Crayon Shin-chan

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Crayon Shin-chan
Premiere April 13, 1992
Finale
Airs Fridays at 19:30 (TV Asahi)
Creator Yoshito Usui
Network TV Asahi
Animax
Style 3 to 10 minute anime comedy
Company Shin-Ei Animation
TV Asahi Corporation
Episodes 604 half hours
Seasons 15
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 has just recently made it to 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

[edit] 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, 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 (now Jetix) chain. The license agreement between Lacey Entertainment and TV Asahi expired at the end of 2005.

English logo of "Shin Chan"
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 will begin 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.

[edit] History of the Spanish adaptation

The Mexican dub, one of the Spanish-language exports, was one of the international dubs by Lacey Entertainment. All of the Lacey productions of Shin Chan ended after one and a half seasons. Conversely, the dub in Spain, 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.

[edit] Writing Process

One of Shin Chan's full time writers, 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.)

[edit] Cast

Japanese Voices English Voices (phuuz) English Voices (FUNi) Character Dub Names
Main Cast
Akiko Yajima Kath Soucie (1)
Diane Michelle (2) 		Laura Bailey Shinnosuke "Shin" Nohara
Keiji Fujiwara Eric Loomis (1)
Peter Doyle (2) 		Chuck Huber Hiroshi Nohara Harry,
Hiro
Miki Narahashi Kath Soucie (1)
Julie Maddalena (2) 		Cynthia Cranz Misae Nohara Mitsy,
Mitzi
Satomi Koorogi Russi Taylor Colleen Clinkenbeard Himawari Nohara Daisy,
Hima
Mari Mashiba Michael Sorich (2) Chris Cason Shiro Lucky,
Snowy,
Whitey,
Nevado,
Nevat
Secondary Cast
Mari Mashiba Grey DeLisle (1)
Hope Levy (2) 		Brina Palencia Tooru Kazama Cosmo,
Georgie Prescott III
Tamao Hayashi Anndi McAfee (1)
Michelle Ruff (2) 		Carrie Savage Nene Sakurada Nini,
Penny Milfer
Teiyū Ichiryūsai Russi Taylor (1)
Barbara Goodson (2) 		Colleen Clinkenbeard Masao Sato Max
Chie Satō Eric Loomis (2)
Richard Cansino (2) 		Chris Cason Boo Bo
Suzuki
Miki Narahashi Never appeared Monica Rial Ai Suotome
Satomi Koorogi Patrick Fraley Jason Liebrecht Bunta Takakura Principal Enzo,
Principal Bernoulli Ench,
Gang Leader Sir
Yumi Takada Anndi McAfee Caitlin Glass Midori Ishizaka Miss Dori,
Miss Anderson
Michie Tomizawa Grey DeLisle Clarine Harp Ume Matsuzaka Miss Uma,
Miss Katz
 ?Unknown Never appeared Jamie Marchi Masumi Ageo Miss Polly
Tesshō Genda Patrick Fraley Troy Baker Action Kamen Masked Muchacho,
Action Bastard

[edit] Seasons

Season Premiere Finale #
Japanese seasons - TV Asahi
Season One April 19, 1992 December 21, 1992 33
Season Two January 11, 1993 December 27, 1993 47
Season Three January 10, 1994 December 19, 1994 48
Season Four January 9, 1995 December 18, 1995 44
Season Five January 8, 1996 December 20, 1996 42
Season Six January 10, 1997 December 19, 1997 45
Season Seven January 9, 1998 December 11, 1998 43
Season Eight January 8, 1999 December 10, 1999 43
Season Nine January 28, 2000 December 15, 2000 37
Season Ten January 12, 2001 December 14, 2001 40
Season Eleven January 25, 2002 December 7, 2002 33
Season Twelve January 11, 2003 December 6, 2003 31
Season Thirteen January 10, 2004 December 17, 2004 28
Season Fourteen January 7, 2005 December 9, 2005 36
Season Fifteen January 13, 2006 December 8, 2006 35
Season Sixteen January 12, 2007 - 17
Lacey dub - Fox Kids/Jetix¹
Series One May 3, 2003 — 67
Series Two — — 67
FUNimation dub - [adult swim]¹
Test Run August 19, 2006 August 29, 2006 6
Season One April 18, 2007 December 17, 2007 20
Season Two April 25, 2008 December 14, 2008 26
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.

[edit] Feature Films

Title Release Date
Action Kamen vs Haigure Devil July 24, 1993
Treasure of Buri Buri Kingdom April 23, 1994
Plot of Unkokusai April 15, 1995
Adventure in Henderland April 13, 1996
Pursuit of the Dark Tama Tama April 19, 1997
Mission:1000bolts!! Pig's Hoof's Secret Mission!! April 18, 1998
Exciting Battle at the Hot Spring April 17, 1999
Kureshin Paradise! Made in Saitama
Rumble in the Jungle April 13, 2000
The Adult Empire Strikes Back April 21, 2001
The Battle of the Warring States April 20, 2002
Glorious Grilled Meat Road April 19, 2003
The Kasukabe Boys of the Evening Sun April 17, 2004
Buri Buri 3 Minutes Charge April 16, 2005
Dance! Amigo! April 15, 2006
The Singing Bomb April 21, 2007

[edit] DVD Releases

Title Release Date #
Season Sets: Region 1
Season One, Part 1 May 13,2008 2 purchase
Season One, Part 2 September 16, 2008 2 purchase
Season Two, Part 1 February 10, 2009 2 purchase
Season Two, Part 2 May 12, 2009 2 purchase

[edit] In-Depth

[edit] External links

[edit] References
    Retrieved from "http://tviv.org/Crayon_Shin-chan"

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