View source for Alternative Foreign Theme Song

{{trope}}
When a dubbing company wants to market a television show, film, or video game from another country, they'll do the usual stuff like translation and localization. But they've got one problem with it: they don't think its theme song will be suitable to the tastes of foreign viewers. So what do they do about this? Instead of dubbing the original song, they'll replace it with a newly written, completely different theme song, of course! Maybe they believe the new song will make the show more popular with their foreign audience, or maybe the original theme song is licensed by a singer and they can't use the music. The tune of the new theme song will most likely bring out a very different mood. This can qualify for both the opening and ending theme.

This is common for English dubs of anime series geared towards children, especially if the show is airing on a television network, but it happens outside of North America as well; the practice of having completely different music is arguably even more common in Japan, where there is an entire industry based around creating [[Anime Theme Song]]s.

This is also an aversion of [[The Song Remains the Same]], where the original song is kept and left in its initial language. If the song keeps the same melody of the original, but has radically different lyrics, then it goes under [[What Song Was This Again?]]

Do not confuse this trope with [[Foreign Language Theme]], where the original theme is written in another language, or [[Replaced the Theme Tune]], where the show replaces its own theme song with another one.

{{examples}}
== Anime ==
* When 4Kids dubbed ''[[One Piece]]'' they replaced the "We Are" opening with a rap about the plot, characters, and basically being a pirate.
** The German version of ''[[One Piece]]'' also has a theme song different from the Japanese version. It can be found [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJIABl_Omc8 here].
* For the US version of ''[[Tokyo Mew Mew]]'', [[4Kids! Entertainment]] used a pop song called "Team Up" which was about working together and falling in love.
* The American version of ''[[Sonic X]]'' used "Gotta Go Fast" as opposed to "Sonic Drive".
** There is also an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=7yj7kO9Y1ms Italian opening] and one for the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGq7QBlhvZI UK version].
** The Brazilian version used a generic opening tune which keeps on saying "Sonic X". A translated "Gotta Go Fast" was used for the credits instead.
* [[Disney]] has done this with some of their [[Studio Ghibli]] releases, such as ''[[Ponyo]]'' and ''[[The Secret World of Arrietty]]''. For most of the others, they simply dub the existing theme.<ref>''[[Spirited Away]]'' and ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (anime)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'' are some of the only Ghibli films released by Disney that leaves the ending theme completely untouched.</ref>
** In ''Arrietty'', a dubbed version of the original song — an English version of "Arrietty's Song" along with a French and Japanese version when the movie came out in Japan — is used in the credits for a few minutes. Then the new theme song — "Summertime" by [[Bridgit Mendler]] — plays for the rest of the credits.
** In ''Ponyo'', the entirety of the [[Title Theme Tune]] "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" is played during the end credits. The song isn't long enough to cover the entire sequence, so Disney created a remix of the [[Leitmotif]] and expanded on that, adding elements from American pop and rap songs for the rest of the credits.
** In both cases, the trope is [[Downplayed]] as the original theme songs are still audible, both during the end credits and as recurring motifs throughout the films' soundtrack.
* Every season of ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' receives a different theme song in their English dubs, all of them different from the Japanese versions.
** The Italian dub (which is based on the English version) had its own theme songs for the first 10 seasons, which makes it an [[The Same but More|Alternative Alternative Foreign Theme Song]]?
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A86EDmHevM Season 1]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxrvORHIE3E Season 3]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntaJiXfKln0 Season 4]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkSKCEXRbdE Season 5]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdV78OkZmRU Pokemon Chronicles]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeluqz5DYGs Pokemon Advanced]
* The Japanese version of ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'' is a cute little marching theme. The American version is an over-the-top jazz song.
