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spiderbraidsEpisode 3: Alfea College for Fairies / Save the First Dance
Today, we deal with the 3rd episode. We deal with a huge chunk cut out for the first segment, and we deal with Musa now being a princess... well, that, and a small edit made around that same point.
First things first. The edited version chops out almost a minute and a half (!) in the first segment. Most importantly, a conversation between Bloom, Stella and Flora in the bedroom. (For the record, they do also chop out a few seconds from the classroom scene... no, Frank, it doesn't show the Winx girls with different hair colors.)
(NB: In reference to another summary writer, who published his own reviews on his personal site, and said about this scene that "it would've been fun to see the other Winx girls with differently-colored hair", rather than just the one random fairy we get... also, another community moderator)
Edited: Bloom tries hair transformation again (she's the only one who still can't do it). Her hair spikes up. Stella: "You're a bigger project than I thought!" Fade to the cafeteria where Bloom continues whining about how hard it is, and Tecna is telling her that the first semester is always hard, when FG informs them about the school dance. (Run time: 50 seconds.)
Unedited: Bloom tries hair transformation again, and her hair spikes up. Stella: "You're not paying attention! You're not concentrating hard enough!" Flora tells them that at least something happened, and Stella starts laughing. Flora walks over and sits next to Bloom on the bed. The three of them have a lengthy conversation about what brings them to Alfea. The next day, Bloom and Flora are late for breakfast and have to sneak in to the cafeteria. Tecna is telling Bloom to watch out for the Griz, when FG announces the dance. (Run time: Two minutes.)
To me, the bedroom scene is more meaningful in the unedited version.As edited, it's just a cheap gag. Besides, that's more than half the original footage cut out, people!
(NB: I'll have an explanation for the strikeout later in the post)
Next, we deal with Princess Musa, and a small edit made in that same scene...
Unedited:
(The Trix land behind Bloom. Bloom drops Stella's ring box and starts walking backwards)
Bloom: Uh-oh, this isn't good, where are the others?
(Cut to Flora looking out the window from the ballroom)
Flora: Poor Bloom! The witches have got her cornered!
(Pull back from the ballroom window to a tableau of Bloom and the Trix. Cut back inside, Flora runs to the others)
Flora: Bloom is in trouble!
Faragonda: Young ladies. It's time to offer our guests. Come and join the others, and Musa will play something for us.
(Cue reaction, cut back to Bloom outside)
Edited:
(The Trix land behind Bloom. Cut to black. Fade to inside the ballroom where Flora joins the others.)
F: This prince asked me to dance...
FG: Young ladies. We just had a great idea! Princess Musa should perform a hip-hop number for our guests!
(Cue reaction, cut back to Bloom outside)
Personally, the edited version gives me the impression that the others didn't really care about Bloom at all. (Heck, later in the dub, they waste a whole scene showing Flora explaining what had happened earlier, which is kind of pointless, hello! In the original, Flora explains her ring-switching plan instead.)
As for Princess Musa, I can imagine 4Kids thought that it would be interesting for the least princess-y girl of the group to be one, and I guess you don't get much further from princess than low blue jeans and a love for hip-hop.
tanz_fanatika, firing off a warning shot against these posts: If I hadn't made this clear before: In the US, we HAVE TO EDIT FOR TIME. Stop making it sound like an atrocity. It's just the way it is for us. If you don't lay off the "OMG THEY CUT THAT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO AND THEY'RE EVIL," then we're going to have a problem again. You need to lay off the 'tude or I'll pull the plug on these things and on you.
What's cut doesn't sound significant to me. Sounds more like boring and very cut-able.
(NB: I'd never stoop so low to call cuts evil in principle, but to be fair, it was a scene of meaningful substance they cut out... Anyways, that's why I added the strikeout above; but seems here that one fan's substance is another fan's boring stuff :-\)
This is going so far back that I can't remember and don't have the time to rewatch the ep, but I did check my summary and the other Winx girls do not see Bloom facing off with the Trix in the 4Kids version. If they don't see her, then how are they being uncaring? In our version, Flora sends Bloom back to the dorm to get dressed. Why would they question how long she's taking getting dressed and worry about her? Some girls take a long time to prep.
