Ask John: Why Is There No Subtitled Pokemon?

Question:
I was wondering why there are no companies out there that do not offer the subtitled version to Pocket Monsters (AKA Pokemon). I would like to see the original version of the Japanese anime rather than the American dubbed version that has been “edited.” Is there any store out there that offers the subtitled or at least the original copy of Pokemon?

Answer:
I really don’t have enough information available to me to provide a conclusive answer to this question. What I can offer is my own opinion. I suspect that the major reason that companies choose not to release anime series like Pokemon, Monster Rancher, Digimon Adventure, Sailormoon (the TV series), Dragonball (the TV series), and the upcoming Card Captor Sakura in unedited, subtitled versions is because these shows are considered children’s shows. The companies that license and translate these shows are not interested in promoting anime as an example of contemporary Japanese pop-culture art; they are interested only in turning a profit off these shows. To release shows like Pokemon “uncut” would carry with it the implication that there is material in these shows that needed to be edited out for presentation to children. Licensees naturally don’t want to draw any sort of controversy or suspicion to their shows, because such “negative” exposure could affect the show’s profits.

If you have access to any local Japanese video rental stores, many carry untranslated episodes of Pocket Monster available for rental. If you are interested in obtaining original untranslated import VHS or laser disc copies of Pocket Monster, Anime Nation does accept requests for special orders of merchandise imported directly from Japan.