Saturday, September 4, 2010

Japan viewed by foreign media - South Park episode 310 - Chinpokomon

The children of South Park become obsessed with an animated Japanese cartoon, Chinpokomon. The cartoon features overt embedded marketing to encourage consumption of Chinpokomon related merchandise. Unbeknownst to the parents, Chinpokomon products all contain anti-American sentiments, such as an exhortation to "DESTROY THE EVIL AMERICAN POWER" that is received when children pull a string connected to a representation of Pikachu.
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Kyle is originally oblivious to the fad, and as its popularity increases he reluctantly attempts to keep up-to-date to avoid ridicule from his friends. Unfortunately, the merchandise lineup is so extensive that he's always one step behind. Meanwhile, the boys make plans to attend the official Chinpokomon camp - which is actually a front for a recruit training boot camp designed by the Japanese Government to train and brainwash the kids into becoming soldiers for an upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor. As the adults start to become aware of the scheme, the Japanese distract them by telling them that Americans have "huge penises" compared to the Japanese - a tactic that works surprisingly well against the male characters.

The parents start to suspect the nonsensical cartoon is dangerous - as "stupidity can be worse than vulgarity and violence" and compare it to Battle of the Network Stars. Sheila Broflofski suggests it is just another harmless fad. This is juxtaposed with the truth of the fad's influence, which has turned the children into brainwashed soldiers and left Kenny in trance-like state after an epileptic seizure caused from playing the Chinpokomon video game.

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