I like Musa as the unlikely princess, too. Stereotypical princesses can be funny, like Stella, but I like the wilder Princess Musa. I was disappointed when her status got changed.
tanz_fanatika, in light of the strikeout I added later: It's not the negativity. I'd be fine with "I like the uncut better because" or "I wouldn't have cut that, but cut this instead." Those types of comments are fine. But acting like the cutting of a minute and ten measly seconds of one unimportant scene is some sort of trauma when it has to be done is going overboard.
As for the striking, struck comments are still present. They're perfectly legible.We're not stupid. Looking at what's been struck out, the "cheap gag" part of the comment is fine with me. That's an honest opinion. It's the next part about the size of the cutting that's unnecessary. Or if you're going to make a comment about the size, you should tell where you would have made the cut instead.
So basically, negative opinions are fine, as long as they don't make cutting seem like some sort of criminal activity. It HAS to be done in this country. The basic issue of cutting is not a topic for criticism, but what they cut when they could cut something else would be a valid topic.
(NB: I guess it would have been a touch too aggressive to say "I like the uncut better because it's the original author's vision" :-\ I would never cut anything, period... but if necessary, I'd prefer to shorten up individual shots than delete actual substance)
alisonchainsv1: I've been trying to explain that to a friend of mine as well. :|
He seems to think nothing should ever be cut, unless it is too violent or sexual. He doesn't grasp the fact that Time is a major issue. Either have a few minutes cut, or we don't get the show at all.
I'd rather get the show.
tanz_fanatika: Me, too! I don't understand why it's so hard for people to get that concept. That's just how it is for us. When it comes to foreign shows, we get them cut or we don't get them at all. It's a pretty simple concept. I don't know why it's so difficult for some people.
(NB: I'd be keen to agree with Alison's friend there, but see the above NB; in any case it's 4Kids fiddling with the story that's more of an issue to me)
Other alterations:
- 4Kids removes the scene of the girls walking down the hallway after finding out about the party, talking about preparations for the party, with Flora decorating a column with vines, and Musa taking care of the music, instead starting on Stella showing her dress
- 4Kids also removes when Bloom is trying to cut her dress down to size using her fire magic when she can't find scissors (and then having to frantically put out the fire LOL!) so instead of the Specialists' arrival distracting her, she just runs out to the balcony while looking for scissors and saying "Brandon's here! He looks so cute..." (this removal I can understand somewhat)
I added another one a few spotlights later:
Unedited: Bloom has picked a dress for the school dance. It's very expensive, but Stella can pay for it. Flora tells her not to, however: "You might offend her."
Edited: Bloom has picked a dress for the school dance. It's very expensive. Stella's card has been maxed out, so forget about Stella paying for it.
I usually try to defend the original, but there are lines I draw.
Responses:
tanz_fanatika: I prefer Stella's credit card being maxed to Bloom being offended. It seems a more likely issue.
iperione: It wasn't about isn't Bloom being offended.
It was about Flora THINKING Stella MIGHT offend Bloom.
It's mostly a scene to show how well educated etc etc Flora is.
IMHO, of course.
tanz_fanatika: I realize what happened in the scene. I read it just fine. What I meant in my comment was that it was a more likely problem for Stella's card to be maxed than for Bloom possibly being offended to stop Stella from buying her the dress. After all, how hard is it to offer to buy it for her? If she doesn't accept that kind of charity, then she says no. If she does accept it, then boom, she's got a dress. It seems unlike Stella not to just offer, regardless of Flora's opinion. Flora telling her not to is pretty rude actually. What if Bloom would have said yes? Flora shouldn't speak for Bloom. It's not her place.
Well-educated? I think you might mean something more like overly considerate. (Or in my opinion, inconsiderate of Bloom's actual say in the matter.)
A tangent relating to scenes getting cut overseas solely for time: I found myself a copy of an episode of the Rugrats spinoff All Grown Up, sourced from a broadcast on Australia's Network 10, which is a bit weird given that the episode in question headlined one of the show's DVD releases (this episode even aired the same summer the Winx debuted in the US :-\) The main issue with the Network 10 broadcast is that it removed a couple scenes... For example, a teenage classmate's party has been scheduled for the same day as Angelica's birthday party, and there's a "shocking" twist as Tommy and the others are in disbelief to overhear this classmate telling her friends at the cafeteria that she purposely scheduled her party for that same day to get back at Angelica for "break(ing) a major rule by assuming she'd be popular before proven" (!)