* All of the anime that [[4Kids! Entertainment]] dubs usually have a different theme song than the Japanese version. They also usually play an instrumental version of the intro song instead of the ending theme
* Every ''[[Digimon]]'' English dub has used entirely new theme songs. The dubs of ''[[Digimon Adventure]]'' through ''[[Digimon Tamers]]'' used an action-packed rap song with minor alterations, while ''[[Digimon Frontier]]'' received an epic chant and ''[[Digimon Savers]]'' received a rock song. With the exception of the ''Savers'' one, all the dub themes feel very thematically different from the Japanese counterparts, which generally all fell into the category of upbeat rock songs. This generally extended to the licensed video games as well, which tended to use versions of the Japanese anime themes which were accordingly changed in translation.
* Inverted with [[Eden of the East]]—the Japanese broadcast used "Falling Down" by [[Britpop]] band [[Oasis]] as the theme, but [[FUNimation]] replaced it with a Japanese song in North America due to rights issues (namely, that there was no way they'd be able to afford having the song appear more than once; frankly they were lucky to get to use it once).
* The Japanese theme song of ''[[Mon Colle Knights]]'' is much different than the English. Compare the majestic Japanese [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSTlyORcF1w theme] to the orchestral, action-sounding English [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-tmf9OkjYg&feature=related theme song].
* The ''[[Samurai Pizza Cats]]'' Japanese [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFv2z4qR9eY theme song] also differs greatly from the English [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXiJYcK4-GU version].
* The English version of ''[[Hamtaro]]'' uses two [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bukeFftebQA&feature=related opening] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT6-PnxQTDM songs] different from the Japanese version. However, it does use the tune of the first Japanese [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvP2wVqYGDY ending theme].
* While not necessarily anime, it was animated in Japan: ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' used a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8uldvja-MY opening]/[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHTWO0BnwU&feature=related ending] theme than the American version.
* During the Dark Age Of Anime In France, most shows got a French opening, many of which ([[Sturgeon's Law|but not all]]) are now considered [[So Bad It's Good]]. French singer Bernard Minet is now more remembered for this than for any independent song.
* The German version of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' had a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCC_-1gVE5Q different OP].
** So did the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZSWsQMP9ec French version]. Unfortunately, it sounds like a jingle from a radio ad.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nae3BRCMD2U Dutch version] was based on the German version, airing a week or so later.
* The original English dub of ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' done by The Ocean Group had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8FzDm4Gbo "Rock the Dragon"].
* The Spanish version of ''[[Saint Seiya]]'' changed ''Pegasus Fantasy'' for a little [[So Bad It's Good]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fiPVeuaxXk new song].
** The English dub used a [[Covered Up|cover]] of the 1982 A Flock of Seagulls song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpxrsEAIMT4 "I Ran"] by [[Bowling for Soup]].
* The first opening theme for the English dub of ''[[Naruto]]'' was [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWx5EJWonmc this], but afterwards, all the theme songs were the original Japanese ones.
** While most dub song switches are met with hatred, this one seems to be a bit of genius as the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBHNygZVsUk original] probably wasn't catchy enough to market the show to a new audience. This bit of genius is seen again when instead of airing the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq0ohfjNpHo third opening,] they just reused the second one while switching out some animation frames.
* [[Pretty Cure]]'s YTV dub has this. "Together we are Pretty Cuuureeee...." (Which is, however, a straight translation of the original theme's repeated lyric "Futari wa Pretty Cure!")
* One of the most well-known [[Magical Girl]] anime in the world, ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'', has not just one foreign language alternate opening theme, but ''three'' of them:
** The English version has one.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl3QZL2BcBQ The Canadian French version,] which not only uses No Nagging Anymore by Froggy Mix, but it also tells the story of how the series began.
** The Italian version had this, too!
** And finally, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Yn4WNULsE the Korean version]. Not only did they make that song in Korean, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPrGwZMvLzw they did it in English, too!]
* Speaking of Korea, ''[[Shugo Chara]]'' has many of these.
** Here's [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x82j0l_shugo-chara-op-1-korean-version-yyy_fun the season one opening], [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8m9l3_shugo-chara-tooniverse-ed-1-korea-v_fun#rel-page-1 and the season one ending].
*** For Doki!, they used [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEIjeTrbvO0 a song by JQT]. Heck, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qJX4uZ-4Gw it even has a full version].
