Death taxes and anime controversy. Ever since I started Animangemu, controversial topics with hot takes by famous figureheads of the anime industry have somewhat become the norm. Of course, this isn’t new, and this phenomenon dates back decades. Either it was Hayao Miyazaki saying that anime is made by people with unrealistic expectations—in a negative tone—which people mistakenly thought meant “anime is trash and was a mistake.” Nowadays, controversial issues have gotten more notable and a lot more common, especially this year in 2025.

Now Hideaki Anno joins the scene, and although he’s made previous controversial statements before, this one is his latest. But is it really controversial? According to some fans, it is—for them—and the reason why is clear. In a recent Forbes Japan interview, Anno stated that creators should not adjust anime for overseas or global audiences, emphasizing that works must first succeed domestically in Japan, and adding, “I’m sorry, but the audience will have to be the one to adapt.” Some fans (especially in Western discussions on platforms like Reddit and X) find this controversial because it feels like a rejection of global inclusivity, a pushback against localization pressures, or even a dismissal of “modern audience” sensitivities. Others, however, praise it as a defense of authentic Japanese storytelling against homogenization.

As we all know, in terms of popularity and industry business practices, anime as a whole has indeed globalized. Anime is more popular than ever, and people are watching anime—both old and new—racking up DVDs, buying up all the manga, and hogging all the merchandise. This year, we saw three anime movies dominate the box office worldwide: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, Chainsaw Man: The Movie – Reze Arc, and Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution. All three enjoyed unprecedented success at the box office in Japan and internationally. Most notably, in countries like the United States, China, and numerous nations in Southeast Asia and parts of Europe, anime has not only enjoyed explosive popularity but has equalized—and even dethroned—once long-time pop culture favorites among the locals.

So, with such success globally, it’s no surprise that a critically acclaimed and legendary director like Hideaki Anno would be asked such a question. So, what’s going on exactly, and what did he say?