Next BBFC Podcast to focus on classification of anime

Joshawott

Joshawott

Monsieur Monster
AUKN Staff
As part of their latest #askBBFC Twitter session, the British Board of Film Classification revealed that the next instalment of their podcast, which is scheduled to go live on 20th December, will focus on how the board classifies Japanese anime and how the areas in which the medium can challenge the expected standards of animation, with input from the board's examiners.

When it is made available, the podcast will be available from the BBFC's website.

Source

 
 
This will be interesting, I hope they cover the older titles they rated like Ninja Scroll, Royal Space Force, Legend of the Overfiend, Fist of the North Star and Evangelion while also going through newer titles with mature themes (Another, Berserk, Gantz, Ikki Tousen, Monogatari, Paranoia Agent [they need to cover this one] etc.) and odd ones (Mawaru Penguindrum).
 
I'm looking forward to this one. Attitudes have definitely changed since 1996 when they gave this interview (site may be NSFW) about classifying anime. I love how the BBFC have become so much more accountable since 2000 or so anyway.
 
I want to know how the criteria for rating animation can be different compared to live-action. For example, how many anime titles that are rated uncut 15s would be denied classification if they were live-action?
 
Joshawott said:
I want to know how the criteria for rating animation can be different compared to live-action. For example, how many anime titles that are rated uncut 15s would be denied classification if they were live-action?
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But this difference has often worked to shows advantage with them getting lower classifications than if they were live action.
 
Ath said:
I'm looking forward to this one. Attitudes have definitely changed since 1996 when they gave this interview (site may be NSFW) about classifying anime. I love how the BBFC have become so much more accountable since 2000 or so anyway.
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That's a pretty interesting read, seems like even back then they were considering the context and intent of a scene, not just rigid UK rules.

It would seem to me that Anime itself let alone the BBFC has changed over the years, the titles they talk about are full of violence and sex/rape, you don't really see Anime doing it that way anymore.
 
robot monkey said:
Joshawott said:
I want to know how the criteria for rating animation can be different compared to live-action. For example, how many anime titles that are rated uncut 15s would be denied classification if they were live-action?
Click to expand...

But this difference has often worked to shows advantage with them getting lower classifications than if they were live action.
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Yeah, it has worked to anime's advantage, but it's still been one that I've been interested about.
 
Joshawott said:
robot monkey said:
Joshawott said:
I want to know how the criteria for rating animation can be different compared to live-action. For example, how many anime titles that are rated uncut 15s would be denied classification if they were live-action?
Click to expand...

But this difference has often worked to shows advantage with them getting lower classifications than if they were live action.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it has worked to anime's advantage, but it's still been one that I've been interested about.
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This attitude isn't uncommon as you can see it in the way comics are treated as well, for example drawn violence isn't seen as serious as violence portrayed in live-action, look at 2000AD which has been on sale for years with characters like Judge Dredd always having been extremely violent, yet you don't hear any protests about it these days. Or the violence seen in super-hero comics, again which doesn't seem to cause much comment or censure.
 
Just finished listening to the podcast. The talk about the borderline between 15/18 is always interesting. The whole watch and rate initiative for online video is something I want to keep an eye on, thankfully it's not a legal requirement.

As for the anime section, it's always good to get a more clinical perspective on this medium we love. They do make an interesting point about subverted genre expectations, and taking that into account when classifying. Always hilarious for them to bring up the like of La Blue Girl and the Darkness series, I still can't believe someone attempted to release them here in the UK :p There wasn't anything particularly earth-shattering, but it was still a decent listen anyway.
 
If they move onto rating online video, that's simulcasts ruined.

Also, could they have gone 10 minutes without mentioning tentacles?
 
Ath said:
Always hilarious for them to bring up the like of La Blue Girl and the Darkness series, I still can't believe someone attempted to release them here in the UK :p
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I'm inclined to think that trying to release La Blue Girl was probably a publicity stunt on the part of Manga; they must have known that would never fly.

Edit: Okay, I stand corrected - it actually was released in the UK, eventually.
 
Professor Irony said:
Ath said:
Always hilarious for them to bring up the like of La Blue Girl and the Darkness series, I still can't believe someone attempted to release them here in the UK :p
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I'm inclined to think that trying to release La Blue Girl was probably a publicity stunt on the part of Manga; they must have known that would never fly.

Edit: Okay, I stand corrected - it actually was released in the UK, eventually.
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Not the original series it was one of the sequels. The original was effectively banned from release.
 
IIRC LA Blue Girl was released with many cuts, and Returns was outright rejected (and Manga had people come to inspect where the masters were stored to ensure the tapes couldn't break out and go on a tentacular rampage)
 
Shiroi Hane said:
IIRC LA Blue Girl was released with many cuts, and Returns was outright rejected (and Manga had people come to inspect where the masters were stored to ensure the tapes couldn't break out and go on a tentacular rampage)
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Is it bad that that has made me want to see it, where before I would have had 0 interest?
 
Shiroi Hane said:
IIRC LA Blue Girl was released with many cuts, and Returns was outright rejected (and Manga had people come to inspect where the masters were stored to ensure the tapes couldn't break out and go on a tentacular rampage)
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To the best of my knowledge it was the other way around Returns was released with many cuts & the original was banned.
 
robot monkey said:
Shiroi Hane said:
IIRC LA Blue Girl was released with many cuts, and Returns was outright rejected (and Manga had people come to inspect where the masters were stored to ensure the tapes couldn't break out and go on a tentacular rampage)
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge it was the other way around Returns was released with many cuts & the original was banned.
Click to expand...

That's correct:

image.png
 
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