Pokémon in Greater China: Difference between revisions

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The Taiwanese and Cantonese dub of the [[Pokémon anime]] were recorded and produced by Top Insight International Co., Ltd. ({{tt|群英社國際股份有限公司|Qúnyīng Shè Guójì Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàngōngsī}}, {{tt|群英社|Qúnyīng Shè}} for short). The Cantonese dub was previously handled by Medialink Animation International Ltd. ({{tt|羚邦國際|Lìhngbōng Gwokjai}}), but had already lost the rights to dub and distribute the anime to Top Insight. While the mainland dubs are recorded and produced by Beijing DynamicMedia Co., Ltd. ({{tt|北京迪美文化发展有限公司|Běijīng Díměiwénhuà Fāzhǎn Yǒuxiàngōngsī}}). There are several dubs of the anime and it is mainly based on the original Japanese version. The anime has aired in several different channels, such as {{wp|China Television}}, YoYoTV, [[Cartoon Network]], and {{wp|Chunghwa Telecom|MOD}} in Taiwan, {{wp|TVB Jade}} in Hong Kong, and {{wp|CCTV-6}} in mainland China.
The Taiwanese and Cantonese dub of the [[Pokémon anime]] were recorded and produced by Top Insight International Co., Ltd. ({{tt|群英社國際股份有限公司|Qúnyīng Shè Guójì Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàngōngsī}}, {{tt|群英社|Qúnyīng Shè}} for short). The Cantonese dub was previously handled by Medialink Animation International Ltd. ({{tt|羚邦國際|Lìhngbōng Gwokjai}}), but had already lost the rights to dub and distribute the anime to Top Insight. While the mainland dubs are recorded and produced by Beijing DynamicMedia Co., Ltd. ({{tt|北京迪美文化发展有限公司|Běijīng Díměiwénhuà Fāzhǎn Yǒuxiàngōngsī}}). There are several dubs of the anime and it is mainly based on the original Japanese version. The anime has aired in several different channels, such as {{wp|China Television}}, YoYoTV, [[Cartoon Network]], and {{wp|Chunghwa Telecom|MOD}} in Taiwan, {{wp|TVB Jade}} in Hong Kong, and {{wp|CCTV-6}} in mainland China.


With the exception of [[side story episodes]], the infamous ''[[EP038|Electric Soldier Porygon]]'', ''[[The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon]]'', and the [[clip show]]s, all episodes prior to the {{series|XY}} and the first sixteen {{pkmn|movie}}s have been dubbed into Mandarin. Sixteen [[Pokémon movie]]s have also premiered in Taiwan, with [[M13|the thirteenth movie]] released just 20 days after the Japanese premiere. The [[M14|fourteenth movie]] premiered August 19, 2011, with ''Black Hero'' shown in MOD and ''White Hero'' released in theaters. The [[M15|fifteenth movie]] along with ''[[PK24|Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade]]'' was released in theaters on October 2012, while the [[M16|sixteenth movie]] was released on August 2013.
With the exception of [[side story episodes]], the infamous ''[[EP038|Electric Soldier Porygon]]'', ''[[The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon]]'', and the [[clip show]]s, all episodes prior to the {{series|XY}} and the first seventeen {{pkmn|movie}}s have been dubbed into Mandarin. Seventeen [[Pokémon movie]]s have also premiered in Taiwan, with [[M13|the thirteenth movie]] released just 20 days after the Japanese premiere. The [[M14|fourteenth movie]] premiered August 19, 2011, with ''Black Hero'' shown in MOD and ''White Hero'' released in theaters. The [[M15|fifteenth movie]] along with ''[[PK24|Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade]]'' was released in theaters on October 2012, while the [[M16|sixteenth movie]] was released on August 2013.


In Hong Kong, all episodes prior to the XY series have been aired. The [[BW001|first episode]] of the Best Wishes series premiered on November 19, 2011, while the first episode of the XY series will premiere on July 13, 2014.
In Hong Kong, all episodes prior to the XY series have been aired. The [[BW001|first episode]] of the Best Wishes series premiered on November 19, 2011, while the first episode of the XY series will premiere on July 13, 2014.

