4Kids script writer speaks out

Paul

Paul

Ghost of Animes
Administrator
UK anime website Anime Boredom has posted an interview with a script writer of 4Kids Entertainment; the company infamous for their cuts and edits of popular anime series like the English adaptation of One Piece.
 
I find it utterly detestable that such a man who, self-professed, has no interest or knowledge of the anime, manga or games upon which the shows he is "reworking" the scripts for is allowed to do such a job.

I don't expect every person who works on the scripts to shows be an otaku or any such but surely showing an interest in what it is you are transcribing would be of enormous benefit in retaining the original feel of the show regardless of what cuts you may be required to make.
 
4Kids man said:
Rasmussen : In one part of my recent Darren Dunstan interview he mentioned that other 4Kids series had to be revised for various reasons, mostly due to violence or adult content. Is Sonic X one of these series that had to be revised, and if so why was it revised?

Mr. Haigney : I know that many fans of the Japanese series vilify 4Kids for changing the content of the original shows. What they may not realize is that Fox Broadcast Standards and Practices forbids things like smoking, firing realistic weapons and, generally, any kind of violence that would be easy for kids to imitate. That’s because the FCC has rules and regulations governing broadcast. I happen to dislike realistic violence in the context of kids’ cartoons, but the changes we make in the original shows have nothing to do with a capricious desire to “ruinâ€
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Why did they license One Piece, a show that has all the stuff that is apparently against their rules. It's one thing to change a blantent kids series like Pokemon; it hardly ruins the show itself, but what they did to One Piece was a massive mistake on their part and not only alienated them from One Piece's already sizable fan base but also destroyed the underlying soul of the show itself; a story where friendship is reenforced through violence.
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abba put it best

"money money money, must be funny, in a rich mans world"
 
Nothing new to really say here, i agree with the comments above, but really.. it is sickening to think that the people who edit and DESTROY these anime's, actually have no interest in it what-so-ever. What really comes into peoples heads these days...
I'm still wondering if there is someway to overthrow 4Kids :D

EDIT: Just found this: 'Our sensibilities can be different from the Japanese. The U.S. is a larger, more culturally diverse country with more, varied sensitivities to contend with.'
Who do 4Kids think they are...idiots...
 
I think it's nice to see their side of the coin, to be honest.

At least they've got no illusions of Doing The Right Thing - they're in it for the money and they're honest about that.
 
I sense a little resentment in the tone of that interview. Almost as if he's actually annoyed that fans prefer the original Japanese versions!

He does make a fair point though: without 4Kids many people wouldn't have ever come across any anime at all. But that doesn't excuse his apathy towards anime in general. You would have thought the industry that has brought him his livlihood would spark at least a little interest...
 
DaNiMé said:
Nothing new to really say here, i agree with the comments above, but really.. it is sickening to think that the people who edit and DESTROY these anime's, actually have no interest in it what-so-ever. What really comes into peoples heads these days...
I'm still wondering if there is someway to overthrow 4Kids :D

EDIT: Just found this: 'Our sensibilities can be different from the Japanese. The U.S. is a larger, more culturally diverse country with more, varied sensitivities to contend with.'
Who do 4Kids think they are...idiots...
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There is no modern country that is as diverse as Japan.

And basically that quote is saying something true - the US has far too many uber conservatives and he is playing their fiddle. :evil:
 
I gave it a read to give the guy a fair chance but disagreed with him on a number of points. For instance:
(on changing background music)
We replace it for both artistic and commercial reasons. I don't think it's any more or less insensitive than dubbing.
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Dubbing is done to make a show more accessible (ignoring the old subs/dubs debate!). The reasons for changing the music have nothing to do with this.

A lot of it seems to be a case of insulting the audience's intelligence - it is assumed that people will not 'get' what's on screen. Kids are brighter than a lot of people involved in television realise!

Granted, his work does raise the profile of anime in the West and some aspects of the 'adaptations' that the likes of 4Kids do are out of his hands (the problems I have with censors' hipocrisy would require a whole thread of its own) but his lack of knowledge of the subject is as worrying as it is laughable.

I mean, would you get a band to record an album with a producer who can't play a single musical instrument?
I am interested in Manga as a concept. But I was never into comic books or manga.
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Credit is due for his enthusiasm and honesty, but he doesn't sound at all qualified to do his job! *shakes head*
 
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