In a recent article by Screen Rant, it was revealed that the English dub of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX had censored the series' first LGBTQ+ hero, Jaden Yuki [dd45ce60]. The dub changed Jaden's romantic relationships to platonic, effectively erasing his LGBTQ+ identity. This censorship of LGBTQ+ characters in anime dubs was more common in the past but has become less frequent in recent years [dd45ce60].
The article explains that the censorship of Jaden's sexuality in the English dub was a result of the time period when it was released. Having an explicitly LGBTQ+ character in a children's show was uncommon at the time, leading to the decision to remove or alter Jaden's romantic relationships [dd45ce60]. The English dub also changed the gender of another character, Yubel, and removed the romantic angle of their relationship with Jaden [dd45ce60].
However, the article highlights that there has been progress in LGBTQ+ representation in English dubs of anime in recent years. Characters like Yamato from One Piece, Hange from Attack on Titan, and Tiger from My Hero Academia have been presented with their LGBTQ+ identities intact [dd45ce60]. This shift in representation reflects a broader trend of increased visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ characters in media.
Similarly, Sailor Moon, another popular anime series, also faced heavy censorship in its English dub. An article by 24SSPORTS explains that DIC Entertainment made several changes to the original series, toning down the main themes, removing references to death, and toning down LGBTQ+ representation [98931431]. These changes included changing the protagonist Serena's name and adding the "Sailor Says" segment [98931431]. However, Sailor Moon found new life with Sailor Moon Crystal, which restored the original themes and introduced new voice actors [98931431].
The censorship of LGBTQ+ representation in the English dubs of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Sailor Moon highlights the ongoing struggle for authentic and inclusive representation in media. It serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and challenging censorship, and advocating for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance in all forms of entertainment. The debate between fans of the original DIC dub and the VIZ version of Sailor Moon continues, showcasing the lasting impact of censorship on beloved series [98931431].