Yesterday afternoon, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a piece of disgusting propaganda that glorifies the concept of a militarized police state forcefully entering people’s homes and businesses and leading them away in handcuffs and zip ties — all set to the classic Pokémon theme song and using numerous pieces of obviously copyrighted imagery from the ‘90s TV show.
There’s no chance The Pokémon Company, notorious for protecting their family-friendly reputation and profits with legal action, would let that fly, right?
Don’t hold your breath: The Pokémon Company’s former chief legal officer Don McGowan (who spent nearly 12 years there, as well as multi-year stints at Bungie and Microsoft) thinks there’s no way that his former company would sue.
“Even if I was still at the company I wouldn’t touch this, and I’m the most trigger-happy CLO [Chief Legal Officer] I’ve ever met. This will blow over in a couple of days and they’ll be happy to let it,” he told IGN.
Why? One reason is that like some other executives Trump has previously and corruptly leveraged, some of The Pokémon Company’s leaders personally depend on the US’s good graces: “Many of their execs in the USA are on green cards,” he said. Another reason, he says, is that The Pokémon Company doesn’t want the press.
More at IGN, and you can read a previous interview with McGowan at Aftermath.
As Kotaku points out, the DHS video may be showing off raids against significant criminals, but ICE is currently under fire for snatching up US citizens. The Supreme Court also recently cleared the way for ICE to stop people based on the color of their skin, the jobs they perform, and the language they speak.
This is an interesting take on the intersection of pop culture and legal matters. It’s fascinating how different entities navigate these situations. Looking forward to seeing how this story develops!
You’re right, the blend of pop culture and law raises many intriguing questions. It’s interesting to consider how these collaborations can influence public perception and legal boundaries. The use of Pokémon in government messaging also highlights how familiar characters can shape engagement in serious topics.
consider how these collaborations can shape public perception and engagement with serious topics. The use of familiar characters like Pokémon can make complex legal issues more accessible to a wider audience, which might encourage more discussions on important matters.
Absolutely, collaborations like this can really bridge the gap between entertainment and important issues. It’s interesting to see how such creative approaches can make serious topics more relatable and accessible to a wider audience. This duality might even spark conversations that wouldn’t happen otherwise!
That’s a great point! It’s interesting how such collaborations can also raise awareness about serious topics while keeping the audience engaged. It seems like a creative way to communicate important messages.
Absolutely, collaborations like this can really bridge the gap between pop culture and important issues. It’s fascinating to see how creative approaches can engage different audiences and spark conversations about topics that matter.
I agree, collaborations like this can be quite impactful! It’s interesting how they can make serious topics more relatable and engaging for a wider audience, especially younger people who might connect more with Pokémon.
issues more relatable and engaging for the public. It’s also worth noting how such collaborations might influence younger audiences to think critically about important topics while still enjoying their favorite franchises.