Pokémon in Greater China: Difference between revisions

Pokémon in China and Taiwan
Flags of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao
Language	Mandarin and Cantonese
Continent	Asia
Original anime airdates
EP001	November 16, 1998 * November 1998 * December 1998 *
AG001	June 25, 2006 * March 4, 2007 *
DP001	October 28, 2007 * June 20, 2010 * July 3, 2011 *
BW001	January 28, 2011 * November 19, 2011 *
XY001
SM001
JN001
HZ001

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

Names

In Taiwan, Pokémon is officially translated as 神奇寶貝, which roughly means "magical creatures". The name 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 offically 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 three official translation. From 1998 to 2000, the Cantonese name 宠物小精灵 was also the official name used in mainland China. However, when Jilin acquired the rights to publish Pokémon Adventures. The Taiwanese translation 神奇宝贝 became the new official name up until 2010. Due to the trademark issues, the current official name became 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.

Pokémon video games

Currently, none of the Pokémon games have been translated into Chinese. Many Chinese-translated bootlegs of the series are sold into the mainland. Interactions between these bootlegs and any official game cartridges, while possible, are not recommended since the Chinese characters were never programmed into any official cartridges and would often result with files getting corrupted on both cartridges and forcing the gamers to start over from the beginning. Currently, Taiwan and Hong Kong receives the Japanese versions of the video games.

There were also some events in Taiwan during PokéPark in 2006, but only for the Japanese version. Mew, Jirachi and Celebi were distributed. Old Sea Map was also distributed for the pre-release ticket of the eighth movie.

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 are 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). 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 (電腦戰士3D龍) and the clip shows, all episodes prior to the Best Wishes series have been dubbed into Mandarin. The first thirteen 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. Black Hero was shown in MOD, while White Hero was released in theaters. In January 2011, MOD had released the first four episodes of the Best Wishes series, and has continued to release four new episodes on the last Friday of every month. However, no episodes where released in MOD during August, possibly due to YoYoTV overtaking MOD, having broadcasted all the way to the 40th episode. MOD has resumed releasing four more episodes on September, and four more episodes subsequently. Currently, it has released a total of 40 episodes from the Best Wishes series.

In Hong Kong, all episodes prior to Best Wishes series (寵物小精靈：超級願望) have aired. Best Wishes series is scheduled to air on November 19, 2011.

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.

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, a new Chinese 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 Chinese 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 Advanced Generation series (寵物小精靈超世代), before using the subtitled Japanese themes like the Taiwanese dub.

Cast and Crew

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

Taiwan

Ash Ketchum (小智) is currently voiced by 汪世瑋 Wāng Shìwěi, who has voiced him and Meowth (喵喵) since the Advanced Generation series (神奇寶貝超世代) . He was previously voiced by 賀世芳 Hè Shìfāng during the Kanto and Johto saga, who was temporarily replaced by 李明幸 Li Míngxìng during the Orange Island arc.

May (小遙) was voiced by 傅曼君 Fù Mànjūn. Dawn (小光) was voiced by 林美秀 Lín Měixiù, who was also the voice actress of Misty (小霞) during the AG Series, Drew (小瞬), and Iris (艾莉絲).

Brock (小剛) was mainly voiced by 于正昇 Yú Zhèngshēng, who is currently voicing Cilan (天桐) and Trip (修帝). During the original series, Brock was voiced by 符爽 Fú Shuǎng (who also voiced Tracey (小建)) and 梁興昌 Liáng Xìngchāng. Max (小勝) is voiced by 詹雅菁 Zhān Yǎjīng, who currently voice Jessie (武藏) and also voiced Barry (阿馴), Bianca (白露), Burgundy (赤霞珠) and Georgia (藍葛雷). James (小次郎) is currently voiced by 吳東原 Wú Dōngyuán. Paul (真司) was voiced by 李世揚 Li Shìyáng.

Hong Kong

In the Cantonese dub, Ash Ketchum is currently voiced by 陳凱婷 Chàhn Hóitìhng. He was previous voiced by 盧素娟 Lòuh Sougyūn before passing away in 2006. Jessie is voiced by 黃麗芳 Wòhng Laihfōng. James was voiced by 黎偉明 Làih Wáihmìhng, before being replaced by 陳卓智 Chàhn Jeukji. Meowth is voiced by 梁偉德 Lèuhng Wáihdāk.

Misty was voiced by 梁少霞 Lèuhng Síuhàh. May was voiced 朱妙蘭 Jyū Miuhlàahn before being replaced by 張頌欣 Jēung Juhngyān. Dawn was voiced by 楊善諭 Yèuhng Sihnyuh during the early part of the Diamond and Pearl series, 劉惠雲 Làuh Waihwàhn in the latter part, and 鄭麗麗 Jehng Laihlaih in the tenth movie.

Brock was voiced by 李錦綸 Léih Gámlèuhn in the original series, 劉奕希 Làuh Yihkhēi sometime in the Advanced Generation series, and 何承駿 Hòh Sìhngjeun as of the Diamond and Pearl series. Tracey is voiced by 陳卓智 Chàhn Jeukji, 黎景全 Làih Gíngchyùhn and 曹啟謙 Chòuh Káihīm. Max was voiced by 陸惠玲 Luhk Waihlìhng.

Gary (小茂) and Drew were voiced by 林丹鳳 Làhm Dāanfuhng. Harley (哈利) was voiced by 伍博民 Ngh Bokmàhn. Paul is again voiced by 曹啟謙 Chòuh Káihīm. Zoey (小望) and Kenny (健悟) are both voiced by 陳琴雲 Chàhn Kàhmwàhn. Barry is voiced by 胡家豪 Wùh Gāhòuh, while Ursula is voiced by 羅杏芝 Lòh Hahngjī.

Mainland China

In the new mainland dub, Ash Ketchum is voiced by 王小燕 Wáng Xiǎoyàn. Dawn is voiced by 纪元 Jì Yuán, while Brock is voiced by 赵震 Zhào Zhèn. Team Rocket's Jessie, James and Meowth are voiced by 金燕 Jīn Yàn, 郭盛 Guō Shèng and 王晨光 Wáng Chénguāng, respectively.

Distribution

Pro-Insight International Co., Ltd. (博英社國際股份有限公司) mainly distributes anime- and movie-related merchandise such as toys and DVD sets in Taiwan.

Pokémon merchandise

Pokémon manga

Pokémon Adventures (Traditional Mandarin: 神奇寶貝特別篇, Simplified Mandarin: 神奇宝贝特别篇, 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 Chingwin 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). The renaming of the Jilin version of the manga to 精灵宝可梦特别篇 started from the DP chapter.

In Taiwan, Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure! (神奇寶貝 鑽石·珍珠篇), Pokémon Pocket Monsters 神奇寶貝 and its sequels, as well as several movie manga adaptations, have also been translated into Chinese. All of them are translated by Chingwin Publishing Group. Other mangas such as The Electric Tale of Pikachu (電擊皮卡丘), Magical Pokémon Journey (皮卡丘大冒險 我愛PiPiPi), and Pokémon Zensho (漫畫版 神奇寶貝全書) have also been translated into Chinese as well.

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: Golden Boys (神奇宝贝金银：金色少年) have also been translated as well.

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, six sets have been released with the latest being 蓋歐卡‧固拉多.

External links

Taiwan

• My-cartoon
  • Official anime website
  • Official BW anime website
• Ching-win
• Funbox
• Battrio

Mainland China

• DynamicMedia
• Longman

Hong Kong

• TVB Jade
• JFL Trading

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