(no subject)

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

One of my friends told me something he had heard about the horrific dubbing being done to Naruto, and I was wondering if someone can confirm this for me.

 

He told me that he had heard that they are turning Haku into a girl (so as not to confuse the tiny tots that the English dubs are being marketted too). 

Has anyone else heard anything about this?  I really hope not, but knowing how things get dubbed, I'm afraid its the truth.

 

Comments

[superheroine]

I haven't heard that - but it wouldn't surprise me.

[superheroine]

However, just to point something out - he remained male in the manga. That might affect the desicion.

[lattebayo.livejournal.com]

Nobody knows for sure-- they haven't officially announced the voice actors, and the Toonami teaser only had a few grunts. =|

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

They have teasers out already? I don't watch toonami (I'm actually kind of against them) so I wouldn't know.

Anyone knwo where I can find them or must I suffer through toonami to see them?

~fae

[officialbizness.livejournal.com]

We don't know anything about the dub, other than one voice actor. Tell your friend not to be paranoid - dubbing does not automatically equal OH GOD NO IT BURNS OH THE SANCTITY OF ANIME NOOOOOO.

And even if they did turn Haku into a girl for the oh-so-impressionable youth, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I would hope that subtitle fans could have the maturity to simply laugh it off.

[abscido.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear.

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

I don't mind dubs, if they're good. Cowboy Bebop, is one of my favorite animes, subbed and dubbed. B.c they kept the series true to the original and they choose excellent voice actors that really suited the characters.

However, what Japanese children are allowed to see is vastly different from what American childrend are allowed to see and so when they bring a show that is marketted to children over to America, things must be bastardized so that they can see it.

That's why I despise what they're doing. They're changing everything to fit out culture, and that doesn't fit. They're having to change some of the names (as they have done in the past) so that American kids can say them. Why not just let the kids learn the Japanese names, oh no, can't do that, they're aiming for the $$$ they can make from this show. (Not a fan of capitalism, sorry for bringing that in)

So yeah, if they were going to keep the series true to its original self, then I dont' care, bring it over! I'll buy the dubbed ones then. But since they aren't, then I find it horrific and wish they would just stop the whole deal.

~fae

[teknikat.livejournal.com]

We don't know for sure, but don't be surprised. See, our little kids can't handle some guy liking/loving another guy. *rolls eyes* So I wouldn't be surprised if Haku is made female. It'll suck big time...but I won't be surprised...

[epicureal.livejournal.com]

I'd like to know where your friend heard about Haku changing gender, as no one has mentioned it before O.o

But if they're keeping the Oiroke no Jutsu and the japanese names for the techniques, I'm pretty sure they aren't going to change loads of the plot (plus Haku's being-a-man-ness is in no way offensive; since he does say that he's a guy at one point, so I'm not sure how it would confuse anyone O.O)

[officialbizness.livejournal.com]

Quite frankly, I think parents would find it more offensive if a girl too young to have breasts was the loving companion of an older gentleman, really. >D

[red-donkey.livejournal.com]

Damn... I know it's not that big of a deal but it will still suck if he's turned into a girl. What will they do about the part where Haku tells Naruto he's a guy?

[confusedkain.livejournal.com]

Hmmm you think they might cut out Naruto's SHOCKED face and just make it Haku walks away all pretty :D?

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

It's not unusual for dubs to change whole texts of dialogue. It's done all the time.

In Samurai Champloo there is a part where Mugen threatens to rape an unconscious Fyu (is that how you spell her name?)...of course they edited that out for the dubbed version. So yeah, it would be easy for them to make up something new to go where Haku says he's a guy.

~fae

[criticaldamage.livejournal.com]

Mehhhh. If that part if changed, they'll probably get Haku to say something really lame like 'You sat on dog poo' or something. Even probably THATS not allowed. I remember in other animes where a character was meant to mention something about sex with the other character to be shocked, they change the whole thing around.

Oh oh, perfect example. In Pokemon, where they're in that forest and that little Kankagon (sp) kid asks Misty why she hasn't got a pouch but translated it to 'Are you human pokemon?' or something. (I compared the chinese pokemon with the english one)

[borrowed-breath.livejournal.com]

From a fandom that's been practically eaten by dubbers (Yu-Gi-Oh), I would have to say that it is unlikely Naruto will be targeted for little kids i.e. as in ages 8-11. It has too much violence that simply cannot be avoided in lieu of destroying the plot.

Like for example, every single fight scene with a drop of blood would be gone/super-edited like they did in Kenshin, which didn't make much sense in English ;___;.

It will be dubbed, but assume it will be targeted for teens as it was meant to be.

And as for Haku, they had better keep him as a guy, because that's just plain wrong, changing his gender on him.

They can take out Jiraiya's comments and Kakashi's book but they can't take out the violence and angst. The show is based on it. Hell, they're all NINJAs. It's what they do.

Otherwise, there will be one pissy fandom to deal with. Narutards unite! SCARY! XD

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

taking out Kakashi' book and Jiraiya's profession takes away a lot of from the characters themselves and the interactions they have w. others. But oh well, its a minor thing i guess

~fae

[snarkymonkey.livejournal.com]

It's best to just wait and see. No sense in flipping out now as it's in the hands of corporate at the moment. As someone else pointed out, the DVD release will likely be unedited so for those without the original DVDs, there's some salvation like myself.

