Death in cartoons.

**Jester** · 03-03-2012, 05:37 AM

I've been watching the original edited English dub of Dragon Ball Z and have been having a good laugh at the euphemism for death, saying that characters were "sent to another dimension." It is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I know you can't have too much death and destruction in cartoons for kids, but some of the lengths censors go to keep it from them are outlandish.

Thoughts?

*ZariusTwo* · 03-03-2012, 06:32 AM

I remember the X-Men animated series substituted the word "death" with "destroy"

*plastroncafe* · 03-03-2012, 11:06 AM

This makes me think of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

"Did Jet just die? I don't know, it was really unclear."

It's a line from one of the last episodes of the series, where the characters go to a play about the series up to that point, and where said play does nothing but make fun of a lot of the criticism that the creators received.

It's pretty glorious.

~~AquaParade~~ · 03-03-2012, 11:41 AM

"Eliminate them!" "Destroy them!"

Ha, in DBZ they could call it whatever they wanted and it'd still be ridiculous. Dying was basically just hanging out on another planet.

*oldmanwinters* · 03-03-2012, 08:21 PM

Dude, I totally love watching the original Ocean dub of DBZ's first season! So many memories...

My favorite bits were when Nappa blew up the "Cargo plane" [and it's cargo was PEOPLE!

] and when the Saiyens crash landed in the middle of a busy city and somebody yelled out "Thank goodness it was a Sunday or those buildings would have had people in them!"

In order to truly enjoy the humor of TeamFourStar's DBZ Abridged, you have to be familiar with the original US edits.

Also, it's ironic that DBZ fans got into a big stink about all the "butchering" and "censoring" in the original dub, yet now the DBZ Kai series pretty much makes editing a priority and fans just keep buying the stuff again!

**Jester** · 03-03-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

In order to truly enjoy the humor of TeamFourStar's DBZ Abridged, you have to be familiar with the original US edits.

I dunna, I really like Team Four Star and this is my first time watching DragonBall through (I started with the original).

Has T4S do any "other dimension" jokes? I can't remember...

*oldmanwinters* · 03-03-2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

I dunna, I really like Team Four Star and this is my first time watching DragonBall through (I started with the original).

Has T4S do any "other dimension" jokes? I can't remember...

I don't remember, but can any dimension really be any better than the "Home For Infinite Losers"?

HFIL

*Guitar_Raph* · 03-04-2012, 08:44 AM

How about these people that passed away on The Simpsons.

Maude Flanders
Bleeding Gums Murphy
Dr. Marvin Monroe
Lionel Hutz

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 03-04-2012, 09:58 AM

I remember being surprised as a kid when Morph died on the X-Men. It was revealed the next season that he got better, but still, it was a surprise to see a superhero die.

I had no knowledge of redshirts at the time. Seeing as he wore the generic X-Men uniform, it's no surprise now.

Type 97 Chi-ha · 03-04-2012, 10:07 AM

In the 1987 TMNT cartoon itself, the alien in the first "Eye Of Sarnoff" cartoon disappears in a puff of smoke.

In the 1960's Underdog cartoon, Underdog kills the Wicked Witch Of Pickayoon indirectly by breaking apart her magic broom, after which she shrinks and disappears, leaving just a few black scraps behind.

In a Tom and Jerry cartoon depicting revolutionary France, you see the top of a guillotine and its blade start to fall to signify an execution.

*Candy Kappa* · 03-04-2012, 02:17 PM

Thundercats 2011 have a high death toll, got a bit surprised about that

*XERO* · 03-04-2012, 02:26 PM

Kenny in South Park.

*Guitar_Raph* · 03-04-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type 97 Chi-ha

In the 1960's Underdog cartoon, Underdog kills the Wicked Witch Of Pickayoon indirectly by breaking apart her magic broom, after which she shrinks and disappears, leaving just a few black scraps behind.

I remember that episode. A;; te citizens of Pickayoon always whispered! Maybe Brick Heck should've been the mayor (*mayor*).

*Sage Ninja* · 03-04-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type 97 Chi-ha

In a Tom and Jerry cartoon depicting revolutionary France, you see the top of a guillotine and its blade start to fall to signify an execution.

I remember that actually disturbing me as a little kid. Especially Jerry's young mouse nephew cheerfully saying "goodbye, pussycat" after watching it happen and continuing on his merry way with his stolen food. I guess it was how blase Jerry and the kid was about it. Especially since it was made clear in the episode that Tom would be executed for

I personally hate baby words for "death and dying." They always come out awkward and often sound dumb. Some eightes cartoons got away with saying the real words.

"Drink blazing eletric death toitles!"

*oldmanwinters* · 03-04-2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

"Drink blazing eletric death toitles!"

Good stuff!

*Ninjinister* · 03-04-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitar_Raph

Dr. Marvin Monroe

He was just sick.

*BubblyShell22* · 03-04-2012, 08:53 PM

Heck, in the 2K3 TMNT, they always substituted words for death. Like when Casey died in "Bad Day" and they said he'd been "wasted."

*Zany Orange Dude* · 03-04-2012, 08:56 PM

I remember in Sonic X a woman name Molly gets killed fighting, but in the 4kids dub they made her run away like a coward. Now that show is not a masterpiece in any language, but really? You take a brave character and make her run away?

I don't know what makes mentioning death in cartoons so evil? It's not like it is going to scar kids for the rest of their lives as long as they don't go into detail about how someone died?

