Vocalizer destroys a small piece of Ponyo

Posted by Gundampilotspaz on Friday, August 14, 2009 · Comments 

I don’t understand why American translators feel like they have the right to alter pieces of a Japanese film. Especially a film by master animator Hayao Miyazaki. The difference between the Japanese Ponyo theme and the English version is striking.

They turned the slow, sweet song about the hero of the film into popular garbage. The “singers” use vocalizers and a rap beat as opposed to the straight singing classic Miyazaki theme.

Basically Disney is saying that the American audience is:

1) Unable to pay attention to music that is slow and melodic.
2) Hate the sound of a natural human voice.
3) Like to clap their hands.

Source: The Ghibli Blog

Filed under Anime, Video · Tagged with ,

  • At first I read this as "Vocaloid" and got all happy. Little did I know I was going to be raped violently in the ears
  • It's Disney. While I'm not a fan of Miyazaki's works, I can totally agree with you that they've mishandled just about every Ghibli property that they've managed to get their hands on.
  • Zushiba
    I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that found this Disney spooge of a remix appalling. I'm not anime elitist or anything I watch my anime in English with terrible translations and all but this is just a horrible abortion of a song. It is the very epitome of what's wrong with popular music in America.
  • moritheil
    I was horrified by this when I saw it over the weekend. It doesn't fit with the rest of the score, and it sounds like some execs or artists were determined to put their own stamp on the film, even at the cost of the quality of the film.
  • willrobertson
    Honestly, this kind of thing doesn't really bother me. It's not integral to the movie, and Disney treats the movie itself with only the highest respect. Not to mention, the only point of the new song is to draw in the Miley Cyrus/Jo Bros audience, and if this means a greater awareness of Miyazaki movies (and anime in general), I'm happy. After all, these movies are, at there core, supposed to be entertainment for kids.
  • yiphan
    "1) Unable to pay attention to music that is slow and melodic.
    2) Hate the sound of a natural human voice.
    3) Like to clap their hands."

    So... obviously, by the comments Disney's made... they're basically saying that American audiences aren't capable of enjoying things naturally. So we can't enjoy things that aren't upbeat and "new age" in sound, we hate to hear actual true singing, and of course, everyone in a movie theater sits there and claps their hands.

    Come on, Disney. Get your heads out of you corporate asses and open your damned eyes. Give me a break. Where does this information they have really come from? This isn't a "Happy-Shiny" fantasyland, it's the real world, and to be honest, I know VERY FEW people that meet every single one of those "excuses" that was used to explain their actions. Great job, Disney. Once again, you show your imagination trying to become reality.
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