The Japanese portal Myjitsu recently reported that the production of the anime adaptation of “KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!” was on the brink of facing legal troubles with Nintendo due to the creature design that bore an unmistakable resemblance to a Pokémon.

In April of this year, an anime adaptation of the popular light novel, “Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo!” (KonoSuba Bakuen), has drawn significant attention for having elements similar to Nintendo’s “Pocket Monsters” series, also known as Pokemon. However, the problem arose when the series featured a monster called “Kamenogi” which was an exact replica of the “Farfetch’d Kamonegi Pokemon” from the first-generation Pokemon game.

The series is a spin-off of the popular “Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!” (KonoSuba) series and follows the story of the heroine, Megumin, as she learns explosive magic in the Crimson Demon village. While the character Kamenogi was already present in the original novel, comic book, and game, it was the same as the Pokemon Farfetch’d Kamonegi , which caused a stir among fans.

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A Popular Light Novel Spin-Off Draws Attention

“KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!” is a popular light novel spin-off that has attracted a large audience with its anime adaptation this season. However, it recently made headlines after it was discovered that the production could have been sued by Nintendo if it hadn’t made some changes to the creature design.

A Monster That Looked Too Similar to Farfetch’d

In the story, the monster, named “Kamonegi (Onion Duck),” had the exact appearance of Farfetch’d, a brown duck Pokémon that holds a green onion in its wings and has a crest on its head. This similarity was too obvious to ignore and raised concerns among fans, who were worried about how Nintendo, a company known for being strict with its intellectual property, would react.

Changes Made to Avoid Legal Issues

Thankfully, the animation staff decided to make changes to the creature design before it was too late. In episode four, which aired on April 27th, the scene in which Megumin is tasked with making potions shows the same monster on the table in front of her. However, the creature now has a completely different design that is more reminiscent of a real duck.

Fan Reactions

Fans of the franchise immediately noticed the change and commented on it. While some were disappointed with the new design, others were relieved that the production team had avoided any legal issues.

Overall, the production of “KonoSuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!” dodged a bullet by making the necessary changes to its creature design. It serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and avoiding legal troubles.

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Fans have criticized the use of Kamenogi, a character that bears an uncanny resemblance to Farfetch’d Kamonegi , leading to rumors of potential legal action from Nintendo. In response, the anime staff has made changes to the character design to avoid any legal issues with Nintendo.

In episode 4 of the KonoSuba Bakuen anime, titled “The Lonely Master with Red Eyes” Kamenogi finally appears. The anime staff altered the character’s design, and Kamenogi is now seen cowering in fear with tears in its eyes while attached to the potion-making material. Despite having the same leek on its back, the rest of Kamenogi’s design no longer resembles the Kamonegi Pokemon.

Although the change has received praise from some fans, others are still not satisfied, questioning whether it was necessary to include the character in the first place. Nintendo is known to be vigilant about protecting its intellectual property rights, and this issue has served as a reminder to be careful when creating characters that resemble established franchises.

 

Source: myjitsu

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Sweety Otaku

One of the best parts of watching anime is how many times a show can surprise you. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. But if the Otaku know one thing, it's that anything is possible.

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