I hate really have issues with anime fans these days. Yes, I know I've gone on about this before, but honestly...are there a bigger bunch of whining, self righteous, ignorant idiots? I doubt it. I've never run into a fan base of anything, that is more rude and rediculous than those of anime and manga.
Perhaps, it's because the age factor is so young, and most of the fans are pretty much just kids who think they know it all. That's usually what I chalk it up to.
What got me going this time, you ask? Hmmm...I suppose it all started here, with this thread. Note: most of this thread is mindless drivel, but a few of the later posts got me a bit miffed. Honestly, if I was Shin Oktaku fansubbers, I'd pack my stuff and say screw you to all the ungrateful, idiotic retards bitching about their releases. Granted, they did make some mistakes in episode 81 of Naruto, they are a new group, and they are trying to fix their mistakes. However, the Narutards are ready to go to war for the "debotchery" of their precious show.
I wonder how many of these Naruto fans, or anime fans in general speak or read Japanese well enough to know a "poor" translation when they hear it. I know I've been studying the language for a couple years and I still don't "hear" it well enough to understand fully. I can read it with the help of furigana and a dictionary to help me with the words and kanji I don't know, but I still get confused. So it just pisses me off when people start screaming "OH MY GOD, this translation sucks..." especially when it's directed at professional companies.
I expect shaky translations from amatures, like fansubbers and manga scanners. I'm happy these people are taking the time and effort to share these series we wouldn't be able to see otherwise. If there are mistakes, I can overlook them. I know that in my translation of ZERO, there are mistakes. However, I've worked hard to do the best I can, and if you're too stupid to figure out what's going on for yourself, you shouldn't be reading it anyway. I learn more and more about the language as I translate, I spend hours looking things up and studying. I'm confident my translations will get better the more I practice (which is one of the reason's I decided to translate ZERO, for my own personal benifit). I've encouraged my mistakes to be pointed out in a polite manner, but I won't tolerate blatent rudeness, nor should Shin Otaku or any other group or person. If people know so much about the language, then they should take the time to educate and explain, not attack and rub other people's faces in it. To put it lightly, if you don't care to share your knowledge in a polite, helpful manner, keep your frickin pie hole shut.
As for professional companies and their translations, yes, I know there's been some issues with companies such as Funi and 4Kids. Especially 4Kids...I know they've done crappy translations of certain releases. That's a fact. They did it to make the big bucks off shows that are HUGE among the kiddies here. Not that I agree with what they've done, but I can see things from a business perspective so I understand. I might not like it, and it might piss me off, but I do understand.
However, other the many other titles that are released in the US come under fire constantly as well, and they are not released by Funi or 4kids. These shows (take your pick) won't be shown on TV and are strictly for the niche market of anime fans in general. Still, you hear the outraged cry of "the translation is horrible!" Really? どのようにして知っていますか？ お前は Really, I want to know. それは米国化ですか？ Because if that's the case, fans like that need to be shot in the head. I really have issues with the people who have puppies over the fact they changed Ne-san and Onii-san or leave it out totally. Or they don't add the sama, kun, or san to the names..."It messes up the story" "It loses it's feel"...BULLSHIT...if you think that way, go buy the Japanese volumes then and you can have all the san, sama, kun, dono, etc you want. While you're at it, shove a couple pocky up your nose too. Leaving these out does not constitue a "poor" translation. Americanization is part of the translation process. Some things will change, some things will be lost. That's the way it goes. Do people honestly think that in Japan the same thing doesn't happen? People here bitch about title changes, but it happens in Japan too. Some of our movie titles are changed when released over there, but you don't see petitions going up to stop the bastardazation of American movies. On several occasions, my friend Yuko in Tokyo has had a hard time finding movies I've recommended to her, due to changes in the title...
I suppose I'd be more sympathetic to the whiner's cause if their issues weren't so trivial. Fans of Yugioh, Shaman King, DBZ (before the subbed version was released), Tokyo Mew Mew, etc. They have a reason to bitch and complain. But the other 99 bazillion purist and elitist out there are just plain irritating, and what pisses me off the most is that I'd be willing to bet that 99 percent of them have no clue how to read or speak Japanese. Being able to say a couple of catch phrases and recongizing a couple kanji doesn't give you the license to be a translator critic. You can study and study the language for several years, and still not be qualified to know what's a decent translation or not...don't believe me? Go talk to someone who is seriously studying Japanese...Just because your an anime fan doesn't mean you KNOW Japanese.
To Shin Otaku and the other people who are working hard of fansubs and manga translations, take these fools with a grain of salt and do the best you can. Continue to improve your skills and your projects. It's unfortunate that the masses are so ungrateful, and to be honest, they don't deserve the time and effort you put into these series, but there are a few of us who appriciate what you do.
My my, I've gone off on a tangent again. Oh well, I'm sure this will offend the delicate sensibility of some おたく. Life is rough, my friends, life is rough, so wipe your nose and get over it.
Posted by Zoso at May 16, 2004 12:49 AM