Censorship of language and violence in DVD/Blu-ray releases

[Orochimaru]

I recently watched Deadman Wonderland and noticed that some of the violence was censored and even some of the language was bleeped out. I know that when nudity is censored for broadcast, it's usually uncensored in the DVD version. Is this true for violence and language as well?

(I would assume so, but I've watched some shows (higurashi, umineko, Ga Rei Zero) long after they aired and only been able to find censored versions, so I wanted to make sure.)

[MelancholicMariya]

Sometimes, for violence, that's just the way it's animated, and sometimes it is actually censored.

Recently in the release of the fourth volume of Madoka Magica a certain Magical Girl cuts off the head of a silhouette looking witch. In the broadcast there was no blood at all, it didn't come off as all that violent, at most you saw the silhouette of blood particles at one point. In the BD/DVD version SHAFT added a stream of blood coming from the witches head, it was kind of unexpected.

Another good example is Bakemonogatari. In a certain episode a girl is getting attacked by snakes and the male leads arm just, from what I remember, crack and it cuts to him with blood streaming out of his arm.

Again, in Bakemonogatari there was a certain scene where an attacker broke the male leads arm and the screen was replaced with jump cuts to the word BREAK and something like LINE MISSING on a coloured background but you actually see the arm/hand as it's broken in the BD/DVD release. Though this is SHAFT we're talking about and that may of just been them being arty.

I just think it depends on what channel you're broadcasting on? I mean Baccano! wasn't censored at all during it's broadcast run.

For language, I've never really heard much of anything bleeped. In Deadman Wonderland it was just to make you think "Oh god what did he do to her?" not actual censorship. Panty and Stocking was completely uncensored and bleeped the word "one" during the D City Rock song because... I don't know, Gainax?

[Draneor]

Another example I can think of is Higurashi, which used shadows to block parts of certain scenes. These were removed for the DVD release. Personally, I preferred the broadcast version.

I'm not aware of language ever being censored in a Japanese release, apart from playful references to other shows (e.g., Hayate no Gotoku). For the most part, anime doesn't use the words you can't say (like om*nko). No idea whether censoring cursing is common for dub tracks.

Though this is SHAFT we're talking about and that may of just been them being arty.

By "arty," do you mean cheap and low budget? It was pretty apparent to me that they took liberal short cuts with the original Nadeko arc.

[Fencedude]

Though this is SHAFT we're talking about and that may of just been them being arty.

By "arty," do you mean cheap and low budget? It was pretty apparent to me that they took liberal short cuts with the original Nadeko arc.

Thats time, not budget constraints. Considering that they did go back and fix it, which can't be cheaper than just doing it right the first time.

[MelancholicMariya]

By "arty," do you mean cheap and low budget? It was pretty apparent to me that they took liberal short cuts with the original Nadeko arc.

Some of it was clearly unfinished, but the final product which was on the BD looked very good. The prior episode to the end of the Nadeko arc was just them being stylistic.

[Draneor]

Thats time, not budget constraints. Considering that they did go back and fix it, which can't be cheaper than just doing it right the first time.

Time is related to budget though. I'd be surprised if higher budgets didn't lead to more time to animate and to more frames overall (given that labor is a cost). As far as fixing it goes, it's not uncommon and releasing an imperfect product would, to me, seem to go against the Japanese idea of quality. Shaft has a lot of interesting tricks to cut corners, but they're still do it.

Some of it was clearly unfinished, but the final product which was on the BD looked very good. The prior episode to the end of the Nadeko arc was just them being stylistic.

I suppose our disagreement is I think they're largely "stylistic" because they cut corners. Granted, you can do it in an interesting way.

[Orochimaru]

Sometimes, for violence, that's just the way it's animated, and sometimes it is actually censored.

I'm talking mostly about really blatant censorship, like pixilation, or the wounds just being covered by black circles or something like in Ga Rei Zero.

For language, I've never really heard much of anything bleeped. In Deadman Wonderland it was just to make you think "Oh god what did he do to her?" not actual censorship.

I'm not really sure what you're referring to here. I think it happened multiple times in the series, but the main one I remember is when Ganta was fighting Minatsuki and they bleeped out some obscene things she said.

[Orochimaru]

Another example I can think of is Higurashi

I remember at least one example of language "censorship" in Higurashi. It was in one of the previews or omakes (I forgot which exactly, it's been a while since I watched it) for the second season. Rika said something that was bleeped. I think it was translated as "f*ck Hanyuu" in the translation I watched. Not sure if it was a joke or real censorship.

No idea whether censoring cursing is common for dub tracks.

It's not. I was referring to the original language.

[Draneor]

Not sure if it was a joke or real censorship.

I'd assume it was done for a joke.

