“My Girlfriend is Shobitch” UK Release Cut by BBFC

MVM Entertainment’s upcoming Blu-ray release of the raunchy comedy anime My Girlfriend is Shobitch will be released in the United Kingdom following cuts to a scene that was deemed to portraying a child in a sexualised context, the BBFC rating board has confirmed to Anime UK News.

The scene in question occurs in the series’ third episode, when the male protagonist Haruka Shinozaki visits Kosaka’s home and ends up talking with her mother. The scene features multiple flashbacks depicting Kosaka as a toddler in situations that her mother ascribes sexual connotations to, including comparing Kosaka lying with a teddy bear on top of her to being in the “missionary” sexual position, as well as crude references to Kosaka’s genitals, and the strong implication that she was exposed to pornographic material as a young child.

In response to our query, the BBFC cited that the scene (which is roughly 2 minutes 49 seconds) was cut in accordance to BBFC guidelines, policy, and the Video Recordings Act 1984. There were no further cuts to the series, which has been classified 18 for strong sex references.

MVM Entertainment describe My Girlfriend is Shobitch as follows:

When Haruka asks his classmate Akiho to go out with him, he’s hoping that she’ll say ‘yes’. What he isn’t expecting is for her to agree, then approach their relationship with an emotionally detached attitude as if she was writing a research paper with sex as the topic!

It’s all about maximizing compatibility, Akiho says, but when preparation for a first date requires Haruka to divulge a comprehensive list of his sexual fetishes in advance for planning purposes, perhaps there’s something to be said for getting to know each other the old-fashioned way! And if Akiho’s clinical approach isn’t awkward enough, things get really weird when it’s time to meet the parents and Haruka learns where Akiho’s odd demeanor comes from! It’s the romantic comedy where T.M.I. and A-Type personalities collide!

Adapted from the manga by Namiru Matsumoto, My Girlfriend is Shobitch was first broadcast in 2017 and was simulcast by the HIDIVE streaming service, where it is currently available uncut. This ruling will likely not affect HIDIVE’s streaming of the series, as the BBFC clarified with Anime UK News there is no legal requirement for companies to submit content for streaming releases, or to use the same cuts as seen in home entertainment releases. MVM Entertainment will be releasing the series on Blu-ray on 20th September 2021.

Credit to forum member Just Passing Through for the tip.