I just wish they wouldn't edit anything. At the moment, I'm really liking how Adult Swim is handling the edits of Samurai Champloo so I'm vainly wishing that same block would take up Naruto. Small hope but I'm a hopeless optimist at the moment. XD

If anything, I just sit and laugh myself sick at the edits. Gotta find that bright side, eh?

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

i'm not an optimist, i'm a realist, and that usually gives me a negative side to the world (funny huh...yeah, i swear i'm not a pessimist though!)

you have to remember that [adult swim] is dedicated to "adult" audiences and toonami isn't, I would have been so happy if Naruto had been picked up by [adult swim] but as it is, toonami has to edit things more than [as] does.

~fae

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

you can already come out and say it, kids in the US are babied and spoiled! it's given the whole "culture" of American this complex of thinking we deserve everything, and i hate it!

but i completely agree w. everything you said!

[kookie315.livejournal.com]

I really hope not. He is a guy. If they change part of the storyline just because the language is being changed, that's dumb. And is it going to be a part of Adult Swim or Cartoon Network? Because if its for AS, they have more of a mature audience and probably wouldn't do that.

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

[adult swim] is a part of Cartoon Network. However it's Toonami on Cartoon Network that has picked up Naruto. They aren't allowed to keep in a lot of the blood, violence, and mature content, that [as] is allowed to.

~fae

[haganeno901.livejournal.com]

Ha, as much of a pro-subs person I am, you guys are making this a little too big of a deal. ^^

I'm almost looking foward to an Orochimaru with a Jamaican accent. xD (joking of course)

[turnip-girl.livejournal.com]

Oh God... *is giggling like a madwoman* That's just... just... You toally absolutely 100% WIN. XD

[borrowed-breath.livejournal.com]

You have a good point with the "home-censorship". My opinion is, hell, people will read what they want, see what they want, and do what they want, and you (a general you) don't really have any say or control.

Oh, we did day of silence! It was hard. Because I talk non-stop. And I'm loud. XD Heh, bible belt. Sorry, I just think that phrase is amusing. Yes, quite a few of my friends are gay/lesbian mainly because, well, I live in Massachusetts and we all know we're a buncha radical democrats. Except for Mit Romney. But we don't really like him anyway. The violence is horrible. No one, NO ONE, should have to go though that. Mainly, here, if people don't accept you, you just get ignore. I'm ignore. *winks* I'm too "loud/colorful/artistic" to fit in with the rest of my high school. I love wearing my hitai-ate to school to just bother them all. XD Poor homosexuals though, they really have it tough anywhere. ;__;

Well, I'll agree with the "assimilating into our language" because last week I was driving home and I saw a giant billboard that said in huge letters, "Mi país", and then in tiny sub-text in English it said, "My country," which struck me as really odd. (It was a Go-Army billboard, which maybe makes it a bit more understandable, sadly.)

Languages should sooo be taught at a younger age. I think it's sad that I have to go all the way to Wellesley college, (about an hour from my house) to take my Japanese classes, because there is no where closer that supports that language. I'm upset that they don't even offer German in my school. Currently, I'm taking Arabic, French, and Japanese... and I'm looking for a Korean class.

You could say that about the English. It's an interesting view. But then the US should have more people stand up against it. I sure as hell don't like the idea of being manipulated by the British. I feel badly for any country manipulated by anyone. Case-and-point, India, Gandhi, and the British. So kudos points for your astute observation.

"This world is engulfed with mysteries." Maa, isn't history/politics amazing? We need more Universal Truths.

[scottishfae.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a shy person unless I'm around people I'm comfortable with, then I'm insane. So when I'm around my friends, ppl tend to get annoyed w. me. My friend and I have done "mission impossible"/"james bond" through the mall before. My theory in life is that you should live it in a way that makes you happy and lets you have fun. I love to laugh, in fact (sorry for the cliche), if a guy can make me laugh, he's far valued above a guy who is just good looking (I know a lot of guys who are all looks and no personality). That was a random rant there.

~fae

[epicureal.livejournal.com]

Here's a big Spanner In The Works for Haku being a girl - according to ANN, someone called Roni Abario is doing the voice - and that's a He (he's also the casting director for Naruto, and I'm assuming he's a guy because he did the voice of BIIIG Keroberos)

[allherglory.livejournal.com]

Meh. They're always changing androgenous-looking boys into girls. XD Except in Fruits Basket's case, where they made Akito a man.

Those bastards.

[remix-sakura.livejournal.com]

Akito remaining a male in Furuba I think had more to do with the fact that in 26 eps they didn't have time to get into the Aktio-is-really-a-chick drama.

[remix-sakura.livejournal.com]

I love Haku, and I'll love him no matter that the US does to him. The big problem I have with gender-swapping is not that it would be done on the basis of being uncomfortable with androgyny, but being uncomfortable with homosexuality, even if it's only implied. I think censors just tend to make up excuses to justify the bigotry.