What IF Pokemon Special (Adventures) was made into an Anime?

[matt0044]

This isn't really another "why wasn't PokeSpe made into an Anime" thread. Rather, as the title implies, I'd like to know what you think what would happen if Hidenori Kusaka's Pokemon Manga was adapted into an Animated TV Series if the actual Anime was never thought of.

Here are some questions to think about:

1. Would the story in the Anime be different than in the Manga? The exact same? Or the same with a few fillers and extra stories?

2. Who would voice the characters in the Japanese and English versions?

3. Who would/should handle the dub and how would it be handled for US distribution?

4. How would the Animation and Character Designs be? Good? Bad? Average?

5. Would the reception and reputation for Pokemon overall among the general audience in the US and other countries outside Japan be different? What would fans and non-fans think of Pokemon then?

So go wild! Just remember that this is a "What If" topic so keep that in mind.

 

[Hunter Blade]

If this were to happen, I would like it to stay the same storyline. That means it'd have to be in the nighttime timeslot because of the violence, but that's fine. If they were somehow able to keep the basic art style then that'd be awesome, because One Piece has already proven that manga-to-anime art can stay almost the exact same. It would also keep or even gain older viewers, because it isn't the rainbows and friendship that a lot of people claim runs throughout the current anime.

 

[matt0044]

If this were to happen, I would like it to stay the same storyline. That means it'd have to be in the nighttime timeslot because of the violence, but that's fine. If they were somehow able to keep the basic art style then that'd be awesome, because One Piece has already proven that manga-to-anime art can stay almost the exact same. It would also keep or even gain older viewers, because it isn't the rainbows and friendship that a lot of people claim runs throughout the current anime.

Maybe not in America without some visual edits here and there (maybe for 10 years and older at the very least) but it'd no doubt be for kids in Japan. No need for a nighttime time slot.

As for the whole "rainbows and friendship" thing, the latter is present as a must-have in Pokemon Special. It's trust between a Pokemon and its Trainer that helps win the battle in addition to training and experience. It's, of course, not done in a mushy way (most of the time.

 

[Hunter Blade]

Actually, the manga is quite violent and sometimes disturbing. Especially the Pokemon Tower chapter with reanimated corpses, and the chapter where Blue's Charmeleon slashes Koga's Arbok in half and blood pools around it. Not to mention people die all the time.


And that's what I meant by rainbows and friendship. The bonds are important, but not in the ways they portray them in the anime so far.

 

[matt0044]

Actually, the manga is quite violent and sometimes disturbing. Especially the Pokemon Tower chapter with reanimated corpses, and the chapter where Blue's Charmeleon slashes Koga's Arbok in half and blood pools around it. Not to mention people die all the time.

ALL THE TIME? Do you even read the series? People don't really die all the time in PokeSpe. Especially not the main characters (sometimes supporting characters but not everyone of them). Maybe sometimes for drama but not constantly each and every chapter. You act as if it's constantly a gore fest. Besides, kids shows sometimes feature Zombies (mostly for laughs but that's beside the point). Maybe they'll edit things in America but violence isn't much of a problem in Japan since PokeSpe is for kids around seven and up.

 

[Hunter Blade]

I didn't literally mean all the time... I know it's not every chapter or the main characters... calm down.

The whole point of me saying it would have the nighttime slot is because I would hope that they don't edit it for America. I hate when that happens. But nevermind. Somebody else needs to get in on this conversation too.

 

[With Flowers]

I'd want the story to stay pretty much the same. RGB and Yellow might be put in one season to compensate for their length, but they could also get separate seasons with plenty of filler. It also might be presented as in the same timeline as the current anime.

I'm not sure there's a market for an American TV run in the original form, being as it's a somewhat bloody Pokemon show. If it did get a TV slot, then it'd probably be on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, because they've already got the current anime. The animation quality would probably depend on how much of a market the makers thought there would be - a spinoff to the current anime would probably get pretty good animation, but anything else might have subpar animation.

The American dub would cause problems. The original version is too violent to get a slot early enough that the kids who would be interested in Pokemon would watch it. If the violence was censored for the American run, it would probably get a better time slot, which might get it more viewers; however, the fans of the manga would be quite annoyed. In Japan, where it could get a decent time slot without the violence being censored, it might have a better chance.

 

[With Flowers]

I'd want the story to stay pretty much the same. RGB and Yellow might be put in one season to compensate for their length, but they could also get separate seasons with plenty of filler. It also might be presented as in the same timeline as the current anime.

