Pokémon in Russia

Pokémon in Russia
Flag of Russia
Language	Russian
Continent	Europe
Original anime airdates
EP001	December 18, 2000
AG001
DP001	September 20, 2008
BW001
XY001
SM001
JN001
HZ001

The Pokémon franchise first reached Russia in December of 2000. Unlike many other countries, the Pokémon anime was premiered on ORT (Channel One nowdays) before the games were released.

First wave of Pokémon in Russia

The separate contribution to Russian promotion of Pokémon was rendered by Sargona inc. which sold American cards, TCG. Pokémon anime] was shown on ORT (Channel One nowdays) - the main Russian channel.

Actually the decision on purchase of the series was accepted in the beginning of 2000, but watchers had seen it only in December. The American version of the serial has been chosen for translation into Russian. The Kiev Pilot studio which has dubbed of a serial in Russian, has decided not to translate in second time names of Pokémon as preservation of the American names facilitated development of Trading card game which Sargona sells without translation.

From the point of Russian language translation was good,but here were literalisms. A few names were changed. For example «Dark City» has been translated as «Мрачный Город». Serious defect in dubbing is only one: accent. Actors speak with implicit, but observable Ukrainian intonations.

Degradation of the text as seen on opening song as an example is much more distinctly visible. For example, in its Japanese and American version are not present words about protection of the Earth (as well as in a serial). Russian version of the song though by many Russian Pokémon fans opinion is singed absolutely not bad (Pokemon Theme on Russian was remade and its text was changed a bit).

In interview to magazine "Afisha" director of Management of children's programs of ORT Sergey Suponev has assured watchers in harmless of Pokémon:

«То, что мы хотим его показать, может быть, это можно назвать неким поступком. Шуму вокруг этого сериала было много по всему миру. На самом деле довольно безобидная вещь. Милая история, как мальчик спасает зверушек, учит их воевать за добро и справедливость. И есть плохие ребята, которые отправляют за большие деньги в зоопарк, — все, что в этом фильме скандального».

In the day of television premiere the management of public relations of ORT had invited the journalists and the children from a Otradnoye shelter in a Rolan cinema to presentation of a serial. The children had clapped and laughed, and then had taken part with pleasure in a quiz organized by ORT.

From December 18, 2000 to January 25, 2001 anime was shown by ORT. In February 5, 2001 they began to show the series again until August of 2001. The last shown episode was

"Charizard Chills". 104 episodes were shown. Three episodes were banned in the USA, so they weren't shown in Russia.

Pokémon weren't shown for seven years. Russian Pokémon fans tried to ask all TV channels in Russia but the maximum they could do is to make ORT show Pokémon 2000 and Pokémon 4ever at 5:00 am.

The reason ORT finished showing Pokémon

For unknown reason the airing of Pokémon was finished. There is no clear explanation, but rumors say that:

• It was because some Japanese channel had shown ORT in a ridiculous view. But there is no any acknowledgment of it.
• ORT had finished it because Sergey Suponev died in a snowmobile accident. The new director of Management of children's programs of ORT was a Pokémon hater and closed the Pokémon TV show. Many fans think that it is the most believable reason.
• Russian newspapers and the yellow press made it. Some wrote that Pokemon is making epileptic seizures, another ones wrote that Pokémon "brainwashes children". ORT didn't want its reputation to fall, so they interrupted showing Pokemon.

Pokémon games

Despite of many Pokémon haters, anybody could buy Pokémon games. They are sold in English without translation. However, there is fan hack translation from English in Russian. Chinese pirates had translated it too but there were too many grammar mistakes.

The return of Pokémon

In September 20, 2008 TNT, another Russian channel, premiered the first

episode of Diamond and Pearl series. The tenth season was shown fully. Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl was also shown on Jetix. Unlike TNT, Battle Dimension was shown fully.

See also

• Pokémon.ru - The site is dead and redirects to Nintendo.com
• Русская Лига Покемонов (Russian Pokémon League) - Since there is no official Pokémon site in Russia, it is the most popular Russian fan Pokémon site.
• Sargona official site

This article is part of Project Globe, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon franchise around the world.