Things people need to realize about the anime

[LadyBow]

It annoys me to see some people so critical of a children's program. You are not nor will you ever be the intended audience. Feel free to discuss and add what you think people criticize too much about the anime. These are some common complains which bother me;

'The writers suck. It used to be so much better.'

The current writers are the exact same ones from the Indigo League. They have probably added more or possibly lost some, but the core writers are still there.

'Pokemon is so reptitive!'

Yes, it is. The writers are expecting the children watching it to grow up and new children to come in. So for us it may be repetitive considering we've seen everything before, but it's intended to be new. They can recycle the same ideas each generation and will continue to as they expect new viewers.

'They should keep the Japanese music.'

This is a section of Mr. Hidaka's interview conducted by Water Pokemon Master of Pokebeach.com

"He talked the longest about the music with me, saying that the Americans do not have the rights to all of the Japanese music (especially the lyrical music) and do not have the rights to use it as much as the Japanese use it in the show. I did not think this was because of the Pokemon Company limiting it, so I asked “Who makes it that way?” He cited a company called “JASRAC,” and says they are a group who limits all music in Japan from being distributed outside of the country, anime or not. The Americans simply do not have the rights to use all of the music or in the same quantity as the Japanese, and to use as much as the Japanese show would cost a lot of money, paperwork, and time. I asked him if this is why 4Kids composed the music for the first three movies themselves, and he said “Most likely. It’s much less expensive and troublesome.” He also said they must have come up with some agreement to use the same background music for movies 4 and on."

Edit; I did not say you shouldn't be critical of anything, I said people shouldn't be overly critical. You are not the demographic, they will never appeal to you. So don't say it sucks. It is a very popular program.

 

[Lethal Carnivine]

I like to be critical, because when you're critical you see more into the show and actually GASP think. It adds a little challenge to my mind, and it helps me to appreciate the show more.

 

[poke07]

I agree...and sometimes if you are critical, you can help make the show better.

I had fun watching it uncritically when I was little, and now it is fun for me to analyze what's going on "behind the scenes" now.

 

[flyinglilypad]

I don't see how you can NOT watch it critically. Even children judge shows, which is why some succeed and some don't. I'm sure there is 8-year olds that say "man, I liked the Johto League song better, this Hoenn leage one sucks!"

Frankly, I've always liked teh dub music, and I'm not ashamed. It's kickflippin. If someone wants to hear teh Japanese songs, they can download them or watch Japanese episodes.

I do agree with you on one thing. People that say "this sucks" but they dont' say a reason why. They're stupid. Why does it suck? What would you change or leave unchanged? That's my only opinion. Have a reason either way for your complaints or compliments.

 

[MetaRobo]

I'd also like to point out that Pokemon may be repetitive, but it's not the sole culprit of such a format. I particularly remember Scooby-Doo, in which the "Monster of the Day" was always a man in a mask and the gags were constantly recycled.

I laugh at the constant complaints about the fanservice present, especially on Bulbagarden. Who needs 4Kids when you have an overreactive fanbase? This reminds me of the Spongebob controversy, and heck, the paranoid controversy for virtually any children's show.

Yeah, criticism is necessary, but it can get really out of hand. A bunch of character (both human and Pokemon) criticism has just gotten to the point that it is just ridiculous. Also take into account that much of the fanbase criticism contradicts itself.

 

[ShadowDeeps]

Criticism is inherent in a great many things in life. Those who criticize needlessly often won't accept things for what they agreeably are, and that, to me, is a purpose that the Pokémon anime was intended to fulfill - simply what it is - entertainment. It's made for sheer entertainment and targets an audience that does not go as far as to scrutinize the show on a technical level or apply the laws of science or physics to it. I'm not going to say that it's made for children (even though it is by 4Kids', PUSA's, and OLM's own admittion, if I'm not having a lapse in recollection), because age does not necessarily reflect a kernel of wisdom. But that aside, it is a cartoon by anyone's own admission.

Then there's the criticism of the anime stretching the facets found in the established canon games themselves (such as certain attacks, filler arcs like Orange Islands, etc) - again, I'm going out on a limb and am going to say that the anime was made for entertainment purposes. As for triteness, well, look at it this way - the writers have considered that not everyone has been introduced to the series during the Indigo league. Hence the repetition of themes and the dulled effect for many. Characters and Pokémon come and go, probably to increase dramatic effect or tension. What is a superior idea, Pokémon, character, or whatever to one viewer many not be as such to another. Superiority is both largely a matter of opinion and a state of mind, and no one character or concept is egregious by full intents and means, it's just how that character or concept is justified in my eyes. But I'm not saying feeling the way one does is an issue. Feeling the way one does is just dandy and not a hindrance by necessity. It's striking that balance between being outspoken and being reticent that seems to get the goat of many.

As for dub music? I still think the original English Pokemon intro is the best, along with the very original Japanese theme. Both themes tickle me pink greatly. Opinion. I still prefer the earlier episodes. Opinion. I prefer the Japanese version over the 4Kids dub, but I prefer the 4Kids dub over the PUSA dub by far... to reiterate, again, opinion. Feeling the need to fume about it is another matter in full - I'm just content keeping those thoughts to myself. Even stating them expressly once in a while is not an issue in my view. The key is not to spend one's life away doing such. But back to criticism, the crux to me is to just accept something for what it is. If someone spends all of their time nitpicking at debatably paltry elements of the show, then what are they going to find but entertainment amiss? That's not what the writers want to my recollection - they want the show to be enjoyed as entertainment and to be enjoyed for what it is, by the Pokémon fanbase at large. There's something I don't see harm nor foul in.