** The Italian dub [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExoqMg8Q3Xg did this too.]
* Basically any anime that is dubbed in Italy will have this.
* When ''[[Tonde Buurin]]'' was dubbed by Saban under the name ''Super Pig'', they replaced the original theme song with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqtXdABfGj0 this.]
* The Fox Kids version of ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ZXbrqPjKM opening] that replaces the original stirring love song with blandly generic "adventure music"
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]''/''[[Dragonball Z]]'' has this Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJeS-RT0Ji8 theme].
*** While [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5nhB2xJNVs all] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvjXvj_VvS4 three] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMN_uk-WFVA series] have their own openings in Italy.
* The ''Dragon Quest'' anime has this Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oAdKb9uVqE theme].
* An instrumental theme of ''[[Naruto]]'' has been made into an Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0LoTndww6g opening], with added lyrics.
* ''[[One Piece]]'' has an Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCTTzec3Z7Y opening].
* ''[[Detective Conan]]'' has an Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqDAa5RhJFE opening].
* ''[[Igano Kabamaru]]'' has an Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLLVnVKJNJI opening].

== Film ==
* While the American version of ''[[How to Train Your Dragon (animation)|How to Train Your Dragon]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_MDe_yI7yA "Sticks and Stones"], the Japanese version uses a J-pop song called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8k35k5OgTo "Emerald"] written by Becky♪♯.
* For the Japanese release of ''[[Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs]]'' Shoko Nakagawa wrote an upbeat, cheerful song called [https://web.archive.org/web/20190614042152/http://www.tudou.com/?__fr=oldtd "Rainbow Forecast"] as the ending theme, differing slightly from Miranda Cosgrove's "Raining Sunshine". If you picture the ending credits with this, the song actually fits pretty well.
* For ''[[Robots]]'', Japan uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0nqc5fDFSw "Mawaru Sora"] written by Hitomi Yaida. The European theme is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zKIu2PFSHc "From Zero to Hero"] by Sarah Connor. [[Terminator|(No, not that one.)]]
* In Japan, ''[[Ice Age]]'', a family comedy, has a surprisingly melancholy theme song. It's called [http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTk2MTgxMjcy.html "Hitoshizuku"] which translates to "A Single Drop of Tears". This could be because the first movie is [[Darker and Edgier]] than the other two.
* ''[[Atlantis: The Lost Empire]]'' has a different theme song for the Japanese version, called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ycvP4EtJU&feature=related "Crystal Vine"], written by DREAMS COME TRUE.
* The Japanese dub of ''[[Monster House]]'' has [https://web.archive.org/web/20120610055538/http://tu.tv/videos/ikimono-gakari-seishun-no-tobira-pv "Seishun no Tobira"].
* ''[[Meet the Robinsons]]'' uses [http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI0MzQ0NTI=.html "Hitomi Hiraite"] by Mitsuki as the Japanese theme song.
* Disney's ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' uses [https://web.archive.org/web/20190614042157/http://v.6.cn/ "Present"] in the Japanese version.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'' uses [https://web.archive.org/web/20110808224218/http://vimeo.com/2130232 "Your Seed"] as the theme song.
* ''[[Over the Hedge (animation)|Over the Hedge]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jg_BG4wQjI "Key of Heart"] as its Japanese theme and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_xog20ur2I "People Say"] as its Korean theme. Both were sung by [[Boa]], who was the voice of Heather the opossum in both versions, making this a [[Do-It-Yourself Theme Tune]].
* For the ''[[Disney Fairies|Tinkerbell]]'' films, Japan uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxI7PN6Wrf0 "Fairy Song"] as the theme song for the first film and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKIvbxFqw68&feature=fvst "You Were"] for the second film.
* ''[[Hoodwinked]]'' has its own Japanese [https://web.archive.org/web/20131025173656/http://www.56.com/u69/v_MjE5ODQxMzA.html theme song].
* ''[[Shrek]] the Third'' has a different theme song for the Japanese version, called [http://www.myspace.com/video/cholapint/w-inds-pv-love-is-the-greatest-thing/59630594 "Love is the Greatest Thing"] by w inds.