I'm not sure there's a market for an American TV run in the original form, being as it's a somewhat bloody Pokemon show. If it did get a TV slot, then it'd probably be on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, because they've already got the current anime. The animation quality would probably depend on how much of a market the makers thought there would be - a spinoff to the current anime would probably get pretty good animation, but anything else might have subpar animation.

The American dub would cause problems. The original version is too violent to get a slot early enough that the kids who would be interested in Pokemon would watch it. If the violence was censored for the American run, it would probably get a better time slot, which might get it more viewers; however, the fans of the manga would be quite annoyed. In Japan, where it could get a decent time slot without the violence being censored, it might have a better chance.

 

[matt0044]

I'm not sure there's a market for an American TV run in the original form, being as it's a somewhat bloody Pokemon show. If it did get a TV slot, then it'd probably be on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, because they've already got the current anime. The animation quality would probably depend on how much of a market the makers thought there would be - a spinoff to the current anime would probably get pretty good animation, but anything else might have subpar animation.

The American dub would cause problems. The original version is too violent to get a slot early enough that the kids who would be interested in Pokemon would watch it. If the violence was censored for the American run, it would probably get a better time slot, which might get it more viewers; however, the fans of the manga would be quite annoyed. In Japan, where it could get a decent time slot without the violence being censored, it might have a better chance.

Who's to say that it might not get censored in Japan by whoever directs or produces the Anime? It happened with SGT Frog.

Plus, I don't think Pokemon on Adult Swim sits well with me, even if it is Special. I'd prefer that whatever company that dubs the Anime for kids keeps the original story the same and makes well-done visual edits. Plus, release the uncut version on DVD for older fans like us (if they'd acknowledge us). Sorta like Dragon Ball Z Kai on Nicktoons. I don't mind censorship in Anime on TV so long there's an uncut version to see.

Besides, as kids, we wouldn't care if the TV version was edited so long as we actually liked it as Pokemon fans. Believe me, as a Sailor Moon fan, I know.

 

[Eitarou]

I'd want the story to stay pretty much the same. RGB and Yellow might be put in one season to compensate for their length, but they could also get separate seasons with plenty of filler. It also might be presented as in the same timeline as the current anime.

Length? The Red, Green, and Blue chapter alone can make over 35 episodes or even more.

I'm not sure there's a market for an American TV run in the original form, being as it's a somewhat bloody Pokemon show. If it did get a TV slot, then it'd probably be on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, because they've already got the current anime. The animation quality would probably depend on how much of a market the makers thought there would be - a spinoff to the current anime would probably get pretty good animation, but anything else might have subpar animation.

Bloody? This series is bloody? Have you read this series?

We've never seen any real bloodshed until the Ruby & Sapphire chapter and that's the only time that's ever happened.

Pokemon on Adult Swim? No. NO. Never going to happen. The very idea of it is preposterous.

The American dub would cause problems. The original version is too violent to get a slot early enough that the kids who would be interested in Pokemon would watch it. If the violence was censored for the American run, it would probably get a better time slot, which might get it more viewers; however, the fans of the manga would be quite annoyed. In Japan, where it could get a decent time slot without the violence being censored, it might have a better chance.

You make it sound like anime aren't censored from their manga versions at all.

 

[With Flowers]

Who's to say that it might not get censored in Japan by whoever directs or produces the Anime? It happened with SGT Frog.

Plus, I don't think Pokemon on Adult Swim sits well with me, even if it is Special. I'd prefer that whatever company that dubs the Anime for kids keeps the original story the same and makes well-done visual edits. Plus, release the uncut version on DVD for older fans like us (if they'd acknowledge us). Sorta like Dragon Ball Z Kai on Nicktoons. I don't mind censorship in Anime on TV so long there's an uncut version to see.

Besides, as kids, we wouldn't care if the TV version was edited so long as we actually liked it as Pokemon fans. Believe me, as a Sailor Moon fan, I know.

Whether it gets censored, at least in America, probably depends on the target audience. If the target audience is 10 and under (the kids who watch the current anime) some of the violence and other disturbing stuff will probably be censored; if they're aiming for the older fans who've "grown out" of the current anime, they can probably produce it as is. If they do censor anything, visual edits for TV airing with an uncut version on DVD sounds ideal. And yeah, the kids wouldn't care whether it was edited so long as they liked it.

Length? The Red, Green, and Blue chapter alone can make over 35 episodes or even more.

They'd have to compress the chapters at least somewhat. Lance vs. Yellow takes nine rounds, and the climax of GSC takes fourteen.

Bloody? This series is bloody? Have you read this series? We've never seen any real bloodshed until the Ruby & Sapphire chapter and that's the only time that's ever happened.