Network 10 returns from ad break on a shot of the classmate opening her Chihuahua-themed locker's padlock, as Tommy has hatched up a plan to use her love of Chihuahuas against her... not that you'd know from the get-go like you would in the States, because they skipped straight over a fairly important character scene, which I'd say has a similar feel to the dorm scene 4Kids skipped. I have transcripts taken from a long-defunct fansite, and although the wording isn't 100% verbatim, I trust that the site owner didn't just add scenes in willy-nilly... According to the transcript for this ep, here's how the scene is supposed to play out:
(Still at the cafeteria, Kimi comes in and sits next to Chuckie, Angelica can be heard crying from the girl's bathroom)
Kimi: Well, Angelica’s bawling her eyes out in the girl’s room, she keeps flushing so no-one hears but it would take a leaf blower to drown out that blubbering!
Lil: This is so, so sad.
Chuckie: Even I almost feel sorry for her.
(Tommy and Kimi look at him)
Chuckie: I said almost.
Phil: What are you guys talking about? She gave us our walking papers remember? It’s not our problem.
Lil: Then why does it feel like it is?
Chuckie: It’s kinda like when you step on a lot of gum, you can never get it completely off your shoe.
Tommy: Right, it’s like even though Lil disses Phil all the time, she defends him when others do.
Phil: You diss me?
Lil: Only behind your back.
Phil: Oh, okay then.
Tommy: The point is relatives can diss you but outsiders can’t. I gotta do something.
Kimi: Angelica isn’t even my cousin and I feel like doing something too.
Lil: I guess she’s been in our lives so long she’s kinda like an evil, annoying cousin to all of us.
Tommy: There’s no way around it. She’s family! (The classmate leaves and Tommy watches her) Guys, I think I have a plan.
(Cut to a close-up of the classmate's locker padlock, where Network 10 fades in)
Basically, they skipped over the gang making it clear why they'd want to help Angelica with her party in spite of everything... Anyone still thinking that it was worth losing a few scenes to have Winx air in the states should at least take the above tangent into account, because I doubt they'd be okay with the shoe on the other foot :-\
Today, we deal with the 3rd episode. We deal with a huge chunk cut out for the first segment, and we deal with Musa now being a princess... well, that, and a small edit made around that same point.
First things first. The edited version chops out almost a minute and a half (!) in the first segment. Most importantly, a conversation between Bloom, Stella and Flora in the bedroom. (For the record, they do also chop out a few seconds from the classroom scene... no, Frank, it doesn't show the Winx girls with different hair colors.)
(NB: In reference to another summary writer, who published his own reviews on his personal site, and said about this scene that "it would've been fun to see the other Winx girls with differently-colored hair", rather than just the one random fairy we get... also, another community moderator)
Edited: Bloom tries hair transformation again (she's the only one who still can't do it). Her hair spikes up. Stella: "You're a bigger project than I thought!" Fade to the cafeteria where Bloom continues whining about how hard it is, and Tecna is telling her that the first semester is always hard, when FG informs them about the school dance. (Run time: 50 seconds.)
Unedited: Bloom tries hair transformation again, and her hair spikes up. Stella: "You're not paying attention! You're not concentrating hard enough!" Flora tells them that at least something happened, and Stella starts laughing. Flora walks over and sits next to Bloom on the bed. The three of them have a lengthy conversation about what brings them to Alfea. The next day, Bloom and Flora are late for breakfast and have to sneak in to the cafeteria. Tecna is telling Bloom to watch out for the Griz, when FG announces the dance. (Run time: Two minutes.)
To me, the bedroom scene is more meaningful in the unedited version.
(NB: I'll have an explanation for the strikeout later in the post)
Next, we deal with Princess Musa, and a small edit made in that same scene...
Unedited:
(The Trix land behind Bloom. Bloom drops Stella's ring box and starts walking backwards)
Bloom: Uh-oh, this isn't good, where are the others?
