UK

The UK has had a moderate and broad censorship approach to cartoons. They have a total of 75 censored episodes. Their censorship focuses on issues like violence, racial stereotypes, sexual innuendo, and sensory triggers. This is an effort to protect children’s mental and emotional well-being through content moderation.

United States

The US has a total of 53 censored episodes. Censorship was focused on sexual innuendo, violence, and racial stereotypes. This approach aims to ensure that the content in these cartoons remains suitable for family viewing.

China

China has banned SpongeBob SquarePants and Tom and Jerry but has not banned the Pokémon anime. 7 episodes of Pokémon have been censored for violence and controversial themes. The country’s censorship approach reflects a strategy to suppress Western influence and promote domestic cartoons.

Russia

Russia has censored just 15 episodes across all the cartoons. Some of their censorship aligns with global concerns like sexual content and violence. However, other decisions reflect domestic cultural norms, particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ content and portrayals of the pandemic considered inappropriate.

Middle East

This region has banned over 36 episodes in addition to a full ban on Pokémon in Saudi Arabia. Their censorship focuses on religious and cultural norms. They have censored predominantly romantic relationships outside of marriage, nudity, LGBTQ+ representation, as well as religious imagery that does not align with local beliefs.