4kids interview, interesting point

hypes · Post by **hypes** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 2:06 pm

http://www.animeboredom.co.uk/anime-articles/80/

It's an interview with one of the dub rewriters at 4kids. Though most of it has to do with Sonic X, the interview could be applied to most 4kids shows. IT would appear that this guy's aware of all the 4kids bashing out there.

Though I really don't agree with the guy, he's got a point about the limits that Fox puts out. No cigarrettes and real guns? That cuts a lot of anime out right there. But then, I'd rather see them on DVD uncut than what they put on TV. Any comments?

Heero_Yuy84 · Post by **Heero_Yuy84** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:51 pm

I'm a little annoyed that, while he addresses the content cuts, he felt no need to explain why they feel the need to change the show soundtracks...

...seriously...giving One Piece that rap opening was just... ...no...

Xarathion · Post by **Xarathion** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:13 pm

Rasmussen : …uh… ok… anyway are you familiar with any of the previous incarnations of Sonic, including the video games, comics and previous animations? What is your
impression of these works?
Mr. Haigney : I’ve never played the game, seen the series or read the comics.

That says a lot right there. Damn shame. No wonder they don't care about what they do when they dub it.

Unlimited Rice · Post by **Unlimited Rice** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:09 pm

they change soundtracks because they think it'll appeal to the young american audience better

lenu · Post by **lenu** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:22 pm

That was interesting. It points out the big problem with 4Kids, the fact that they have to conform to Fox's standards and that their business is children's broadcasts. Perhaps if that wasn't their business things would be different. I think he made a good point at the end, it's true that broadcasting to children at least exposes them to, and gets them interested in anime. I think things would be better if they did true uncut/billingual releases.

Rurounikeitaro · Post by **Rurounikeitaro** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:54 pm

TheUnlimited wrote:they change soundtracks because they think it'll appeal to the young american audience better

Shit, if only I was young kid.....actually, a young normal kid.

I've always hated the new music but one episode really had me almost tearing. It was a One Piece episode where Nami was crying telling Luffy to go away then she goes "I need......your help!!......" That....was just so beautiful!!!! But, that just makes me wanna buy the subbed version even more cause that'll be even more beautiful!!

Tainted_Eden · Post by **Tainted_Eden** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:59 pm

Quote wrote:...forbids things like smoking, firing realistic weapons and, generally, any kind of violence that would be easy for kids to imitate. That’s because the FCC has rules and regulations governing broadcast..

Yet, Superman, Scooby Doo, old Batman, and shows like that continously have people smoking and holding 'realistic' guns. What's so different about Anime? In a company's mind, aren't both just 'cartoons'?

Xarathion · Post by **Xarathion** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:14 pm

Because anime characters, atleast a good number of the ones that they are bringing over here, look like children, or are children. And children aren't necessarily allowed to smoke, drink, swear, etc...

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:03 pm

Tainted_Eden wrote:
Quote wrote:...forbids things like smoking, firing realistic weapons and, generally, any kind of violence that would be easy for kids to imitate. That’s because the FCC has rules and regulations governing broadcast..
Yet, Superman, Scooby Doo, old Batman, and shows like that continously have people smoking and holding 'realistic' guns. What's so different about Anime? In a company's mind, aren't both just 'cartoons'?

These regulations are rather new, and certain things are grandfathered in. Look at the stuff they used to put on Nikelodeon in the early 90s when it was a fresh spinoff of MTV. On Clarissa Explains it All, the mother character was a chronic chain smoker (in at least 1 episode IIRC). Hell, they had Ren and Stimpy on there... that's considered to be "adult" humor today in certain areas. It's a changing standard that keeps dropping down. The fact that they liscense shows from a country whoose standards for content (re: children) are going in the opposite direction is the problem.

What gets me is he says the "purists" are getting angry. The "purists" he speeks of are the ones that won't listen to dubs, just about everyone i've spoken to that has seen One Piece is appauled by what the've done to it. That's far from a fringe group. It's just as bad or worse than what was done to DBZ and Sailor Moon in the 'dark days' of liscensing. I really thought liscensing companies got past that kind of butchering a long time ago, but I guess this shows they don't give a shit. I for one will speak with my feet and urge others to do the same.

Tainted_Eden · Post by **Tainted_Eden** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:01 am

>.< I hate those 'purists' who watch nothing but subs. It's like... Even though there are a LOT of GOOD companies who are trying their best to keep the anime faithful, those guys just spit at their attempts and make assumptions (the asses of the purists at least).

It's companies like 4Kids an' Nelvana (although thankfully they haven't touched another series) that's really screwing it all up. I mean... If we set our standards really low so as kids don't get 'ideas' to do things, then... Honestly, aren't we being a bit TOO inconveinant to slightly desensitising the kid to violence? Granted, no one wants to think of a child and violent behavior, but... I don't know, I'm probably going off onto a tangrant here, but it seems to me that we treat our kids as if they were made out of glass...

Yet how many brats do I encounter that swear at me and are pretty much rude due to what they see from their parents? Argh, pisses me off....