Russia Blocks MyAnimeList Over LGBTQ+ Content

The largest anime and manga database in the world, MyAnimeList (MAL), has been disabled by Russia's government media authority, Roskomnadzor, due to the propagation of non-traditional sexual relations. According to The Moscow Times, the decision eliminates one of the only international venues that link Russian anime enthusiasts with the rest of the world. 

Media Do Holdings' Tokyo-based MyAnimeList is a pillar of anime culture globally, with over 20 million registered members and an extensive database of over 18,000 anime titles.

The move comes amid an intensifying campaign of digital censorship under Russia’s expanded “gay propaganda” law, amended in 2022 to criminalize positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ identities across media and online platforms.

Previously, movies, video games, and anime titles like Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul, and Inuyashiki were targeted under the legal framework.

According to DeepMarket Insights, the Russian anime and manga business was valued at $140M in 2024, despite being smaller than that of Japan or the U.S. Due to the block's potential to limit data exposure, community-driven marketing, and regional license agreements, that ecosystem is now questionable.

The Decision and its Ripple Effect

MyAnimeList was added to the national list of prohibited websites by Roskomnadzor's decree without prior notice or a transparent appeals procedure. The agency highlighted "systematic placement of materials containing information propagating non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences," according to the news agency, RIA Novosti. MyAnimeList is currently unavailable on the majority of Russian networks, and the website has not yet released an official response.

This makes localized analytics and monetization plans more difficult for publishers and streaming partners, particularly when global distributors like Crunchyroll and Netflix use fan-community data to inform acquisitions.

Russia's block on MyAnimeList cuts off a vital data connection between Russian viewers and international content pipelines. Russia runs the risk of weakening official licensing and revenue tracking by restricting access to legitimate platforms and driving viewers towards unapproved websites and VPN-dependent watching habits.