Whenever a villain in a cartoon actually tells the hero they are going to kill them, I actually get happy because they used that word instead of "destroy." I always think back to the pilot episode of Darkwing Duck when the bad guys say die and dead multiple times!

Abnormal Freak · 03-04-2012, 08:58 PM

Been watching Exosquad lately and am totally delighted that the studios never made the creators mask the horrors of war. People die left and right in every episode, sometimes even onscreen, and all sorts of horrible stuff goes on, like transports of human prisoners being sent into the sun. The other more adult cartoons from the early '90s, like Batman and X-Men, rarely were allowed to get away with death.

*oldmanwinters* · 03-04-2012, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnormal Freak

The other more adult cartoons from the early '90s, like Batman and X-Men, rarely were allowed to get away with death.

They could have it so long as they didn't show it!

03-03-2012, 05:37 AM	#1
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	Death in cartoons. I've been watching the original edited English dub of Dragon Ball Z and have been having a good laugh at the euphemism for death, saying that characters were "sent to another dimension." It is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I know you can't have too much death and destruction in cartoons for kids, but some of the lengths censors go to keep it from them are outlandish. Thoughts? __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

03-03-2012, 06:32 AM	#2
ZariusTwo Overlord Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain, DINO THUNDER...POWER UP! Posts: 22,501	I remember the X-Men animated series substituted the word "death" with "destroy" __________________ Spider-Man: The Rescue Spider-Man: The Galloping Cat Spider-Man: Scarlet Mirror Doctor Who: Child of the Daleks

03-03-2012, 08:21 PM	#5
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 15,505	Dude, I totally love watching the original Ocean dub of DBZ's first season! So many memories... My favorite bits were when Nappa blew up the "Cargo plane" [and it's cargo was PEOPLE!] and when the Saiyens crash landed in the middle of a busy city and somebody yelled out "Thank goodness it was a Sunday or those buildings would have had people in them!" In order to truly enjoy the humor of TeamFourStar's DBZ Abridged, you have to be familiar with the original US edits. Also, it's ironic that DBZ fans got into a big stink about all the "butchering" and "censoring" in the original dub, yet now the DBZ Kai series pretty much makes editing a priority and fans just keep buying the stuff again! __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!

03-04-2012, 08:44 AM	#8
Guitar_Raph Superhero musician Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,191	How about these people that passed away on The Simpsons. Maude Flanders Bleeding Gums Murphy Dr. Marvin Monroe Lionel Hutz __________________ Mikey drums with nunchucks! Last edited by Guitar_Raph; 03-04-2012 at 05:45 PM.

03-04-2012, 02:17 PM	#11
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	Thundercats 2011 have a high death toll, got a bit surprised about that __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

03-03-2012, 11:41 AM	#4
~~AquaParade~~ Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 8,450	"Eliminate them!" "Destroy them!" Ha, in DBZ they could call it whatever they wanted and it'd still be ridiculous. Dying was basically just hanging out on another planet.

03-04-2012, 09:58 AM	#9
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	I remember being surprised as a kid when Morph died on the X-Men. It was revealed the next season that he got better, but still, it was a surprise to see a superhero die. I had no knowledge of redshirts at the time. Seeing as he wore the generic X-Men uniform, it's no surprise now.

03-04-2012, 10:07 AM	#10
Type 97 Chi-ha Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brookfield, IL Posts: 1,333	In the 1987 TMNT cartoon itself, the alien in the first "Eye Of Sarnoff" cartoon disappears in a puff of smoke. In the 1960's Underdog cartoon, Underdog kills the Wicked Witch Of Pickayoon indirectly by breaking apart her magic broom, after which she shrinks and disappears, leaving just a few black scraps behind. In a Tom and Jerry cartoon depicting revolutionary France, you see the top of a guillotine and its blade start to fall to signify an execution.

03-04-2012, 02:26 PM	#12
XERO Hybrid Theorist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Alamo City Posts: 8,185	Kenny in South Park. __________________ "Travel at the speed of light... then hit the nitro!"

03-04-2012, 08:53 PM	#17
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	Heck, in the 2K3 TMNT, they always substituted words for death. Like when Casey died in "Bad Day" and they said he'd been "wasted." __________________ "A warrior who never fails, never learns."-The Ancient One. "Embrace your inner a**holiness."-Mr. Anderson.

03-04-2012, 08:56 PM	#18
Zany Orange Dude The Little Nerdy Teacher Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: At my desk reading comics and writing lesson plans Posts: 2,292	I remember in Sonic X a woman name Molly gets killed fighting, but in the 4kids dub they made her run away like a coward. Now that show is not a masterpiece in any language, but really? You take a brave character and make her run away? I don't know what makes mentioning death in cartoons so evil? It's not like it is going to scar kids for the rest of their lives as long as they don't go into detail about how someone died? Whenever a villain in a cartoon actually tells the hero they are going to kill them, I actually get happy because they used that word instead of "destroy." I always think back to the pilot episode of Darkwing Duck when the bad guys say die and dead multiple times! __________________

03-04-2012, 08:58 PM	#19
Abnormal Freak Stone Warrior Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: MN Posts: 779	Been watching Exosquad lately and am totally delighted that the studios never made the creators mask the horrors of war. People die left and right in every episode, sometimes even onscreen, and all sorts of horrible stuff goes on, like transports of human prisoners being sent into the sun. The other more adult cartoons from the early '90s, like Batman and X-Men, rarely were allowed to get away with death. __________________