Drawing the Line: Why Texas SB-20 Gives Anime Fans Cause for Concern

[Ryan Bates]

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https://popgeeks.com/anime-fans-texas-sb-20-censorship/

It’s not an easy time to be an American in 2025. After the astonishing rejection of a candidate who brought ideas to continue the rich economy the Biden administration worked for four years to develop while attacking inflation and protecting the rights of minority groups, we have seen Donald J. Trump, his oligarchic string-pullers, and his squad of sycophants who demonstrate inexperience at best and ineptitude at worst go after programs, protections, and policies that empower Americans to be citizens of one of the world’s superpowers. Since his inauguration in January, Trump has viciously gone after Americans of color and LGBTQ+ citizens railing against policies that champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, fired veterans – many of whom are feeling voter’s remorse – en masse, has attempted to give the world’s richest person direct access to American’s most private of data, and has ripped out the practical and financial guts of departments dedicated to eradicating disease, working toward peace, and educating our future generations. Citizens of Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and the most innocent of Trump’s bullying victims, Canada, have advised against entering the United States due to the administration’s sweeping and potentially illegal crackdown on border policies, and the nation’s own citizens now find themselves on an international watchlist due to Trump’s “assault on democratic norms.” The next MAGA target, for whatever reason, may be anime fans. Hold on tight, readers – there’s a lot to digest here. What is TX SB-20? Brought to the Texas state Senate floor in March of 2025, Texas Senate Bill 20 (TX SB-20) is the state’s legislative attempt to update what qualifies as obscene, specifically as it pertains to pornographic material involving minors. In the text of the bill, it reads: A person commits an offense if the person knowingly possesses, accesses with intent to view, or promotes obscene visual material containing a depiction that appears to be of a child younger than 18 years of age engaging in activities described by Section 43.21(a)(1)(B), regardless of whether the depiction is an image of an actual child, a cartoon or animation, or an image created using an artificial intelligence application or other computer software. This would allow obscene materials created by AI programs to carry the same ability to be prosecuted as would materials featuring living minors. On the surface, TX SB-20 sounds like it should be a slam dunk. Even in our crazy, messed up timeline we live in, it’s universally agreed that child pornography is vile, and that those involved with
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How might SB-20 affect anime fans in Texas? | popgeeks.com

Texas SB-20 raises concerns among anime fans over censorship risks amid broader debates on obscenity and artistic freedom.

popgeeks.com

 

[Callisto]

This is exactly why the government should stay out of regulating media and entertainment. Laws like TX SB-20 are far too broad and will only lead to overreach. The fact that it passed unanimously in the Senate is alarming—where were the people defending artistic freedom?

I don’t even watch much anime, but I can see how this bill could be a disaster. If lawmakers start criminalizing fictional content based on subjective moral values, then what’s next? Video games? Comic books? Music?

This is why people should be wary of politicians using “protecting children” as a catch-all excuse to push restrictive laws. Of course, actual child exploitation should be prosecuted to the fullest extent, but making fictional depictions illegal is a slippery slope.

I’d like to see someone challenge this law in court before it starts affecting people unfairly. If Texas wants to push laws like this, it should be up to its citizens to fight back against government overreach.

 

[Lime]

I don’t live in Texas, so I wasn’t even aware of this bill until now. But reading about it, I can see why anime fans are worried. The wording is vague enough that it could easily be abused.

I mostly watch action and sci-fi anime, so I doubt my favorites would be affected. But if they start targeting high school romance or magical girl shows, what stops them from going further? There are tons of Western movies with similar themes, but nobody is calling them obscene.

At the same time, I’m not sure if this will have the big impact some people are predicting. The legal system moves slowly, and I don’t think every anime fan in Texas is about to be arrested. But I do think this sets a dangerous precedent, and it makes me wonder what the next step will be.

 

[KELLY]

WTF with this administration prioritizing stupid things like trying to Invade Canada. Now this!

 

[Zump]

This is just another example of conservatives trying to use morality as a weapon to control what people can and can’t watch. TX SB-20 is deeply concerning because it’s not about protecting children—it’s about enforcing an ultra-conservative worldview.

If this was really about preventing harm, they would focus on things like improving sex education or making it easier for actual victims to report abuse. Instead, they’re targeting an entire artistic medium with vague language that could be used against anything they dislike.

Let’s be real—anime has long been misunderstood in the West. Politicians who don’t understand the culture will lump all anime together and assume the worst. They did it with video games in the ‘90s, and now they’re doing it again.

I’m tired of seeing the government waste time on non-issues like this while ignoring real problems. I hope Texas anime fans are paying attention, because if they don’t push back now, things will only get worse.

 

[BROOKE]

I don’t watch anime, so this doesn’t really affect me. But I do think the law sounds too vague. Any law that relies on subjective morality is bound to cause problems.

If anime gets banned, what’s next? Are they going to go after books and movies too? It just seems like a waste of time when there are much bigger issues to deal with.

 

[BenjaminBenjaminBenjamin]

This is an attack on free speech, plain and simple. Fictional media should not be policed like this. If we let the government decide what is and isn’t acceptable based on arbitrary morality, we are setting a dangerous precedent.

No one is saying that child exploitation isn’t a serious crime—it absolutely is. But fictional drawings are not real people. If they start criminalizing fictional content, where does it end?

This law should be challenged in court immediately. Texas residents should not stand for this level of censorship.

 

[Candy]

As a Texas resident and an anime fan, this law makes me really nervous. I don’t think the government understands anime at all. If they start targeting anime, I might have to start importing my favorite shows from overseas.

I don’t trust them to use this law fairly. I’ve seen how politicians twist things to fit their own agenda. This feels like another excuse to go after things they personally don’t like.

I hope anime fans in Texas start speaking up before it’s too late.

 

[Eric Allen]

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I ain't scared, 'cause Texas once tried to ban catgirl characters, and that sure as heck didn't stick.

 

[Ryan Bates]

This is exactly why the government should stay out of regulating media and entertainment. Laws like TX SB-20 are far too broad and will only lead to overreach. The fact that it passed unanimously in the Senate is alarming—where were the people defending artistic freedom?

I don’t even watch much anime, but I can see how this bill could be a disaster. If lawmakers start criminalizing fictional content based on subjective moral values, then what’s next? Video games? Comic books? Music?

This is why people should be wary of politicians using “protecting children” as a catch-all excuse to push restrictive laws. Of course, actual child exploitation should be prosecuted to the fullest extent, but making fictional depictions illegal is a slippery slope.

I’d like to see someone challenge this law in court before it starts affecting people unfairly. If Texas wants to push laws like this, it should be up to its citizens to fight back against government overreach.

Sorry it took me a minute to respond, it's been a busy couple of weeks for me.

It's going to HAVE to be up to Texans to fight back, honestly. Politicians, especially in Texas, aren't going to do their due diligence, and it may have to be two or three challenges where anime passes the Miller test before someone with half a brain goes "Hmmm, we might have glossed over something here."