South Park: “F— you, dolphins!”
October 29th, 2009 by James
This week’s South Park episode, “Whale Whores,” is now viewable on SouthParkStudios.com.
Consider the comments section of this post a forum in which to discuss your thoughts of the episode.
Note: If you absolutely cannot stand the show, just skip the video to 20:55 for the last scene and listen to what Stan’s dad has to say.
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Not bad, but with a lot of holes. The big one being that Sea Shepard sinks boats which do more harm to the environment than having the Japanese kill their quota of whales (not sure if he did it on the TV though since I never saw it).
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TV show*
I should also point out I know South park is not even trying to be accurate half the time. But it needed to be said that Sea Shepard is horrible not because they are “pussies that never do anything”, but because they actually do more harm than good in what they do — while spreading propaganda to make themselves look good.
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I take it you never watched a South Park episode other than this one. It’s about the jokes…so focusing on plot holes is a waste of time like your comment.
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Yes, I have.
And I even predicted your stupid comment.
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Seems spot on. NPC obviously doesn’t get it.
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I laughed at it more than I did at the last episode of Family Guy I watched…
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.. last episode of Family Guy I watched—
it was not funny!!
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The harpooning Paul Watson in the head alone makes it all good.
Actually though, I was bracing for a one-sided bashing of Japan, but it was remarkably fair … in its dealings of insults, at least
Even the accent was actually Japanese!
I personally found it to be pretty damn hilarious.
And no, I haven’t watched South Park in years.
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Grossly inaccurate. They’d never have allowed Cartman a harmonica in a Japanese jail.
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Lol. Wow, it’s called a joke, which is what South Park does.
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It’s also something that Eric posted and something you don’t seem to get very well …
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That whooshing was the sound of a joke flying over a head.
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Dammit, beat me too it haha
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you go, h! don’t stop
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wow…as funny as this is(and it was FUCKING FUNNY)…I don’t think I’d ever let my japanese friends see this…They’d probably want to crucify me.
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Yeah, or throw harpoons at you!
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or Photoshop your face onto the Enola Gay
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So, are they being sarcastic? What is the message? From a dolphin lover’s persptective I think it’s good in sense of more people will be aware of this. But do they mean that we’re being hypocrats critisizing them while we’re killing cow and chicken? I couldn’t tell.
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there’s no wrong or right, just a matter of opinion, perhaps?
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Tell you what: think about the intertwining culture-critical themes for a week or so and write an essay about your conclusions, and post it on the same comment thread. Then I’ll send you the answer to your question.
It’s pretty complex, though. If you need more time you may send an extension request to the same address. South Park never fails to provide an immaculate assessment of contemporary American culture, so to be honest we should all be contemplating and writing essays. I’m expecting the same from the JP ‘head of the class’… you know who you are
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A pity I can’t watch it here in Japan, it’s for American audiences only.
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SouthParkStudios.com does not block Japanese IP addresses.
I could watch it with no problem at all.
Why can’t you watch it? I’m in Japan too and just watched it not 5 minutes ago.
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I wished they did a little more character development for Hatoyama, since he’s new in office and doesn’t have none of that usual hysteric Japanese stereotype as depicted. Should of made fun of Yu-ai.
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The whole yuai thing would be too subtle of an issue … almost none of the American audiences would get it or would have any knowledge, and even fewer would think it’s an issue. (“Friendship and Love? What’s so wrong with that?”)
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Yeah, you’re absolutely right.
But the whole stereotype of hysterically talking, acting, unpredictable, surprise attacking Japanese in American entertainment hasn’t changed for atleast 30 years. Even the newly elected leader of Japan is put into that mold instantly without given a chance for a new development.
Well, it’s just a thought from a Japanese POV. I like South Park and enjoyed the show anyways.
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Not much of an episode. I have always felt that even though lots of potential for good jokes the portrayal of the Japanese (and other asian as well) in SP is just too basic and boring.
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The episode about the Mongolians destroying the “shitty” wall was good.
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I’m Mongolian, I wasn’t offended by the episode but I get offended by “YOUR COMMENT”. You think we Mongolians are not educated and have low IQ???? THINK AGAIN
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can’t watch it because i’m french, that sucks :/
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Wow….watch past the credits, and at the very very end of the video, there is a two frame shot of an X through the Hi no Maru. Did anyone else catch this?
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It looked like an X through a red circle. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be a jab at the Japanese or a simple overrun in to a stop mark though.
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OMG JM – you’re way too nice.
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I just saw it. It looks like a big X through the Hi no Maru.
Very strange…..hmmmm.
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Am I the only one who actually watched this?
They were obviously highlighting the ineffectiveness and deceitful practices of Sea Shepherd, the incompetence of their leader, and the backwards thinking of people who believe it’s okay to slaughter every animal except the cute ones. All the anti-Japanese “racism” was typical SP humor and didn’t have any deeper message or bad intent.
