Anime and manga fans in the U.S. are a passionate bunch—think “screaming at cons” passionate. We’ll binge One Piece ’til our eyes bleed, but we’ll also fistfight over the dumbest hill to die on. In 2025, with cons like Anime Expo and streams like Crunchyroll fueling the fire, the debates are spicier than ever. Here are five gut-punching, polarizing controversies in American anime/manga culture guaranteed to make you pick a side—or at least laugh at the chaos. Buckle up, weebs, this is gonna get messy!
1. Is Goku a Garbage Dad or Just a Saiyan With Priorities?
Let’s kick this off with the granddaddy of shonen debates: Is Goku from Dragon Ball a horrible father? Half the fandom’s ready to yeet him into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for abandoning Gohan to fight Cell—dude’s out here napping with Piccolo while Chi-Chi’s solo-parenting a kid who’s half math nerd, half Super Saiyan. “He’s saving the world!” his defenders cry, clutching their Dragon Balls. Sure, but when your kid’s therapy bill is higher than Frieza’s power level, maybe it’s time to clock some dad hours.
The other side says it’s Saiyan culture—Goku’s just vibing like his planet-hopping ancestors, not dodging child support. American fans lose it over this: some call him a deadbeat who’d rather spar than hug, others say he’s a hero who trusts Gohan to man up. X posts in 2025 are already wild—“Goku’s the dad who’d miss your graduation to fight a random alien.” Pick a side, but good luck dodging the Kamehameha of opinions—this one’s splitting cons from coast to coast!
2. Malty from Shield Hero: Evil Bitch or Misunderstood Chaos Gremlin?
Malty Melromarc, the redheaded terror from The Rising of the Shield Hero, is the fandom’s favorite punching bag—or secret MVP, depending who you ask. She frames Naofumi for assault in episode one, earning her the “Bitch” nickname faster than you can say “false accusation.” American fans have been raging since 2019: she’s a scheming traitor who’d sell her own mom for a throne, right? Burn her at the stake, cries Reddit!
But hold up—some argue she’s just a misunderstood agent of chaos. “She’s playing 4D chess while Naofumi’s whining about his shield!” her stans insist. They point to her cunning and say she’s the real spice keeping the plot juicy—without her, it’s just Naofumi brooding with his raccoon girl squad. In 2025, this debate’s hitting Twitch streams and TikTok hard—half call her Satan in a tiara, half crown her a queen. Love her or hate her, Malty’s the hill fans die on, and the body count’s only growing!
3. Subs vs. Dubs: Elitist Snobs or Casual Kings?
Nothing gets American anime fans frothing like the subs vs. dubs war—it’s the Civil War of otaku culture, and 2025’s not settling it. Sub purists clutch their katanas, swearing the original Japanese VA’s emotion (and those sweet, sweet subtitles) is the only way to “truly” experience Demon Slayer. “Dubs butcher the soul!” they yell, flexing their Crunchyroll watch history like a badge of honor. Meanwhile, dub champs fire back: “I’m not reading my TV, bro—give me Sean Schemmel screaming ‘Kamehameha’ in English any day!”
The divide’s brutal—sub fans call dubs “lazy,” dubs call subs “pretentious.” X threads in 2025 are a battlefield: “If you watch dubs, you’re not a real fan” vs. “Enjoy your anime, not a reading test.” It’s peak comedy watching grown adults brawl over whether Goku sounds better in Tokyo or Texas. Pick your poison—this one’s eternal, and the salt’s never running dry!
4. Is Bakugo a Bully Who Needs Jail or a Tsundere With a Heart of Gold?
Katsuki Bakugo from My Hero Academia is a walking explosion—of fandom drama. Dude’s spent years blasting Deku with insults and fists, leaving American fans split: Is he a jerk who deserves a quirk-suppressing cell, or a misunderstood badass who’s just bad at feelings? “He’s a bully!” one camp roars—he tormented Deku for being quirkless, and that’s not “tough love,” it’s trauma. Lock him up and throw away the key!
Then there’s team “Bakugo’s my explosive cinnamon roll.” They argue he’s grown—refusing the League of Villains, saving Deku later—proving he’s a hero under all that yelling. “He’s just a loud puppy!” they coo, ignoring the literal explosions. In 2025, cons are warzones—Bakugo cosplayers get side-eyed or hugged, depending who’s passing. It’s hilarious watching fans duke it out over whether he’s a villain or a vibe—your take’s a coin toss, but the fandom’s flipping tables either way!
5. Does Attack on Titan Glorify Fascism or Roast It?
Attack on Titan’s final seasons have American fans in a chokehold—and not just from Titans. Eren Yeager’s rumbling genocide spree has sparked a debate hotter than a Colossal Titan’s steam: Does the show glorify fascism, or is it a savage takedown? One side’s fuming—Eren’s “freedom at all costs” reeks of authoritarian vibes, and those Yeagerist salutes ain’t helping. “It’s propaganda with better animation!” they rant, pointing to forums where edgelords cheer the carnage.
The other camp’s laughing—“It’s satire, you walnuts!” They say Hajime Isayama’s exposing war’s ugly guts, not praising it—Eren’s a tragic mess, not a hero. In 2025, this one’s hitting Discord and X like a boulder through Shiganshina—half call it a fascist flex, half call it a middle finger to power trips. It’s a riot watching fans dissect panels like conspiracy nuts, and the “you just don’t get it” burns are chef’s kiss. Where you land’s your funeral—this debate’s a beast!
Bonus Round: Why These Fights Are Peak Anime Fandom
These controversies aren’t just hot air—they’re the soul of American anime/manga culture in 2025. Goku’s dad fails, Malty’s scheming, subs vs. dubs, Bakugo’s temper, AoT’s politics—they hit hard because we care. From teens at their first con to 50-year-olds rewatching Naruto, we’re a tribe that thrives on arguing over our faves. It’s less about being right and more about the chaos—like a shonen battle arc, but with more popcorn.
So, what’s your stance?