BBFC refuse classification for Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid

Minutes from the British Board of Film Classification reveal a roadblock for any planned UK release of Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid.

First airing in 2015, the supernatural yuri series follows groups of girls infected with a virus. One group of these girls can turn into weapons when sexually aroused, the other group can control them. While an unknown company has applied for a DVD request to release the series under an 18-rating, the BBFC ruled that it would not release it unless cuts were made. The reason for these cuts is due to the aroused characters in the series being underage.

The full description of the cuts is listed below:

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.

Source (PDF)