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BBFC Demands Cuts To Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Anime UK News reports that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has published the minutes on a recent meeting, in which it said that the series Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid would need to be cut before British release. It was not specified which distributor had asked to release the series in the UK.

From the report on the BBFC meeting, which took place on Friday September 14:

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid [Season 1, Episodes 1 -12] is a Japanese anime series submitted for DVD classification with an 18 request. Two of the main characters are described as being 15-years-old and 16-years-old respectively. They are shown engaging in sexual activity, both with each other and with other characters. They are also sexualised. Sections of the submission were viewed by the Chief Executive, the Head of DEA, the Head of Compliance and the Compliance Manager. It was concluded that the submission is not in violation of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 but that the scenes showing the children engaged in sexual activity, or otherwise being sexualised, are in violation of the 'harm' provisions of the Video Recordings Act 1984 and the BBFC's Guidelines which prohibit portrayals of children in sexualised or abusive contexts. Accordingly, a general cuts list has been issued instructing the distributor to remove all such material throughout.

Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid was promoted as a "beautiful girl sexy battle action" anime, set on five artificial islands. A girl named Mamori Tokonome is transferred to one of those islands, "Mermaid." When Mamori is attacked, a newly transferred girl named Mirei saves her. The enemy doesn't stop, however, and the two are soon cornered. Just when they think all hope is lost, Mirei kisses Mamori, and Mamori turns into a sword. Mirei then wields the sword and launches a counterattack against their enemies.

Senran Kagura creator Kenichirō Takaki and Hiraku Kaneko (Maken-Ki! Battling Venus 2, The Qwaser of Stigmata, Manyū Hiken-chō) helmed the project. Kaneko directed and designed characters at the studio ARMS. Yousuke Kuroda (Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Jormungand, Hayate the Combat Butler!!) was in charge of series composition. GENCO produced the series.