Summary
Yu-Gi-Oh!has always been aninterestingshow in the anime community. AlongsidePokémon,the epic card game adventure, for many, has been a gateway into the world of anime and Japanese culture. However, asYu-Gi-Oh!fansthemselves are quick to point out,the showisn’tthe best-made thing in the world.Many of them especially point to the 4Kids Dub, a dubbing of the show that wasthe waymost children in America experienced the show, as being one of the worst parts,degradingthe quality of an otherwise decent experience.
In terms ofanime dubbing, the 4Kids dub is far from the best in the world. In fact,watchingYu-Gi-Oh!,the show that spawned a hugely popular TCG,with the original Japanese audio actually improves the showgreatlyin terms of quality.However, there is something special about the 4Kids Dub ofYu-Gi-Oh!,and a good deal of other anime, likeKirbyandSonic X,thatmake them the premiere way of watching the show.
One primary goal of4kids and their infamous dubs, especially back in the day, was to help tone down the intensity of animeto better suit foreign audiences. By removing violent things likeguns,or introducing the concept of the Shadow Realm as an alternative to death, the 4Kids Dubs set out to scrub clean any anime they could, making them perfect for younger children. AlthoughPokémon,andYu-Gi-Oh!are the most famous examplesof this, other 4Kids Dubs includeKirby: Right Back at Ya!, Shaman King, Sonic X, and their one notorious version ofOne Piece.
Heart of the cards, guide me.
The last of these anime,the 4Kids dub ofOne Piece,has shownanime viewers justhowbada 4Kids Dub can be, completely butchering the heartfelt anime. Replacing guns with weird contraptions andSanji’scigarette with a lollipop are just some of thesmallerthings the dub changed for the worse. Most notably, instead of having Arlongoutrightkill offNami’smother, Bellemere, he simply points at her and proclaims that she is going to the dungeon.
The Shadow Realm Is A Genius Concept
Censoring Death Without Removing Stakes
In many ways, censorship in the 4Kids Dubs is a negative. However, in some ways, it also creates an entirelynew,andstrangely entertaining, concept far removed from the original source material, on top of being ahilarious example of censorship in anime. The best example of this idea is withYu-Gi-Oh!and the concept of the Shadow Realm.In theoriginal series ofYu-Gi-Oh!many of the duels that would result in the death or severe injury of a character would then be replaced with the idea of the Shadow Realm. For example, in the original duel between Yugi and Kaiba versus Lumis and Umbra, the loser of the duel would have the glass floor beneath them shattered, leaving them to plummet to their deaths. In the 4Kids Dub, rather than dying, the loser would fall into a portal that transports them to the Shadow Realm.
Magic Shadow Realm-warping chainsaws and Shadow Realm portals may seem like a goofy concept for the moreserious moments ofYu-Gi-Oh!,conceptually, the Shadow Realm adds someinterestingideas to the anime. In ashowfocused on the ancient and mystical game of Duel Monsters, featuring things like Egyptian God Cards and magical artifacts, the idea of the Shadow Realm meshes far better with the tone of the series than just killing off characters. On top of its mysticism, from its brief and uninformative appearances, it has an intimidating and unknowing aura that taps into some Lovecraftian ideas.
4Kids Dubs Are Creative Explorations of Source Material
Lighthearted and Fun Even For Adults
Althoughthe Lovecraftian horrorelements may have been an unintended consequence of censorship, itdoesn’tchange the fact that it makes the 4Kids Dub ofYu-Gi-Oh!Far better than it has anyrightto be. Though other moments throughout each of the 4Kids Dubs, likePokémon’sinfamous jelly donutsline,or Mr.3’sproclamation of being the wax wonder inOne Piece- despite Little Garden being cut in their version - are all special moments that make these versions of the shows worth watching.
These donuts are great! Jelly-filled are my favorite.
Callingany 4Kids Dub better than the originals for any of the shows, eventhe popular Yu-Gi-Oh! series,isprobably a gross overestimate of the quality of the dubs. However, through clever censorship, a good dose of humor, and unforgettable voice-acting performances, these dubs have made a massive impact on the anime communityas a whole. When it comes to the Shadow Realm, many generalfans of animedon’teven know that the concept was created for the 4Kids Dub. The idea of creating something new with a dub that can affect internet culture on the same level as theYu-Gi-Oh!4Kids Dubhas, is strangely beautiful in its own way.
Yu-Gi-Oh!
The Yu-Gi-Oh! series is a massive franchise that stretches across a wide array of mediums including Manga, animated series, trading cards, and video games. The original release followed the story of protagonist Yugi Moto as he used powerful cards to battle against his foes. Yu-Gi-Oh! has since been through multiple series and spinoffs that introduce new characters and monsters to the franchise.
