Pokemon=HITLER

Here's part two.


Last time, I made the connection between Pokemon and the devil. This time I'll compare Pokemon with the next closest thing: Hitler.

Now, really  Pokemon's references or coincidences to Hitler have been banned in Western and European culture. So I had to dig up some Japanese content. There are three main references to Hitler. none, obviously, were anywhere near the time period of World War II. Japan was one of the Axis powers, being an ally of Germany and the country that America famously nuked to end the war with. The people who banned the  material stated that it was an obvious reference to Hitler and it would cause a lot of international tension had it gone through. It almost sounded as if Pokemon would cause World War III. It's one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever thought about, but evidently, there are a lot of people who feel this way, because it's been banned it most countries.

The first reference is the card "Koga's Ninja trick" part of the deck "Gym Expansions" released in 1999. The controversy is in the top left corner.

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As you can see, there is a very subtle symbol that appears very much like a swastika. It is safe to assume the Japanese did this on purpose. At the very least, they knew about it. So why would the card editors let this go through? Is it because they are still following the ways of the Nazis, as some people say?

Well, if you look at the swastika's history, it was originally a symbol intended for peace. This card, is in a way peaceful, as it protects a Pokemon that you currently have in play. In doing so, however, you throw another one into the pit. 

Japan does have good relations with Germany, but during that time period it was more due to trade. As a matter of fact, Germany hates Hitler for what he did to their country. In fact, this card is banned in Germany as well. It is hard to believe that Japan would idealize him if his own country and their ally didn't. 

Although the swastika is more linked to the Nazis than peace. Japan must know that, being a major role in WWII. Perhaps they thought that somehow the viewpoint has changed in other countries. Evidently, it did not.

The edited version of the card is here:

 The second and third Hitler references are both arbitrary in my opinion. Both involves the "Hail Hitler" salute.

The first instance is in the game with Registeel, an ancient golem that is know for being made of harder material than any metal, and is know for it's sky-high special defense stat.

Here is it's Japanese pose                                                                                 Here is it's international pose

To be fair, it is a lot like Hitler's pose. The arm is outstretched in a line with the palm facing down. Weather Pokemon designed it this way on purpose is something I can't tell you. However, I'll have to say probably not. For one, Registeel is nothing like Hitler. It's been buried in the ground for thousands of years and protecting the people of Hoenn or other sacred locations (in the movie). It should be noted that the main argument that it is a symbol for Hitler is that it is part of a trio (Regice Regirock) that represent the Axis powers (Japan Italy). The trio serves under a powerful but incompetent  legendary Pokemon called Regigigas. It's argued that Regigigas is the symbol for communism itself, as it is useless early, but dominating later in the battle. The ones who spoke out against the legendary golem trio stated that Pokemon was trying to promote communism and were implying that if Hitler had succeeded, he would be remember in the world as a hero, as opposed to a villain. But like anything else that these people claimed, there was no solid proof that it was fact and the Pokemon company merely settled for changing the pose to avoid any trouble.

We've gone through the game, we've gone through the card, now it's time to go through the show. In the Advanced Generation series, episode 13 dubbed "All things bright and Beautifly!" The infamous Team rocket makes what can be seen as another Hitler pose, in their fantasy of winning a contest.

 In Team Rocket's fantasy, Jesse (female in the red hair) is imagining that they have won a contest and become famous. She then believes that by winning a contest, she'll become famous and attract attention. She plans to use that attention to recruit members to the criminal organization Team Rocket and gain a promotion from her boss. In this scene, she along with her trusted partners James (purple-hair) and Meowth (the cat) are unifying all of her gathered recruits and rallying them to take over the world. This comparable to Hitler, obviously, because he was pretty much doing the same thing. He unified Germany and rallied to take over the world. 

Is it a stretch? Quite possibly. There have been many scenes in movies or TV shows, or even other cartoon that get away with this. And many of those scenes have a pose similar to Hitler's as well. But the fact that this was a cartoon from Japan, meant it had to be changed. Even though Team Rocket always gets thwarted and is considered a main antagonist of the series, there must be no reference to Hitler in anything they export overseas. Here is the edited picture: 

The differences are that James hand is tilted to the side, Jessie has both her hands raised and the recruits are just....there. The message of unification is still there, albeit not as strongly.

It is definitely questionable to say Pokemon is worshiping Hitler after only three pieces of evidence, none of which are very strong. But, the possibility is there. From reading literature, the ones who banned the content know they're a thousand ways to interpret anything. Some of the ones who made the decisions probably don't even feel that way themselves, but they understand the dangers of interpreting.Someone, somewhere may see the first picture and claim that it's Hitler. By, filtering all of that content out, it makes it a million times less likely that they will. It's really all based on the viewer.

Arnold Friend would be seen as a devil by a some people. That wouldn't stir up controversial like this would. It may even be the author's intent. However, many others see Arnold Friend as just some predator that happened to be there. That itself is justifiable. 

 Just as changing Pokemon made sure no one would see WWIII, Changing one thing about Arnold Friend would make sure no one could see as anything else but what he was. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But then if one of those words are changed, you end up with a completely different picture. If Joyce Carol Oats had changed Arnold Friend in one way, it would quite possibly change the theme of the whole story.