The Horry County School District in South Carolina has officially banned Assassination Classroom following a complaint by a parent.
This isn’t a standalone incident but part of a growing trend where schools and districts across the U.S. are banning manga and other books due to their content.
Assassination Classroom series is a mix of sci-fi, comedy, and action, revolving around middle school students tasked with assassinating their alien homeroom teacher before he destroys Earth.
Despite the seemingly dark premise, the story focuses heavily on themes like personal growth, teamwork, and redemption. It’s rated for teens (T+), meaning it’s not aimed at younger kids, but high schoolers seem well within the intended audience.
The specific complaint in this case came from Jennifer Hannigan, a mother at Socastee High School. She objected to depictions of weapons, violence, and “girls in lingerie hopping on top of men.”
She also argued that the book discusses “ways to kill” and claimed it’s too adult for high school brains to process. While these concerns reflect genuine discomfort, they lack nuance about the series’ actual content and context.
Ban Can Not Be Lifted Until At Least 2029
Hannigan’s complaint led to a review by the district’s Reconsideration Committee, which ultimately voted to remove the manga.
As per district policy, this decision can’t be re-evaluated for five years, effectively locking the title out of the system until at least 2029. The temporary removal began back in October while the review was ongoing
This isn’t the first time Assassination Classroom has faced bans. Schools in Florida and Wisconsin pulled it earlier this year, citing similar concerns.
The broader trend of book bans isn’t just targeting manga—it’s also affecting novels with LGBTQ+ themes and content deemed “indecent.” For example, Shō Harusono’s Sasaki and Miyano, a boys-love series, was banned in Brevard County, Florida, under similar pretenses.
Also Read: 15 Anime Series That are Banned in Different Parts of the World
Is Manga Being Discriminated?
Here’s the thing: Assassination Classroom has been one of the most banned manga titles in the U.S., and this reflects a worrying trend about censorship in schools.
Its story, while quirky and exaggerated, promotes critical thinking and addresses real-world issues like bullying, academic pressure, and self-worth. Ironically, the violence Hannigan pointed out is largely cartoony and not graphic compared to other media aimed at the same age group.
The larger issue is that manga often faces scrutiny in ways that traditional Western books don’t. Titles like The Hunger Games or 1984 include violence, yet they’re widely taught in schools.
Meanwhile, manga, as a medium, is still fighting an uphill battle for legitimacy in Western education systems. Many decisions to ban manga come from superficial readings of the content, ignoring its artistic and narrative complexity.
With similar laws in Utah, Tennessee, and other states, this won’t be the last time we hear about a manga ban. The growing tendency to restrict access to books, particularly in schools, raises questions about who gets to decide what’s appropriate and for whom.
If you’re in favor of access to diverse media in education, now might be a good time to support groups advocating for intellectual freedom.
Sources: ANN, Otaku USA Magazine
