What censorship case in media do you think was the worst?

[-Apples-]

As some forms of media get censored through localization, reviews, and even during production or distribution, there are some cases that we are okay with. But there are also some ridiculous ones. Out of all of the cases of censorship of TV, film, games, music, and literature that you know about, what do you think is the worst case? Another thing: this does not include political correctness. As much as it is ridiculous at the pinnacle, it is rather a double standard than actual censorship that affects all. Let's give PC a break as we tackle censorship that isn't PC-related.

My least favorite case of censorship so far is not very recent at the scale of television, but it's an old one that I am still critical of today. That would be the censorship of Total Drama Island as it aired in America on Cartoon Network. I wouldn't say that all edits are bad, but at least most of them are (especially the cases were "stupid" and "shut up" were replaced with something else). Not only it's stupid to censor those words on a teens' show, but it also contradictory of what Cartoon Network has accepted in the past and at the time. In other cartoons at the time TDI was on (and prior to the 2004-2009 era), they have used "stupid" and "shut up", as well as other very rude phrases that were acceptable for shows with a 6 to 12 target audience. But when those same phrases or words were used in TDI, they get heavily edited and replaced with a less rude term. Plus, it kinda ruins the show and makes the plot less...dramatic. The worst edit was when they changed "oh, bite me" to "oh, shut it". I thought that one edit was very ridiculous (possibly worse than any other censorship cases I have noticed). I hated how Cartoon Network handled this show on its first year on the channel, and I also hated how they still kept the episodes censored when it came out on DVD. Even the uncensored version isn't as bad as the Simpsons could get. Thankfully, Cartoon Network's censorship codes are more loose now than it was back then, but I still couldn't think any censorship case was worse than this.

Another very bad one was the censorship of South Park's 201st episode. I'm not gonna go over much detail on this, but this is the biggest controversy involving South Park, and one of the very few cases where foreign affairs have a negative impact on our freedom of speech. The controversy is an interesting story, but the censorship was notorious.

 

[Haskell]

Everyone was upset with the premiere of TWD showing "too much blood", "too much violence"...

If you don't like the blood... nor the violence? Don't watch it!

Most episodes are rated "M - For Mature" for a reason...

 

[ali.di.magix]

One of my most memorable ones is to do with Winx Club, a cartoon I watch.

There were multiple cases of silly censorship for Winx Club in the 4kids version of the show, which will probably be no surprise to Pokemon fans here since everyone knows 4kids is notorious for their silly edits. But in one episode there was a scene where one of the protagonists was arguing with one of the villains, and the protagonist slapped he villain in the face with her hand. That scene ended up to be (badly) censored by 4kids. I didn't know about what happened in the original version for ages until someone told me. But it was so unnecessary, like it was just a slap??? (A well deserved one for that matter...)

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

Rose's fusion dance with Pearl in Steven Universe was censored in the UK because their faces were too close. Lol.. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I didn't even know the UK was so unaccepting of homosexual relationships??

 

[ams]

Considering the cesspool that is modern American television/music/film I'd probably vote for more censorship.

 

[Corrie]

Anything from 4Kids.

Changing characters' names, editing out anything Japanese and replacing it with American things, changing plot, deleting romance and basically making the shows pride American culture in an obnoxious way.

Glad they're gone.

- - - Post Merge - - -

One of my most memorable ones is to do with Winx Club, a cartoon I watch.

There were multiple cases of silly censorship for Winx Club in the 4kids version of the show, which will probably be no surprise to Pokemon fans here since everyone knows 4kids is notorious for their silly edits. But in one episode there was a scene where one of the protagonists was arguing with one of the villains, and the protagonist slapped he villain in the face with her hand. That scene ended up to be (badly) censored by 4kids. I didn't know about what happened in the original version for ages until someone told me. But it was so unnecessary, like it was just a slap??? (A well deserved one for that matter...)

I believe it was Nelvana that dubbed the Cardcaptor Sakura dub (Cardcaptors) and there is one scene where Li is blushing while talking on the phone to Sakura cause he likes her and all that. But in the dub, they changed it to his mom he was talking to instead but the blushing is still there so that makes it weird af.

