Yes, I'll be holding onto both my English and Japanese-language DVDs...I still respect the American version's attempt at telling a larger, epic story using the unrelated Japanese series, and feel that both have their merits (and their demerits).
quote:
Originally posted by Thurston McQ:
I'll go ahead and echo the sentiments of others.
They're different shows. A lot of thought and care went into Voltron, and I have more of a sentimental attachment to it. I'm not sure I would like GoLion half as much as I do if it weren't for the nostalgic good will granted it by my love for Voltron.
It takes me some time when watching an episode of GoLion to disconnect it from my memories of the Voltron version. I'm usually able to enjoy it more after I've done this. At the same time, oddly, I like looking for--and recognizing--the difference from one show to the other. It makes me feel a little like an armchair detective.
When I was younger, I was automatically dismissive of Americanized versions of anime. If I knew the original's violence had been played down, I was even more dismissive. I've come to regret this. I think I wanted to give off an air of authority and maturity, and I didn't believe this could be done without coming across as violently disapproving of the Americanization of cartoons that originated elsewhere.
Sometimes, a hack editing job is done, and/or the voice acting is uninspired. It's a regrettable thing when it happens, but at least we're in an age where we can do a little research and find out for ourselves what we're missing (and proceed from there, if we feel we're missing enough to warrant checking out the original).
I suppose I feel some reverence is due shows like Voltron, Robotech, and Tranzor Z, since I would have had no exposure to the original shows without them. That's not an argument for keeping the DVDs of the American versions of the shows on your shelf, I guess, but if you derive any pleasure from the American versions whatsoever, I'd argue for keeping them. Otherwise, pass them on to someone who might appreciate them.
For me, Voltron served as a gateway show. It opened me up to a wider world of animation. I don't see why it can't still serve in this capacity. (I don't know, though. The animation style seems firmly rooted in the late seventies/early eighties. Some people might pass on it for this reason alone.)
This.
Far too often, you see/hear snobby animé freaks ripping on this or that "Americanized" series or film (like
Robotech, which has historically been a huge target), and it's simply hilarious that these people belong to such an insular, incestuous nerd sub-clique as animé fandom -- especially since the Japanese just piss themselves laughing at how these people slobber all over their crappiest, derivative, D-list imported animé slop and proclaim it "high art."
For years, I've railed against these Japan-worshipping morons, who seem to believe anything coming out of that country is automatically way more culturally "elevated" and "sophisticated" than what they have over in the West, and who subscribe to the "purity doctrine" of watching
only subtitled animé, and nothing else. On the
Robotech boards and forums, for example, you'd see all the damn
Macross otaku trying to convert everyone to their One True Faith, when the Harmony Gold translation was/is still perfectly valid as a piece of popular art from the 1980s.
You simply aren't allowed to belong in that inner circle without dissing these types of shows just to ingratiate yourself with that whole crowd. Too, many of these same folks seem to be closeted pedophiles with weird, psychosexual fetishes for 11-year-olds with giant tits and eyes the size of dinner plates.
(Also...are you the same
Thurston McQ who used to post over on the CHUD message boards? If so, small world -- I remember laughing my ass off several years ago at your Young-George Lucas-meets-your-Uncle "anecdote.")
