Thoughts On Translation

While the framework of his post is very much gaming related, this post by throughhim413 explores a concept that is integral to the anime community:  that of translation.  Even if you have no interest in starting to translate on your own, I think you’ll find it enlightening to get inside the head of a translator and think about the process behind one of these projects.  They definitely don’t have an easy job.  Not only do they have to convert all the text from Japanese to English, or whatever language, but they also have to do it in a way that we will approve of and within a time-table that appeases our desire for instant gratification.  Sometimes they make decisions that we don’t understand, but you have to realize that there’s always a reason for changes or wording or what have you.  By and large, no translator worth his salt wants to put out a product that people don’t like on purpose.  This is especially true because their choices in rendering can decide how people will think about a series that they care enough about to translate.

Buckle up, because you're approaching a serious wall of text at high speeds.

Durarara!! – Episode 08

Last week on Durarara!!, we explored Shizuo’s background, and in the process learned how four of the main characters in the series met.  This week, the show explores the idea of searching, using Selty and her head as a framework.  I hope this episode has what you’re looking for.

I'm looking for my magic pot of gold, have you seen it?

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu – Episode 08

Last week on Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, Yuuji and Shouko spent a day at the amusement park defining their relationship.  This week, the battle aspect of the series finally returns in force as the ESB system goes haywire.  Hope you still have the NERV to watch this series.

Damnit Yoshii, don't start Instrumentality without permission!

Sora no Woto – Episode 08

Last week on Sora no Woto, we stared down the cold, hard pain of war through Filicia’s eyes.  This week attempts to cure the mood whiplash by going back to a lighthearted, episodic entry.  However, this isn’t to say that nothing happens at all, and there’s a bit of information to gleam from it.

This though... not so important.

Durarara!! – Episode 07

With CJ on hiatus, I’ll take over the Durarara posts for the next few weeks.  Last week focused on Kyohei and his friends that form one of the local Dollars sects in Ikebukuro.  This week makes Shizuo the narrator, who talks about his past and explaining the source of his violent strength.

You know it's a bad day when you get hit by a pole.

CJ’s going on hiatus, but at least we’re looking for new writers~!

Title says it all! CJ’s facing scholarship and other college-related drama over the next two or three weeks, so she won’t be doing Durarara!! posts, Manga Monday or any of the Catch-Up posts she’s been trying to do. Sorry guys! Luckily it’s gonna be a short-term break just to get stuff back on track, and it wouldn’t even have come to this if my work schedule weren’t so nuts…

The good news is that we’re accepting applications for new writers~! It’s nothing serious; just send a review/news article sample to CJ’s email (cjblackwing -at- gmail -dot- com~) with a bit of info about yourself, what series you like, etc. We’re not picky about writing skills, as long as you’re coherent and quasi-committed to this whole blogging thing (help with Season Preview posts, Shameless Shipping and 12 Days of Christmas series as needed; besides that, do whatever you want~)

Anyway, CJ will hopefully survive the scholarship crap (Please be kind to me, WUSTL~!) and manage to get back to new writers within 2-3 days after they email her, so you don’t have to worry about her leaving you hanging for 2 weeks. Don’t be scared; let us know if you want to join us~!

Cowboy Bebop – Tribute

Back in April 2009, my friend, AMV producer nsomniacartist, and one of her friends went through their CD collections to find some good material for new AMVs.  After a few months of initial development, she approached me with one of the projects that spawned from that session.  She had been working on combining Cowboy Bebop with the song Tribute by Tenacious D.  I think both of these things are awesome, so I immediately agreed to help in any way I could.  I don’t have the artistic skills to really produce anything, outside of my ability to write, but I do have an eye for quality.  Fortunately, she had all the video and sound editing skills more than covered; that’s why she’s the artist and I’m the guy writing this post.  After watching the original, very rough draft, we started kicking around ideas, clips, and effects.  It took us six long months, working around computer meltdowns and finagling with Adobe’s silly software.  She showed me her final release candidate, I gave it my seal of approval, and she submitted the video for this past Ohayocon.  The result?  She took home the award for Best Comedy, and there was much rejoicing!

Enough about the story, I’m sure you’d much rather have entertainment.  I know that Youtube embedding doesn’t play always play well with browsers, so click after the break to see the final product.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu – Episode 07

Last week on Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, we had the obligatory swimsuit and bath episode.  This week we finally put those tickets earned from the school orientation event to good use.  Today’s episode focuses solely on Yuuji and Shouko, their relationship, and the efforts of Class F to ship them as hard as humanly possible.

You know, they make a cute couple.

Sora no Woto – Episode 07

Last week on Sora no Woto, we saw how the girls have turned to the black market to survive, due to lack of help from the army.  We also saw how the ties of family aren’t necessarily bound in blood.  This week, the time for another festival has come, but this somber occasion is far from the joyous affair that characterized the series’ first episode.  There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

From fear through the eyes of madness…

[Manga Monday] Afterschool Charisma (with bonus rant about SigIkki)

I finally dove more thoroughly into VIZ’s Ikki online manga “magazine” this past week after sort of ignoring it for a few months. The first series on my reading list was Kumiko Suekane’s Afterschool Charisma, which I had heard a lot about in various places on the net. After plowing through all 7 chapters posted, I found myself craving more, because it is an extremely interesting series so far. It has its unbelievable moments (“Almighty Dolly?!” Please tell me that’s just a poor translation!) but its unique setting and fascinating plot are keeping me hooked.

The only problems? The lack of professionalism by the site’s staff. In addition to not posting a mature content warning regarding the naked boobs in AC chapter 2, the site’s serialization efforts went on an unannounced hiatus for the “holiday season”… and still has not returned from break. According to my poking around, the manga were last updated on December 24th (for some of the series; a few were earlier than that) and don’t seem to have been touched since. It’s February 15th. The “holiday season” ended over a month ago, guys. Additionally, the blog post acknowledging the hiatus is dated January 16th. (Insert snarky commentary here.)