The highly popular comedy ecchi anime High School DxD has just received a major boost, following an official announcement that the series has surpassed 7.8 million copies in circulation.
On May 1, 2024, the official X (formerly Twitter) account for High School DxD teased an exciting update.
Many fans speculated that this could finally be the long-awaited confirmation of Season 5. However, instead of a new season announcement, it was revealed that the series had reached a significant sales milestone.
The staff celebrated the achievement, stating, “School, battle, romantic comedy, and b**bs…! This work, which has many fun features, has become available in many languages.”
Notably, they also reassured fans by adding, “Not just novels, DxD will continue in all forms. Everyone, please continue to support us!”
Along with this announcement, an exclusive illustration by original light novel artist Miyama-Zero was shared, further exciting longtime fans of the series.
Author Ichiei Ishibumi Addresses Fans About Delays
Alongside the milestone announcement, High School DxD’s original author, Ichiei Ishibumi, took the opportunity to address fans who have been patiently waiting for the series’ return, as well as updates on his other work, Fallen Dog God -SLASHDOG-.
Ishibumi explained, “Due to my ongoing medical treatment and recuperation, I apologize for the delay in releasing new volumes of Shin High School DxD and Fallen Angel Slashdog. I hope you can wait a little longer.”
High School DxD Season 5
His message reassured fans that while progress has been slow, he remains committed to continuing both series once his health improves.
New High School DxD Light Novel Set for Release
First revealed during a 2023 live stream by publisher Fantasia Bunko, JDxD has now been confirmed as the first installment of a multi-work series.
The official anime account hyped the upcoming novel by stating, “The soul and fun of this story is truly DxD. This is a high-quality manuscript.”
Additionally, Ishibumi himself will oversee the project, with Miyama-Zero returning to illustrate the series, ensuring it stays faithful to the original DxD aesthetic.
Where to Watch High School DxD
For those looking to relive the action-packed, supernatural adventures of Issei and Rias, Crunchyroll streams all four seasons of High School DxD.
The platform describes the series as:
“A war between heaven and hell is raging on Earth—and hormonal fury is raging in Issei’s pants. Enter curvy redhead Rias, president of The Occult Research Club: a club that doesn’t actually research the occult. They are the occult—and Rias is a Devil!”
With High School DxD continuing to expand in various formats, fans eagerly await further updates on the next anime installment. Until then, the upcoming Junior High School DxD novel is sure to keep the DxD spirit alive!
Texas Senate Bill 20 (SB 20), introduced by Texas State Senator Pete Flores, has raised significant concern within the anime and manga communities. The bill aims to criminalize the possession, promotion, and viewing of any obscene visual material depicting minors, including animated content such as anime. If passed, the bill could lead to widespread censorship and even potential bans on several popular anime series.
The bill targets any material that depicts minors engaging in activities defined under Section 43.21(a)(1)(B) of the Texas Penal Code, which refers to sexual acts. What makes this proposal particularly concerning is that it explicitly includes “cartoons or animation” and imagery created using artificial intelligence or other software. This broad wording raises the possibility that even well-known and widely accepted anime could be subject to legal scrutiny.
The Risk to Popular Anime
Shoujo Anime
While the bill appears to target explicit or pornographic content, its vague language creates uncertainty about how it might be enforced. Anime often features characters who are minors in suggestive or comedic situations that could be interpreted as obscene under the new law.
The law states that works with “literary or artistic value” would be exempt from prosecution, but this would ultimately be left to the discretion of individual judges. That creates a subjective standard where one judge may see a scene from Dragon Ball as harmless comedic material, while another may classify it as obscene and illegal.
Potential for Misuse and Broader Censorship
Sports Anime
The broad nature of SB 20 raises serious concerns about how it could be weaponized beyond its stated purpose. While the bill is ostensibly aimed at protecting minors and curbing AI-generated illicit content, it could also be used to target LGBTQ+ representation or stories involving sensitive themes.
Recent cases of manga and book bans across the U.S. have already shown how quickly works with minor controversial content can be censored. For instance, Unico: Awakening was targeted despite lacking explicit material, highlighting how easily content can be removed under pressure from conservative groups. SB 20’s vague language could provide legal grounds for similar action against anime and manga in Texas.
The bill also raises the possibility that streaming platforms and retailers could preemptively remove or restrict access to anime deemed risky under Texas law. This could lead to significant gaps in anime availability for Texas-based fans and businesses, impacting not only the audience but also the industry’s financial health.
What This Means for the Future of Anime in Texas
Blue Box anime New Poster (Credits: TMS Entertainment)
The passage of SB 20 would place Texas at the forefront of content regulation for anime and manga. While it’s unlikely that major franchises like Dragon Ball or Naruto would face outright bans, the potential for selective enforcement and subjective interpretation creates significant uncertainty.
Moreover, smaller or less commercially successful series could face greater risk of censorship or removal. Distributors and platforms may err on the side of caution, leading to reduced availability of anime and manga content in Texas.
The bill’s potential impact extends beyond anime to include comics, video games, and even fan art. Its vague definitions of obscenity and artistic value make it a potential tool for broad censorship, raising alarms within the creative community.
