Anime
The anime series was produced by Toei Animation, and while it followed the manga, there were a number of liberties taken with the storyline, particularly towards the end of the series. The anime was a success in Japan, spawning two feature films and a good deal of merchandise. However, the series ended in March 2006, after 150 episodes. The story did not have much of a conclusion, as the manga was still ongoing at the time. While part of the problem involved the writer, Makoto Raiku, breaking his hand, preventing him from drawing for two to three months, it was further compounded with the animation studio catching up with the artist and another anime series, Digimon Savers, scheduled for that time slot starting in April. These lead to Toei choosing to create their own ending with the final episodes, creating their own battles and scenarios for the end of this arc as well as making adaptations to certain things already introduced by Raiku in the chapters that were not animated, both prior and after their cutoff point. While some plot points and specific spells remained the same, others would bear a remarkable difference between Toei's interpretation and Raiku's version, particularly those done by the mangaka after the anime's end.
For the first season, the eyecatcher between commercial breaks would show Zatch riding on Ponygon through a field and then crashing into the camera, and then it would show Zatch being chased around the park by Naomi, and then Naomi crashing into the camera. The second season had two more eye-catchers. The first was Tia chasing Zatch around the park, and then the second being Suzy walking around town, running into Wife and Folgore. The third season continued the second season eye-catchers until episode 108. From episode 108 and on, Toei removed the eye-catchers, but added instead a cold opening to the beginning of each episode and a scene at the end of each episode with two characters having their hair styles swapped.
When the anime was adapted into English, it was adapted to a tone that would be considered more kid-friendly to American audiences. Some names were changed, shortened, or Americanized, Zatch's tendency to run around naked was altered by giving him a pair of boxers, and Folgore's signature song, "Chichi wo Moge" (lit. "Grope the Breasts" wink was changed to "Hey Hey Let's Dance All Day". Weapons were made to appear as toys, often by making them glow, or sometimes changed to water guns. All blood was erased, all of the jokes centered around sexual innuendo (namely Big Boing) were censored, the swear words in the show were changed to phrases such as "Oh no!" or "Darn!", and moments of violence were covered with brief splashes of color. While most of the music in the English dub is brand new, there have been certain occasions where the original Japanese soundtrack has been used. Episode 14 of the English dub even used all of the background music from the original version of it. The original music for the episode title theme was used in that episode.
The dubbed version of the anime is no longer showing on Toonami at the moment, last showing episode 77 on January 20, 2007. Earlier episodes can be seen on Cartoon Network's online broadband service, Toonami Jetstream, though it is unknown as of yet if the show will surprass the episodes that have aired so far on Toonami or not. However, the manga editions will still be published in English every two months. Viz has announced at the 2007 Anime Expo that the English dub of the anime will return to television eventually, although no arrangements have been made between Viz and Cartoon Network. Episode 78 of the dub aired on YTV in Canada in July 2007. Season 3 of the English dub (beginning at episode 79) began airing starting in September 2007, but after episode 82 in October 2007, it went on hiatus until airing more episodes on most Fridays starting on May 30, 2008 with episode 83.
Season 1 of the English dub was released on DVD by Viz Media. All the DVDs show the edited TV Version only, so there are no Uncut DVDs. A toy line was also made by Mattel shortly after the show was dubbed.
[edit] Writing style of the anime
Pam Gelman of Common Sense Media posted a review of the American English language version of Zatch Bell! on Go.com. Gelman describes Zatch Bell! as differentiating itself from other anime due to "focus on relationships and the ability to trust a partner." [3]
[edit] Episodes and chapters
See List of Zatch Bell! episodes
See List of Zatch Bell! chapters
[edit] Theme songs
Japan (Konjiki no Gash Bell!!)
Openings
カサブタ / Kasabuta / "Scab" by Hidenori Chiwata (Episodes: 1-50)
君にこの声が届きますように / Kimi ni Kono Koe ga Todokimasu yō ni / "So That This Voice Can Reach You" by Takayoshi Tanimoto (Episodes: 51-100)
見えない翼 / Mienai Tsubasa / "Invisible Wings" by Takayoshi Tanimoto (Episodes: 101-150)
Endings
"PERSONAL" by Aya Ueto (Episodes: 1-30)
"STARS ~you don't have to worry about tomorrow~" by KING (Episodes: 31-5 cool
つよがり / Tsuyogari / "A Bluff" by Eri Kitamura (Episodes: 59-75)
イデア / "Idea" by Tsukiko Amano (76-100)
今日より明日は / Kyou yori Ashita wa / "Tomorrow more so than Today" by Echiura (Episodes: 101-125)
★遊FEVER 2005★ / "★Aso FEVER 2005★" by Tomoe Shinohara (Episodes: 126-149)
カサブタ / Kasabuta / "Scab" by Hidenori Chiwata (Episode: 150)
North America (Zatch Bell!)
Openings
(1-52) "Zatch Bell! Theme" by Thorsten Laewe and Greg Prestopino
(53-) "Follow the Light" by Thorsten Laewe and Greg Prestopino
Endings
(1-52, 71-74) "Zatch Bell! Theme (Instrumental)" by Thorsten Laewe
(53-70, 75-) "Follow the Light (Instrumental)" by Thorsten Laewe
[edit] Cast
Main article: List of Zatch Bell! cast members
[edit] See also
List of Zatch Bell! video games - List of video games based on the series
[edit] References
^ "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved on 2007-08-19.
^ "Origins Creator Q&A." Zatch Bell.
^ "TV Review: Zatch Bell," Common Sense Media on Go.com
[edit] External links
English
Official English Zatch Bell! website
Zatch Bell page at VIZ.com
Zatch Bell! at TV.com
GASH!! Fan Site
Japanese
Shonen Sunday Konjiki no Gash Bell!! website
Toei Konjiki no Gash Bell!! website
Fuji TV “Konjiki no Gash Bell!! website
[show]v • d • eZatch Bell! by Makoto Raiku
Franchise Chapters • Episodes • Video games • Konjiki no Gash Bell!! Movie 1: Unlisted Demon 101 • Konjiki no Gash Bell!! Movie 2: Attack of the Mecha-Vulcan • Cast • Mamodo Fight
Characters
Protagonists Zatch Bell and Kiyo Takamine • Brago and Sherry Belmont • Tia and Megumi Oumi • Ponygon and Kafk Sunbeam • Kanchomé and Parco Folgore • Suzy Mizuno • Wonrei and Li-en • Kido and Dr. Riddles • Purio and Lupa • Ancient Mamodo • Minor characters
Antagonists Zofis and Koko • Zeno and Dufort • Kiees and Berun • Clear Note and Vino
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zatch_Bell%21"
Categories: Manga series | Anime series | 2003 television series debuts | 2006 television series endings | Anime of 2003 | Collectible card games | Comedy anime and manga | Creature anime and manga | Fantasy anime and manga | Shōnen | Supernatural anime and manga | Viz Media manga | Winner of Shogakukan Manga Award (Shōnen) | YTV shows | Zatch Bell!
View User's Journal
~ Kazekage Sasori ~
 |