It's not on the scale of Ruby and Sapphire, but RGB has Blue's Charmeleon bisecting Koga's Arbok and Koga trying to kill/cripple Blue; Yellow has Lance leveling most of Vermilion City and Lance being pulled into the volcano; GSC has Pryce blowing up a lake underneath Gold and Silver. Also, eventually they'll get to Ruby and Sapphire, and I agree that those had the most bloodshed of the series.

Pokemon on Adult Swim? No. NO. Never going to happen. The very idea of it is preposterous.

I think that for an uncensored adaptation of Special, someone might decide to go for paranoia and put it as early/late Adult Swim, rated for 14 and up. And it could go in the normal time slots, too, this is all just my opinion on what might happen.

 

[1dbad]

If this were to happen, I would like it to stay the same storyline.

I would as well. And luckily if there ever was a PokeSpecial anime adaptation it most likely would keep the storyline in tact. Most manga-to-anime adaptations do, and with Special having so many volumes out they wouldn't have to worry about doing anything but adapting it into an anime. The most we'd ever have to worry about would be occasional changes to things and possibly some filler. And even then there probably wouldn't be too many changes or that much filler, if any.

The "what if" scenario might be a slightly different story though. It following the manga and how closely it would follow it would probably depend on how much of it was out before the anime adaptation began. How much of it was out would also affect how much filler there would be as well.

Speaking of "what ifs"...I wonder, if we didn't have the anime we did now and the PokeSpecial manga was our anime, would it be even more rushed than it is now?

That means it'd have to be in the nighttime timeslot because of the violence, but that's fine.

I don't think so. The Japanese anime most definitely wouldn't get a nighttime slot, and if they censored the anime for American release it definitely wouldn't get one either. Heck, even if they didn't censor the anime I don't think it would get one. Nothing in a possible anime adaptation would be bad enough for them to have to air it at night, especially when you consider the fact that most of the far out stuff would get toned down or removed when making the anime in Japan anyway.

If they were somehow able to keep the basic art style then that'd be awesome, because One Piece has already proven that manga-to-anime art can stay almost the exact same.

You know I've often wondered about that. While it's definitely possible that they could mimic Mato's art style or even Satoshi's (which is basically anime-style art to begin with), I dunno if they would do it. It would be pretty weird to copy both of their styles since there would be a sudden change in anime art at some point, but at the same time I don't think they would just copy one of them. It would be odd to only do Mato's style especially when adapting the things she didn't draw, but it wouldn't exactly be fair to only do Satoshi's style either. What I think they would do is just give it your standard anime art style, which would be fine with me.

EDIT: You know I just thought of something. Looking at this from a "what if" perspective; had the anime adaptation of Special started while Mato was still the artist I could have seen them using her style for the anime, and then changing it to Satoshi's style once he became the artist. To be honest I think that's one of the only ways they would have done both of their styles for the anime.

Actually, the manga is quite violent and sometimes disturbing.

I wouldn't say the manga is that violent. It has its violent moments yes, but even then I wouldn't say their violent moments are that violent. And disturbing? I never really found anything disturbing in the manga...but then again I'm a horror buff so maybe I'm not the best person to ask about that, lol.

and the chapter where Blue's Charmeleon slashes Koga's Arbok in half and blood pools around it.

Don't forgot how we can see a bit of its insides as well.

RGB and Yellow might be put in one season to compensate for their length, but they could also get separate seasons with plenty of filler.

I don't think Red/Blue/Green and Yellow would be put in one season. They would most likely be separate seasons entirely. And you forget, aside from filler, they can also expand chapters to make them last entire episodes as well.

It also might be presented as in the same timeline as the current anime.

Why? I think they would try to keep the animes separate from each other and make each one of them their own individual canon instead of sticking one in the canon of another. (especially since I don't see how one could work in the canon of another unless they drastically changed one of them)

I'm not sure there's a market for an American TV run in the original form, being as it's a somewhat bloody Pokemon show.

I think there is. I mean it's not that bloody, and they might edit it somewhat in Japan too.

The animation quality would probably depend on how much of a market the makers thought there would be - a spinoff to the current anime would probably get pretty good animation, but anything else might have subpar animation.

The animation quality would depend on the studio that makes it and how much of a market they thought it would have. It would most likely have decent animation though, with occasional good and bad quality moments like most animes tend to have. And how well it would do would be a factor as well, since if it did really well the quality of animation for future episodes would most likely increase.

Who's to say that it might not get censored in Japan by whoever directs or produces the Anime? It happened with SGT Frog.

Exactly! And it tends to happen with a lot of manga-to-anime adaptations. Manga seems to be able to get by with a bit more than anime can for the most part.

