This post was written by Dark_Sage. He is Dark_Sage.
You better have a damn good reason you’re not watching this.
Translation Party House Rules:
Mikakunin de Shinkoukei – Engaged to the Unknown – Episode 01
Comparisons: 9 or 18
Participants:
HorribleSubs
t.3.3.d
Underwater
Codes:
{\i1} indicates the start of italics
{\i0} indicates the close of italics
Essential 1.
In the Sentai dub she’ll be 18, I guarantee it.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin01.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: I’m Yonomori Kobeni, and today is my sixteenth birthday.
Nothing special is happening just because I’m turning sixteen,
but just turning sixteen feels special by itself.
t33d :: I’m Yonomori Kobeni, and today is my sixteenth birthday.
Nothing special is going to happen just because I’m turning sixteen,
but even so, turning sixteen still feels a little special.
Underwater :: I’m Yonomori Kobeni, and today’s my sixteenth birthday.
Turning sixteen hasn’t really brought about anything special,
but just the number sixteen kinda gives it this special feeling.
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 2.
I think Benio’s sniffing panties here. I forget.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin02.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: Honestly, it’s your fault Kobeni talks the way she does.
>Isn’t it adorable?
Well, it’s better than her being foulmouthed, I suppose…
>It’s fine ’cause it’s adorable!
>But I can’t say I’d mind being called “Dear Sister,” “Sister Mine,” or “Sissie,” either.
t33d :: Honestly, it’s all your fault Kobeni adopted that odd manner of speaking.
>But isn’t it adorable?
Well, I suppose it’s better than her swearing like a sailor.
>It’s fine ’cause it’s adorable!
>Although, I wouldn’t complain if she called me “Dear Sister,” “Sister of Mine,” or “Sissie,” either.
Underwater :: Good grief.
It’s pretty much your fault that Kobeni talks like this, Benio.
>Don’tcha think it’s cute?
Well, I suppose it’s better than her having a potty mouth.
>It’s cute, so it’s okay.
>I would’ve also loved being called Sister dearest, the Great Sister, or Sissy, though!
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 3.
Kobeni finds out she’s engaged to Mr. Personality.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin03.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: Incidentally, your grandpa picked him to be your fiancé.
>What?!
>What are you talking about?!
You met him when you were little. Don’t you remember?
>Not at all!
>But an arranged marriage in this day and age? Why?
t33d :: Incidentally, your grandpa arranged for him to be your fiancé.
>What?!
>What are you talking about?!
Don’t you remember him from when you were little?
>Not at all!
>But an arranged marriage in this day and age? Why?
Underwater :: By the way, he’s the boy Grandpa arranged to marry you.
>What?!
>What’re you talking about?!
Don’t you remember? You met him when you were a kid.
>Not at all!
>Besides, a {\i1}fiance{\i0} in {\i1}this{\i0} day and age?
>Why?
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 4.
Yeah, yeah, I know. But this line has to be as long as it is for a lot of reasons.
The gist of this scene is that Kobeni/Benio give Mashiro a piece of cake made by a patissier. Mashiro’s trying to appear like a refined, all-knowing sister-in-law, but she’s a kid, so she mistakes “patissier” for a guy’s name. Hilarity ensues and Benio starts a waterfall in her pants.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin04.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: A really popular pâtissier made that cake for us.
I know! Why don’t we all go to the bakery and eat it together sometime?
>The invitation is greatly appreciated.
>However, I cannot continue to impose in this fashion.
>I should like to repay this debt next time.
>What is the person’s name? Pâtissier what?
She’s acting mature!
It’s a little girl trying to act mature, Kobeni!
>>I told you, stop saying “little girl”!
t33d :: A really popular pâtissier made that cake for us.
I know! Why don’t we all go to the bakery and have some together sometime?
>The invitation is greatly appreciated.
>However, I cannot continue to impose in this fashion.
>I should like to repay this debt next time.
>What was the person’s name? Pâtissier what?
She’s acting mature!
It’s a little girl trying to act mature, Kobeni!
>>I told you to stop with the little girls already.
Underwater :: That cake was baked by a really famous patisserie.
Oh, yeah!
We should go to the bakery together some day.