It's not. I was referring to the original language.

Well, there are certain words that are censored even in doujinshi. Similar to how you wrote "f*ck" instead of "fuck."However, they almost never occur in anime. I think seeing stuff like g****m is more common though.

[MelancholicMariya]

I'm not really sure what you're referring to here. I think it happened multiple times in the series, but the main one I remember is when Ganta was fighting Minatsuki and they bleeped out some obscene things she said.

I just recall the scene where Ganta is in court and there's a recording saying he'd rape or skullfuck her before he killed her (at least in the subs I watched) and it was bleeped.

[something]

I just recall the scene where Ganta is in court and there's a recording saying he'd rape or skullfuck her before he killed her (at least in the subs I watched) and it was bleeped.
Completely bleeped or just partly? If it's completely bleeped then the subbers either made something up (bad!) or filled the line in from the full sentence in the manga or whatever. I saw the latter done a lot with Seitokai Yakuindomo, which has loads of censored (sex-related) dialogue.

All or almost all dialogue censorship I've encountered in anime has been of the "parody censored for a joke" or "sex talk censored for a joke" variety. Off the top of my head I can't think of any dialogue in shows I've watched that was clearly censored for broadcast standards. Though I suppose some of the sex jokes would count, and the humorous approach was a way to make the best of the situation, or something.

[MelancholicMariya]

I just recall the scene where Ganta is in court and there's a recording saying he'd rape or skullfuck her before he killed her (at least in the subs I watched) and it was bleeped.
Completely bleeped or just partly? If it's completely bleeped then the subbers either made something up (bad!) or filled the line in from the full sentence in the manga or whatever. I saw the latter done a lot with Seitokai Yakuindomo, which has loads of censored (sex-related) dialogue.

All or almost all dialogue censorship I've encountered in anime has been of the "parody censored for a joke" or "sex talk censored for a joke" variety. Off the top of my head I can't think of any dialogue in shows I've watched that was clearly censored for broadcast standards. Though I suppose some of the sex jokes would count, and the humorous approach was a way to make the best of the situation, or something.

Partly, I believe. In the subs the words were asterisked like "f**k". It bleeped like two or three times but you could basically make out what he was saying via the subtitles.

It certainly bleeped all of the curse words though. I think it even bleeped rape iirc as I recall seeing "r**e" and was like "what on earth is that?" until it clicked in my head.

[Orochimaru]

I'm not really sure what you're referring to here. I think it happened multiple times in the series, but the main one I remember is when Ganta was fighting Minatsuki and they bleeped out some obscene things she said.

I just recall the scene where Ganta is in court and there's a recording saying he'd rape or skullfuck her before he killed her (at least in the subs I watched) and it was bleeped.

Ah, yes, I forgot about that.

[Orochimaru]

All or almost all dialogue censorship I've encountered in anime has been of the "parody censored for a joke" or "sex talk censored for a joke" variety. Off the top of my head I can't think of any dialogue in shows I've watched that was clearly censored for broadcast standards. Though I suppose some of the sex jokes would count, and the humorous approach was a way to make the best of the situation, or something.

I can't be totally sure, but in Deadman Wonderland it didn't seem like a joke. Do you know of any examples of dialogue that was censored for the broadcast but not the DVD release? Or should I just assume it will be on the DVDs as well?

[MelancholicMariya]

All or almost all dialogue censorship I've encountered in anime has been of the "parody censored for a joke" or "sex talk censored for a joke" variety. Off the top of my head I can't think of any dialogue in shows I've watched that was clearly censored for broadcast standards. Though I suppose some of the sex jokes would count, and the humorous approach was a way to make the best of the situation, or something.

I can't be totally sure, but in Deadman Wonderland it didn't seem like a joke. Do you know of any examples of dialogue that was censored for the broadcast but not the DVD release? Or should I just assume it will be on the DVDs as well?

Almost one bought Deadman Wonderland so it's hard to give you a good answer. Maybe someone here bought it. I doubt it though.

[Orochimaru]

All or almost all dialogue censorship I've encountered in anime has been of the "parody censored for a joke" or "sex talk censored for a joke" variety. Off the top of my head I can't think of any dialogue in shows I've watched that was clearly censored for broadcast standards. Though I suppose some of the sex jokes would count, and the humorous approach was a way to make the best of the situation, or something.

I can't be totally sure, but in Deadman Wonderland it didn't seem like a joke. Do you know of any examples of dialogue that was censored for the broadcast but not the DVD release? Or should I just assume it will be on the DVDs as well?

Almost one bought Deadman Wonderland so it's hard to give you a good answer. Maybe someone here bought it. I doubt it though.

Ok. I'm not really worried about that show in particular, it's just the best, most recent example I can think of. I was mostly just wondering in general if dialogue censorship is ever removed for home video releases.