* The Japanese version of ''[[The Smurfs (film)|The Smurfs]]'' uses Hey! Say! JUMP's [https://web.archive.org/web/20160124022327/http://www.jukebo.com/hey-say-jump/music-clip,magic-power,qzxv5p.html "Magic Power"] as its theme song. [[Do-It-Yourself Theme Tune|Again, a couple of the singers were voice actors in the Japanese dub]].
* The Japanese version of ''[[Happy Feet]]'' uses [http://www.veoh.com/watch/v16459826BpePHmXd "Hoshi wo Mezashite"] by NEWS as the theme song. One of the singers voiced Mumble in the dub.
* In Japan, ''[[The Day After Tomorrow]]'' gets a theme song called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB8XvmdSmec "More Than a Million Miles"] by a band called...[[Similarly Named Works|Day After Tomorrow]].
* Kimura Kaela's "Jasper" is the theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium]]''. You can view the music video [http://www.bebo.com/c/video?FlashBoxId=6104787677 here] but beware, it's a [[Mind Screw]].
* The second ''[[Arthur and the Invisibles]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqvw13jC7n8 this] as its Japanese theme song.
* The theme song of the Japanese version of ''[[Open Season]]'' is called [https://web.archive.org/web/20160606035339/http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/jv3w2zDREzU "Tookage"] by Chemistry.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNXJMekTSRc "Everlasting"] by [[Boa]] is the image song for Roman Polanski's ''[[Oliver Twist]]''.
* There is a Japanese [https://web.archive.org/web/20081208152659/http://www.freevlog.hu/video/1410.html theme song] for the ''[[Thunderbirds]]'' movie.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]: New Moon'' uses Kato Miliyah's [https://web.archive.org/web/20111128163710/http://jvideo.info/videos/3184/ "Destiny"] as its theme song.
* Rie Fu's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I83YllH-zqM "Until I Say"] is the Japanese theme of the 2005 film ''[[Heidi]]''.
* The Japanese theme song of ''[[Spider-Man (film)|Spider-Man 2]]'' is called [http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTc1ODg0ODIw.html "Web of Night"] by T.M. Revolution.
* The Japanese theme for ''[[Sin City]]'' is [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1iraf_namie-amuro-violet-sauce_music "Violet Sauce"] by Namie Amuro.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCX80NUZa34 "Solve"] is the image song for the Japanese release of ''[[Little Nicky]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XM4oRZbnuU&feature=fvwrel "Sailing My Life"], sung by Hirahara Ayaka and Fujisawa Norisama, is the theme song for the Japanese version of Disney Nature's ''Oceans''.
* ''[[The Rugrats Movie]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVt5lEcCdP0 "Winter's Review"] by SHAZNA as its Japanese theme song.
* The film of ''[[The Spiderwick Chronicles]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoFcudPpCKc "Checkmate"] by Yuugin as its theme song in Japan.
* The theme song for ''[[Bridge to Terabithia]]'' is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2vpFhTZKS8 "To Be in Love"] by MISIA in Japan.
* The Japanese theme song for ''[[Son of the Mask]]'' is [http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTc1NTYwMTgw.html "Mask"] by Tackey & Tsubasa.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNB7gUW3jSs "Good Times (Bad Times remix)] by Rip Slyme is the Japanese theme song of ''[[Despicable Me]]''.
* ''[[G-Force]]'' in Japan has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OAP0SY3xw4 theme song].
* The Japanese theme song for ''[[Hop]]'' is called [http://mp3.zing.vn/bai-hat/Hug-Tomo-Not-Yet/ZWZCAF0A.html "Hug Tomo"] by Not Yet.
* The image song for the Japanese version of ''[[The Wild]]'' is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2oAPeR00Wc "Prisoner of Love"] by the Gospellers.
* The theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[Nacho Libre]]'' is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLYJhOt0RiU "Go! Go! Carlito"] by Jonny Jakobsen.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Bolt]]'' has a different ending theme called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg38D2woPpI "I Look Up at the Same Sky"].
