Anime Fansub Documentary PART 5 (FINAL)

The final part of THE RISE AND FALL OF ANIME FANSUBS. Now weep with me. Weep bitter tears.

Now watch the video response posted below the video!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Anime
• fansubs
• fan
• subtitles
• dub
• dubbing
• japanese
• animation
• naruto
• one
• piece

[deadkenndys]

I'm in agreement with you about half of the time. I personally would like translation to be right in the middle. I like the more literal translation with honorifics regardless of language but the flashy subs need to die. I like signs to be translated and some onscreen translation notes are nice but they are used way to much. I wish more groups would use a more in depth text file with only a few onscreens. Overall great video. My Japanese is good enough understand RAWs but not translate them.

[CavalloDiSpade]

I mostly agree, definitely dislike the flashy fonts and leaving japanese words (unless they're really critical or something) or trying to blend in translated characters with the art.

the one thing i think they should leave though is some of the 'japanese language logic'. like if it would be correct, but unusual to put it that way in english, put it the wierd way. it does give a glipse into their logic, like "your opponent for today... is me"

[EnvyMizuhashi]

@MrMonople Most traditions in anime are often explained by the characters and they're usually insignificant to the overall plot, even in Japan. When they are significant, the term that defines them are localized (Watanagashi Festival is Cotton-Drifting Festival). Preset traditions based on setting or family name (which are always fictional) can be left in JP, such as "Inland Sea of Seto" or the "The Rite of the *insert family name*"

[MrMonople]

the notes on the top of the screen should really just be for information that is relevant to the scene that people who do not live in Japan would not know, such as some traditions...

The honorifics thing i like, but i don't remember all of them which is problematic for bad subs

[LordRenning]

The only part I disagree on is text. Lucky Star's official translation would show screens of Japanese computer text for up to 30 seconds at a time, and my experience, though exactly like the Japanese viewers, was not enjoyable. The fansubs showed onscreen translations, so I could follow it without stopping to consult a booklet every 15 scenes or so.

[EnvyMizuhashi]

@Citadel1221 (con'td) In addition, play every single video game localized by NISA and Aksys Games. They themselves can tell you the same, exact thing and that translating so much as a Japanese pun would be a bit impractical in the translation process. If you want to learn about Japanese puns, find other means than watching an anime you're "suppose" to enjoy.

[EnvyMizuhashi]

@Citadel1221 Japanese puns cannot be translated into English properly. Explaining the pun is not funny, which destroys its purpose entirely, so translators change the pun into something that could more understandable to the English audience. The Hetalia: Axis Powers dub and localization remains to be one of the best examples of this.

[Maceart]

@deadkenndys

Interestingly enough, fansubs didn't go down this path. Around 2009, Crunchyroll came about and thus literal translations went off to the wayside. Karaoke doesn't exist anymore either.

[Citadel1221]

Thank you! You've got me thinking. Shows like Pop-Up-Video made me appreciate tidbits, so I can tolerate useless info intruding on the screen; granted, it is a much abused practice. Honoriffics can get old fast & are mostly easy to translate in English terms.There's only 1 thing that I prefer directly translated (it is also tough for any subs since illustrations will pop up): puns. I just prefer if they tell me what the Japanese pun is, because usually an English pun won't match the animation.

[BerylliumUupa]

I agree on everything but the thing about signs and stuff. Then again, I know enough Japanese now to deactivate subs anyway - but to a big part thanks to these translations on-screen.

Lines on top & bottom should be dialouge.

Everything else is kinda 'justified' by the fact that they simply lack the experience to do it properly, is all. Do it better then, preferrably with my favorite shows which are not easily understood moe-crap but something like spice and wolf with many old expressions.

[Duriretlan]

I also preferred when they changed Japanese names in dubs, it helps for the fluency. They pronounce Japanese names ridiculously in dubs.. Subs are my special place, I don't want them ruined too :( maybe I'll aim for professional production of subs when I'm at translator-level. Who knows?

[Duriretlan]

I gave up on new dubs when Lucky Star kept the honorifics. Professionalism in free works that are easy to produce these days is one thing, sometimes I can overlook bad fansubs if the grammar is OK (doesn't have to be fluent English, I'm a Japanese student so I can appreciate what the literal translations would mean). But professionalism is expected in well.. professional works. i.e. dubs. I hope professional subs don't go down this path.. I wanna *want* to watch anime again, please, industry.