What you have to understand is that pokemon is not intended for a serious adult(/teenager) anime fan, it's primary demographic is children. I personally agree with 4Kids reasons for what seems like needless edits, because I can remember that as a young child I wouldn't know what Onigiri is,
The things I want to know are:
- Did they call it a rice ball when you watched it or something else?
- Did the rice ball make you lose interest in watching the show? Were you constantly thinking of the rice ball after you watched whatever episode? Or did you just scratch your head and move on, enjoying other parts of
Pokemon? Because if you basically did the latter, and other kids did too, why should 4Kids spend time changing the rice ball to something else?
I admire 4Kids intentions to make things more understandable, but how far do they really have to go? A kid who doesn't know what a rice ball is could either find a way to look it up, or brush the whole thing aside and continue watching the show.
If 4Kids
really wanted, then on their website or among some books or something containing trivia about the show, they could have a little, easy to understand thing about the rice balls that Ash eats, and how they're related to Japan, and all that. Or they could not do anything.
or why there are a bunch of crazy symbols instead of English letters on signs and papers.
There still are "crazy symbols" in the episodes. Only now they're not even Japanese. It's just some made up language that
nobody understands. (Not that kids would be bent over it, but... what's the point of changing it from a real foreign language to a made up one? Japan pretty much went from using Japanese writing to using more made up writing.) Also, the Japanese writing in the show would make somewhat more sense if it was more openly declared that the show
is from Japan.
I'm not saying they shouldn't ever replace the Japanese
with English, but for me, honestly, the only Japanese writing I think should be translated into English is writing you actually need to read to understand the plot, not necesarily writing on random signs in the background. If they made that English, fine, but I don't think
that writing
needs translating.
Kids like shows with characters that they can relate too, and the little things like the fact that Japan Ash probably would prefer Onigiri to a sandwich would probably stand between Ash's character and young western children. Kids are just like that.
But would kids really be that frustrated if they saw Ash eating something that isn't American? What's more important is that they can buy games where they can catch Pokemon and train them on their own. Eating a rice ball isn't as big as catching/raising Pokemon. Eating a
sandwich isn't as big as catching/raising Pokemon. And since it's already a rice ball... couldn't they just keep it as that?
Japanese puns are one thing (and I assure you that getting rid of those is not what Chris means by "bad translations"), but food is something else.
There's also no reason that the name of the rice ball is inconsistent. Doughnuts, rice balls, sandwiches, onions. Unless it's like an intentional running gag... =P
I never really understood why the paint edits 4kids did bothered people so much, I really don't care if Ash eats a rice ball or a sandwich, or if the sign in the background is written in Japanese, English or Martian. That's not really the point of watching the show.
It's not. And I doubt American kids care
deeply whether Ash eats a rice ball or a sandwich. So like I said, when something's already a rice ball..
Since the non-important background signs aren't the point of watching the show either, couldn't they be left alone without causing harm?
PokemonTrainerLisa said:
Yeah, I understand what you're saying.
But see, here's the thing. I don't hate Sarah's acting anymore, like I did during Battle Frontier. And I think Sarah does a fine job giving us her own version of the character. But, at the same time, I certainly don't prefer her as Ash (Veronica Taylor will always be Ash to me). So, does that mean I'm neutral? =P
Personally, I'd say you aren't neutral since you prefer Veronica Taylor. I don't think that's a bad thing, though. I prefer mid-Kanto Ash or so.
Anyway, here's my problem. Since I've had a difficult time trying to enjoy the D/P seasons overall, I've been thinking about not watching Best Wishes. I mean, there wouldn't be any point in me watching Best Wishes, if I'm not going to enjoy it. Right? Also, the new series would just feel weird to me if Veronica isn't Ash.
No offense to Sarah or her fans, of course. I think Sarah's a fine VA and her acting has really improved in D/P, especially in the Sinnoh League episodes. But...I really miss Veronica's portrayal of Ash. To me, he just isn't the same without Veronica. =(
I haven't really watched the Sinnoh League episodes, but I get what you're going at and feel he same way. You care more than I do, but I get what you mean.
Of course, it's not like I'm expecting TPCi to suddenly bring Veronica Taylor back, lol.
That's good. To be honest, I wasn't sure how likely you were thinking it'd be for her to revoice Ash. But okay.
But if a miracle happens and they DO bring her back, it would be a pleasant surprise. =)
I agree...