(Cut to Flora looking out the window from the ballroom)
Flora: Poor Bloom! The witches have got her cornered!
(Pull back from the ballroom window to a tableau of Bloom and the Trix. Cut back inside, Flora runs to the others)
Flora: Bloom is in trouble!
Faragonda: Young ladies. It's time to offer our guests. Come and join the others, and Musa will play something for us.
(Cue reaction, cut back to Bloom outside)
Edited:
(The Trix land behind Bloom. Cut to black. Fade to inside the ballroom where Flora joins the others.)
F: This prince asked me to dance...
FG: Young ladies. We just had a great idea! Princess Musa should perform a hip-hop number for our guests!
(Cue reaction, cut back to Bloom outside)
Personally, the edited version gives me the impression that the others didn't really care about Bloom at all. (
As for Princess Musa, I can imagine 4Kids thought that it would be interesting for the least princess-y girl of the group to be one, and I guess you don't get much further from princess than low blue jeans and a love for hip-hop.
tanz_fanatika, firing off a warning shot against these posts: If I hadn't made this clear before: In the US, we HAVE TO EDIT FOR TIME. Stop making it sound like an atrocity. It's just the way it is for us. If you don't lay off the "OMG THEY CUT THAT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO AND THEY'RE EVIL," then we're going to have a problem again. You need to lay off the 'tude or I'll pull the plug on these things and on you.
What's cut doesn't sound significant to me. Sounds more like boring and very cut-able.
(NB: I'd never stoop so low to call cuts evil in principle, but to be fair, it was a scene of meaningful substance they cut out... Anyways, that's why I added the strikeout above; but seems here that one fan's substance is another fan's boring stuff :-\)
This is going so far back that I can't remember and don't have the time to rewatch the ep, but I did check my summary and the other Winx girls do not see Bloom facing off with the Trix in the 4Kids version. If they don't see her, then how are they being uncaring? In our version, Flora sends Bloom back to the dorm to get dressed. Why would they question how long she's taking getting dressed and worry about her? Some girls take a long time to prep.
I like Musa as the unlikely princess, too. Stereotypical princesses can be funny, like Stella, but I like the wilder Princess Musa. I was disappointed when her status got changed.
tanz_fanatika, in light of the strikeout I added later: It's not the negativity. I'd be fine with "I like the uncut better because" or "I wouldn't have cut that, but cut this instead." Those types of comments are fine. But acting like the cutting of a minute and ten measly seconds of one unimportant scene is some sort of trauma when it has to be done is going overboard.
As for the striking, struck comments are still present. They're perfectly legible.
So basically, negative opinions are fine, as long as they don't make cutting seem like some sort of criminal activity. It HAS to be done in this country. The basic issue of cutting is not a topic for criticism, but what they cut when they could cut something else would be a valid topic.
(NB: I guess it would have been a touch too aggressive to say "I like the uncut better because it's the original author's vision" :-\ I would never cut anything, period... but if necessary, I'd prefer to shorten up individual shots than delete actual substance)
alisonchainsv1: I've been trying to explain that to a friend of mine as well. :|
He seems to think nothing should ever be cut, unless it is too violent or sexual. He doesn't grasp the fact that Time is a major issue. Either have a few minutes cut, or we don't get the show at all.
I'd rather get the show.
tanz_fanatika: Me, too! I don't understand why it's so hard for people to get that concept. That's just how it is for us. When it comes to foreign shows, we get them cut or we don't get them at all. It's a pretty simple concept. I don't know why it's so difficult for some people.
(NB: I'd be keen to agree with Alison's friend there, but see the above NB; in any case it's 4Kids fiddling with the story that's more of an issue to me)
Other alterations:
- 4Kids removes the scene of the girls walking down the hallway after finding out about the party, talking about preparations for the party, with Flora decorating a column with vines, and Musa taking care of the music, instead starting on Stella showing her dress
- 4Kids also removes when Bloom is trying to cut her dress down to size using her fire magic when she can't find scissors (and then having to frantically put out the fire LOL!) so instead of the Specialists' arrival distracting her, she just runs out to the balcony while looking for scissors and saying "Brandon's here! He looks so cute..." (this removal I can understand somewhat)
I added another one a few spotlights later:
Unedited: Bloom has picked a dress for the school dance. It's very expensive, but Stella can pay for it. Flora tells her not to, however: "You might offend her."
