Back in the 90s, 4Kids was just a starting dubbing production that used to dub only Pokemon
episodes and the movies involved with it. Pokemon immediatly took the mainstream by storm with
an ever growing popularity in products including the cards, games, mugs, dolls, plushies, and
even costumes. But they didn't seem to mind that some of the Japanese culture was subtly
refrenced (like Brock when he made Rice Balls in the beggining season). And now that
4Kids has become one of the richest dubbing productions, nearly half of anime lovers
and fans have been up an arms once 4Kids started changing some things.


One Piece was proved to be one of the saddest victims to scene splicing, altered scripts,
sloppy done death scenes, and bad voice acting and cheesy lines that only PBS could potray.
Not only One Piece was hacked up but Sonic X (note: I'm a Sonic fan and this version just pisses
me right off, after hearing the horrible substitute for Sonic Drive and nearly confusing it for
Yu-gi-oh! because of Knuckles' voice. Fans like me just want to be heard and hope justice is made.)



We Americans have been influencing the Japanese and the Japanese have been influencing us
since we opened trade with them. Osamu Tezuka even said he was influenced by Disney cartoons
and Betty boop, and the famous impressionists from Europe and America were influenced by Japanese
paintings. Is this such a bad thing? 4Kids thinks so, and they think kids today aren't bothering to read billboards OR posters. Okay, since I was young I was nuts over reading not only because of he illustrations
but because it actually captured my interest. Reading sparks the imagination and helps teach us, it would be great if 4Kids actually changed their blanked out signs and kept some signs the way they were and just inserted things you'd normally find in a regualr city or inside of a school. Frankly I wouldn't mind. Sure they've changed the Engrish found in the subs, God Bless them for at least having a little sense, but seriously what city has no signs, posters, or billboards with no letters? The Japanese aren't making the
gap in American society, 4Kids is. Are you willing to stop your car when the stop sign has no 'STOP' written in bold white letters? No. And that' s what 4Kids should do...stop pointing fingers and respect the Japanese culture.



Cherilyn Ohlau