Crayon Shin-chan, written and illustrated by Yoshito Usui, first appeared in Weekly Manga Action, a Japanese weekly magazine published by Futabasha, in 1990. The manga became an instant hit and was later adapted into an animated television series in 1992, which is still ongoing on various television networks worldwide, with over 1000 episodes.
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Due to the author’s death, the manga ended in its original form on September 11, 2009, but a new manga titled New Crayon Shin-chan (新クレヨンしんちゃん, Shin Kureyon Shin-chan) began in the summer of 2010 by members of Usui’s team.
The story centers around a mischievous and precocious 5-year-old boy named Shinnosuke Nohara, nicknamed Shin-chan, and his family and friends. The series has been dubbed in 30 languages and aired in 45 countries, making it a popular manga and anime series across the globe.
Aside from the manga and anime, Crayon Shin-chan has been adapted into several feature-length films, spin-off series, and video games. Despite Usui’s passing, the series continues to thrive, with new episodes of the anime being produced to this day.
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Crayon Shin-chan: Adventures of a Mischievous 5-Year-Old
Crayon Shin-chan is a popular Japanese manga and anime series that takes place in Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It follows the daily life and misadventures of five-year-old Shinnosuke “Shin” Nohara, his family, friends, and neighbors. Despite the mostly ordinary setting, the series often features fantastical and outrageous elements, adding to its comedic appeal.
Shin-chan’s humor mainly revolves around his unusual and sometimes inappropriate use of language, as well as his mischievous and sometimes absurd behavior. Some jokes may require an understanding of Japanese culture and language to fully appreciate, but the series has found popularity in Asia due to its cultural compatibility.
While the show is mostly family-friendly, it does contain sexual innuendos and sarcastic humor. Its overall message emphasizes the importance of family and friends. However, some episodes may have darker themes, such as a manga storyline where a character’s boyfriend passes away, which was not adapted into an anime episode.
Shin-chan often develops crushes on older female characters, leading to humorous attempts at wooing them. He also tends to lack tact when speaking to adults, frequently asking inappropriate questions. The show is known for its use of nudity for comedic effect, with Shin-chan often depicted with bare buttocks.
Popularity and Sales Figures of Crayon Shin-chan
Crayon Shin-chan has been a commercial success, with over 58 million copies sold between both the original and the New Crayon Shin-chan manga series as of 2015. It is considered one of the best-selling manga series to date. The franchise has also released game books, encyclopedic books, and other related material, totaling to approximately 148 million sales. Additionally, as of March 2021, Bandai Namco has sold over 227 million Crayon Shin-chan Chocobi food packs.
Controversies surrounding Crayon Shin-chan
The anime Crayon Shinchan has faced controversies in various countries where it has been aired. In India, a Hindi dub of the show has been broadcasted on Hungama TV since June 19, 2006. However, some parents have expressed concerns over the main character’s behavior and attitude towards elders, which they felt could negatively influence children.
Additionally, heavy nudity on the show resulted in a ban imposed by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in October 2008. Following requests from fans, a modified version of the show with edited jokes to make it more family-friendly began airing on Hungama TV from March 27, 2009.
Similarly, in Portugal, a Portuguese dub of the anime was aired on Biggs. However, the 165th episode, “Dad’s Hospitalized Life,” caused a significant controversy in 2016 due to a scene where nurses examine Shinnozuke’s anus and compliment it, while he looks and acts uncomfortable.
This led to complaints from parents, and the Portuguese Media Regulatory Authority ordered that the show could only be broadcast after 10:30 PM. Later on, the show was slowly phased out of Biggs’ schedule and Portuguese television. However, it eventually returned on a limited run on Portugal’s Fox Comedy, but the show was removed from Fox Comedy Portugal after a few months.
Crayon Shin-chan: Manga, Anime, and Spin-offs
Crayon Shin-chan is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshito Usui. The series debuted in 1990 and was published in 50 tankōbon volumes. After Usui’s death in 2009, a new manga was created by his team called New Crayon Shin-chan. The series has been translated into English and adapted into an anime series produced by Shin-Ei Animation. The anime has been on the air since 1992 and has been directed by various directors over the years. There have also been spin-off series such as Crayon Shin-chan Gaiden and Super Shiro.
