The Rapeman

The Rapeman is a three-episode original video animation (OVA) series released by the studio Pink Pineapple in 1994. It was based on a controversial seinen manga series written by Keiko Okamoto and illustrated by Shinichi Hiromoto that began serialization in 1989. The narrative follows a protagonist who works as a 'professional rater' or vigilante, hired to enact retribution on behalf of clients, typically involving sexual assault as a thematic element. The production emerged from the burgeoning direct-to-video adult animation market in Japan, which frequently adapted edgy or transgressive manga for a niche demographic.

The design and tone of the series reflect the hyper-stylized and gritty aesthetic common to mid-1990s adult anime, characterized by stark, high-contrast character designs and provocative visual framing. Upon its release, the work was heavily criticized for its thematic content, which polarized audiences and prompted significant debate regarding the limits of artistic expression in adult-oriented animation. Because of its extreme subject matter and the ethical concerns surrounding its central premise, the series remains one of the most infamously divisive titles in the history of the medium, often cited by critics as a notable example of the era's lack of formal industry self-regulation.