OK, we here at Japanator like to poke fun at the ineptitude that various western companies show when dealing with various beloved exports from Japan. Some of us have a thing for the original, untouched and unedited creations, even if one could argue that those changes improve upon, or at least help to illuminate, potential cultural misunderstandings. We like to think that it's those very differences that make the exchange worthwhile and interesting.

Obviously, huge companies like, oh, let's say Disney, have a slightly different point of view. Sure, there might be some small part of them deep down that really does want to spread the wonderfulness of Miyazaki and Ghibli works around the globe, but really they want to make sure to cash in on every market available. That means changing and co-opting some of the original content so as to not scare away those who fear change and new things. OK, fine. Whatever. Bidness is bidness.

But some things just should not happen. Things like the song in the above video. That's the new American version of the original Ponyo theme. The video does a great job of pointing out the differences...not that you'll really need them pointed out. Once you hear the rockin' beat and the Auto Tuned vocals, I think you'll get the idea. To be fair, it sounds like this version of the song is not actually in the film. Nevertheless, I can't be the only one who thinks that this goes against everything else that the movie stands for, namely quiet, calm, deliberate pacing and a soothing, relaxing wa. Something to maybe get the kids to quiet down with instead of turning them into shrieking mini-banshees.

I don't know. Maybe I'm just reading way too much into this. What do you, our much more rational readers, think?

[via Electro Lemon]