* The Japanese version of ''[[Fantastic Four (film)|Fantastic Four]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AU2cQ-g74U "Kirikirimai"] by Orange Range as its theme song.
* The Japanese version of ''[[An Arctic Tale]]'' uses [http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTU2NDYxOTI0.html "Miracle Star"] by Aoi Teshima as the theme song.
* The Japanese version of ''[[The Expendables]]'' uses the song [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj9bjp_tsuyoshi-nagabuchi-kizuna_music "Kizuna"] by Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi as an [[Image Song]].
* In the Japanese release of ''[[Fearless (film)|Fearless]]'' the theme song was changed from "Fearless" by Jay to "Crime" by High and MIGHTY COLOR. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160307044430/http://multistars.com/forums/index.php?topic=9805.0 This apparently upset many Japanese fans of the original song].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnCvcNAh-w "Sweetest Coma Again"] by Luna Sea is the Japanese ending theme for ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amXKQ351QBw&feature=related "Returner"] by Gackt was used as the theme song in the Japanese version of ''[[The Prestige]]''.
* The theme song for the Japanese version of the movie ''[[Stealth]]'' is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2RgchqDeFc "Countdown"] by Hyde.
* The Japanese version of [[Mulan]] has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McKf8cHPTbg "Breathe"] by Luna Sea as the theme song. The Korean version uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faL1-LYOnP4 "Eternal Memory"] by Lena Park.
* In the Japanese release of ''March of the Penguins'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko3s6c2bJwA "Hikari no Niwa"] by Chara as the theme song.
* The Japanese version of ''Resident Evil: Extinction'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CchbmYkyGE "Last Angel"] by Koda Kumi as the theme song.
* Koda Kumi's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGUI5Iqnuzw "But"] is used as the theme song in the Japanese version of American film: ''[[Step Up]]''.
* In the Japanese version of ''[[Silent Hill (film)|Silent Hill]]'', Anna Tsuchiya's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FVMfRugQNM "Lovin' You"] is used.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUgo8UbROgw "Winner"] by Kazuya Yoshii is used as the theme song for ''Goal II: Living the Dream''.
* The Japanese version of ''P.S. I Love You'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRe01O-ysE this] as its theme song.
* The Japanese version of ''Hachiko: A Dog's Tale'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPcZwTGFBgE "Wasurenai yo"] as its theme song.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Van Helsing]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYo1A1QCT6I "Wild Romance"] by Kyosuke Himuro.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Wanted (film)|Wanted]]'' uses a song by Breakerz as its [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqwWK9qDeJ0http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6qs41_breakerz-yy_music ending theme].
* The Japanese version of ''[[War]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti_OzY5bKQ4 "Strong Style"] by Kreva.
* ''[[The Pursuit of Happyness]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9yRGb_Ywo "Shiawase no Chikara"] as its theme song in Japan.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsZmW3RK5g0 "Girlfriend"] by Crystal Kay, featuring Boa, is the theme song for the Japanese dub of ''[[He's Just Not That Into You]]''.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HxYZeHQ9UM "Before I Decay"] is the Japanese theme song of ''[[The Fast and the Furious]]''.
* The theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[Dear Wendy]]'' is "Gogo no Teikiatsu".
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEfZIAc0cJI "Natsu No Jewelry"] was the theme song of the Japanese version of ''[[The Neverending Story (film)|The Neverending Story]]''.
* The theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[Racing Stripes]]'' is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGho7KxR1xA "I Will"] by Hitomi Shimatani.
* The theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[Bewitched (film)|Bewitched]]'' is "I'll Fall in Love" by Seiko Matsuda.
* For the Korean release of [[Fantastic Four (2015 film)|2015's ''Fantastic Four'']], a song named "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3AWPKqD68g Fantastic]", interpreted by Korean rapper RM (of [[BTS (band)|BTS]] fame) and American singer Mandy Ventrice was released as part of the promotional campaign.