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Fa-ku yu WHO!
I agree.
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the episode wasn’t aimed at japan. the real weight of the episode was anti-american (culture), as almost all south park episodes are. posting this issue on JP was nothing but bait.
i mean, seriously; the parody of Japanese people was a parody of Whale Wars. was that so difficult to understand? ah f”’k it let’s just complain some more.
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SP is aimed squarely at American audiences because they aren’t afraid of backlash, and they’re also not bothering to suck up to foreign cultures. They send up any dumbass thing about America exactly as they see it. And the campaign around Sea Shepherd was crrrringingly embarrassing. “Here’s how Hollywood does conservation…with a gleaming white smile!” *cue power ballad and grown men sobbing*
I found it kind of exhilarating that they turned Hatoyama into a swearing maniac.
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havent seen SP for years but this was funny, that enola gay photo was a real kicker!
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This was a rather pathetic episode that didn’t even try for subtlety. So the big message Trey Parker wanted to get out is killing whales = killing cows so one side isn’t morally superior? Wow, deeeeep. He must have had to think for a whole minute to come up with that.
I have never seen “Whale Wars” – didn’t even know about it until this show – so cannot comment on the whole reality show criticisms, but the ones aimed at Paul Watson were about as subtle as the harpoon he got in the head. And as others have said the protrayal of them was inaccurate anyway–no boat ramming?
But the portrayal of Japan was just insane. Kamikaze planes killing whales? The Emperor showing the boys around Hiroshima was bizarre–in fact that whole bit was. Was Parker trying to say something about moral rights being abrogated by dropping a nuclear bomb? What the hell was up with that whole Hiroshima detour? The whole portrayal of Japan seemed designed to be as offensive as possible, but for no apparent goal. Offensive is fine if it makes a point and is funny, but this failed on both counts. The only possible thing you can get out of it is by showing the Japanese as a bunch of stereotyped loons and mocking their leaders then Randy Marsh’s comment at the end that now they’re just like us means Parker thinks Americans are a bunch of crazy stereotyped loons.
And whichever drunken manatee was responsible for selecting their kanji needs to be fired. 点度犬 on the jail?
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Seeing as you seem to be the only one who didn’t find it funny, so not sure what your problem is.
Perhaps living up to your namesake a bit much?
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I listed my problems in the post. Try reading it.
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South Park isn’t subtle or deep? It contains pointless and offensive humor? It’s also racist?
This is an outrage! Alert the internet police!
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“South Park isn’t subtle or deep? It contains pointless and offensive humor?”
My point is that SP can often be subtle and deep (for a TV show) and its humour is not usually pointless – go see the Cartoon Wars episodes for what SP thinks of “pointless humour.” So when it does seem unsubtle and pointless it is a cause for surprise.
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overthinker’s most likely a freshman in college or a senior in high school, given his history. he’s probably writing these posts as an ‘assignment’ for his AP english class. give him a break, everyone.
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Relax, it’s a cartoon. You’re taking it waaay too far to the point of it being sad in a way.
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Why does that excuse it? Would it be more offensive if it was live action? What about if it was just words on a page without images?
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Wow, you just don’t get it. Have you ever seen any other South Park episodes? Do you still have a ring of Hemorrhoids around your arse hole? If so, get a tube of Preparation H. I sure helps me. Not that I have a ring of Hemorrhoids around my arse hole. I just like the taste.
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I have seen every single South Park episode ever made. Every single one. Do you get that?
Pathetic attempts at personal insults because you do not personally agree with my views makes your level of comprehension (and intelligence) painfully clear. You probably just got a kick out of all those funny little Nips doing their wacko banzai charges.
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I don’t know how many Japanese are actually in this thread, but I for one thought this episode was — FUCKING HILARIOUS.
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There seem to be an asymmetry in the way how pejorative and/or stereotypical depiction is treated here. Not everyone take account of the background, the context, and the way how it is received by the majority of audiences when they criticize a clip or a scene taken from a ridiculous, hilarious, or silly program from Japanese TV.
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SP has never been “deep” anyway!
It’s a pedantic immature insecure clueless uneducated sad show. Always has been and always will be, and this episode was another. It says nothing, and does nothing, except to annoy some people for being totally un-funny.
Oh well – just another crappy episode on which I wasted 30 minutes of my life.
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Awesome Troll.
/bow.
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dude come on, bush, obama, and clinton have all been in Southpark before. My opinion, you just haven’t watched enough Southpark episodes to make a correct judgement.
Whale wars- stupid a$$ show(obviously)
American view on whaling- No one cares, unless its shown to them on a mass scale(that dolphin documentary and whale wars)
American views on Japan after viewing- OMG all Japanese kill dolphins and whales!
