The Future Diary

The Future Diary is an anime about the middle school boy Yukiteru Amano. He records his daily activities in his phone, using it as a digital diary. Yukiteru has two supposedly imaginary friends, Deus Ex Machina—"the god of time and space"—and Mur Mur. However, Yukiteru's world is about to turn upside down as his diary updates itself, detailing soon-to-be events that are yet to unfold.¹

He soon learns that one of his classmates, Yuno Gasai, also has a similar diary. Later, in a meeting with ten others, Deus Ex Machina reveals that they are to seek and eliminate the other contestants, becoming Deus Ex Machina's successor. Yukiteru and Yuno must use their cellphones-turned-future diaries to survive deadly battles.¹

Violence

The whole plot of this anime is about trying to survive/win a fight to the death between twelve contestants. As such, it is obvious that the show would be full of violence. Crunchyroll lists the anime as 18+, with violence as one of the content warnings.²

"There are multiple murders, often involving weapons including a dart, knives, hatchets, or pistols."³

"Lots of violence and gore as characters kill each other and bystanders to survive the death game. Multiple murders are depicted with a variety of weapons (knives, axes, guns, bombs). One character sets off bombs at a school, killing innocent children. A girl's eye gets stabbed with a dart, another character is beheaded, and so on."⁴

When you read that, do you think the LORD is pleased with such activity? No, He absolutely is not. The Scriptures tell us that God hates those who take pleasure in violence.

"The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth." (Psalm 11:5)

As Christians, we don't want to be the object of God's hate. We should not enjoy violence and gore. That is not God-honoring! Who are you seeing to please? God or yourself?

Profanity

Secondly, inappropriate language is found in the anime.² When a person fills their mind with sinful things, it will corrupt them. Philippians 4:8 tells us:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Ibid.)

To watch this anime is to go against this verse. You cannot fill your heart with evil and expect to come out unscathed. Proverbs commands us to keep the wicked mouth away, so that we keep our minds and hearts pure (Proverbs 4:23-24).

Nakedness and Immodesty 

The Future Diary contains a lot of immodesty.² Some women are in short skirts, as well as women's bare breasts are seen³. A character is in her undergarments, there is a "drawn out" scene of two people having coitus, and there is a pornographic magazine.³

"A teen boy and teen girl go swimming at a water park in one scene."

"Two teen girls are seen naked in a pool"

"A teen girl strips herself naked in front of a teen boy in one scene and tries to seduce him"³

When one considers biblical modesty, it is obvious that these things are sinful. We should not be looking at immodesty. One passage that I like to consider in these discussions is Proverbs 23. It states, in verses 26-28, that we are to keep our eyes on God's way, and not look at a "whore" or a "strange woman".

And then considering Proverbs 7:10, that there is a type of clothing known as the "attire of an harlot," we can conclude that anime with inappropriate clothing are inherently wrong to watch.

Rape

According to Common Sense Media, there is a "disturbing scene [that] shows a girl getting raped".⁴ There is also a scene where a woman is forcefully stripped.³ In 2 Samuel 13, we read a narrative about two of David's children—his son Amnon and his daughter Tamar. When he tries to force her, Tamar says, "Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly" (2 Samuel 13:12).

It is evil and folly to rape someone. Yet this show has these things. This sin is contrary to the standard of morality the LORD has placed in His Word, and we should not consume it!

God of Confusion and Chaos

The supposed god, Deus Ex Machina, caused these battles to take place. He set it up, and he is the reason there was all the bloodshed and murder, for no moral reason. Deus Ex Machina wants to figure out who will succeed him.⁵

This anime is trying to portray God as some heartless being who is willing to create a fight to the death simply so that the victor can succeed him. This "god" is less of a god and more of a demonic being, possibly Satan. And Yukiteru may be a picture of the Antichrist.

Conclusion

The evidence given should be more than sufficient reason to reject this anime. The Future Diary is a show that tries to paint God through a demonic lens and fills its watchers' minds with evil and wicked media. Christians, beware of the things you watch. The Bible says to be not deceived, for "evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33, emphasis mine).

Sources:

1. "Mirai Nikki (TV)." MyAnimeList,  myanimelist.net/anime/10620/Mirai_Nikki_TV. Accessed 7/29/2025.

2. The Future Diary. Crunchyroll, crunchyroll.com/series/GYGGXPQ2Y/the-future-diary. Accessed 7/29/2025.

3. "The Future Diary: Parents guide." IMDb, imdb.com/title/tt2069441/parentalguide. Accessed 7/29/2025.

4. "Parents' Guide to The Future Diary." Common Sense Media, commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-future-diary. Accessed 7/29/2025.

5. "Deus Ex Machina." Future Diary Wiki, futurediary.fandom.com/wiki/Deus_Ex_Machina. Accessed 7/29/2025.