== Live Action TV ==
* The various ''[[Law and Order]]'' series had their theme tunes changed in the UK, possibly because musical tastes changed by the time the original series made it over the Atlantic. Although with the advent of ''[[Law and Order UK]]'' (which uses a theme tune which sounds reminiscent of the original ones) they seem to have switched to the original themes.
** They were only changed for their [[Channel Five]] airings; all other channels to show them in the UK ([[The BBC|BBC1]], [[Sky 1]], Hallmark/Universal, [[ITV|ITV4]]) use the Mike Post ones.
* When ''[[Choudenshi Bioman]]'' was licensed in France, it first used a dubbed opening, but did a [[Channel Hop]] after five or so episodes and got a new opening by Bernard Minet.
* The Japanese version of ''[[The X-Files]]'' has a few ending themes in Japan, including [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1EIlWA9xpM&feature=related "Love Phantom"] by B'z, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJOE-fCf6gw "Unbalanced"] by Maki Oguro, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-3qSL19Yzs "True Navigation"] by Two-Mix. This could be because of the show's [[Germans Love David Hasselhoff|immense popularity in Japan]].
* Several American live-action shows have had new themes put on for French television:
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC9mFHuYLXA Dallas]''.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz6dNznUi3E Starsky & Hutch]''.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocxNE6eHdu8 Heroes]''.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6REdHO3StZo Prison Break]''.
* The Japanese theme song for ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXNM2Kmv6aw "Get Away"].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj5qJD9-HA8 "New World"] by w-inds is the ending theme to the Japanese dub of the second season of ''[[House (TV series)|House]]''.
* The Japanese dub of ''[[Prison Break]]'' uses [https://web.archive.org/web/20190614042202/http://www.tudou.com/?__fr=oldtd "Change"] by YU-A as the theme song.
* The first season of ''[[Chicago Hope]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBsviA3ugZM "In Silence"] as the theme song for the Japanese version.
* [http://vlog.xuite.net/play/Sjk0WmNGLTkzMDI2MS5mbHY=/Bz-15-Ore-to-Omae-no-Atarashii-Kisetsu "Ore to Omae no Atarashii Kisetsu"] by B'z is used as the Japanese ending theme to ''[[The OC]]''.


== Video Games ==
* The English version of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'' changes the Japanese theme, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlgU9vMcq2k "Kimi ga Iru Kara"], to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8qtteb9FBY&feature=player_embedded "My Hands"], by Leona Lewis. This is [[Justified Trope|justified]] because the dubbers weren't able to translate the whole song into English.
* ''[[Sly Cooper]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9UWfT9kHJg "Black Jack"] as its Japanese theme song.
* ''[[R-Type]] Final'' uses the [[Blue Man Group]]'s "Piano Smasher" as the ending theme for the American version.
* Localized ''[[Tales (series)|Tales]]'' almost always replace the original Japanese theme songs with original orchestral openings. ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]'' and ''[[Video Game/Tales Of The World|Tales Of The World]] Radiant Mythology'' were exceptions of sorts, in that the original songs' melodies were kept, but not the vocals. ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'' used an alternative version of the original opening, in English (sung by the same artist, Bonnie Pink).
* ''[[Mega Man 8]]'' uses very different instrumental [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6YaUefm4bw opening] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZijF0_W8E closing] themes in the English version. Compare to the original Japanese themes, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVs0z-VNnFI "Electrical Communication"] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcRp7fEpN6A "Brand New Way"].
* [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9afbf_ravex-rock-u_creation "ROCK U"] by Namie Amuro was used as the Japanese theme song of ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops|Call of Duty Black Ops]]''.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Crash Bandicoot|Crash Nitro Kart]]'' has a different theme song. It can be found [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdBijrvVphI here].


== [[Western Animation]] ==
* ''[[Powerpuff Girls]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMF6-6Zvq8M a couple] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdFAO6U6VRQ&feature=related opening] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-X2Sc46cao&feature=related and] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYexfaVDtrM ending] songs. Most of them were written by Power Puff Soul, a band of singers who joined together for this series, and one of the members includes [[Megumi Hayashibara]]!
