Johnny Depp to guest voice in anime!

[Drtooth]

But here's the catch... it would be the ONLY show that's popular everywhere around the world but here...

Originally Posted by animenewsnetwork.com

Johnny Depp, the international star of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, will voice a guest role on the Doraemon children's animated television series this month. He will appear as the "Pirate Captain Johnny" character on "Doraemon One-Hour! Pirates Special!! The Great Decisive Battle of the Pirates: A South Seas Love Story," which will air on TV Asahi on Friday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m.

The role, which will be similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean movie trilogy's Jack Sparrow, is the first Doraemon role played by a Hollywood star. The special has the robot cat Doraemon and his friends time-traveling to the Caribbean Sea at the end of the 16th century. Series regular Shizuka-chan will fall in love with a handsome pirate named Kenneth, who knows a certain Captain Johnny. TV Asahi is keeping the exact scene with Depp's cameo a secret.

The cameo came about when Doraemon chief director Kōzō Kusuba, a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean ever since the first movie, made Depp an offer for a "dream collaboration." According to the studio Shinei Animation, Depp reportedly agreed "because it's Doraemon," a series broadcasted in dozens of countries worldwide. Depp currently lives part of the year in France, where the anime has been dubbed for broadcast and the manga is readily available in bookstores

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...irates-special for pics...

Ed-note... Much as I like Doraemon, I'm wishing it was One Piece. That would kick ass.

[RaphistheBest]

I've heard of this show and I've always wanted to see it. Now I'm just upset because this show won't be in America. Not fair!

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by RaphistheBest

I've heard of this show and I've always wanted to see it. Now I'm just upset because this show won't be in America. Not fair!

ahemm... http://www.youtube.com/profile_video...=totuananh&p=r has some, but they are all older episodes. But don't worry, I'm sure someone will put it up on Youtube or something. In the mean time, if you have a Mom and Pop Korean market, they usually have some bootlegg tapes taped off Japanese TV (I actually have some from a place that went out of business).

[DrSpengler]

I caught some Doraemon when I was in Japan a couple years back. It's a cute kids show.

I wonder if Depp's going to saying his lines in Japanese or if they're just gonna give him Japanese subtitles.

Still, pretty cool.

[Drtooth]

That's exactly waht I was thinking.

As for Doraemon, I'm more familiar with the 2006 remake, since I got so many videos from said store that went out of business. It's not unusual that they'd have a celebrity voice guest, they usually have specials featuring Japanese celebrities... but this is probably the first time I've ever heard of an American celebrity doing voice acting work for an anime... oddball commercials, yes...

[DrSpengler]

I've always wondered why Doraemon has never been broadcast in the US. It's such a worldwide phenomenon, right up there with Hello Kitty, and so many Americans already know about it, you'd think licensing it in the US would be a no-brainer.

[RaphistheBest]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

In the mean time, if you have a Mom and Pop Korean market, they usually have some bootlegg tapes taped off Japanese TV (I actually have some from a place that went out of business).

Awesometastic! There isn't a shop like that anywhere I live but I'm sure I could find one that's close!

[Ra]

Doraemon? Wow, I didn't expect that It's a shame Australia doesn't air Doraemon either. Ah well, I guess that's what the internet is for, no? What I find interesting is that Doraemon has been dubbed and released in France for everyone to watch, along with many other countries around the world, yet it isn't really catching on with America. Their loss, I guess... *heads off to do some more searching on this*

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

I've always wondered why Doraemon has never been broadcast in the US. It's such a worldwide phenomenon, right up there with Hello Kitty, and so many Americans already know about it, you'd think licensing it in the US would be a no-brainer.

Well, after seeing some of the episodes, we get the cultural censorship barrier first of all. There is nudity in the older episodes (A bizzarre censorship law Japan has is that it's okay to show children's genetalia, but not an adults. I think it has been long since changed, and they don't do it it kid's shows anymore) as well as various other things too adult to be considered child friendly here. Secondly, a lot of it is very Japanese. And lastly, we have that problem that it's too mature for our children, but too childish for the so-called anime fans over here. And of course, people have some bizzarre thing wrong with them that they can't dub older animes because they look too old. The stupidest reason of all, I'm sure.

I feel they COULD dub later episodes, especially the 2005-2006+ season, and cut some of the more adult bits out (but certain cases would have to get rid of entire segments, or they wouldn't make much sense). But then again, parents think that raping their children's minds with Nick Jr. garbage is a better idea. Much like other 1980's animes, they were readily available all over the world, except here.

[DrSpengler]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

But then again, parents think that raping their children's minds with Nick Jr. garbage is a better idea. Much like other 1980's animes, they were readily available all over the world, except here.

