I just saw an episode where Homer’s face is identical to the face shown on the box of a japanese cleaning product (dish washing detergent I think). As a result of his inquiries, he receives a video made by the Japanese company intended for Americans that is humorously very poorly translated into english.
There was nothing directly quoted from it, but I was thinking that’s gotta be an AYB reference. At the risk of sounding IMHOish, what do you think?
warning for newbies or others not in the know, AYB = All your base. Do not inquire any further here. Do a search.
I’m not sure I really see the connection; there were bad, funny translations before AYB, without having seen the episode, I don’t see any reason to think it was inspired specifically by AYB.
Isn’t the “all your base” quote more recent? The “Mr. Sparkle” Simpsons episode has been around for a long while. When I was in Japan, I noticed that they advertised products using English words that made no sense. The Mr. Sparkle commercial was like that, it was just a parody of the strange (to us Merkins) Japanese advertising.
My favorite lines from this episode:
Homer, to librarian: Do you have a phone book for Hokkaido, Japan?
Librarian, about two milliseconds later: There you go, one phone book for Hokkaido, Japan.
Homer: Thanks. Can I use your phone?
Librarian: Uhh, is it a local call?
Homer: Uhh, yes.
Simpsons- Homers face is on a box becuase it is a joint venture of a power company and a fish company and by combining the two logos his face is produced.
So no I think they have nothing to do with each other, good try though!
I’ve seen this episode of the Simpsons, and it’s not a new one. My best friend and I used to piss off our French teacher with quotes from that episode (in the days after a particularly drunken evining of Simpson’s watching…), and this was back in '97-98. We’d crack up at the above quote so much…even when we were forced to sit on other sides of the room - that didn’t shut us up, cuz we’d just hold up signs with what we wanted to say to one another. Teacher finally allowed us to sit together again, cuz the signs were more disturbing than the whispering
Anyways, sorry for the hijack there, but the point is, it’s not a new episode. So no connection to AYB, AFAIK.
Taking an educated guess from my knowledge of the Simpsons, I’m guessing that episode must be at least as recent as '98 or '99. I think the AYB incident occured in '89, but I was under the impression that it has been present in pop culture for at least 2 or 3 years, though I really don’t know.
But, perhaps I am reaching for something that isn’t there.
“I am disrespectful toward dirt! Can you not see that I am serious!”
I think it is more a joke about the way some Japanese shows are dubbed or subtitled to English. Have you every heard the theme for Speed Racer in English? It sounds just like how Mr. Sparkle talks. AYB is mostly just bad grammar.
The Simpson’s may be hip, but they’re not that hip.
But who knows. Maybe the writers of that episode played Zero Wing back in the day. Either that or they’re Japanophiles who spend their Saturday nights watching Anime (I actually know people who do that…).
“In Marge We Trust” airs on Fox network: April 27, 1997
“All Your Base Are Belong To Us” sweeps nation: late 2000- early 2001
The two also show no similarities, except that they are both very badly mangled English (which happens quite often when English is not your first language).
My favorite line from the episode, which Bart says after they’ve watched the Japanese videotape and learned the secret of the Homer-like logo: “There’s your answer, fishbulb!” That was even my signature line for a while. Now, of course, I’ve found something even better.
I had to “chime” in here. I love saying that. Chime! Anyway, my daughter has found a great deal of delight in reading the many rambling on http://engrish.com/
On an interesting side note, as a digital artist, I have been asked on several occasions to submit new images for and updated “All Your Base” themed music video. I am also working (tediously) on several video sequences that will ultimately be branded with the AYB texts.
Let me just add this as well. I had a Japanese penpal who was as huge Simpsons fan (her cellphone played the Simpsons theme when it rang, she said), and I asked her about the Japanese used in Simpsons cartoons, if it was legit or not, and she said that it wasn’t Japanese at all, just someone making Japanese sounding noises. So the bad translation, would just be part of the gag, I’m sure.
A line-by-line description showed that the Mr. Sparkle commercial was pretty much correct Japanese. So I imagine the Mr. Sparkle thing was one-time-only. (Then again, I can’t recall another time anyone spoke Japanese on the Simpsons, except maybe the juicer factory workers who spread the Osaka Flu…)
