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Crayon Shin-chan

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Crayon Shin-chan
CrayonShinChanlogo.jpg
Premiere April 13, 1992
Airs Fridays at 19:30 (TV Asahi)
Creator Yoshito Usui
Network/Provider Japan: TV Asahi
Portugal, Germany: Animax
US: Adult Swim (US)
UK, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France: Fox Kids/Jetix
Style 21-minute anime comedy
Company Shin-Ei Animation
TV Asahi Corporation
Seasons 15
Episodes 900+
Status Currently airing
Origin Japan

Crayon Shin-chan is a Japanese animated television series, which is otherwise known as Shin Chan in much of the world, as designated by owner TV Asahi. In proper Japanese, the title should be "Shin-chan," but the spelling has eliminated the hyphen for unknown reasons. Shin chan has enjoyed success on multiple continents, including Latin America, parts of Europe, continental Asia, and the United States. The show, which has been in production since 1992, is based on Yoshito Usui's manga series. In Japan, the series is aired in 15 minute, or 30 minute timeslots, which are each made of up smaller vignettes.

Contents

History of English adaptation

Around 1996, TV Asahi began an effort to market Crayon Shin-chan to the international market outside of Asia. Unfortunately, this would take a few years, as many countries would not see it til the new millennium hit. The network, along with US representative Lacey Entertainment, commissioned California based Vitello Productions to supervise the localization of the series for the English speaking market. From this version, other versions of the show would be adapted into other languages for Latin America and parts of Europe. The cast of this English adaptation included actors like Kath Soucie, Andi McAfee, Grey Delisle, and Patrick Fraley. This version aired in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia, but never managed to air in North America. In 2003, the show's license changed hands again, and then changed studios to Universal City's phuuz entertainment inc. This company re-cast the entire show with experienced ADR actors, and retained all the character names. One of the networks the series was pitched to was Adult Swim, whose VP of production Keith Crofford was revealed to be a fan of the series. Unfortunately, the network passed on phuuz's adaptation, feeling it was more appropriate for a kid audience. Despite no presence in North America, the show gained a lot of attention in other parts of the western world and Europe to make Crayon Shin-chan a larger success worldwide. Most of the networks that aired the series were part of the Fox Kids and later Jetix chain. The license agreement between Lacey Entertainment and TV Asahi expired at the end of 2005.

English logo of "Shin Chan"

TV Asahi wasn't ready to throw in the towel for the American market yet. In 2006, Crayon Shin-chan was co-licensed in North America by FUNimation Entertainment alongside TV Asahi. Already aware of the Adult Swim connection, the show was pitched once again to the network, but this time with the intent to re-write the show's dialog for an older audience. Adult Swim accepted, but because of their hesitation with comedy anime, they decided not to go with a full season order and instead go with a 6 episode temporary lease. To ensure better success, FUNimation asked Adult Swim to recommend some Williams Street writers, or former writers, to help them with the English adaptation. FUNimation settled on the writing duo of Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer in addition to their own writing talent, which was a Los Angeles based group of comedy television writers hired by Jared Hedges, the show's head writer. The network aired the show in a limited "test run" from August 19th through September 9th.

Due to the success of the test run on Adult Swim, the series was picked up for more episodes due to be released in season boxsets. The first official season of the English adaptation began broadcasting on April 18, 2007, with the notable exception of Dorkin and Dyer, who were cut from punch-up work for unknown reasons. Dorkin speculated in his LiveJournal that it may have been a combination of lateness in his scripts and a cost cutting measure.

History of the Spanish adaptation

The Mexican dub, one of the Spanish-language exports, was a translation of the Vitello dub. Conversely, the dub in Spain which is a translation of the original Japanese version, most notably in the Castile or Castella region, enjoyed a great deal of popularity. Spain is the only country outside of Japan to have a Shin Chan video game released domestically. The series creator has occasionally visited the country because of the success there.

Writing Process of the Funimation dub

One of Shin Chan's full time writers of the Funimation dub, going under the handle Shincowriter, informed animation news site Toonzone.net how the show's ADR writing process occurs. Unlike traditional ADR writing, which is merely adapting overtly literal translations into proper English, Shin Chan's process is more intensive and requires a larger staff.

  • Step 1: The original series is translated to English. These translations are extremely literal, which is par for the course when it comes to translating for ADR writing.
  • Step 2: Head writer Jared Hedges gives the individual vignettes to the episode writers. The writers adapt the show and intentionally insert their own comedic dialogue.
  • Step 3: The head writer double-checks and approves the scripts with the director, Zach Bolton.
  • Step 4: No longer used - Scripts are sent for a re-write to the punch-up script writers, who proceed to add their own dialogue to the show. The punch-up writers also add alternative improvisational dialogue to the already added lines from the initial writers.
  • Step 5: The head writer receives the re-write and chooses what lines to use and what not to use. He may also add his own lines. He hands the final copy to the director.
  • Step 6: The director modifies the script in the booth for mouth movements and lip-synch; a common practice for any ADR work. Actors are also encouraged to improvise while in the booth for Shin Chan's dub. (Principal Ench was given his accent while in the booth by his actor, Jason Liebrecht.)