* ''[[Ben 10]]'' has a different ending theme for the Japanese version called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWajprtWpf8 "Ladybird Girl"], a love song, which is not very fitting for a show about transforming into multiple aliens.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSJs_lqBUys two] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvxqFdFIN8E&feature=related endings].
* There are several opening and ending themes for ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-BYkTaGc0Y They] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMmx5l93Flk&feature=related can] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrICSsUrH5g&feature=related all] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSph2ksjTTQ&feature=related be] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_3jBzqtFM&feature=related found] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBnMI3Qse8k&feature=related here].
* ''My Little Pony'' segment of ''[[My Little Pony and Friends|My Little Pony 'n Friends]]'' from 80s had at least two cases:
** Italy had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVinkWv3PWc "Vola mio mini pony"] (broadcast on Italia 1, part of Berlusconi's empire of Mediaset) sung by Cristina D'Avena, which was used again as the Italian theme for ''[[My Little Pony Tales]]'', also titled ''Vola mio mini pony''. Also had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAp1m3M1YMQ extended version] and instrumental version.
** France's ''Mon petit poney'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOmq-Th6VA0 also had one] (alongside the [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3pvvr_mon-petit-poney-generique_shortfilms translation of the original theme]). There was a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O11F4WM6jXE full version] of it.
* Like its predecessor, the Italian version of ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'', broadcast on Italia 1, has a different opening song, this time not sung by Cristina D'Avena. The short version can be found [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPN_7MmRQw here] and the full version [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dchiYx5Hzo here].
* The ending theme song for ''[[Ruby Gloom]]'' in the Japanese version is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0O9GJj4aek "Siren"] by Nana Kitade, who used the alias "Ruby Gloom" for this single.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Peter Rabbit]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UDuHUbL9Pk theme song]
* Japanese ''[[Dora the Explorer]]'' uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNGbZHkznk8 "Sound Space Scope"] as its Japanese ending theme song.
* The Japanese dub of ''[[X-Men (animation)|X-Men]]'' not only has a different theme song, it completely reanimates [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWTad94mre8&feature=related the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8HkDMht3d4&feature=related opening!] It also uses a new [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ZIleCnye8&feature=related ending].
* Japanese '90s ''[[Iron Man (animation)|Iron Man]]'' also uses a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWP_StfvsGs different opening theme song].
* The Japanese uses a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s8zZIvDGW8 theme song] for [[Animesque]] French show ''[[Totally Spies!]]''
* ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' has an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x2NbK8IOpQ opening theme] that emphasizes the nonsensical comedy of the show. The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0eSAHXKOGo French version] has lyrics and a slightly more heroic vibe.
* There's different theme songs for the Japanese version of various [[Hanna-Barbera]] cartoons, such as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdkLH9boFP0 Dick Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6EbzvVNh4I ''Wacky Races''], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEFxejz3g18&feature=related ''Space Ghost''], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHBcmIKe-n4 ''Josie and the Pussy Cats''], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OreKtQx0pUE The Impossibles], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6pHynlUnaY&feature=related The Herculoids], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7lGRAA7D3Y Scooby-Doo, Where Are You], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACFUpXiOM2w ''The Funky Phantom''].
* Japanese ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56zZAzFB4KI&feature=related opening theme].
* Japanese ''[[Boondocks]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKOtq1g3Fuw opening theme].
* Rip Slyme wrote a new ending theme song for the Japanese version of ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]''. You can find it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eMyzohXUmQ here].
* The Japanese version of the ''[[Donkey Kong Country (animation)|Donkey Kong Country]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byZ3wEeVqMQ&feature=related opening] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx7laj2-cwc&feature=related ending] theme.
* In Japan, the theme song for ''[[Class of 3000]]'' is called "Funky Teacher" by Seamo.
* The Japanese version of ''[[Magic School Bus]]'' has two ending themes. One of the ending themes is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlagyE7f-20 "Dream On"] by [[Junko Iwao]]. The other is called "Let's Ride" by Dreaming.