I'd prefer that whatever company that dubs the Anime for kids keeps the original story the same and makes well-done visual edits. Plus, release the uncut version on DVD for older fans like us (if they'd acknowledge us). Sorta like Dragon Ball Z Kai on Nicktoons. I don't mind censorship in Anime on TV so long there's an uncut version to see.

I would prefer there not to be any censorship, but if there was I would hope it would be nothing more than an occasional visual edit or dialogue edit. Regardless of the amount of censorship though (granted it got some), I would hope there would be an uncut DVD.

Besides, as kids, we wouldn't care if the TV version was edited so long as we actually liked it as Pokemon fans. Believe me, as a Sailor Moon fan, I know.

To be honest I think the reason we don't mind as kids is because we simply don't know there are any edits, lol. All we care about is liking what we're watching, lol.

They'd have to compress the chapters at least somewhat. Lance vs. Yellow takes nine rounds, and the climax of GSC takes fourteen.

Not really. They could just fit more than one chapter into an episode at times. But they probably wouldn't worry about doing that too often, since they would want to make sure they have enough episodes for an entire season.

 

[Almonds]

The little kids are going to scream where Blue (a.k.a. girl green) loses her "fake arm" because it looked so realistic.

 

[matt0044]

The little kids are going to scream where Blue (a.k.a. girl green) loses her "fake arm" because it looked so realistic.

Well, yes but it is fake. Plus, if Tenshinhan (Tien) from Dragon Ball Z Kai can be shown losing his arm on Nicktoons, then Japan can get away with the same for kids.

 

[The Outrage]

If this were to happen, I would like it to stay the same storyline. That means it'd have to be in the nighttime timeslot because of the violence, but that's fine. If they were somehow able to keep the basic art style then that'd be awesome, because One Piece has already proven that manga-to-anime art can stay almost the exact same. It would also keep or even gain older viewers, because it isn't the rainbows and friendship that a lot of people claim runs throughout the current anime.

Even the DBZ Kai they show at the CW (the even more edited one) seems more violent than Pokemon Special, and its shown at 10 AM.

It doesn't seem anymore violent than Naruto, and I recall having seen that broadcast in the morning when I was visiting my cousins in new york a few years back. What was its time slot? People suggest Pokemon to be on Adult Swim, but I couldn't find Naruto listed on its programming list, while I found Naruto for Cartoon network, and they got away with reanimating corpses, which quite frankly wasn't even the most disturbing thing that happened there.

 

[Hunter Blade]

Even the DBZ Kai they show at the CW (the even more edited one) seems more violent than Pokemon Special, and its shown at 10 AM.

It doesn't seem anymore violent than Naruto, and I recall having seen that broadcast in the morning when I was visiting my cousins in new york a few years back. What was its time slot? People suggest Pokemon to be on Adult Swim, but I couldn't find Naruto listed on its programming list, while I found Naruto for Cartoon network, and they got away with reanimating corpses, which quite frankly wasn't even the most disturbing thing that happened there.

Naruto, when new episodes were still being shown a few years back, was always at the 9PM central slot. They stopped showing it two or three years back, and they now have Adult Swim starting at 9PM central with King of the Hill.
I've always counted the 9 slot as the start of nighttime programming, since that's always when the "childrens" shows stop. Or, that's what it used to be. They've changed a ton in the past few years.

 

[Data_Error]

I would definitely be interested in a Pokémon-Special-based anime. Ideally, it would be something that would be released sparingly to avoid the problem the current show tends to have about getting bogged down by filler episodes. My suggestion would be to, at the release of each game or completion of each manga storyline, release a short series of episodes covering the relevant story arc. Preserving the same storyline and pace of the manga would make it a very interesting show to watch, and relegating the show's release to short arcs would help in that respect. About half of the story arcs would be well-suited to the regular thirteen episode run, while the R/S and D/P arcs may need closer to twenty-four apiece. Unfortunately, none of this is likely, as the ongoing Pokémon anime leaves enough on its team's plate, especially with the addition of releasing a film every year, with frequent added OVAs and recently a double-film project, and while the older American audience may not be as enthusiastic about it, the show's still popular in other demographics, especially compared to the relatively-obscure-outside-Japan manga.

Basically, while it would be awesome, the manga works just fine as it is in print form, and we've already got a TV anime, anyway.

Regarding the time slot discussion, I think that a show based on PokéSpe would have to occupy a different time slot than the already-established anime based on the fact that it would have a different target demographic than the main series - airing the two series during different time blocks would help viewers distinguish between the two. Some things in the manga are less than appropriate for an eight-to-ten-year-old.


