The Simpsons turns into "Al Shamsoon"

[Black Ranger RX]

I've just been reading in a magazine in a local newsagents, that The Simpsons is going to be re-dubbed for an Arabic audiance. However there are going to be several changes before it gets aired, because of cultural differences.

The TV Show will be renamed "Al Shamsoon", Homer will be "Omar", Bart will be "Batr", and many other characters will be renamed too.. Homer will no longer be allowed to go to Moe's tavern. Infact, all of Homer's talents will be ripped out, leaving him as an empty cartoon character who basically does nothing. He will still say "DO'H" though.. Different religions to be censored out, Characters to be deleted are Krusty for being jewish, Reverend Lovejoy and many others..

Here's a link to a Blog Article (which I replied to)
http://prophead.blogspot.com/2005/10/simpsons-goes-al-shamsoon.html#comments

Personally I think this is the same sort of dubbing that Super Sentai gets (as Power Rangers), and most Japanese Anime shows (EG: 4Kids version of OnePiece). I used to love The Simpsons. I think it's sad that they're gonna water it down for a different audiance. But if it's a religious case, then I guess I understand, but maybe they could watch a different show instead..

What do you guys reckon?

 

[Black Ranger RX]

Oh, I put this in the wrong Forum!! Was The Simpsons ever an Anime?

 

[Kyusaku]

Oh, I put this in the wrong Forum!! Was The Simpsons ever an Anime?

Yeah I agree, I don't think that The Simpsons qualifies as anime.

 

[Black Ranger RX]

Yeah I agree, I don't think that The Simpsons qualifies as anime.

Believe it or not, in Japan they would consider even The Simpsons as an Anime. Why? Because in Japan, anything that would take the form of Animation is called Anime (from DragonBall Z to, well... Michey Mouse!! ). When I told my Japanese pen pal that in America and the UK we seperate Japanese cartoons from American cartoons as "Anime", she thought it was weird.

I wonder why we like to seperate Anime from General cartoons. Is there really something unique about Anime or are we just seperating Japanese culture from our own?

Meanwhile, back on topic. What does everyone think of Al Shamsoon?!!!

 

[Mega Ranger]

I remember hearing about this on the news several Weeks ago. Homer is now called Omar.

 

[Kyusaku]

Believe it or not, in Japan they would consider even The Simpsons as an Anime. Why? Because in Japan, anything that would take the form of Animation is called Anime

Yes I know this, you're talking to a guy who use to watch the Japanese dub of South Park. However, this forum is not made of Japanese people speaking Japanese. For english speakers in the US and Europe, "anime" has been categorized as Japanese Animation.

"Anime" in japanese is short for Animeeshon( アニメーション )

I guess if were to refer to non-japanese animation, it'd be "animay" since you can't do "anima".

 

[SaikoDragon]

I wonder why we like to seperate Anime from General cartoons. Is there really something unique about Anime or are we just seperating Japanese culture from our own?

Well it originally started as Japanime. Short for Japan Animation. A play on words. Then in time they sort of dropped the "Jap" suffix and just said Anime. I guess it's just a way to say to others "this is animation from Japan". Instead of saying "Its a cartoon thats from Japan" you can just say "It's an anime." or what not.

Meanwhile, back on topic. What does everyone think of Al Shamsoon?!!!

Well, I'm confused about Shamsoon. I mean, it sounds completely different from the simpsons in general. Names, locations, characters, title. It's all different so why bother associating it with Simpsons at all?

What I don't get is how fans could be mad at this. Who cares? Are they going to go to the arab country and watch it with them? No. They still have their american simpsons to watch and enjoy (in its craptacular glory). So who cares what they change or take out of the ARabic version. None of us are going to watch it nor care. It's being changed for them so they can enjoy it because their customs, beliefs, and pass times are different from ours. They are more so cultural changes than anything else.

But Shamsoon is so freaking different, why not count it as an original new series for Arabians? Why associate it as Simpsons but different.