With Yo-Kai Watch finally exported overseas, many await the inevitable changes due to localization and censorship that will occur. After all, if it can happen to Doraemon, it can happen to any series. Sure enough, the English version of Yo-kai Watch anime did not fail to disappoint.

The altered scene was posted on Twitter by WolfyMatt who thoughtfully provided a video showing the same scene in both its Japanese and English versions.

In the Japanese version a group of boys are watching a television program featuring a group of women in swimwear and cat accouterments. Being teenage boys who would be turned on by a mere exposed knee this was a great treat for them.

▼ JAPAN

However, thanks to meddling yo-kai the TV suddenly changes to a program featuring musclebound men exercising in skimpy underpants.

▼ JAPAN

You see, this would be the complete opposite of what the boys would want to see and it appeared startlingly quickly. As a viewer, such contradiction would trigger a response in the occipital lobe of the brain causing the us to either smirk or possibly even chuckle. Thus humor is achieved.

While the localization team certainly loves a good laugh as well, they were deeply concerned that young children might be confused to learn that people sometimes wear bathing suits. So, they decided to replace the girls’ attire with something more concealing…while going down a water slide.

▼ WESTERN

▼ JAPAN

▼ WESTERN

The presence of the men was apparently an even bigger challenge. So they decided to just get rid of them altogether and put a cooking show in their place. As a result, western viewers watch as the boys freak out when the television changes from images of reasonably dressed women to that of a chef. This causes the release of dopamine in their brains to stop which in turn makes them pick their nose in boredom.

▼ WESTERN

▼ JAPAN

▼ WESTERN

Granted the sacrificed joke wasn’t a gut-buster, but it’s quick gags like that which help to move the story along at a jaunty pace and keep people entertained.  On the other hand, hand-drawn images of muscular guys in skimpy clothes are clearly a threat to mental stability.  I should know, having grown up on this.

Curse you Lou Scheimer and Hal Sutherland!

Thanks to Steven for the tip!
Source: Twitter/@TheWildWolfy
He Man Video: YouTube/RetroHeroes