Japanese views-This show had nothing to do with Japan’s views at all. It’s all being viewed from the Media fed American who’s opinion is easily changed based on popularity. Ex. Kenny and Cartmen when the boarded ship to get on whale wars.
Portrayal of Japan-The kamikaze act just represents how stupid all this is. It was all meant to belittle people who are against whaling. The chicken and the cow (which were mentioned along with kangaroos on takeshi kitano’s show) showed that we were desensitized to the killing of cows and chickens, but in the case of dolphins in whales, we relate them to aquariums and such.
“designed to be as offensive as possible, but for no apparent goal”- If you really can’t see the goal in this episode, well I guess interpreting South Park episodes just isn’t for you. Each outrageous act that the Japanese people were shown doing and their beliefs were meant to come straight from the mind of the heavily media influenced “tree hugging hippies” that are judging the Japanese. That is what made this episode great, in my mind. SUBTEXT my friend, subtext.
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Try using the “Reply to this comment” button. Makes it easier to tell who you are responding too.
Despite the somewhat condescending tone, at least you offered some reasons for the depiction. Since I am not American nor live in the US, some aspects of South Park are obscure at times (and I have seen every single one, as I noted earlier). Hence I have little idea how the American media and public really sees the issue, and if that is required then there is no way anyone outside that loop *could* get this. Is it really that insane? And was this the best way to show that?
So it portrayed the Japanese extremely offensively as the “liberal media” stirs up that image, then by saying killing cows is the same as killing whales that that *image* is stupid? And is this idea properly subverted in South Park with that final line?
“My opinion, you just haven’t watched enough Southpark episodes to make a correct judgement.”
Or rather, haven’t watched enough American media. Still no idea what the Hiroshima thing or the Emperor thing was all about.
One other thing. When the boys were talking with the PM at the end, explaining who really did it, I was sure Cartman would take the opportunity to blame the Jews and get the Japanese to “go all banzai” on them.
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personally I think when people say” oh killing cows is different from killing whales/dolphins because whales are smart”, doesn’t hold any ground. I know a lot of dumb people, does that mean that its okay to eat them?
Again the Hiroshima and Emperor thing really had nothing to do with Japan, but really ,I think, represented probably the only few things an average American would know about Japan. If you ask an average American about Japan, what would they say? “Well they make pokemon, anime, they bombed pearl harbor, and we nuked them in WWII” and thats basically the extent of their knowledge. People who read the newspaper would may know about Hatoyama with the recent change from the LDP to DPJ. So by using images such as kamikazes, hiroshima, and the prime minister, I believe this was meant to really belittle these people who take such a strong stance against whaling, since they really don’t know anything about they country they are chastising. So, in their minds, this would be their retarded, uneducated solution scenario, played out in an outrageous south park episode. I thought it was excellently done.
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Okay, I can see where you are coming from, if you include the image of Hiroshima in the US to be one that is almost totally Japan-as-victim (which I seriously doubt), but in terms of American images of Japan, surely two major cliches are samurai and geisha? Also ninja. SP did not touch all bases there, by a long way, so I still think there must be something more to the Hiroshima and Emperor bits that just taking American images of Japan. I just don’t know what. I would also not think the Emperor is any significant part of the common understanding of Japan.
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Yes, samurais, geisha’s and ninjas are also HUGE cliches.One could argue that the Samurai spirit is represented in the beginning when they run in and kill all the dolphins, with their staffs. We could also push to say that we left out hello kitty and dragon ball z from the mix, but lets just add a “etc.” to the list. Still, we can agree that the average American’s knowledge of Japan is limited.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at with the Japan-as-victim line here. That’s a very debatable subject as you know there have been many movies and animes that have had subtextual messages showing that the Japanese commoners were victims of the government(a famous example being Akira), so I’m not sure what answer you are looking for.
As for the emperor comment I think we’re both in the wrong on that, the emperor wasn’t brought up in the South Park episode(from what I remember), I actually was referring to the Prime Minister, but I goofed.
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The Emperor was there. He visited the boys in jail, took them to Hiroshima, and showed them the Peace Museum.
By “Japanese as victim” I am referring to those Westerners who believe there was no excuse at all for nuking civilians.
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Ah you’re right, the Emperor was there. Well I’m not sure whether or not the average American knows of/finds significance in Japan’s Emperor. That seems like something one would have to do some quantitative research really to find out.
I understand the definition of Japan as a victim, I’m just wondering why you find that it has to be necessary in the Hiroshima part? The showing of the pearl harbor-like bombing on the ship and the Emperor leading them around really goes against the Japan as a victim theme.The Japan as a victim them views the people as victims of the government and,in this case, it is the Emperor, who practically controlled the goverment pre-WWII(now more of an icon if anything).
ex. people vs. government
Still, I believe that this is all based on common misconceptions of Japan. Bringing in the Emperor could represent a pre-WWII imperialistic view of Japan, but it may also be thrown in for shits and giggles, it’s hard to say as South Park has evolved from a show about killing kenny and anal probes to a show that brings up controversial events with underlying themes ment to stir things up.