Revision as of 02:11, 23 July 2014

Pokémon in China and Taiwan
Pokémon logo English.png
China and Taiwan Flags.png
Flags of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao
Language Mandarin and Cantonese
Continent Asia
Original anime airdates
EP001 November 16, 1998 *
November 28, 1998 *
December 1998 *
AG001 December 13, 2003 *
March 4, 2007 *
DP001 October 28, 2007 *
June 20, 2010 *
July 3, 2011 *
BW001 January 28, 2011 *
November 19, 2011 *
December 2012 *
XY001 July 13, 2014*
August 3, 2014 *
SM001
JN001
HZ001

The Pokémon (神奇寶貝 (Taiwan), 寵物小精靈 (Hong Kong and Macao), 精灵宝可梦 (Mainland China)) franchise first reached Greater China in 1998.

Names

In Taiwan, Pokémon is translated as 神奇寶貝 in official media. The name roughly means "magical creatures" and is the abbreviation of the phrase 「神奇的口袋中的寶貝」 ("the magical creatures in the pocket").

In Hong Kong, Pokémon is translated as 寵物小精靈, literally meaning "pet creature". It is usually abbreviated as 小精靈 (little creature).

In Mainland China, Pokémon has been given three translations by the official media. From 1998 to 2000, the Cantonese name 宠物小精灵 was originally adapted by the official media. However, when Jilin acquired the rights to publish Pokémon Adventures in 2000, the Taiwanese translation 神奇宝贝 was used until 2010. Due to trademark issues, the name was changed to the current name, 精灵宝可梦, a combination of the words 精灵 ("creature", a possible reference to its Cantonese name) and 宝可梦, a rough transliteration of Pokémon.

Currently, all of these names have only been considered as reference names by Nintendo.

Pokémon video games

Currently, none of the Pokémon games have been officially translated into Chinese. Many Chinese-translated bootlegs of the series are distributed into the mainland. Interactions between these bootlegs and any official game cartridges are possible, but not recommended as it would often result with files getting corrupted on both cartridges and forcing the gamers to start over from the beginning. Currently, two subsidiaries of Nintendo, Nintendo Phuten and Nintendo (Hong Kong), distributes the Japanese and English versions of the video games in their respective region.

There are also several events held in Taiwan. One of the first events were featured in PokéPark during 2006, but only for the Japanese language games. Mew, Jirachi and Celebi were distributed. Old Sea Map was also distributed for the pre-release ticket of the eighth movie. Keldeo and Meloetta were distributed in commemoration of the 15th movie during 2012, while Genesect and Mewtwo were distributed in 2013. Both Pikachu and Sylveon were also distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

One game related to Pokémon, Super Smash Bros. (任天堂明星大乱斗) was released in mainland China in 2005.

Pokémon anime

The Taiwanese and Cantonese dub of the Pokémon anime were recorded and produced by Top Insight International Co., Ltd. (群英社國際股份有限公司, 群英社 for short). The Cantonese dub was previously handled by Medialink Animation International Ltd. (羚邦國際), but had already lost the rights to dub and distribute the anime to Top Insight. While the mainland dubs are recorded and produced by Beijing DynamicMedia Co., Ltd. (北京迪美文化发展有限公司). There are several dubs of the anime and it is mainly based on the original Japanese version. The anime has aired in several different channels, such as China Television, YoYoTV, Cartoon Network, and MOD in Taiwan, TVB Jade in Hong Kong, and CCTV-6 in mainland China.

With the exception of side story episodes, the infamous Electric Soldier Porygon, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, and the clip shows, all episodes prior to the XY series and the first seventeen movies have been dubbed into Mandarin. Seventeen Pokémon movies have also premiered in Taiwan, with the thirteenth movie released just 20 days after the Japanese premiere. The fourteenth movie premiered August 19, 2011, with Black Hero shown in MOD and White Hero released in theaters. The fifteenth movie along with Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade was released in theaters on October 2012, while the sixteenth movie was released on August 2013.

In Hong Kong, all episodes prior to the XY series have been aired. The first episode of the Best Wishes series premiered on November 19, 2011, while the first episode of the XY series will premiere on July 13, 2014.

In mainland China, Pokémon anime returned after three years of hiatus when the Diamond and Pearl series (精灵宝可梦 DP:钻石与珍珠) premiered on July 3, 2011. The show went on an indefinite hiatus after airing only 27 episodes. On December 2012, iQiyi put the first 84 episodes of the Taiwanese dub of Best Wishes up for online legal viewing, with episodes from the BW Season 2 and the original series added in the subsequent months. The series is released under the title 精灵宝可梦 超级愿望.

As a result of the games have not been brought into China, the anime and manga have given names to the Pokémon, characters, locations and other important terminologies. For more information on these localized names for Pokémon, see List of Chinese Pokémon names.

