A: Since anime is a storytelling medium, not a genre, any type of story can be told in anime. Parents need to be aware that any individual anime series may have content they might consider unsuitable in a number of areas:

1. Violence: Since many anime series are action-oriented, violence is an element often found in anime. It is also not unusual for animes to include deaths of prominent characters. In some amines, violence is presented in an explicit, gory manner.
   
   
2. Fan Service and Nudity: Because of different cultural standards in Japan (as opposed to the US), nudity is not uncommon in anime series targeted towards teens and adults. It usually falls under a category called fan service which is content basically included to appeal to the stereotypical fan of anime (young men). Milder fan service examples include well-endowed women wearing skimpy costumes. Fan service is not unique to anime; an early example on American broadcast TV is the 1960s version of Star Trek, with the pretty yeomen in extremely short skirts (and don't forget Daisy Duke and the entire cast of Baywatch!). It's important to note that not all anime targeted towards a teen and adult audience features fan service ñ for example, Wolf's Rain, Last Exile, and Witch Hunter Robin are three recent mature-themed series that don't show nudity or women wearing skimpy costumes.
   
   
3. Sex and Sexual Morality: with anime series often targeted towards teens and adults, sex and sexual morality sometimes end up being dealt with thematically in a series. Whereas very few mainstream anime series directly depict sex, it is important for parents to be aware that the moral views presented in an anime series may not be compatible with their own.
   
   In addition, parents may find that cultural differences come into play between their own values and those presented in an anime series. While I have not had it confirmed that the actual practice is common in real life in Japan, it is very common in anime for a teenage girl and an adult young man (in his twenties) to be romantically interested in one another. Often, the relationship is depicted in the very beginning stages (with the couple admitting their feelings for one another at the end of the series). There are cases, however, where the relationship is shown progressing to more intimate levels, although not usually dealt with in an explicit manner.
   
   Whereas in most cases the sexually-themed content is not extreme, and would constitute a PG or PG-13 rating if presented as a theatrical movie, there are cases in "mainstream" anime (anime that would be available for purchase at a mainstream outlet such as Best Buy) where especially controversial content is included (such as incest in Angel Sanctuary; and a lesbian teen predatorily interested in a child, in the comedy series Cosplay Complex).
   
   Outside of the mainstream, sexually explicit anime is a subset of the overall anime medium, just as it is with live action video and films. While these anime titles aren't sold in mainstream outlets, they are sold in some anime specialty stores and on web sites. It is also possible for a child or teen to find and download some of them off the internet (see section on anime and the internet, coming soon).
   
   It's not uncommon for anime series to include a supporting character that behaves and/or dresses in a manner suggesting that they are gay, although, again, in most mainstream series, this would be implied rather then dealt with explicitly.
   
   There are, with in mainstream anime and manga, sub genres called shounen-ai and shoujo-ai, Japanese terms that mean, respectively, "boys love" and "girls love." Such series focus on love and romance between members of the same gender. Most of these series show affection but not explicit sex; there are other terms, yaoi and yuri, used to describe such titles. Shounen-ai manga has become especially popular in Japan and is targeted towards young women (!). These titles are now being published in the United States and pushed through the same distribution and promotional channels as other manga. One shoumen-ai anime series, Gravitation, has found a small but enthuiastic audience among anime fans in the last year.
   
   
4. Language: Just like movies and television series in the US targeted towards a teen and adult market, anime may include crude and potentially offensive language. In most cases, the use of such language is infrequently scattered through a series and would not constitute higher then a mild PG-13 rating in the US.
   
   
5. Religious and Spiritual Content: Japan is a country where most of the population loosely observes a combination of Buddhism, Shinto, and folklore traditions. The predominant spiritually of the country is often reflected in the themes and content of anime series. With Japanese legend and folklore often used as an inspiration for anime plots, parents may want to research the inspiration for plots, especially in fantasy-themed series. It is important to note that even the translation of words or terms can have a loaded meaning to an audience of a different culture and religious background. In Japanese folklore, what is normally translated into English as a "demon" is not automatically a minion of Satan, but instead is a supernaturally powered humanoid that could be either predominantly good or evil in their motives and actions (Inuyasha, Sayuiki).
   
   It is not unusual for elements of other religions, such as Christianity, Judaism and Paganism, to used as thematic or symbolic elements in anime series. It is also uncommon to see such religions, however, depicted in a real-life or realistic manner. Christian elements are sometimes used in anime because these elements have an unusual and exotic appeal to the Japanese audience. Some use of these elements will be considered controversial by many Christians (Evangelion) and other series have much less-controversial use of such elements (Witch Hunter Robin, where the main character is a practicing Catholic Christian).
   
   
6. Other Mature Content: In this category would fall other plot and thematic elements that might cause a parent to consider a program not age-appropriate for their child, such as war, prejudice, bullying, smoking, alcohol and/or drug use, and other illegal or inmorral behavior.

Q: So...how can I tell which anime content is suitable for my children?

A: The most accurate way to make that decision is to preview the content yourself. And -- don't make assumptions based on one or two episodes of a series, because some episodes may contain objectionable content while others do not.

Most US anime distributors place age guidelines on their labels. Your own opinion may differ, however, and many of the labels do not advise as to what details of the content earned the age specification.

There are web sites that can assist you in investigating whether or not a particular anime series is suitable for your child

Anime On DVD
Reviews most popular anime DVDs as well as mangas, volume by volume (so a 7 volume anime series would usually have 7 reviews!). Gives the manufacturer's age rating but no details; however, if an anime has unusually controversial content, they will generally note it.

Anime News Network
Reviews many popular anime DVDs and occasional mangas. Also occasionally publishes edit lists detailing edits are made in shows broadcast on US television. At the end of each DVD review, some content-specific rating information is given. One article of merit: Parent's Guide to Anime, a panel discussion from the Oakton 2002 anime convention.

Christian Anime Alliance
Reviews anime according to quality, age appropriateness, as well as moral and spiritual concerns. Reviews are generally based on a whole series vs. individual DVD. Also has a forum where various anime series and films are discussed from a Christian perspective.

THEM Anime Reviews
General anime review site, reviews are generally based on a whole series vs. individual DVD. Not updated as frequently as above sites. Features information on content and age appropriateness.

Anime Cafe Parents Guide to Anime
Anime reviews written specifically for parents. Site has not been updated in quite some time, unfortunately.