Another Shaman King thread.

[MajorTom]

Did you notice that in the promo that aired yesterday, it said Shonen Jump's Shaman King? I found it odd that it says that. It didn't say Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh! or Kinnikuman: Neisi. And Yoh's voice sounds like crap.

-Major Tom

[EscaflownePilot]

Yeah, I already brought this up in about two other threads.

The reason Yu-Gi-Oh! wasn't named "Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh!" is probably because it started airing a couple of years before Shonen Jump came here. And Ultimate Muscle wasn't named with Shonen Jump because... well, it's not being published in Shonen Jump in the U.S.

I really don't think it's good (in a way) for Shonen Jump to be in the title, though. Shonen Jump is for teens (13+), while FoxBox is for ages 6-12. Completely different demographics, therefore, they shouldn't be advertising for each other. It'd be fine if this meant 4Kids would produce their anime series to be more faithful to the original like Shonen Jump does with the manga, but I get the feeling it could have the reverse effect - Shonen Jump will gain too much popularity with the FoxBox age group, and end up editing their manga for such an age group. Hopefully my fears aren't valid, though.

[TruthSayer]

I really don't think it's good (in a way) for Shonen Jump to be in the title, though. Shonen Jump is for teens (13+), while FoxBox is for ages 6-12.

FoxBox ratings are higher in the "Tweens" (boys 9-14) category than in the Boys (6-11) category. This surprised 4Kids, and so they said that this year they would focus more on the 9-14 age bracket. That could mean that they will dub Shaman King a bit more closely to the original and leave in the weapons instead of taking the weapons out like in Yu-Gi-Oh!. I think we should wait until after a few episodes are aired before making judgements.

As for 4Kids, they brought Pokemon to the US in 1998 and it was a huge success. This showed companies that there is a big market for anime, and is responsible for helping to bring a lot more anime to the US. Whether people here like it or not, 4Kids helped pave the way. It makes no sense to bash them, they are just a company trying to make money. There is no "moral authority" when it comes to how to handle an anime property other than the reponsibility a company has to make money for the Japanese owners. That's it.

[ClockStomper]

FoxBox ratings are higher in the "Tweens" (boys 9-14) category than in the Boys (6-11) category. This surprised 4Kids, and so they said that this year they would focus more on the 9-14 age bracket. That could mean that they will dub Shaman King a bit more closely to the original and leave in the weapons instead of taking the weapons out like in Yu-Gi-Oh!. I think we should wait until after a few episodes are aired before making judgements.

As for 4Kids, they brought Pokemon to the US in 1998 and it was a huge success. This showed companies that there is a big market for anime, and is responsible for helping to bring a lot more anime to the US. Whether people here like it or not, 4Kids helped pave the way. It makes no sense to bash them, they are just a company trying to make money. There is no "moral authority" when it comes to how to handle an anime property other than the reponsibility a company has to make money for the Japanese owners. That's it.

To be fair, Dragonball Z should get credit as well for opening the anime market to a fighting anime, if it was just Pokemon that did it, we'd currently only have simplified anime like the crap ABC Family airs.

If they are now targeting the shonen jump crowd, I would hope they would treat their DVD releases seriously now, since tweens can afford more than cards. They now stand to actually make money from their releases, so let's hope they don't throw them out half-assed anymore.

I would hope they now take their cues from reality in terms of editing, they look rather foolish and idiotic when Yugi-Oh has punches and the existance of death edited out, and then Static and X-Men air right next to it.

[EscaflownePilot]

FoxBox ratings are higher in the "Tweens" (boys 9-14) category than in the Boys (6-11) category. This surprised 4Kids, and so they said that this year they would focus more on the 9-14 age bracket. That could mean that they will dub Shaman King a bit more closely to the original and leave in the weapons instead of taking the weapons out like in Yu-Gi-Oh!. I think we should wait until after a few episodes are aired before making judgements.

Well, that's good to hear. And I'm not judging Shaman King too harshly right now - my statements in my previous post here was referring more to the way they treated Yu-Gi-Oh! and the like. Don't worry - I fully plan to watch at least a few episodes of Shaman King before whining and complaining about anything!

As for 4Kids, they brought Pokemon to the US in 1998 and it was a huge success. This showed companies that there is a big market for anime, and is responsible for helping to bring a lot more anime to the US. Whether people here like it or not, 4Kids helped pave the way.

Sure, Pokemon is a big part of why anime is so big in the U.S.
But as Clockstomper said, Pokemon wasn't the only popular anime series back then. Dragon Ball Z was probably just as big a factor in all this as Pokemon was, if not more so simply because Dragon Ball Z has paved the way not just for anime in general, but has paved the way for more authentic releases of anime series by creating a fanbase built of not just children but many teens and adults (more so than Pokemon) which, in turn, paved the way for the uncut DVDs FUNimation releases now. But still, I don't doubt for a second that Pokemon didn't help pave the way for more anime here, and I'm still a huge fan of the pre-Johto Pokemon episodes.