Edited: Bloom has picked a dress for the school dance. It's very expensive. Stella's card has been maxed out, so forget about Stella paying for it.
I usually try to defend the original, but there are lines I draw.
Responses:
tanz_fanatika: I prefer Stella's credit card being maxed to Bloom being offended. It seems a more likely issue.
iperione: It wasn't about isn't Bloom being offended.
It was about Flora THINKING Stella MIGHT offend Bloom.
It's mostly a scene to show how well educated etc etc Flora is.
IMHO, of course.
tanz_fanatika: I realize what happened in the scene. I read it just fine. What I meant in my comment was that it was a more likely problem for Stella's card to be maxed than for Bloom possibly being offended to stop Stella from buying her the dress. After all, how hard is it to offer to buy it for her? If she doesn't accept that kind of charity, then she says no. If she does accept it, then boom, she's got a dress. It seems unlike Stella not to just offer, regardless of Flora's opinion. Flora telling her not to is pretty rude actually. What if Bloom would have said yes? Flora shouldn't speak for Bloom. It's not her place.
Well-educated? I think you might mean something more like overly considerate. (Or in my opinion, inconsiderate of Bloom's actual say in the matter.)
A tangent relating to scenes getting cut overseas solely for time: I found myself a copy of an episode of the Rugrats spinoff All Grown Up, sourced from a broadcast on Australia's Network 10, which is a bit weird given that the episode in question headlined one of the show's DVD releases (this episode even aired the same summer the Winx debuted in the US :-\) The main issue with the Network 10 broadcast is that it removed a couple scenes... For example, a teenage classmate's party has been scheduled for the same day as Angelica's birthday party, and there's a "shocking" twist as Tommy and the others are in disbelief to overhear this classmate telling her friends at the cafeteria that she purposely scheduled her party for that same day to get back at Angelica for "break(ing) a major rule by assuming she'd be popular before proven" (!)
Network 10 returns from ad break on a shot of the classmate opening her Chihuahua-themed locker's padlock, as Tommy has hatched up a plan to use her love of Chihuahuas against her... not that you'd know from the get-go like you would in the States, because they skipped straight over a fairly important character scene, which I'd say has a similar feel to the dorm scene 4Kids skipped. I have transcripts taken from a long-defunct fansite, and although the wording isn't 100% verbatim, I trust that the site owner didn't just add scenes in willy-nilly... According to the transcript for this ep, here's how the scene is supposed to play out:
(Still at the cafeteria, Kimi comes in and sits next to Chuckie, Angelica can be heard crying from the girl's bathroom)
Kimi: Well, Angelica’s bawling her eyes out in the girl’s room, she keeps flushing so no-one hears but it would take a leaf blower to drown out that blubbering!
Lil: This is so, so sad.
Chuckie: Even I almost feel sorry for her.
(Tommy and Kimi look at him)
Chuckie: I said almost.
Phil: What are you guys talking about? She gave us our walking papers remember? It’s not our problem.
Lil: Then why does it feel like it is?
Chuckie: It’s kinda like when you step on a lot of gum, you can never get it completely off your shoe.
Tommy: Right, it’s like even though Lil disses Phil all the time, she defends him when others do.
Phil: You diss me?
Lil: Only behind your back.
Phil: Oh, okay then.
Tommy: The point is relatives can diss you but outsiders can’t. I gotta do something.
Kimi: Angelica isn’t even my cousin and I feel like doing something too.
Lil: I guess she’s been in our lives so long she’s kinda like an evil, annoying cousin to all of us.
Tommy: There’s no way around it. She’s family! (The classmate leaves and Tommy watches her) Guys, I think I have a plan.
(Cut to a close-up of the classmate's locker padlock, where Network 10 fades in)
Basically, they skipped over the gang making it clear why they'd want to help Angelica with her party in spite of everything... Anyone still thinking that it was worth losing a few scenes to have Winx air in the states should at least take the above tangent into account, because I doubt they'd be okay with the shoe on the other foot :-\
