Crayon Shin Chan Season Two pt. 1 — anime dvd review
I don’t remember Crayon Shin Chan being so dirty. I mean, I know that’s the main draw and premise of the whole show, but when stripped to bare bones (this expression is something the bowl-haired mischievous main character would surely snicker at), Shin Chan’s entire cast rules raunchy tactless-town.
I just don’t remember every character being so dirty.
Thankfully, Season Two pt. 1 handles potty-mouths as professionally as possible (in this genre), the zippy transitional episodes providing lots of laughs and just enough contrasting insight into Shin’s entourage, including a hilarious voyage with the “beloved” family dog Whitey (Shiro) narrating, discovering runny-nose Bo’s hidden talent, and a disturbing class ski trip alongside lesbians and horny faculty in an episode renamed It’s Actually Better for Anal, not to mention Hitler’s clone on the Action Bastard (Action Kamen) show, and the American equivalent of natto.
The English voice-overs are far less irritating than last season; the script slightly more in sync with the original Japanese version I enjoyed years back, rife with fun, frivolous filth. Shin Chan’s dopey drooling drawl that mimics maturity in its deep tones, fails to eclipse the spoken fodder spewing forth. Of course, as with most (erm, all) Japanese films dubbed or subbed to please Americans, a lot is lost in the translation. Because the Japanese love their puns, word-play, cultural and pop humor, and merits of wit most Americans can’t or won’t understand, Crayon Shin Chan’s slightly endearing edge is drastically drowned in an avalanche of expletives. Taken in small doses, it can be guffaw-worthy fluff (if not head-scratchingly odd banter), but I wouldn’t recommend digesting an entire disc in one sitting unless you are as immature as the title character.
So perhaps Crayon Shin Chan was never this dirty, but Season Two’s American dub definitely is.
