Anime Is Satanic, According To Right-wing Influencer Matt Walsh

In a now-viral stream from earlier today, right-wing political commentator and author Matt Walsh claimed that “anime is satanic,” prompting many to react throughout the day as one might expect.

Walsh, who has stirred up controversies in the past for his contentious statements and documentary about transgender people, said his reasons for calling anime "satanic" had to do with his view that "adults really shouldn’t be watching cartoons," although he admitted having zero evidence to back up his claims.

Walsh appeared to be joking, and he is notably part of a group of conservative online media personalities whose public image is largely defined by sarcasm and humor. He jokingly describes himself as a “theocratic fascist” in his Twitter bio.

Whether he was being sarcastic or not, fans of anime and opponents of Walsh’s ideology posted in defense of anime, a frequently (and for many, unfairly) criticized tradition. Particularly, many defended the art form from accusations of "non-wholesomeness."

Some took the opportunity to diagnose Walsh’s hate for anime as symptomatic of a bigger problem with conservatism. They argued that a lack of interest in what is unfamiliar has led to a perceived lack of conservative power in culture and art.

In later tweets this afternoon, Walsh then jokingly doubled down on his claims about anime, noting that he was receiving flak for his hot take on the matter.

As of yet, there is no evidence that anime is in league with the devil.

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