{"id":55670,"date":"2026-01-09T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=55670"},"modified":"2026-01-09T14:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T05:12:23","slug":"pokemon-the-first-movies-english-dub-criticized-in-japan-30-years-later-for-heavily-altered-dialogue-that-compromises-core-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/pokemon-the-first-movies-english-dub-criticized-in-japan-30-years-later-for-heavily-altered-dialogue-that-compromises-core-themes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pok\u00e9mon: The First Movie\u2019s English dub criticized in Japan 30 years later for heavily altered dialogue\u00a0that compromises core themes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Though some English fans might know\u00a0Pok\u00e9mon: The First Movie<\/strong>\u2019s script by heart, one Japanese fan noticed some stark differences between the film\u2019s\u00a0original\u00a0Japanese\u00a0lines\u00a0and English\u00a0dub, particularly\u00a0with regard to\u00a0how the Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0Mewtwo\u00a0is\u00a0portrayed.\u00a0An\u00a0X post highlighting\u00a0the character\u2019s completely\u00a0re-written lines has since gone viral, prompting\u00a0surprise and criticism from Japanese\u00a0Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0fans almost\u00a030 years after the film\u2019s premiere.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the English version\u00a0paints\u00a0Mewtwo\u00a0as a straight-up evil\u00a0Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0hellbent on ruling the world, the original Japanese version\u00a0represents\u00a0him\u00a0with more nuance,\u00a0as a creature who is resentful toward\u00a0the nature of his creation.\u00a0As user TeshimaKairei explains<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve\u00a0only just learnt that the American version of\u00a0Pok\u00e9mon: The First Movie\u00a0has had its dialogue heavily altered. The changes to\u00a0a\u00a0famous scene\u00a0featuring\u00a0Mewtwo\u00a0are\u00a0as follows:\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0

Japanese version:<\/strong> “Who asked to be born?! Who wished for me to be\u00a0created?!\u00a0I resent everything that brought me into this world. Therefore, this is neither an attack nor a declaration of war, but a counterattack against you who created me!”<\/em>\u00a0

North American version: <\/strong>“Those who defy me shall be wiped from this\u00a0Earth! I warn you now. The world shall soon become the kingdom of\u00a0Mewtwo!”<\/em>

The North American version had its script\u00a0almost entirely\u00a0rewritten, portraying\u00a0Mewtwo\u00a0as an evil Pok\u00e9mon scheming for world domination\u00a0using\u00a0its\u00a0power.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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