The US Division of Homeland Safety has posted a weird and, frankly, fairly tasteless video that splices footage of ICE immigrant raids with clips from the enduring intro to the Pokemon anime.
As noticed by Kotaku, the video was uploaded to the official DHS X account yesterday. It exhibits numerous enforcement officers, together with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), law enforcement officials, and the navy breaking into properties and arresting individuals.
Sadly, it additionally exhibits clips from the Pokemon anime, in addition to utilizing the anime’s theme tune to soundtrack the upsetting montage. What’s extra, the phrases “Division of Homeland Safety” seem initially of the video, rendered within the very recognizable Pokemon font.
As if all of that wasn’t sufficient, the video additionally exhibits numerous “prison aliens” arrested by ICE, however rendered in a form of parody Pokemon card format. Their weak point is even listed because the Ice sort, which feels notably tasteless.
I’ve bought to marvel precisely whose thought this was and why they thought it was okay, however in fact, it is attainable that this video did certainly journey its manner up the chain and met with approval at each flip, which is maybe much more demoralizing than this being one particular person’s maverick whim.
One physique whose approval this video virtually definitely didn’t get hold of is, in fact, Nintendo, the corporate that holds the IP rights to Pokemon. When you’re acquainted with Nintendo, you may additionally know that the Japanese gaming large is, to place it mildly, keen on litigation in sure circumstances.
I am no authorized skilled, however I believe that if Nintendo wished to, it might in all probability problem DHS over its (presumably) unlicensed use of Pokemon belongings on this video. I do not think about the parody protection would get the division too far in that occasion, however once more, not an skilled.
No matter your political leanings, I believe it is truthful to say this DHS video is in fairly poor style. Let’s hope sanity and knowledge prevail and the video is taken down, and whoever’s accountable for it has an extended, onerous take into consideration what they’ve finished.