Also, just to be clear- obvious censorship of violence, such as pixillation or black bars covering injuries, probably won't be on home video releases, right?

[something]

I can't be totally sure, but in Deadman Wonderland it didn't seem like a joke.
Oh. I'm sure it wasn't. I only watched one episode but it didn't strike me as a comedic show. :sd:

What might be instructive is finding out is the same censorship is present on all sources. Just like visual censorship can vary by TV station (some stations show tits, most don't), it may be that Deadman dialogue was censored for one TV station but not another.

If it was uncensored in any of the broadcasts, it'll be uncensored on DVD. If it wasn't, then there's no way to tell.

Also, just to be clear- obvious censorship of violence, such as pixillation or black bars covering injuries, probably won't be on home video releases, right?
Same as above, the only way to know is to see it. Sexual fanservice censorship is generally removed as long as it's not genitalia, in which case it may not have even been drawn in the first place. Violence censorship will often be loosened for home video, but the extent to which it will be varies.

But there's no hard and fast rule either way. It's entirely on a case by case basis, not just on what they think they can get away with but what they think is appropriate, creatively.

[Draneor]

Same as above, the only way to know is to see it. Sexual fanservice censorship is generally removed as long as it's not genitalia, in which case it may not have even been drawn in the first place.

There are cases where it's only partially removed, like the recent second volume of Hidan no Aria. And if I recall correctly, B Gata H Kei's censorship removal revealed several scenes that called into question why it was censored in the first place. But otherwise, yeah.

[Orochimaru]

I can't be totally sure, but in Deadman Wonderland it didn't seem like a joke.
Oh. I'm sure it wasn't. I only watched one episode but it didn't strike me as a comedic show. :sd:

What might be instructive is finding out is the same censorship is present on all sources. Just like visual censorship can vary by TV station (some stations show tits, most don't), it may be that Deadman dialogue was censored for one TV station but not another.

If it was uncensored in any of the broadcasts, it'll be uncensored on DVD. If it wasn't, then there's no way to tell.

Also, just to be clear- obvious censorship of violence, such as pixillation or black bars covering injuries, probably won't be on home video releases, right?
Same as above, the only way to know is to see it. Sexual fanservice censorship is generally removed as long as it's not genitalia, in which case it may not have even been drawn in the first place. Violence censorship will often be loosened for home video, but the extent to which it will be varies.

But there's no hard and fast rule either way. It's entirely on a case by case basis, not just on what they think they can get away with but what they think is appropriate, creatively.

Alright. Thanks for your help.

I guess I'll find out about Deadman Wonderland eventually, since I'll probably buy an r1 release of it eventually. It's disappointing to know that this type of censorship isn't removed for the DVD release as a matter of course, though.

[something]

It's disappointing to know that this type of censorship isn't removed for the DVD release as a matter of course, though.
I think it depends a lot on how censorship is defined. If censorship is obscuring what is otherwise clearly there, that's generally removed. If censorship is intentionally choosing not to show something in the first place, i.e. the material was never intended to be seen and indeed probably wasn't even drawn, that would be different. Most cases of what seems like "censorship" making it through to home video is undoubtedly in the second group.

[Orochimaru]

It's disappointing to know that this type of censorship isn't removed for the DVD release as a matter of course, though.
I think it depends a lot on how censorship is defined. If censorship is obscuring what is otherwise clearly there, that's generally removed. If censorship is intentionally choosing not to show something in the first place, i.e. the material was never intended to be seen and indeed probably wasn't even drawn, that would be different. Most cases of what seems like "censorship" making it through to home video is undoubtedly in the second group.

That's good to hear. I'm not complaining about not seeing every drop of blood that might be present in a situation, but stuff like this is really annoying.

http://shinmaru.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/severedhedlol.jpg
http://evapilot.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/horriblesubs-deadman-wonderland-09-720p-mkv_snapshot_15-42_2011-07-15_00-14-54.jpg

(I don't know how to imbed links in text)

[Draneor]

That's good to hear. I'm not complaining about not seeing every drop of blood that might be present in a situation, but stuff like this is really annoying.

That's the broadcast version, isn't it? Presumably ripped from some stream.

[Orochimaru]

That's good to hear. I'm not complaining about not seeing every drop of blood that might be present in a situation, but stuff like this is really annoying.

That's the broadcast version, isn't it? Presumably ripped from some stream.

I don't know where those are ripped from, but yeah probably. I watched it on cr and it looked the same.

[Draneor]

I don't know where those are ripped from, but yeah probably. I watched it on cr and it looked the same.

Yeah. Those look like after shadows which are typically removed. But to be sure, I recommend checking FUNi's preview streams once they post it.