And I really hate to include Pokemon in any arguments against 4Kids. I really think Pokemon is one of the best English versions of an anime series on TV. They kept the original music, kept many (though not all) Japanese elements of the show, retained the unique eyecatches, produced openings that were actually good, and when they did change things, it was usually for pretty valid reasons , as opposed to Yu-Gi-Oh!, which often changes things just for the sake of it. Plus, the whole "Pokerap"/"Pikachu's Jukebox" thing was really unique the way they corresponded with the days of the week. It's everything after Pokemon that bugs me - namely, Yu-Gi-Oh!.

There is no "moral authority" when it comes to how to handle an anime property other than the reponsibility a company has to make money for the Japanese owners.

In an official sense, yes you're correct. However, as an even halfway decent company, they need to realize the legion of people that supported the original properties' original version do exist, and they do have an unofficial responsibility to respect the wishes of not only the original author but of the many fans who expect a more authentic version of the series to be made available. If they don't, then there's no reason they should expect support from us, nor expect us to not turn to alternatives to see the original Shaman King.

I just don't see what's so wrong for wanting the original version of the anime to be made available, and why I shouldn't cease support of that company until it is. Really - tell me, if someone has a valid reason against my opinions here, let me know! I don't see why I have to be met with a huge complaint like this one simply for voicing my disrespect for a company that will refuse to respect the fans of the original properties.If your favorite foreign book (like, say Harry Potter, just as an easy example... although it's not really THAT foreign... nah just play along) were completely re-arranged for the U.S., you'd be a bit miffed, right? I'd bet you'd discontinue support of the publisher, and voice you're lack of respect for the publisher until something was done about it, just as I am here.

There's just no reason I have to be met with such an argument as this like I'm demanding some evil thing. I'm not - in fact, what I want translates to more sales for 4Kids, if they were to sell uncut DVDs. And this turns into more money for the license holders.

But still, rest assured that I'll at least watch a few episodes of Shaman King with the hopes that they do a good job with it before I make my judgement.

[TruthSayer]

in fact, what I want translates to more sales for 4Kids, if they were to sell uncut DVDs. And this turns into more money for the license holders.

Perhaps 4Kids will try to make more money after they sell as many edited videos as they can. Just because they haven't yet doesn't mean they never will. Like I said before, instead of petitions people should just collect the money and offer it to 4Kids in order to get uncut versions. Money talks more than words.

[Tash]

Let's look at 4Kids' track record:
Pokemon: like the other guy said, this was probably one of the best anime dubs.
Yu-gi-oh: I don't think I have to say anything. It's all been mentioned.
Cubix: In my opinion, this show was annoying. Apperently, this show isn't very popular.
Kirby: My lord! Every charicter has a diffrent accent (bearable) and they are so inconsistent (ex.1: In the first episode, there was a scene of a toast with wine cut. Yet it was not cut in the flashbacks. All 3 flashbacks.) (ex.2: In one episode, the woman said something. Dedede has a recelection to it, and what she said changed)
Fighting Foodons: I havn't seen the original, but this show would be interesting if it weren't for the bad puns.
Ultraman Tiga: I dunno, there's something about it I don't like...
Ultimate Muscle: this show has great voices and gets away with a LOT. Plus it got a US season!
Cramp Twins: Haven't seen much.
TMNT: Did 4 kids really make this? If you've ever seen an episode, you'll know what I mean.


As you can see, all of their shows are either really good or really bad.

so let's give then the benifit of the doubt.

[ClockStomper]

.
TMNT: Did 4 kids really make this? If you've ever seen an episode, you'll know what I mean.

Well, the writing wasn't handled by them (hence why it dosen't suck, like Yugi-Oh,) they do the voice work, which I've never had issue with. They do have good voice actors, it's just that they make them say stupid things (again, see Yugi-Oh.)

[TruthSayer]

Well, the writing wasn't handled by them (hence why it dosen't suck, like Yugi-Oh,) they do the voice work, which I've never had issue with. They do have good voice actors, it's just that they make them say stupid things (again, see Yugi-Oh.)

I guess 4Kids did something right with Yu-Gi-Oh! seeing how popular it is. Also, on one of the Yu-Gi-Oh! home videos they show a "behind the scenes" for the creation of the new TMNT series and it's obvious that most of the credit for TMNT definitely goes to the creative minds at 4Kids.

[Beat]

For some bizzare reason, I liked Ultimate Muscle/Kinkuman. I don't know why....