Saucy Moments This might be the most popular kids' series ever, but for more reasons than you may imagine.
This series has its fair share of what you might call lewd or naughty moments, and this is possibly something that the kids will notice and make fun of.
After all, my sister recently saw the episode about the City of Pasha Mama, and she noted in hysterics about how the placing of the medallions in Pasha Mama's breasts would never be done by a cartoon series today!
Then there was also the Esteban and Tao skinny-dipping scene, which according to rumour, caused the series to be cancelled in some places. Yes, you do mostly get to see Esteban and Tao stark naked, but mostly under water, so what we do see of them is very strategic (ie, no genitalia).
Lastly, there is the running joke about what is under Tao's... robes? Whatever you call them, Tao is careful not to expose himself unless under certain situations, like hanging off an open drawbridge, or using his clothes as a makeshift gasmask, etc. For those in the know, Tao seems to be wearing a kind of nappy (diaper), although sometimes, it seems to have disappeared! (ooer!)
Anyway, for all these dodgy scenes, could this be another reason why the series is so popular?
Re: Saucy Moments Haha! Yeah I remember those moments. Watching Esteban and Tao swim naked was kinda embarrassing to watch with someone else in the room! Well, it was when I was younger. I used to wonder why Zia didnt go too, but of course I know that now.
I cracked up about your Tao comment. Him wearing a nappy then it magically dissapearing. Maybe it needed changing? :frown:
I think some moments he had to wear something under because it would look like there was nothing there, or they werent allowed to draw that part. And some parts the "nappy" didn't need to be drawn so they just showed flesh (eg: legs.) So it might have looked like at moments he had nothing under? Dunno. I wasn't exactly taking a closer look...
When I was really young the Pasha Mama's breast thing wasn't an issue at all. If they showed it now kids would just be laughing constantly. Which shows how immature kids are these days. And its cartoon's like this that can make a child mature when they watch it.
So yeah, I'd say it's another reason why its so popular. But I think mainly because it didn't always go by the rules, it did its own thing. It was an original, anctipating cartoon thats for sure.
Re: Saucy Moments I don't understand getting upset over the skinny dipping part. The show was set in 1523(?) and Wal Mart and/or any other store that sells clothes was not around then, so what were they supposed to swim in?
Re: Saucy Moments I've just noticed another naughty Tao moment.
Just before Tao chases after and catches their meal, an iguana, Pedro asks him if he read the first manuscript properly. When Tao responds, his bottom is clearly visible, and he is wearing no underwear at all!
Are they trying to appeal to kiddie fiddlers or what? How embarrassing! What must the animators have been smoking that day?
Re: Saucy Moments The Japanese don't seem to care so much. You often get nude scenes in their films. Studio Ghibli ones even do. Just look at my Neighbour Totoro that has the children in a nude bath scene. Certainly in older titles there wasn't a problem. Even in newer titles they joke about it. Azumanga Daioh has a teacher who makes a lot of inappropriate comments towards some of the female students.
Re: Saucy Moments This is what I mean by the scenes from Totoro (again a childrens cartoon). It doesn't get any worse than this but I am not sure even this would be allowed in this country. The first one is especially dodgy.
Re: Saucy Moments Yes, I know, I have that myself!
What I find hysterical is the way the little sister's head is so strategically positioned in the first picture!
Mind you, I figured the Japanese would find the second picture offensive - not because of the nudity, but the fact the older sister hasn't rinsed properly before joining her father and sister.
Re: Saucy Moments It really isn't too bad although I am amazed it was ever shown on US television. I will admit that, as a child, there were certain episodes that I hoped my mother never saw. I was convinced she would ban MCoG for life!
Re: Saucy Moments When I was a kid, I never noticed the lewd and racey stuff (except for the bath scene, I was kind of shocked about how shamelessly they showed off Esteban's butt).
Now I watch it and am very surprised that it was shown on US television at all. I mean, it's not really that bad, but I definately think some uptights could have made an issue of it. Consider those people who managed to find objectionable material in animated Disney stuff...actually they may have a point.
I find the medallians in Pasha Mama's breasts thing pretty amazing, considering the super-censored environment of today - which may have something to do with why it's no longer on television.
And then they had Mendoza pulling the medallions out...hee hee
I guess it made sense to emphasize Pasha Mama's reproductive..er..aspects. After all, she was the goddess of the earth which means she was probably a symbol of fertility.
