What's Japanese in Japanese Animation?
Anime comes either subbed, subtitled, or dubbed, where the original Japanese voices have been dubbed over with American voices. Dubbed anime can usually be seen on television. Subbed anime can be bought over the Internet or at select stores. It is often argued among American anime fans, or otaku, which is better, subbed or dubbed. The argument usually boils down to which portrays more the original Japanese version more accurately, which is the subbed version, since dubbed versions receive heavy editing for television use. American censors cut out a lot of sex and violence in anime. Whole episodes are not brought over. With all this censorship, the "Japanese" in the show sometimes gets cut out. One of the most censored anime is the dubbed version of Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon. In an article about Sailor Moon in Animerica, a writer states that "the Sailor Moon TV episodes were considerably altered for local broadcast standards for children’s programming. Names were changed to sound American, Japanese cultural references were omitted or changed, violence was toned down, and sexual hints were cut." (Decker, 6). For example, Usagi’s name became Serena in the American dub, Mamaro became Darien, and Chibi-Usa became Rini. These name changes take away some of the animator’s creativity. Usagi means Rabbit of the Moon in Japanese, and Chibi-Usa means little rabbit. The similarity between these two names foreshadows that Usagi and Chibi-Usa have some sort of connection, which becomes apparent later in the series. The name Usagi also refers to an old Japanese folk tale entitled "The Rabbit in the Moon." In the American version, the dubbers attempt to simulate this relationship with the names Serena and Rini, but the connection is lost. The reference to the Japanese story disappears, too. The transformation sequences of the Sailor Scouts are toned down a bit as well, so the girls do not look quite as naked. Of course, the dubbed version on television is appropriate for young children, but it changes the Sailor Moonseries into a sappy girlie show, rather than the serious, soap opera-like series it was in Japan. Nonetheless, it is a big hit. Fans of this series, however, may never see past Sailor Moon R, because of the lesbian relationship between Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, who enter in the next season.
Sailor Moon is not the only anime to see censorship. Even the Pokémon television series has been changed. In the Mankey episode, Ash and his friends eat what Ash refer to as jelly donuts (Pokémon ep 31). No one seems to notice that their jelly donuts are wrapped in seaweed. These donuts are actually a traditional Japanese treat called onigiri, which consist of rice balls wrapped in seaweed and filled with sour plum (Eating in Japan 80). In a later episode, Misty and Jessie of Team Rocket, the incompetent villains of the series, compete in a beauty pageant for a set of Pokémon Princess dolls (Pokémon ep 56). These dolls are really hina-ningyo, ornamental dolls given to girls on Momo-no-Sekku, girls day (Festivals of Japan 166). Hina dolls are set up for one day and one day only and give girls long life. One reason why Misty and Jessie seem so intent on getting them is because the dolls also give luck in finding a husband. In the American dub, the meaning of this gets lost. Misty and Jessie also wear kimonos, "a traditional robe like garment worn by both men and women." (Poitras 68), during the beauty pageant. Jessie and James, another member of Team Rocket, later use omamori to try to ward off ghost pokémon (Pokémon ep 33). Omamori "...are small pieces of paper with the name of the shrine or temple and a few words describing the benefit of the charm." (Poitras 100). In the dubbed version, the omamori are just stickers that ward off ghosts.
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