Another scene with Li is when Julian is talking to him, he blushes cause he likes him. In the dub, theh make the blushing apparently mean that he is intimidated by Julian instead. Like... what?

 

[Red Cat]

I don't watch cartoons anymore, but I think TV shows should tackle important issues like language, bullying, and fighting head-on instead of sanitizing everything to avoid controversy. Cartoons should try to have at least a little educational value, and they don't accomplish that if the characters don't even act somewhat human. TV has a major influence on children growing up, and if the shows kids watch sidestep stuff, then kids will just pick up bad habits from other places where things aren't even put into context for them.

 

[forestyne]

Cartoon Network censoring Steven Universe in the UK. If it has anything to do with sexual contact - only homosexual relationships, though, ofc - it gets snipped.




EDIT: Just saw Arize mentioned it whoops ;-;

 

[Bowie]

I do not believe in censorship of any kind, ever. Either you do it the way the artist(s) intended for it to be done, or you don't do it at all. I believe in warnings and nothing more.

With that in mind, give me anything and I'd say censorship was unnecessary.

 

[LambdaDelta]

Vivian being changed from a trans girl to just a girl

my sole complaint about TTYD, especially given how respectfully done it is for early 2000s video game industry

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

Oh yeah, I also saw one where they put a mustache on Ruby to make her look like a man when she fuses with Sapphire. Don't remember which country did that but wow... Why bother showing Steven Universe if you are going to change something like that? SU is such a wonderful show for LGBTQ people in my opinion, so changing those fundamental things actually undermines its message and one of the reasons the show even exists.

 

[LambdaDelta]

queer erasure in FUNimation's Maidragon dub script

- - - Post Merge - - -

Anything from 4Kids.

Changing characters' names, editing out anything Japanese and replacing it with American things, changing plot, deleting romance and basically making the shows pride American culture in an obnoxious way.

Glad they're gone.

hate to break it to you, but 4K Media is basically just restructured 4Kids (though they only do Yu-Gi-Oh! anime stuff now, because Konami)

also, obligatory

 

[Buster Bunny]

That's a reason which I despise Astro Boy and don't accept it as a legit translation of Osamu Tezuka's original work.
They butchered all of the anime adaptations and excluded important facts like Tobio's death and touching scenes.

Heck, the original Tetsuwan Atom is much better than that ridiculous and overrated dub which is misleading the fans for years.

 

[ali.di.magix]

also, obligatory

Is this for real?!

 

[LambdaDelta]

Is this for real?!

yes, this beautiful work of art is a real thing that exists

we are truly unworthy of it, but it exists

 

[ali.di.magix]

yes, this beautiful work of art is a real thing that exists

we are truly unworthy of it, but it exists

wow look at all the things I've been missing out on, my god how did I never know this exists

we truly are unworthy of this great gift from the God a.k.a 4kids shame on us!

 

[-Apples-]

Anything from 4Kids.

Changing characters' names, editing out anything Japanese and replacing it with American things, changing plot, deleting romance and basically making the shows pride American culture in an obnoxious way.

Glad they're gone.

I agree that localization-related edits that censor cultural references are terrible. However, I am 50/50 on this. Take for instance, NoA's handling of Xenoblade Chronicles X, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, and Fire Emblem Fates. I support the censorship NoA has done to those games. But stuff like this...

...that is pretty stupid. Stuff like food, language, and celebrations from different cultures should be left alone if they come from another country. In the original, that sandwich was supposed to be a rice ball, which is popular in Japan. But they changed that to a sandwich.

It's kinda funny that when American shows make it to other countries, they don't censor cultural references to the US. But when a show from another country makes it to America, it gets "Americanized". Not just anime, but also Canadian shows and British shows.

 

[AccfSally]

Jelly filled donuts lol

 

[MokaAkashiya]

Jelly filled donuts lol

View attachment 193976

 

[Stalfos]

Nintendo removing the toilets from the SNES version of Theme Park was pretty silly.