Every time I feel like I’ve tackled the weirdest topic ever, I’m hit with something like ‘are Mormons allowed to watch anime’, or something equally as baffling. Like, first of all, it’s always a fun time having to talk about spirituality and anime, because the two are just such wildly different discussions. But it does open up a conversation that might feel uncomfortable at first but could prove much more enlightening in the long run. And isn’t anime supposed to be accessible to everyone?

So, back to the question of the day. Are Mormons allowed to watch anime? Well, yes and no. The answer to this depends on what kind of anime we are looking at. Because let’s be honest, some anime is much more digestible to the common person than others. There’s a variety of shows out there that fit everyone’s tastes, so it only makes sense that there is anime out there that works within the guidelines set by Mormonism, right? Admittedly, they wouldn’t be that many. But it’s still something.

We have discussed anime that suits different ideologies and spiritual beliefs before, to see if everyone can enjoy the medium at its best. For example, there was a time we talked about anime that could be certified Halal and be appropriate to watch for Muslim fans. And I think the same ideals work for Mormonism, which is known for its steadfast rules and close-knit communion settings. And so, there are certainly some anime out there that can work for those under the Mormon faith.

But how do you measure what works for a certain demographic? Like, is it about weighing the pros and cons? Or is there more to it than that? After all, religious sentimentalities are important for some people, so it’s always wise to abide by them. Let’s see what kind of anime are Mormons allowed to watch and what that says about the kind of content we have consumed over the years.

Mormonism And Pop Culture

So, say you’re a curious baby weeb just barely starting on your journey into the world of anime. How do you navigate what is or isn’t appropriate for you? Well, the first thing to break down here is what your faith prohibits and what it allows instead.

Since Mormonism happens to be a branch of Christianity, it shares a lot of the same values as other Abrahamic religions. So, you have your usual of no sexual content, no overt gore, etc. And profanity is definitely also frowned upon. So, it feels like the list of anime they could watch is super narrowed down. Traditionally, most anime contains some amount of fanservice or violence. So, how do Mormons deal with that?

Apparently, a lot of Mormons are allowed to watch anime through a concept some in the community refer to as ‘Free Agency’. Which is where an individual chooses what is good or bad for them. For example, there are Mormons that prohibit the drinking of certain substances like alcohol or caffeine, while other Mormons are completely okay with it. To each, their own is what seems to be the case here.

The same could be said about other religions, such as Islam, which also prohibit the viewing of media with overtly sexual undertones or excessive violence. But, again, there are anime out there that fit the bill and can be enjoyed by anyone who prefers to have things remain PG!

What Anime Are Mormons Allowed To Watch?

So, we agree that Mormons decide whether they are allowed to watch anime. But what anime would we recommend for newcomers? Well, an easy answer that will always work is most works by Studio Ghibli. Things like Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and Spirited Away all have beautiful, whimsical stories that feature no extremities.

But if we want to look at more traditional anime series, we need to see what genre works. Because surprisingly, there is so much anime out there, that you can choose what you like based on what you’re feeling at the moment. Say you want a funny rom-com, then Ouran High School Host Club is pretty safe but absolutely hilarious. But what if you want something much more serious, with actual stakes? Well, you can never go wrong with Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

And what if you just want a comfortable watch? Well, I can’t recommend Mushishi enough! So yes, it isn’t a question of whether Mormons are allowed to watch anime, but rather how strict they want to be when choosing which series to watch.