Yu-Gi-Oh is a show that is notorious for the edits that 4Kids made to it, when it was localised
for Western audiences.
Amongst many censorship related changes, such as the removal of suggestive themes and violence,
there were also many other changes that 4kids would make, such as removing virtually any
instance of text from the footage - included even when the original text was in English.
Today Censored Gaming will be taken a look at some of these changes and more specifically,
focusing on the edits that were made to the character Téa Gardner.
Téa is one of Yugi's best friends and is one of the main characters throughout the
show's 224 episodes.
She is also the only female character within Yugi's circle of close friends.
So, without farther ado, here are 8 Ways 4Kids Changed Yu-Gi-Oh's Téa Gardner.
Number 1, Téa's name: Téa is not called Téa in the Japanese version.
Instead she goes by the name Anzu Mazaki.
Anzu's original name is of Japanese origin and it's likely that 4Kids were of the opinion
that something more Western would fit better.
As for the meaning behind the original name though, Anzu in Japanese means apricot and
Mazaki can be translated into "mask of truth".
Number 2, the time that Téa got mugged: Episode 22 contains a scene that 4Kids were
never going to allow in the English version of the show.
Whilst in the Western release, Téa gets confronted by a mugger who tells her to hand over all
of her money, in the Japanese version things are very different.
Here, the mugger can be seen with a camcorder, which he often uses to videotape Téa's skirt.
Additionally, whilst the Japanese version makes no direct mention of what the guy was
after, with him continuing to tape her skirt and saying that she best do what he wants
her to do, the taboo implication is rather clear.
The English version removes all shots of the camcorder and the footage that it was filming
and instead makes it very clear that he's only after her money.
Furthermore, in one shot Tea's skirt was even lengthened like so.
Number 3, Téa and the 'other Yugi' going on a date:
Téa and Yugi's romantic feelings weren't completely removed by 4kids, although they
did tone it down on numerous occasions - including the time that the pair went on a date.
The date occurs during episode 53 and was set up by Yugi to try and cheer his other
self up.
The English version however, never mentions that this was a "date" and it also removes
all elements of shyness from the two characters.
Instead, 4Kids rewrote the section so that it's all just about trying to help the other
Yugi "figure out his past".
Here's an example of how 4Kids altered the scene.
And continuing on with that notion is number 4, Téa's jealously towards Rebecca:
Again, this wasn't completely removed in the dub, but, 4Kids did sometimes tone this down
for Western audiences.
Rebecca is a young but highly competent duellist, who appears numerous times throughout the
show.
She has a huge crush on Yugi and will often shower him with affection and makes no secret
of her feelings.
Even in the English version, Téa will sometimes be shown getting annoyed by the attention
Yugi receives from her, however, in the Japanese version, her jealously was much more clear.
Take this scene, for example, which 4Kids decided to remove a whole section from...
Number 5, Téa needing to pee: It is clear that 4kids feels that characters
needing to pee is too inappropriate for Western audiences, as this is something that was removed
multiple times throughout the show.
One of the first times this was removed occurs during a scene with Téa and Tristan
on a boat
in episode 3.
Whilst in Japan, she was feeling uncomfortable due to needing to go to the toilet, in the
English version this was changed to her being cold.
Number 6, Téa's monsters: Whilst Téa doesn't duel that often throughout
the show, she is actually a pretty decent duellist herself and her deck revolves around
various female spellcaster and fairy types of monsters.
However, the types of cards that she uses were a big source of censorship over in the
West, with many of Yu-Gi-Oh's female monsters being altered overseas so that they are, for
example, dressed in more clothing.
This means that numerous of Téa's cards were affected.
Examples including: Fairy's Gift, which was given a dress over in the West, as well as
Elf's Light, which was again given extra clothing outside of Japan.
Number 7, the "rope" incident: All references to this scene from episode
28 were completely removed by 4Kids.
Téa, Tristan and Bakura must all climb a tall building via a rope and the boys insist
on Téa going first so that, if she falls, they will be able to catch her.
It's likely that this wasn't the only reason for them wanting her to go first though and
Téa pulls on her skirt nervously and, with a red face, tells them that there's no way
she's going first.
This whole section was cut out in the West.
Furthermore, when the group do eventually climb the tower, it is only in the Japanese
version where the boys are made to wear blindfolds to make sure there's no peeping.
And lastly number 8, the shower scene: During episode 12, Téa takes an outdoor shower
whilst the gang set up camp for the night and, perhaps unsurprisingly, 4Kids made a
few changes to this scene over in the West.
There were two changes made to the scene, the first of these is to some dialogue from
Mai and Joey...
The other change happens a little later, when Téa thinks she hears somebody outside.
Mai rushes in but can't find anything.
However, it is only in Japanese version where they suddenly hear another strange noise.
First up is the English version to compare it with...