Interspecies Reviewers has been cancelled on Japanese channel Tokyo MX.
The official Twitter account for the show announced on February 7th that the show had been cancelled on Tokyo MX. “The anime “Interspecies Reviewers” being broadcast on TOKYO MX has been canceled due to the organization of Tokyo Metropolitan Television.” (Translation: Twitter).
Using translation via Anime News Network, they claim that the messages cites “changes in the circumstances within Tokyo Metropolitan Television.” Crunchyroll translates it as “due to organizational reasons.”
In either case, it would seem to indicate unspecified changes within the broadcasting company. Reading between the lines, this may be a polite way of stating the broadcaster pulled the plug at their own discretion.
Anime News Network also reports the show will continue airing on AT-X, BS11, KBS Kyoto, and Sun TV. Crunchy Roll also reports that the show’s timeslot on Tokyo MX has been replaced with a show about cruise ships.
This lead to Twitter users to quote the “Nice Boat” meme. In 2008, the final episode of School Days was cancelled from broadcast, due to comparisons to a recent murder. Instead, the channel broadcast scenery shots and music.
While users on message board 4Chan were confused and annoyed, one user reportedly quipped “Nice Boat” at the sight of a ferry. The meme reportedly managed to cross cultural barriers, and became popular in Japanese online culture.
For those unfamiliar with our prior coverage, Funimation announced they would no longer be streaming or dubbing the show, as it “falls outside of [their] standards.” This was after three episodes and been subtitled, and one episode had been dubbed. The show itself has many graphic depictions of sex and sexual content
Combining reports from Anime News Network and Crunchyroll, the show has also been pulled from Amazon Prime Video [1, 2], and the Nordic version of French streaming platform Wakanim.
Wakanim proper and Taiwanese streaming platform Bahamut’s Insane Animation have continued to broadcast the series, albeit censored. Bahamut’s Insane Animation do offer uncensored episodes behind an age-gate.
Curiously, Wakanim is owned by both Aniplex and Sony Pictures Television- along with Funimation after a merger in September 2019.
AnimeLab will also continue to stream the show, announcing there would however be a slight delay. “Attention, Interspecies Reviewers fans: we are currently delayed on episodes while we adjust our sourcing of materials,” AnimeLab stated in a Tweet. “But the show will go on at AnimeLab! Please bear with us as we get back up to speed.”
Seemingly in protest to the show being removed from various platforms, fans have now voted Interspecies Reviewers as the second greatest anime of all time on My Anime List. The show now has an aggregate rating of 9.16 from 53,149 users.
This places it above anime and films such as Steins;Gate, Hunter x Hunter, Your Name, Attack on Titan, and Gintama. The top stop is currently held by Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, with a rating of an aggregate rating of 9.22 from over 1 million users.
We will keep you informed as we learn more.
Image: Interspecies Reviewers (Ishuzoku Reviewers) (Anime)” Intro & Outro Theme Songs: Ikoze Paradise / Hanabira Ondo (via CD Japan)