Music

Unlike the other dubs, the Mandarin dub subtitles the original Japanese opening and ending themes. However, for the Kanto saga of the original mainland dub, the localization team used an original Mandarin song, with minor edits made to the original video. For the Taiwanese dub and mainland redub, both dubs had instead subtitled the original Japanese theme. However, due to the request of the Japanese officials, an original Mandarin theme song was used in the place of the Japanese theme when the Best Wishes series is broadcasted in YoYoTV. Nevertheless, the Japanese theme was used in the fourteenth movie. In addition, the anime tends to switch back to the original Japanese theme for unknown reasons. However, the new episodes in MOD continued to use the new Mandarin theme after the switch from the Japanese theme.

For the Cantonese dub, it used openings that are either originals or based on the original Japanese version. It continued up until midway Advanced Generation series (寵物小精靈超世代), before using the subtitled Japanese themes like the Taiwanese dub. However, similar to the case of the Taiwanese dub, a Cantonese version of Best Wishes! was used during the premiere of the new series. For more information on these theme songs, see List of Chinese Pokémon themes.


Cast and Crew

Many voice actors and actresses have contributed to the production of the Chinese dubs of the Pokémon anime.

Character Taiwan Hong Kong Mainland China
Ash Ketchum 汪世瑋 Wāng Shìwěi*
賀世芳 Hè Shìfāng*
李明幸 Li Míngxìng*
黃玉娟 Wòhng Yuhk Gyūn "Xenia Wong"*
陳凱婷 Chàhn Hóitìhng "Joyce Chan"*
盧素娟 Lòuh Sougyūn "Doris Lu"*
王小燕 Wáng Xiǎoyàn*
Gary Oak 詹雅菁 Zhān Yǎjīng*
王瑞芹 Wáng Ruìqín*
林丹鳳 Làhm Dāanfuhng "Peggy Lam"
Misty 林美秀 Lín Měixiù*
謝佼娟 Xiè Jiǎojuān
龍顯蕙 Lóng Xiǎnhuì
林凱羚 Lín Kǎilíng
梁少霞 Lèuhng Síuhàh "Sharon Liang"
Jessie 詹雅菁 Zhān Yǎjīng
姚敏敏 Yáo Mǐnmǐn
盧敘榮 Lú Xùróng
黃麗芳 Wòhng Laihfōng "Anita Wong" 金燕 Jīn Yàn*
James 吳東原 Wú Dōngyuán
陳進益 Chén Jìnyì
符爽 Fú Shuǎng
孫誠 Sūn Chéng
陳卓智 Chàhn Jeukji "Dominic Chan"
黎偉明 Làih Wáihmìhng "Ming Lai" *
郭盛 Guō Shèng*
Meowth 汪世瑋 Wāng Shìwěi
雷碧文 Léi Bìwén
龍顯蕙 Lóng Xiǎnhuì
林凱羚 Lín Kǎilíng
梁偉德 Lèuhng Wáihdāk "Pasu Liang" 王晨光 Wáng Chénguāng*
Brock 于正昇 Yú Zhèngshēng*
梁興昌 Liáng Xìngchāng
符爽 Fú Shuǎng
何承駿 Hòh Sìhngjeun "Rattan Ho"*
劉奕希 Làuh Yihkhēi "Ricky Liu"*
李錦綸 Léih Gámlèuhn "Alan Lee"*
赵震 Zhào Zhèn*
Tracey 符爽 Fú Shuǎng 陳卓智 Chàhn Jeukji "Dominic Chan"
黎景全 Làih Gíngchyùhn "Kinson Lai"
曹啟謙 Chòuh Káihīm "Monte Cho"
May 傅曼君 Fù Mànjūn 朱妙蘭 Jyū Miuhlàahn "Peggy Chu"
張頌欣 Jēung Juhngyā "Judy Cheung"
Max 詹雅菁 Zhān Yǎjīng 陸惠玲 Luhk Waihlìhng "Joyce Luk"
Dawn 林美秀 Lín Měixiù 楊善諭 Yèuhng Sihnyuh "Zanne Yeung"*
劉惠雲 Làuh Waihwàhn "Vivien Liu"*
鄭麗麗 Jehng Laihlaih "Kate Cheng"*
纪元 Jì Yuán*
Paul 李世揚 Li Shìyáng
Iris 林美秀 Lín Měixiù 高可慧 Ko Howai "Miu Miu Ko"
Cilan 于正昇 Yú Zhèngshēng 胡家豪 Wu Karho "Lupus Wu"


Distribution

Mighty Media Co., Ltd. (曼迪傳播有限公司) currently holds the license to the Pokémon franchise in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Pro-Insight International Co., Ltd. (博英社國際股份有限公司), a subsidiary of Top Insight International, was the former distributor anime and movie-related merchandise such as toys and DVD sets in Taiwan. As of January 2014, all of Pokémon-related contents had already been removed from both its corporate and commercial website, while its Pokémon-related merchandises have now been pulled out from the Taiwanese market.

