That rumor about the banned episodes being dubbed

[Dogasu]

So it seems like it's a widely accepted belief that the two banned Kanto episodes, "The Legend of Dratini" and "Electric Soldier Porygon," were dubbed into English. The story goes that one of the voice actors said, in an interview, that they recorded the episodes but that they were obviously never released. So, in theory, there's an English version on a tape or on someone's hard drive somewhere that's never been released.

However, it doesn't seem like anyone can provide a source for this supposed confirmation. The most I've been able to find is "an interview," but nobody seems to be able to state where that interview came from. Was it a magazine interview? A blog? A MySpace comment? Who said it? When? Why hasn't anyone been able to provide any links?

Is this just one of those "a friend of a friend told me"-type rumors, or is there actually something to this?

 

[Delrihuzz]

I once read Maddie Blaustein confirmed the "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode was dubbed and the flashes toned down. But that's all I know of it.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

I think I recalled once finding a Tips&Tricks issue that dealt with the Porygon episode. I haven't read it completely (actually, I didn't even buy it, and there's no chance at my trying to find it again.), but I do know that it was in the Japanese section (you know, the section relating to stuff in Japan or antique items.). I'm not sure if it mentioned the interview or not.

 

[GameCodeTrainer]

'The Legend of Dratini'->I know it's been dubbed. Got it somewhere, don't remember.

'Electric Soldier Porygon'->Dubbed too, toned down the flashes, read it on some other forum.

These episodes of course has never been release, but who know, they may release it in the future, if not, then they will forever be stored on a hardrive by one of the producers of the Anime or somethin'.

 

[Leonardo10]

They were dubbed, just never shown on tv.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

Yeah, Maddie had mentioned that in her interview thread on Serebii. But you'd have to sort through about two years ago to find it.

 

[Dogasu]

I once read Maddie Blaustein confirmed the "Electric Soldier Porygon" episode was dubbed and the flashes toned down. But that's all I know of it.

You wouldn't happen to remember when and where she said that, would you?

I think I recalled once finding a Tips&Tricks issue that dealt with the Porygon episode.

Do you remember if it talked about an English version of the episode existing? Or around what year the issue in question came out?

'The Legend of Dratini'->I know it's been dubbed.

How?

'Electric Soldier Porygon'->Dubbed too, toned down the flashes, read it on some other forum.

You do realize that "read it on some other forum" is not what I'm looking for here, right?

They were dubbed, just never shown on tv.

*sigh* That's not even the least bit helpful.

Yeah, Maddie had mentioned that in her interview thread on Serebii. But you'd have to sort through about two years ago to find it.

The rumors that these episodes had been dubbed predate those threads by many years, though.

 

[Delrihuzz]

I would have to mirror Blackjack's post. I'm 99% sure I read it on Serebii's forum. I went to search on meta search engines, but hardly anything comes up.
I only found one mention of 4Kids having the intention of dubbing the episode but it was still up in the air whether the Japanese government would allow them to.

 

[Weedle Mchairybug]

Do you remember if it talked about an English version of the episode existing? Or around what year the issue in question came out?

First part, no, but I do know that it was around 2006 in the summer time.

 

[Dogasu]

I would have to mirror Blackjack's post. I'm 99% sure I read it on Serebii's forum.

But, like I said, this rumor about the episodes being dubbed was out long before that thread.

 

[Delrihuzz]

I could try and ask Jimmy Zoppi via Facebook whether he knows? He might have guest voiced in either.

Edit: strangely, BP makes mention of these episodes in fact being dubbed

 

[Dogasu]

Yeah, but Bulbapedia doesn't list sources.

I found some posts, by the way.

http://www.serebiiforums.com/showpost.php?p=3281064&postcount=712

http://www.serebiiforums.com/showpost.php?p=3309430&postcount=731

I kind of suspect she was misremembering things, though. She stated several times in that thread, for example, that she started voicing Meowth in Episode 029 when most other sources state that she started in Episode 32.

 

[Leonardo10]

I could try and ask Jimmy Zoppi via Facebook whether he knows? He might have guest voiced in either.

Edit: strangely, BP makes mention of these episodes in fact being dubbed

Like I said, they have been dubbed. You have to look hard to find them though

 

[Dogasu]

And we should take your word for it because...?

So far, neither you nor anybody else has provided any proof that English versions of these episodes exist.

 

[Leonardo10]

And we should take your word for it because...?

So far, neither you nor anybody else has provided any proof that English versions of these episodes exist.

Look for them mate. Some of us have better things to do with our time.

 

[Stranger]

Look for them mate. Some of us have better things to do with our time.

Like posting nonsense answers in threads with legitimate questions.

 

[Clod]

Given the infamy of Electric Soldier Porygon, I don't think something like that would be misremembered... but even still, she didn't mention the other banned episodes from the two posts you found, so I guess the best idea would be to try to contact one of the other voice actors again.

So, in theory, there's an English version on a tape or on someone's hard drive somewhere that's never been released.

This may not be the case; they could have recorded the voice work without actually touching the episode, maybe.

 

[Clod]

Well I sent Eric Stuart an email, and he responded almost immediately, but it isn't certain. And at the same time, it does point to the current information being incorrect:

Spoiler

It's possible he confused Electric Soldier Porygon with Holiday at Aopulco since he says he thought it aired once.. but he does says that Legend of Dratini was never dubbed.

 

[Cybersai]

Yeah, sounds like he's referring to the "Beauty and the Beach" episode, which was only aired like once or twice on KidsWb and then never again.

 

[Dogasu]

I dunno...part of me doesn't think the voice actors are going to be able to solve this one for us since we're basically asking them if they remember dubbing a specific episode they would have dubbed ten years ago. It would be crazy if they didn't mis-remember things or get things mixed up; some of these people have done thousands of episodes of various TV shows over the years.

At the same time, though, I wouldn't know who else to ask.

Is there anyone else we can contact?