Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t

Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t

I’ve been playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf in preparation for a review next month. One of the staple features in the Animal Crossing franchise is a store run by a fox. The store sells rare items and art. Like, say, this fine statue here. Warning: NSFW content ahead.

Let’s take a closer and uncensored look, shall we?

Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t
Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t
Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t

…yeah, that’s definitely a penis. While it’s possible this item existed in previous Animal Crossing games, its inclusion now comes as a slight surprise given the recent news of censorship in Fire Emblem: Awakening. We can’t look at a racy butts, but a fully exposed penis is OK? Then again, many censorship decisions don’t quite make sense.

Certainly not the decision taken with Fire Emblem, either. I mean, this was left in:

Butts Are Off-Limits In Nintendo Games, But Penises Aren’t

Arguably, the reason the statue is OK is because it depicts “art”, and so the exposed penis isn’t offensive. Can that distinction be made? Some people would say Tharja’s sexualised depiction is “art”, therefore it shouldn’t be censored.

What do you guys think? I think it’s interesting to look at what we accept as art and what we don’t and why that is.

In case you’re wondering, I bought the statue. I just need to find a place in my house for it now.


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