Pokémon merchandise

Pocket Monsters Film Comic volume 6 in Cantonese

In Hong Kong, the Pocket Monsters Film Comic series of books was translated into Cantonese by Viz Communication China (H.K.) Ltd.

Pokémon manga

Pokémon Adventures (Traditional Mandarin: 神奇寶貝特別篇, Simplified Mandarin: 精灵宝可梦特别篇, Cantonese: 寵物小精靈特別篇) has been translated into Chinese as well. The traditional Mandarin and Cantonese versions are translated by Ching Win Publishing Group (青文出版集團), while the simplified Mandarin version is translated by Jilin Publishing Group (吉林出版集团). Pokémon Adventures was also previously translated by China Light Industry Press (轻工业出版社) under the name 宠物小精灵特别篇 before 2000. While the Cantonese term of Pokémon is used, all other terms were based on the Taiwanese translation. As Jilin took over in 2000, it was renamed to 神奇宝贝特别篇 to keep it consistent with the Taiwanese translation. Starting from the DP chapter, it was renamed to 精灵宝可梦特别篇 due to trademark issues. CoroCoro is also distributed within the three regions under the names 快樂快樂月刊 (Taiwan), 快樂龍 (Hong Kong), and 龍漫CORO-CORO (Mainland China).

In Taiwan, the manga are currently translated by Ching Win Publishing Group. Pokémon Pocket Monsters (神奇寶貝), Magical Pokémon Journey (皮卡丘大冒險 我愛PiPiPi), The Electric Tale of Pikachu (電擊皮卡丘), and Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All (神奇寶貝一把抓) were all translated by Da Ran Culture (大然文化). As the company had become defunct since 2003, the sequels of Pokémon Pocket Monsters such as Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl (神奇寶貝鑽石·珍珠歡樂祭) were taken over by Ching Win. Ching Win has also translated Pokémon Zensho (漫畫版 神奇寶貝全書), Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys (神奇寶貝金银:黃金少年), Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure! (神奇寶貝 鑽石·珍珠篇), Pokémon Try Adventure (神奇寶貝三隻組挑戰大冒險), several movie manga adaptations and guidebooks.

In mainland China, Pokémon Pocket Monsters (神奇宝贝) and its sequel Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire (神奇宝贝 红宝石·蓝宝石篇) have also been translated. Ash and Pikachu (小智与皮卡丘), Pokémon Getto da Ze! (神奇宝贝大搜捕), and Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys (神奇宝贝金银:金色少年) have also been translated as well.

In Hong Kong, most of manga translated in Taiwan is also released in here as Ching Win Publishing Group also distributes manga in the region. However, the names are given some changes due to difference in the dialect and terminologies between in the two regions, with 神奇寶貝 changed to 寵物小精靈 being one of the major changes.

Gallery

Taiwan
Hong Kong
Mainland China

Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Games (集換式卡片遊戲) are available in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Mainland China with most of the cards, boosters, and theme decks nearly identical to the ones that were released internationally. Cards released in Hong Kong and Taiwan are printed in Traditional Chinese characters with minor grammatical and naming differences, while the mainland versions are printed in Simplified characters. In addition to the Hong Kong releases, English versions of the cards have also been released in Hong Kong as well, and are often displayed on Hong Kong's official Pokémon website. Although the Trading Card Games exist in all three areas, only Hong Kong actually takes part in the worldwide tournaments.

Pokémon Battrio

Pokémon Battrio (神奇寶貝 三隻組對戰) was released in Taiwan in 2010, making it the only country outside of Japan to release the arcade game. Many of the machines are found in department stories throughout Taiwan. Currently, nine sets have been released with the latest being 烈空坐.

The merchandise ended in Taiwan on December 2012 due to lower-then-expected popularity and contract due from the Taiwanese distributor. All Taiwanese version of arcade machine has all been removed and it is still unknown if the Taiwanese version of game chips are playable in Japan.

Community

PokéPark logo used in Taiwan

A PokéPark theme park was opened in Taiwan in 2006.

External links

Taiwan

Mainland China

Hong Kong


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