Cast

Japanese Voices Character Dub Name(s) English Voices
(Vitello/Phuuz)
English Voices
(FUNi)
Main Cast
Akiko Yajima Shinnosuke "Shin" Nohara Kath Soucie (1)
Diane Michelle (2)
Laura Bailey
Keiji Fujiwara Hiroshi Nohara Harry,
Hiro
Eric Loomis (1)
Peter Doyle (2)
Chuck Huber
Miki Narahashi Misae Nohara Mitsy,
Mitzi
Kath Soucie (1)
Julie Maddalena (2)
Cynthia Cranz
Satomi Koorogi Himawari Nohara Daisy,
Hima
Russi Taylor Colleen Clinkenbeard
Mari Mashiba Shiro Lucky,
Snowy,
Whitey,
Nevado,
Nevat
Michael Sorich (2) Chris Cason
Secondary Cast
Mari Mashiba Tooru Kazama Cosmo,
Georgie Prescott III
Grey DeLisle (1)
Hope Levy (2)
Brina Palencia
Tamao Hayashi Nene Sakurada Nini,
Penny Milfer
Anndi McAfee (1)
Michelle Ruff (2)
Carrie Savage
Teiyū Ichiryūsai Masao Sato Max Russi Taylor (1)
Barbara Goodson (2)
Colleen Clinkenbeard
Chie Satō Boo Bo
Suzuki
Eric Loomis (2)
Richard Cansino (2)
Chris Cason
Miki Narahashi Ai Suotome Sally Monica Rial
Satomi Koorogi Bunta Takakura Principal Enzo,
Principal Bernoulli Ench,
Gang Leader Sir
Patrick Fraley Jason Liebrecht
Yumi Takada Midori Ishizaka Miss Dori,
Miss Anderson
Anndi McAfee Caitlin Glass
Michie Tomizawa Ume Matsuzaka Miss Uma,
Miss Katz
Grey DeLisle Clarine Harp
TBA Masumi Ageo Miss Polly, Miss Agnes Jamie Marchi
Tesshō Genda Action Kamen Masked Muchacho,
Action Bastard
Patrick Fraley Troy Baker

Seasons

Show Season  Premiere Finale #
TV Asahi (Japanese)
Crayon Shin-chan Season One April 19, 1992 December 21, 1992 33
Crayon Shin-chan Season Two January 11, 1993 December 27, 1993 47
Crayon Shin-chan Season Three January 10, 1994 December 19, 1994 48
Crayon Shin-chan Season Four January 9, 1995 December 18, 1995 44
Crayon Shin-chan Season Five January 8, 1996 December 20, 1996 42
Crayon Shin-chan Season Six January 10, 1997 December 19, 1997 45
Crayon Shin-chan Season Seven January 9, 1998 December 11, 1998 43
Crayon Shin-chan Season Eight January 8, 1999 December 10, 1999 43
Crayon Shin-chan Season Nine January 28, 2000 December 15, 2000 37
Crayon Shin-chan Season Ten January 12, 2001 December 14, 2001 40
Crayon Shin-chan Season Eleven January 25, 2002 December 7, 2002 33
Crayon Shin-chan Season Twelve January 11, 2003 December 6, 2003 31
Crayon Shin-chan Season Thirteen January 10, 2004 December 17, 2004 28
Crayon Shin-chan Season Fourteen January 7, 2005 December 9, 2005 36
Crayon Shin-chan Season Fifteen January 13, 2006 December 8, 2006 35
Crayon Shin-chan Season Sixteen January 12, 2007 - 17
Fox Kids/Jetix (Vitello/Phuuz)[1]
Shin Chan Vitello 2002 52
Shin Chan Phuuz 2003 78
[adult swim] (FUNimation)[1]
Shin Chan Test Run August 19, 2006 August 29, 2006 6
Shin Chan Season One April 18, 2007 December 17, 2007 20
Shin Chan Season Two April 25, 2008 December 14, 2008 26
Shin Chan Season Three July 26, 2011 September 27, 2011 26
  1. 1.0 1.1 Due to the re-organizing of episodes, and unique dialog adaptation, FUNimation and Vitello/phuuz episodes are listed under different show titles in consideration for the proper series.

Feature Films

Title Release Date
Action Kamen vs Leotard Devil July 24, 1993
The Secret Treasure of Buri Buri Kingdom April 23, 1994
Unkokusai's Ambition April 15, 1995
Adventure in Henderland April 13, 1996
Pursuit of the Balls of Darkness April 19, 1997
Blitzkrieg! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission April 18, 1998
Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle April 17, 1999
The Storm Called The Jungle April 13, 2000
The Adult Empire Strikes Back April 21, 2001
The Storm Called: The Battle of the Warring States April 20, 2002
The Storm Called: Yakiniku Road of Honor April 19, 2003
The Storm Called: The Kasukabe Boys of the Evening Sun April 17, 2004
The Legend Called Buri Buri 3 Minutes Charge April 16, 2005
The Legend Called: Dance! Amigo! April 15, 2006
The Storm Called: The Singing Buttocks Bomb April 21, 2007

DVD Releases

Vitello

Australia

  • Volume 1 (by Magna Pacific)
  • Volume 2 (by Magna Pacific)
  • Volume 3 (by Magna Pacific)
  • Volume 4 (by Magna Pacific)
  • Volume 5 (by Magna Pacific)

United Kingdom

  • Jetix Magazine issue 4 DVD
  • Daily Express Fox Kids promo DVD
  • The Sun Fox Kids promo DVD 1
  • The Sun Fox Kids promo DVD 2

Funimation

Title Release Discs
Season Sets  (Region 1)
The Complete First Season May 11, 2010 purchase 4
The Complete Second Season May 11, 2010 purchase 4
The Complete Third Season January 15, 2013 purchase 4
Partial Season Sets  (Region 1)
Season One, Part 1 May 13, 2008 purchase 2
Season One, Part 2 September 16, 2008 purchase 2
Season Two, Part 1 February 10, 2009 purchase 2
Season Two, Part 2 May 12, 2009 purchase 2
Season Three, Part 1 July 26, 2011 purchase 2
Season Three, Part 2 September 27, 2011 purchase 2

In-Depth

External links