 

[Dogasu]

I noticed how the original poster conveniently left this key part out of the answer to that Pokebeach interview:

But on the same token, he said the Americans could probably spend a little more money to secure more music.

So yeah, they could. But they don't. That's why we're so upset.

 

[Casual_Furi]

What about all the other dubs that keep the entire Japanese score? The Death Note anime would be far less gripping without the eerie Latin chanting and suspenseful BGM.

 

[Nekusagi]

Pokemon is a "kids show", though, and therefore it's assumed that there's no point in wasting that much money on the target audience because they don't care about those things.

 

[AnimeDutchess]

I think people are so critical of the show BECAUSE they enjoy the show so much. It doesn't make much sense, but really, if you think about it...if the people didn't like the show, why would they be criticizing it, or even watching it?

>_>; I personally try to find something good to say about the show when I watch it. Yes, there are always things I don't like about it, and I'm sure there's a way to change it, but really, I wouldn't know how, short of getting a job at the show and writing the English dub script myself and give Sarah emotion-expression lessons...>_<;;

*sigh* I'm kinda hoping this doesn't turn into one of those BGM threads...

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Pokemon is a "kids show", though, and therefore it's assumed that there's no point in wasting that much money on the target audience because they don't care about those things.

Well, what's the most popular kids anime in the US right now?

Naruto. Does that keep the original BGM? You bet.

And it's not like Pokemon USA doesn't have the money to spend on it, either.

 

[Water Pokémon Master]

I noticed how the original poster conveniently left this key part out of the answer to that Pokebeach interview:



So yeah, they could. But they don't. That's why we're so upset.

No, even if they had all the money in the world, they would still be restricted. Hidaka meant they could get probably a LITTLE more, but even then, it's not a sure thing. What we are getting right now is probably all we're going to ever get.

 

[Dogasu]

PUSA isn't under any more restrictions from JASRAC than any other company in the world who translates anime. PUSA just chooses not to deal with it (i.e. pay more than $0 to keep the music) and instead opts to go with their cheaper synthesizer stuff.

I know that being able to say that the dubbers "can't" get more Japanese music makes dub fans feel better about themselves than saying that they "simply won't," but sometimes, the simplest explanation is often the correct one. And in this case, I believe that "PUSA just doesn't want to use all the Japanese music" is that explanation.

 

[Yash]

I'm not buying the music argument. I'm sure there's some truth to it, yet 4Kids frequently used the "Team Rocket's secret strategy" theme out of place, even in other shows such as Winx Club. Not only that, they even composed their own version which would probably be cheaper to use than the Japanese version, yet they kept it nearly every single time. Since using in-house music apparently costs less than using the Japanese music, the fact that they even keep some of it suggests that it's not that expensive.

Also, they're the friggin' Pokemon company. They make millions of dollars every day and essentially control the largest video game series in the industry. You're telling me that they can't afford the music rights?

 

[Crax]

the only bad thing left about the dub is the darn music. not only do they replace 75% of the original bgm with generic, boring, paceless synthetizer stuff, they also lower the volume on the 25% original bgm that are left intact so you get problem hearing it. disaster if u ask me..

at least 4kids kept the volume at a reasonable level.

and yeah, whats so darn hard with keeping the original bgm. Pokemon is like the only dub left that replaces the original bgm. seriously -.-

 

[Musashi]

the only bad thing left about the dub is the darn music.

And Team Rocket's lines, even if most people don't complain about them. I'd rather the script be accurate, then worry about the music. This is a problem that can easily be fixed without spending money, but it wont be because then people would probably complain they're acting out of character. PUSA could at least stop having them insult each other every episode.

 

[Casual_Furi]

If TR are that witty, then they just become writers. Nobody talks like that in real life. Not even writers. Stop trying to pizazz the script, PUSA! I wouldn't like it if I wrote a script, then some company replaces my work with their own lines.

 

[Linkpre]

I agree on not being so critical on the show. One of the reasons I rarely even come here is because of the constant complaining and attitudes. I mean sure, I admit that I've complained on a few certain subjects here & there, but at the end of the day I gotta realize that it's just a cartoon show. I've enjoyed it for all these years so no point in being critical.

 

[pixies and fairies]

Pokemon fans are huge whiners, seriously. I've noticed that...

And while there's a few things i whine about too, when whiners whine to each other about stuff, it feels like it's so much more whiny. Whining must be exponential or something.

But in any case, I'm really only mad if scripts are rewritten for silly purposes. And not just small revisions, I'm talking like...major ones.

The only other thing that annoys me are capture speculations. I'm sure everyone's done that at some point or another, but I really don't care about capture/evolve speculations. I just find them kinda pointless...

 

[LadyBow]

In a reponse to a few of you, I never said that you shouldn't criticize anything. I meant people shouldn't be overly critical, to the point where they just come off as whiny. You don't have to like the show, but don't say it sucks when it is intended for children. Just because you like the original version/music doesn't mean the American audience would. You are not the majority and you're not the demographic. They will never try to appeal to you.

What would be the point of spending a lot of money on more music? The American children are never going to notice a difference, they don't watch the show for the music.