EDIT EXPANSION: It isn't fundamentally "wrong" to have two shows based on the same series, but it is impractical given where the two overlap and that audiences in general tend to get tired of two shows running simultaneously about the same subject. Admittedly, I missed the qualifying statement of "the original anime never happened" in the first post, but I'm trying to do the "what if" thing with a realistic look from where we're sitting right now. Still, remove any comments involving the current TV series and you have a perfectly valid opinion, nonetheless.

 

[matt0044]

Basically, while it would be awesome, the manga works just fine as it is in print form, and we've already got a TV anime, anyway.

Where does it say that it's wrong to have two show based on the same video game series? Plus, it'd be interesting how the series would look animated. Like our favorite characters moving and speaking.

Regarding the time slot discussion, I think that a show based on PokéSpe would have to occupy a different time slot than the already-established anime based on the fact that it would have a different target demographic than the main series - airing the two series during different time blocks would help viewers distinguish between the two. Some things in the manga are less than appropriate for an eight-to-ten-year-old.

BTW, this is thread about speculating what would happen if Pokemon Special was adapted for an Anime and we got it instead of the TV Anime we know and love/loathe. It's NOT about what would happen if Special was adapted with the Anime still existing. Like the Anime we know was never thought of.

 

[SinCosTan]

I would watch it. That is all. It's only an interesting fantasy that is unlikely to happen.

 

[1dbad]

Ideally, it would be something that would be released sparingly to avoid the problem the current show tends to have about getting bogged down by filler episodes.

Well if the manga got adapted into an anime now, they wouldn't have to worry about releasing it sparingly as long as they started from the beginning and went in order. The manga would be so far ahead of the anime they could probably go on adapting the manga into an anime for a long time before they would have to worry about slowing down and/or introducing filler in order to give the manga time to get ahead.

My suggestion would be to, at the release of each game or completion of each manga storyline, release a short series of episodes covering the relevant story arc.

Personally I think it would be best to wait until each arc in finished in manga form before adapting, but starting a new anime arc at the release of each game would be fine as long as the manga was already working an arc for said game. (hopefully they wouldn't rush the manga just to have stuff to adapt though, or add in a lot of filler/change a lot of stuff)

And a short series of episodes for each arc? To be honest I wouldn't want a short or long series of episodes for each arc -- I would just want enough to fully cover everything that happened in each arc of the manga.

About half of the story arcs would be well-suited to the regular thirteen episode run, while the R/S and D/P arcs may need closer to twenty-four apiece.

What about the G/S/C arc? It's just as long as R/S too. And 13 episodes per arc? I dunno, would that really be enough to cover everything that happens in most of the arcs?

Unfortunately, none of this is likely, as the ongoing Pokémon anime leaves enough on its team's plate, especially with the addition of releasing a film every year, with frequent added OVAs and recently a double-film project

You know, the same team (and even the same company) wouldn't have to work on it. They could get another team from within the company to do it, or even another company entirely to do a PokeSpecial anime.

and while the older American audience may not be as enthusiastic about it, the show's still popular in other demographics,

Do you mean the older American audience in general wouldn't be enthusiastic about it, or do you mean that the older American audience of Special wouldn't like that the show could possibly be placed in a time for a different demographic? (like kids?)

especially compared to the relatively-obscure-outside-Japan manga.

I wouldn't say it's relatively obscure outside of Japan. Maybe in some places, but definitely not all.

Regarding the time slot discussion, I think that a show based on PokéSpe would have to occupy a different time slot than the already-established anime based on the fact that it would have a different target demographic than the main series - airing the two series during different time blocks would help viewers distinguish between the two.

It wouldn't have a different target demographic. Special is marketed to the same audience that the anime and games are: Kids. And the anime adaption of would be the exact same way. And I don't think the viewers would have any problem distinguishing the two animes either; although I do agree that I wouldn't see a Special anime airing right after (or before) the anime we have now.

Some things in the manga are less than appropriate for an eight-to-ten-year-old.

Not in Japan they aren't. And most of what's in the manga isn't inappropriate for kids in the US either. But you need to remember, an anime adaptation of the series would have some of the more risque things changed/taken out when being adapted, and anything else too far out for the target audience could easily be edited/taken out in the dub. Heck, even if they didn't change anything and left it uncensored, I don't think they would have to change the target audience, or at least not too much.

It isn't fundamentally "wrong" to have two shows based on the same series, but it is impractical given where the two overlap and that audiences in general tend to get tired of two shows running simultaneously about the same subject.

I don't think it's impractical considering how different Special is from the anime we have now. And while based on the same thing, I think the shows would be different enough from one another that people wouldn't mind there being two of them as much. And I think both of them would be able to pick up a decent enough audience to last as well.