Ask John: Why Is There No Uncut, Original Language Pokemon Anime in America?

Question:
I did a search, but it looks like no-one’s asked you about an uncut English/Japanese Pokemon being released. Why do you think there hasn’t been one already? I think I even heard that Japan doesn’t have DVDs. Have 4Kids in any way been responsible for no uncut sets? Or is it a basic answer that it’s a kids franchise? Or maybe sales are doing as good as they want and [they] don’t wanna change anything.

Answer:
Since I’m not involved in the American distribution of Pocket Monster anime, I don’t exactly know what circumstances affect its American release or have prevented a Japanese language release, but I can guess. I suspect that there are two primary reasons why there is no original language Pocket Monster anime available in America. The series is targeted at mainstream American consumers, so simplicity is more useful than authenticity. And there’s probably a rather small market for authentic Pokemon anime in America.

The Pokemon franchise has been, unquestionably, the most successful and profitable anime ever released in America. In order for the series to have been as successful as it’s been, presumably the censoring and dubbing performed on the series to make it palatable for average Americans has been successful. Quite simply, if it ain’t broken, why fix it? Keeping Pokemon anime in America child friendly and consumer friendly ensures its continued success. Releasing uncensored versions of the anime may anger or offend existing or potential American consumers, parents, religious groups, and activist organizations. The potential small increase in sales that an authentic Japanese release would attract probably isn’t nearly significant enough to offset the potential controversy or backlash that could also result.

Part of the reason why there’s probably little feeling of necessity to release uncut Pokemon in America is the fact that there’s a seemingly very small audience for it. Censored and dubbed Pokemon anime is very popular with mainstream American viewers and consumers. Authentic Japanese Pokemon is only interesting to a small number of American hardcore Pocket Monster fans and open-minded otaku. My observation of the American fan community suggests to me that even if a respectful, authentic Japanese version of Pocket Monster anime was made available in America, the overwhelming majority of America’s hardcore anime fan community still wouldn’t buy or support it because the majority of America’s otaku community maintains the perception that Pocket Monster is a mainstream, commercial property designed to sell merchandise to children. Despite the fact that Pokemon anime may be genuinely entertaining, and may reveal more about Japanese pop culture and attitudes than average fans realize or want to admit, typical American anime fans still dismiss Pokemon without a second thought. My gut instinct tells me that releasing uncut, subtitled Pocket Monster anime in America will cost more than it will recoup in sales revenue.

The earliest Pocket Monster TV episodes have yet to be released on Japanese DVD; they’re still available in Japan only on commercial VHS. That fact doesn’t preclude an American DVD release, though. In fact, the earliest episodes are already available on American DVD in edited form. There are also examples like the second half of the Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran television series that is available on American DVD, but not available on Japanese home video at all. So I don’t think that the lack of a Japanese DVD release has an affect on a lacking American release. There’s just not enough reason or demand to justify an American release of authentic Japanese Pokemon anime.