fire that rocked the industry, a video game adaptation that triggered seizures across Japan, and a beloved children’s mascot used to shame rogue cops in Thailand. Whether uplifting or unsettling, these stories prove that anime is far more than just ink and pixels.
Death Note
In 2007,a middle school in South Carolina suspended a student after discovering a notebook titled “Death Note,“listing the names of classmates the student allegedly wanted dead.Inspired by the mangaDeath Noteby Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (2003), the book mimicked the series’ deadly premise, in which writing someone’s name in a supernatural notebook causes their death. Similar cases surfaced in Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Washington state. Authorities across the U.S. launched investigations, and schools began enforcing stricter rules about student writing and behavior.
The backlash triggered international conversations about the influence of violent media on children. In China, the government banned the manga outright in multiple cities. School administrators described the incidents as alarming, but some academics argued they were more about misunderstood fiction than actual threats.Death Note, a psychological thriller about justice and morality, sparked moral panic but also highlighted just how seriously manga is taken worldwide.
In December 2010, a man left a donation of children’s backpacks at a welfare facility in Gunma Prefecture, signing it with the name “Naoto Date,” the protagonist of the 1960s anime and mangaTiger Mask. The gesture was widely reported in Japanese media, and soon others followed suit. Thousands of people across the country donated school supplies, cash, and gifts to orphanages under the same alias. By early 2011, nearly 300 facilities had received donations.
The movement became known as the “Tiger Mask Phenomenon,“praised as a grassroots show of kindness in a time of growing economic anxiety. Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun reported that many donors said the character’s story of an orphan-turned-pro-wrestler who gives back to society had deeply resonated with them.Tiger Mask, created by Ikki Kajiwara and Naoki Tsuji in 1968, was originally intended as a dramatic sports manga but evolved into a cultural icon for altruism. The story would go on to be referenced in donation drives and even inspired local mascots and events centered on charity.
6Kyoto Animation
36 Killed in Industry’s Darkest Day
On Jun 27, 2025,Kyoto Animation’s Studio 1 was attacked by an arsonist who believed the company had stolen his novel manuscript. Carrying buckets of gasoline, he set the building ablaze, killing 36 people and injuring dozens more. It was the deadliest massacre in Japan since World War II and devastated one of the country’s most beloved anime studios. News of the attack spread quickly, with memorials held in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Paris.
The rebuilding of KyoAni’s facilities has since symbolized quiet resilience in the anime community.
The aftermath was marked by global mourning and unprecedented fundraising. Fans, creators, and corporations donated over $30 million to support survivors and victims’ families. The attack prompted industry-wide discussions on creator safety and studio security. Founded in 1985, Kyoto Animation was known foremotionally nuanced series likeClannadandA Silent Voice. The tragedy forced Japan and the anime world to reckon with vulnerability in spaces previously seen as safe and creative. The rebuilding of KyoAni’s facilities has since symbolized quiet resilience in the anime community.
Demon Slayer
In early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic spread through Japan, a nursing school in Iwate Prefecture received an anonymous donation of over 100 surgical masks.The packages were signed in the name of “Inosuke Hashibira,“thehot-headed but good-hearted character fromDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Local news outlets reported that similar gifts signed by anime characters began appearing at hospitals and schools across Japan.
The whimsical gesture brought smiles and a sense of solidarity in a time of fear. NHK interviewed one nurse who said, “It felt like a hero had our back.” Created by Koyoharu Gotouge in 2016,Demon Slayerbecame one of Japan’s highest-grossing anime franchises, known for its strong family themes and sense of resilience. The generosity associated with Inosuke also highlighted how fans engage with characters on a personal level, turning fiction into action when it matters most.
On July 29, 2025, Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo aired episode 38 of thePokémonanime, titled “Denno Senshi Porygon” (“Electric Soldier Porygon”). The episode featured a rapid sequence of flashing red and blue lights, whichcaused seizures, nausea, and temporary vision loss in nearly 700 children across Japan. Emergency rooms flooded with patients, and the show was pulled from the air. The incident became national news and made global headlines.
Emergency rooms flooded with patients, andPokémonwas pulled from the air.
In the aftermath, Japanese television networks implemented stricter animation guidelines regarding flashing images. TV Tokyo issued an apology and temporarily haltedPokémon’s broadcast. The episode has never aired again. Despite the controversy,Pokémon, created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori in 1996, rebounded to become one of themost successful multimedia anime franchisesof all time. It also led to global animation standards being re-examined, particularly for children’s programming, making the “Pokémon Shock” a defining moment in anime history.
Coast Guard Enlists with Help from the Straw Hats
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
In 2021,the Japan Coast Guard launched a recruitment campaign featuring the characters ofOne Piece, prominently showcasing Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates in official posters and animated spots. The move was designed to attract younger recruits and bolster public perception of the agency as heroic and just. The campaign reportedly increased engagement on social media and brought a measurable bump in interest among applicants.
The partnership reflects the national stature ofOne Piece, which began as a manga by Eiichiro Oda in 1997 and has since become thebest-selling manga series in history. Known for themes of adventure, freedom, and loyalty, the story has often been embraced by public institutions for its inspirational tone. With its blend of fantastical storytelling and idealism,One Piececontinues to serve as a cultural symbol of perseverance and justice, making it a natural fit for public outreach efforts.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titanis a globally successful manga and anime franchise created by Hajime Isayama. The story is set in a world where humanity lives inside walled cities, threatened by giant humanoid creatures called Titans. The series follows Eren Yeager and his friends as they fight to uncover the truth about the Titans and the world. First serialized in 2009, the franchise has expanded into anime series, films, video games, novels, and live-action adaptations.
Since its anime debut in 2013,Attack on Titanhas sparked controversy over its portrayal of military themes and authoritarian imagery. In China, the show was censored from major streaming platforms, while critics in South Korea accused it of mirroring fascist ideology. Academic panels and op-eds in outlets like the South China Morning Post debated whether its storyline glorified violence or simply critiqued war.
Creator Hajime Isayama has maintained that the manga, launched in 2009, is an anti-war allegory meant to explore cycles of hatred and trauma. Despite this, the ambiguity of its messaging has made it a lightning rod for political interpretation. Itsending only fueled debate, with some fans seeing it as an endorsement of tragic inevitability and others viewing it as a bleak mirror held up to history. This controversy underscores how anime can become entangled in the cultural and political contexts of its viewers.
Hello Kitty
In 2007, Thailand’s police department unveiled a peculiar new discipline strategy: officers who committed minor infractions, such as parking violations or tardiness, wereforced to wear bright pink armbands adorned withHello Kitty. The idea was to publicly shame offending officers without resorting to formal punishment. The New York Times reported that the tactic was introduced as part of a broader campaign to improve public trust in law enforcement.
The armbands quickly attracted international attention and raised eyebrows about gender, authority, and the symbolism of using kawaii culture for punitive purposes. Sanrio, the company behindHello Kitty, stated they had no involvement. Originally created in 1974 by designer Yuko Shimizu,Hello Kittywas intended to be a blank canvas for emotion. The strange use of her image in Thai police culture remains one of the most unusual real-world adaptations of a fictional character, cementing her global impact in unexpected ways.
