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Pokemon around the World

If you lived in the United States during the late 90s and early 2000s, then you've almost certainly experienced the Pokemon phenomenon for what it was. Pokemon was everywhere; you couldn't avoid it! Japan experienced a similar fever as well, and they had the advantage of having the games before us. However, if you've ever wanted to know just how well Pokemon was treated outside of these two nations, then this is the page for you.

Europe: The Pokemon games and anime are translated into German and French. The anime is also available in plenty of other European languages as well, being dubbed in Iberian Spanish, Iberian Portuguese, Dutch, Catalan (Valencian), Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Croatian, and so on.

In the United Kingdom, the Pokemon games are sold (at a later time than in the US). In early 2000, there was a crime wave related to Pokemon cards. Children attacked each other for cards. In one case, a store was robbed and in another, a boy was robbed at knifepoint by another boy for Pokemon cards. Pokemon were very popular in the UK, and the media played on this to pressure officials to not advertise so strongly.

In December of 2000, the Pokemon anime was temporarily banned in Turkey after a girl fell off a balcony because she believed she was a Pokemon. Pokemon: The First Movie has been dubbed in Turkish

Latin America: The Pokemon anime is translated into Spanish and Portuguese seperate of the Spain and Portugal translations. The most recent series, Diamond and Pearl, is being translated. Pokemon merchandise in Latin America is also seperate from Spain's. The Pokemon games are sold in Latin America.

Russia: In November of 2002, the Russian Ministry of Education attempted to ban the Pokemon franchise. There aren't any news pieces about the outcome, but I've heard here and there that Pokemon is still available in Russia. The Pokemon anime (first season, at least) was dubbed into Russian.

Middle East: Pokemon was banned in March of 2001 in Saudi Arabia, for "promoting non-Islamic values", such as "gambling, as well as using religious imagery from Christianity, Zionism, and Free-Masonry". I am completely shocked. I've been a Pokemon fan for eight years now, and never have I noticed any Christian, Zionist, or Free-masonic symbolism! I am clearly a failure as a fan.

A fatwa (religious ruling) was issued in the United Arab Emirates against Pokemon, though it is technically not illegal to play.

The show was also banned in Kuwait, once again for promoting Zionist values. Once again, this proves just how much I fail as a Pokemon fan. I mean, these people who have probably never looked at the games can suddenly see evidence of Zionism in it, yet try as I may, I cannot see the dastardly propapaganda. Guess I'll have to go back to POKEMON CAMP to complete the indoctrination~!

Pokemon was not banned in Egypt, where it continued to play for a while longer. There was, however, some propaganda in newspapers against it. Pokemon cards were available in potato chip packages, showing that NoA has some serious catching-up to do if they want to have merchandising that is literally everywhere.

Asia: In China, the Pokemon anime is translated into Mandarin and Cantonese (for Hong Kong). In September of 2006, the Republic of China forbid foreign cartoons to show on TV during prime-time hours, a ban which includes Pokemon.

In India, the Pokemon anime was very popular (and translated into Hindi and supposedly Tamil), as was Pokemon merchandising. Indeed, the merchandising fad grew into a craze. The RSS, a Hindu revivalist organization in India, have declared Pokemon to be against Indian culture. The games are not as well-known since game consoles tend to be rather expensive.

Africa: In South Africa, the Pokemon games are sold.

Australia: The games are sold in Australia (though much later than in the US), but events are very infrequent. The anime is also shown in Australia.