Heh, funny you should mention Nick Jr. The original Nick Jr line-up was almost entirely dubbed children's anime: Grim's Fairy Tales, Maya the Bee, Jungle Book the Adventures of Mowgli and the Noozles were all Japanese cartoons imported, edited and dubbed for an American audience. There were a few others, one featuring anthropomorphic Australian animals (not the Noozles, but something else) but I can't remember the title.

I get what you're saying. I watched some Doraemon while I was over there and noticed some of the more mature and cultural elements, however, I didn't see anything that couldn't be censored out to fit American guidelines. And as far as censorship goes, the nudity and what-not aren't an essential story-crucial element of the show and wouldn't destroy its charm or entertainment value if removed.

Though you're right about studios being under the impression that "kids won't watch cartoons that look old", hence the lack of importing older Japanese children's animation.

I don't understand that line of thinking, though. EVERY kid grows up watch old US animation like Flintstones, Yogi Bear and Pink Panther. And those cartoons REALLY look old (particulalry the Hanna Barbara animation). So if kids can enjoy dated animation like Rocky and Bullwinkle, I don't see how they can't enjoy dated animation like Doraemon.

I know I'm probably just preaching to the choir, here, but it still irks me.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

Heh, funny you should mention Nick Jr. The original Nick Jr line-up was almost entirely dubbed children's anime: Grim's Fairy Tales, Maya the Bee, Jungle Book the Adventures of Mowgli and the Noozles were all Japanese cartoons imported, edited and dubbed for an American audience. There were a few others, one featuring anthropomorphic Australian animals (not the Noozles, but something else) but I can't remember the title.

Yeah, and they used to have british cartoons too, Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Bananaman (the only one of the three I've actually seen before). I mentioned it in reference to crap like Dora and Blue.

I get what you're saying. I watched some Doraemon while I was over there and noticed some of the more mature and cultural elements, however, I didn't see anything that couldn't be censored out to fit American guidelines. And as far as censorship goes, the nudity and what-not aren't an essential story-crucial element of the show and wouldn't destroy its charm or entertainment value if removed.

There are a couple episodes that have stuff like that intergal to the plot, but they can either change them or not show those episodes altogether. For example, an episode featured Nobita getting save by a dog pissing on him (long story involving a reverse camera that takes people and makes them pictures, and they can be revived by warm water). I feel a lot of it would get cut up, though, but could be aired.

Though you're right about studios being under the impression that "kids won't watch cartoons that look old", hence the lack of importing older Japanese children's animation.

I don't understand that line of thinking, though. EVERY kid grows up watch old US animation like Flintstones, Yogi Bear and Pink Panther. And those cartoons REALLY look old (particulalry the Hanna Barbara animation). So if kids can enjoy dated animation like Rocky and Bullwinkle, I don't see how they can't enjoy dated animation like Doraemon.

I know I'm probably just preaching to the choir, here, but it still irks me.

Funny thing about that, on another board, Mike Pollack (voice actor for 4Kids, who played the Garbage man on TMNT) said they couldn't import the original Kinnikuman (they had the not as good sequal "Ultimate Muscle") for that very reason (plus, Brocken Jr, but they could have easily edited out the nazi symbol, or not aired those episodes). And It's a shame too. And it's not just the kids. The main stream anime public wants new stuff. That's why we can never see cool things like Time Bokan, Dr. Slump, and various others I can't think up right now.

[DrSpengler]

I remember Toonami made a big deal a few years back when they were showing the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Dated animation and all, it was a pretty good show.

Sadly, the ratings for it stunk because nobody wanted to watch "old animation" and it got canned.

Which is a shame, too. I wanted to see how it ended but I'mnto a big-enough Gundam fan to buy the DVDs.

[tinlunlau]

well, i kinda grew up watching doraemon and i'm not a huge fan of it either.
but i was really surprised when i read about it.

i remember reading about a specific episode that got censored for its hong kong airing depicting Shizuka and the male lead bathing together.

[Drtooth]

From what I have heard (and have seen a couple times) he [I]always[I] walks in on his future bride while she's bathing.

This was on last night (or something...maybe it's on right now... I don't get the International time line) so it could be up on youtube for a little while... so I suggest searching for it ASAP, every day for a week.

[Drtooth]

BUMP!

It's UP!!!!!

But first some bad news.... I think that either A) they just paid to use his likeness, or B ) this was some sort of wide spread rumor, because... well... he doesn't really say anything. unless something was edited at the last moment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfniE...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n5Fg_JP8v4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMM88...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQFE-...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdAzT...elated&search=

It's still a very interresting episode though.

[DrSpengler]

Bit of a let down. If I hadn't known about all this I wouldn't have even recognized him there at the end.

[Drtooth]

But it was still a great Doraemon adventure. Even though it was a bit of a Tease, I suppose.

Still hoping they paid him for this likeness, and this wasn't a rumor after all... One report said something about Toei animation... and they never did Doraemon. not the 2000 episodes, not the 79-90's episodes. Maybe not even the short lived 1974 series.