* ''[[Peppa Pig]]'' has an alternative Japanese [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu6dDAIepuE theme song].
* Every Western ''[[Transformers]]'' series imported to Japan to date has different themes.
** ''[[Transformers Prime|Prime]]'' is a notable case—rather than having a new song written for it, as is usually the case for Transformers series in Japan, it used the existing song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZpaHTN7qfU "Feeling"] by K-Pop group Big Bang. It...doesn't fit very well with the show's generally dark and edgy tone. It also has a different ending called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9b2MahE2LE "I Believe in All"].
* ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' uses a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4RvzmuDfYE very upbeat] theme in Italy.
** Same with the Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voGx42GYbNs theme].
* The Japanese version of ''[[The Amazing World of Gumball]]'' gets a new Japanese theme song by Moumoon called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZsbhRcLK7g "Yes/No Continue?"]
* The Japanese version of ''[[Pingu]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nZNaWCMsdQ "Pingu Rap"] for the opening theme and [http://nicoviewer.net/sm209918 "Seeds of Happiness"]{{Dead link}} as the ending theme.
* The Japanese version of the 1993 version of ''[[The Pink Panther (animation)|The Pink Panther]]'' has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMGQWYdO8CA&feature=related ending theme].
* The Japanese version of ''[[Franny's Feet]]'' has two ending themes: "Lovin' You" and "My Favorite Shoes" by Daisuke Mori.
* For [[4Kids! Entertainment|4Kids]]'s dub of ''[[Winx Club]]'', they wrote "We are the Winx," which sounded nothing like the original Italian theme. Then their contract with Rainbow S.p.A. was ended, and the rights to the show were given to Nickelodeon. Nick created "Winx! You're Magic Now!", sung by Cymphonique Miller. It was set to the tune of season four's theme song, "La Magia di Winx Club," but was more upbeat and had different lyrics.
* ''[[WITCH (animation)|W.I.T.C.H.]]'' loves this trope;
** The UK, and most of the non-English dubs used [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc05kB2BXJA&feature=related this one], with footage specially animated for the opening.
** The American version [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpbMc4aOyFA&feature=related created a special one] using edited footage from the show.
*** And then it used [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o8xdIGNyf4 a different singer later!]
* The Japanese version of ''[[Biker Mice From Mars]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6AtLiZ1adQ "Gone With the Wind"] for the opening and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJc_-hedrUI "Stay With You Tonight"] for the ending.
* ''[[The Smurfs]]'' cartoon show uses a different theme song from the American version for foreign markets during the introduction sequence.
* The Latin American Spanish dub of the first [[Spider-Man]] TV series uses this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2887MsT5Axw opening] performed by the Chilean singer Capitan Memo.
** He also sings the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MInm-NIdI4M&feature=related Spanish OP] theme of [[Spider Woman]]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gzz7mldeo&feature=related Ditto] with the OP theme of [[Sport Billy]]
* The American version of the [[Lady Lovely Locks]] opening was not a song, but rather a speech telling the viewer about the story of the show. The Korean version, however [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N23SKnq5Rg made their own theme song], with episode clips, clips from the original opening and a clip from the Kideo TV opening which features [[Rainbow Brite]] and [[Popples]], of all things!
* The Latin-American dub of [[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]] has a very similar intro to the original English, except that the tune now [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Qd388kSK4 has lyrics.]
* The Japanese version of [[Babar]] uses [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dabKIf_jygc "Graduation"] by Arisa Mizuki as its theme song.
* The Japanese version of [[The New Adventures of Batman]] has a different [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIXcpf6uhw opening and ending]. The opening is "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aSAkXp-Cv0 Crescent Night Story]" and the ending is "I Love Batman", both by SUE CREAM SUE.
* [[The Mask (animation)|The Mask]] has an Arabic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCZzlmJ7DZY&list=PLDA8F0545A2A234C1&index=6&feature=plpp_video theme].

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Localization Tropes]]
[[Category:Theme Tune]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]