*inverse* wrote:I recall reading in an Anime Insider issue that the target audience for Naruto will be kids (their reasons for it are because the characters are kids... I think), and after seeing the toonami trailer for it, I already didn't like how they pronounced 'Naruto' ^^;
The target audience in Japan is 10 to 12 year old boys and that age range will be held on to in the English Dub, however here in the U.S. what constitutes appropriate content is a bit diferent than in Japan. Content and themes requireing a somewhat mature mindset is likely to be skimed over in a domestic release if the target audience is the same in both cases. For example, the content in Lain isn't violent or sexual yet the liscensing company has a sugested 16 and up sticker on it. Now this says a few things about the youth and the adults in this country (namely that the young are not pacient enough to think and more liable to emulate what they see on TV if it's violent or leave it alone if it requires use of their mind in any way shape or form and that the adults in their lives are quick to seek legal action against the "horible media that made their child commit horible actions" then spend the time teaching them responsibility and getting their head examined if they think violence is the coolest thing in the world). In the case of Naruto, it's slightly violent (although they have done a good job of refraining from throwing blood everywhere) and has slightly "mature" thematic elements. While this would prove no problem in any number of countries, most 10-12 year olds in the U.S. either don't possess or don't want to use their brains while watching television, therefore it's not unreasonable to expect that the dubbing producers and translators (who want to make this venture successful to the masses) to gear their preformance to the mental level of the lowest common denominator.
?! Can we please get back to Naruto airing on Cartoon Network? Well anyways, I you have been reading Shonen Jump mag they have articles that tell you alot about what will be happening to Naruto. They say that Cartoon Network will not cut the episodes. So I an really happy about that 
. I will be on Toonami this fall. I can't wait 
