• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Disney XD to show Doraemon in America for the first time this summer

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Forkball

Member
THE DREAM CAME TRUE

screen-shot-2014-05-09-at-7-32-30-am.png


The financial news source Nikkei reported on Friday that the American media conglomerate Walt Disney will begin running the quintessential Japanese anime Doraemon on television throughout the United States this summer. 44 years after the original manga about a robotic cat from the future debuted, the anime has already aired in 35 countries and territories in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. However, this will be the first television showing of Doraemon in the United States.

The manga creator duo Fujiko Fujio (Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko) created Doraemon in 1969. In the story, the robotic cat was sent by a boy in the future to the present day to help the boy’s hapless grandfather, Nobita. Doraemon, Nobita, and other children deal with everyday childhood issues, solve (and cause) problems with the gadgets in Doraemon’s fourth-dimensional pocket, and embark on escapades through time and space.

According to Nikkei, Disney XD, a children’s channel available in 78 million households, will run a total of 26 episodes five times a week. Disney has run Japanese programming before such as Naruto Shippūden, but it will use Doraemon as content for elementary school children in the lower grades.

The three Japanese companies that hold the copyrights — TV Asahi, Fujiko F. Fujio Production, and TV Asahi‘s anime studio subsidiary Shinei Animation — are producing the English version by contracting it to American studios.

The story and the names of characters and gadgets have been partially changed out of consideration for American culture and customs. Doraemon’s owner Nobita is now “Noby,” the bully Gian is now “Big G,” the flying contraption Takecopter is now the “Hopter,” and the magical portal “Dokodemo Door” is now the “Anywhere Door.” The recent English edition of the manga also has similar names.

Unlike the unauthorized versions out there, this English version is first being produced so it can run in America with its strict guidelines on violence, depictions of discrimination, and depictions of sexual content. However, it is possible for this version to run in other English-speaking countries later.

Doraemon has already aired in Southeast Asia and Europe. Nikkei reported that along with the NHK live-action television series Oshin, Doraemon has contributed greatly to the sense of affinity and image that other countries have of Japan.

In addition to the television anime that premiered in Japan in 1973, the Doraemon manga also inspired a string of annual anime films. This year, Takashi Yamazaki(Returner, Always: Sunset on Third Street, Ballad, Space Battleship Yamato) and Ryûichi Yagi (Pénélope tête en l’air line director, Moyashimon 3D CG director) are helming the first 3D CG film of Doraemon, Stand By Me Doraemon.
Click to expand...
 
A

andymcc

Banned
EdibleKnife said:
Films to follow I'm guessing. And in 6-7 years we'll get the Disney/Pixar Doraemon movie made.
Click to expand...

can't wait to see john lasseter's pasty face on the introduction to the home video version.

"doraemon was, just, SUCH a huge influence on me and my kids"
 
B

BatDan

Bane? Get them on board, I'll call it in.
Can't say I saw this coming.
I always hear that Doraemon is basically Japan's Mickey Mouse, I guess it's appropriate that it's on Disney.

A Pixar produced Doraemon movie would be awesome.
 
T

teruterubozu

Member
Unlike the unauthorized versions out there, this English version is first being produced so it can run in America with its strict guidelines on violence, depictions of discrimination, and depictions of sexual content
Click to expand...

So no Shizika-chan panties. I'm out.
 
D

distantmantra

Member
Necrovex said:
Anpanman will scar kids. Watching my hero being devoured on a screen would horrify me!
Click to expand...

I bought my 2-year old daughter some random Anpanman books and a mug while in Japan last month. The books are great and she loves the mug, but there is a page in one of the books that absolutely terrifies her since it has Horrorman on it. She hurriedly flips past it every single time.

Whoops.
 
N

Necrovex

Member
distantmantra said:
I bought my 2-year old daughter some random Anpanman books and a mug while in Japan last month. The books are great and she loves the mug, but there is a page in one of the books that absolutely terrifies her since it has Horrorman on it. She hurriedly flips past it every single time.

Whoops.
Click to expand...

Horrorman should taken out in this localization, for your daughter's sanity. Change everything! We need a 4Kid's rap OP song.
 
S

sprsk

force push the doodoo rock
Stinkles said:
In before 35 year old weeaboo complains about the localization.
Click to expand...

(31 year old weeaboo)

Literal translation for Doraemon's arsenal of wacky tools is really, really bad. This is a children's show, the names need to be fun and catchy. "Anywhere Door" is straight up lazy.
 
D

Dishwalla

Banned
This is the first time on American TV? Could've swore I've watched it on TV before. It never aired in syndication or anything years ago?
 
X

XANDER CAGE

Member
distantmantra said:
I bought my 2-year old daughter some random Anpanman books and a mug while in Japan last month. The books are great and she loves the mug, but there is a page in one of the books that absolutely terrifies her since it has Horrorman on it. She hurriedly flips past it every single time.

Whoops.
Click to expand...

But horrorman is adorable D:
 
A

Aaron Strife

Banned
I'm fine with the name changes but the food edits are fucking dumb. You'd think that practice would have died with 4Kids but I guess not.

If they wanted to make it an E/I show they could just keep it in Japan and explain their cultural nuances through the dialogue.

Oh well.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Interview with Shuji Utsumi (SEGA Co-COO) by Japanese media outlet Seizo-Trend
Business Game Dev
1
1K
Unknown? replied
Toonami - the after-school show that defined an anime generation
49
7K
AngelaLifman replied
Kids' WB! - The Longest Running Saturday Morning network
8
3K
TaySan replied
Nintendo's Miyamoto wants to make Mario the new Mickey Mouse
48
4K
MagnesG replied
  • Locked
Doraemon US localization shows Doraemon eating Pizza!
2 3 4
159
55K
Christopher replied
Top Bottom