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I think you are reading too much into it Overthinker.
Yes, when SP offend they normally have a point but you seem to be concentrating that the point is either saying that killing whales is the same as killing cows or the whole unnacuracies of the way the Japanese are portrayed.
To me the whole point of this episode was to say that the whale savers and other boat-based media attention grabbing shows (Deadliest Catch) are boring shows, simple… the whole Japanese thing was just a piss take in my opinion with no real truth or reasoning… like with the Mongolians taking down the Shitty Wall… lol
I watch SP for a laugh and every now and then they make a good point of something, when they do, great, if they dont (or I dont get it) then… who cares?
I found this episode really funny and thats why I watch SP, I suggest you watch it and switch that over worked brain of yours off for 30 mins while doing so…. poker face.
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k -”I’m just wondering why you find that it has to be necessary in the Hiroshima part?”
As that is how Hiroshima was presented in the show. You could argue that the “Japanese as aggressor” as shown by kamikaze strikes acted as a counterpoint to the “Japanese as victim” as shown by the Emperor at Hiroshima, but if so it was far more low-key than most SP editorializing. If that was the intent, it was at least nice and subtle–perhaps too subtle.
Erik – I am not critiquing the “reality show” aspect of this episode at all. Or not much – it was rather over the top.
“if they dont (or I dont get it) then… who cares?”
Welll…me. The show to turn my brain off for is Family Guy – or worse yet, The Simpsons. Shows that don’t pretend to have anything much to say (though they sometimes do).
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my sound isn’t working what did stan’s dad say?
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“Now they’re normal, like the rest of us…” as in, as long as they’re killing animals we approve of it’s ok.
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An awesome episode. I see what they’re saying, but again comparing cows and chickens to dolphins and whales is misguided. They’re on completely different levels of sentience and intelligence.
F*** you Dolphin, and F*** you Whale!
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I as a Japanese did enjoy this, and also found it could be making fun of SeaShepherd rather than Japanese whalers. Because the reason and methods the Japanese kill whales and dolphins are mostly fiction, while those of “vegan pussies” are almost true.
Anyway, if SP were going to be shown at the next Tokyo International Film Festival, it would really work to make us kill not dolphins but time.
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Haha, I don’t believe South Park’s made fun of Japan since the Chinpokomon episode in Season 3.
That was fantastic, I have to show this to my Japanese brother.
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They did a shout out to Japanese anime in the “fun with weapons episode” , I remember one part of the song being hilarious in the show”taisetsunamono protect my balls!Leess fioogghting llaavv”
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one nail drives out another? ahaha
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LOVED the comment at the end!
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dont take my position!! wwww
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Cartman singing Poker Face made me forget about everything else from the episode
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in a good way
p.s. everybody speak eanglish (nagoriyuki)
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The Godzilla part cracked me up XD
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I don’t know if SP staff knew this, but the word “Godzilla(Gojira)” was made by mixing the two words “gorilla” and “kujira(=whale)”. So actually it has a little connection with this theme, maybe?
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that’s cool if it’s true
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one more information, nagoriyuki is a song of iruka(JP singer).ahahahaha
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I get the feeling they know. From memory, Trey majored in Japanese, can speak it fairly fluently (all the stuff you hear in the episode is from him but it’s definitely American-accent-ized) and he’s married to a beautiful Japanese woman. He’s the rare cool otaku.
Anyway, I definitely want to hear what his father-in-law thought of the episode
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http://japanjin.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
See there for a pic of Emma Sugiyama, also:
http://content1.catalog.photos.msn.com/ft/share0/ebe3/0/southpark_tparker2.jpg
and
http://content2.catalog.photos.msn.com/ft/share0/20ad/0/southpark_tparker.jpg
Born in Yokohama apparently.
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bitch! screw you guys, Im going home!ahaha
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It was great on so many levels, as usual. Thanks James for 20 minutes of bliss.
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SP is humor of the lowest order… hence the whole Canadians are flatulent boobs meme; but if you don’t like it, don’t watch it. And it’s far less dangerous than many sites…
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I thought the whole point of them visiting the peace museum was to put stress on the reason/justification for their hatred towards the individuals they believed responsible for the bombing. Granted it seemed totally out of place until the photo of the Enola Gay was shown. The reveal was hilarious! I really wasn’t sure who the new scapegoats were going to be at the end.
I’ve not seen alot of photos of the inside of the peace museum, but the SP animation seemed really detailed. I wonder how accurate it actually is…
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Hilarious…
When is SP gonna do an episode on Koreans and dog eating?
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Stan Marsh is Yi Soon Shin (in this episode)!!!
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