>Thank you for the offer,
>but I can’t keep indulging in your kindness.
>Allow me to return the favor.
>Please tell me their name.
>Patisserie what, exactly?
It’s a…
It’s a {\i1}proud{\i0} loli, Kobeni!
>>Seriously, stop calling her a loli!
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 5.
Kobeni and bishie-kun are walking. Then he slips.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin05.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: Still, I have no idea what he’s thinking.
To suddenly say, “You are very important,”
and call me by my first name like it’s nothing…
This guy might be a real smooth operator.
Or maybe he’s not smooth at all.
t33d :: Still, I have no idea what he’s thinking.
Telling me that I’m very important to him,
and to call me by my first name like it’s nothing…
This guy must be a real smooth operator.
Maybe he’s not so smooth after all.
Underwater :: I still have no idea what’s going through his head.
I mean, he said I’m special to him…
He’s also calling me by my first name.
Maybe there’s more to him than he lets on.
I guess not.
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 6.
Mashiro gonna mash.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin06.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: I’m not picky or anything childish like that.
I can eat grated yam, okra, and even fermented soy beans.
>So she doesn’t like grated yam, okra, or fermented soy beans.
t33d :: I’m not childish enough to be picky about my food.
I can eat grated yam, okra, and even fermented soy beans.
>So she doesn’t like grated yam, okra, or fermented soy beans.
Underwater :: I’m not childish enough to be picky about my food.
I’m fine with yam, ladies’ fingers, and fermented soybeans too.
>So she doesn’t like yam, ladies’ fingers, and fermented soybeans, huh?
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 7.
Kobeni doesn’t know what to call her new husbando.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin07.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: Okay, so… what about you?
>Don’t call him “you”! You have to use a proper term of address for him!
What do you mean, proper?
>Married couples call each other “dear” or “husband,”
>or “darling” or “honey,” or something like that, right?
What?!
>>Just call me by my first name.
See?! Even he’s disturbed!
t33d :: Okay, so… what about you?
>Don’t call him “you”! You have to use a proper term of address for him!
What do you mean by “proper”?
Married couples call each other “dear” or “husband,”
or “darling” or “honey,” or something like that, right?
What?!
>>Just call me by my first name.
See?! Even he’s disturbed!
Underwater :: What about you, dude?
>How dare you call him “dude”!
>Address him properly!
How {\i1}should{\i0} I address him?
>Well, you {\i1}could{\i0} be a good wife and call him Dear, Darling, or Honey.
Say what?!
>>Just call me by my name.
See?! You’re even weirding {\i1}him{\i0} out!
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 8.
Yellow’s thought-talking her jealousy of Mashiro here.
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin08.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: I get to work on the student council with Benio-sama.
I’m such a fortunate person!
But it’s not fair that girl gets special treatment just because they’re related!
It’s not fair, but I envy her!
I envy her, but it’s not fair!
t33d :: I get to work in the student council with Benio-sama.
I’m the luckiest girl alive!
But it’s not fair that that girl gets special treatment just because they’re related!
It’s not fair, but I still envy her!
I envy her, but it’s not fair!
Underwater :: I can’t believe I get to be in the student council with Lady Benio!
It’s like I won the lottery!
I can’t believe that relative of hers is getting special treatment for playing dirty, though.
She’s playing dirty, but I’m so jealous!
I’m so jealous, but she’s playing dirty!
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Essential 9.
“Your resistance only makes her heart beat harder.” There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?
Audio: [mp3t track="http://www.crymore.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Mikakunin09.mp3" play="Start audio" stop="Pause this shit" volslider="y"]
HorribleSubs :: I can’t accept it! I can’t accept it! Benio is a pervert!
>Sister does let loose a bit when she gets home…
She babbles about little girls when she lets loose?!
>I do think that was a bit inappropriate,
>but I think the fact that you object just makes it more amusing to her.
t33d :: I can’t accept it! I won’t accept it! Benio is a pervert!
>Nee-sama does let loose a bit when she gets home…
She babbles about little girls when she lets loose?!
>I do think that was a bit inappropriate,
>but I think the fact that you object just makes it more amusing for her.
Underwater :: I won’t accept it!
I {\i1}refuse{\i0} to accept it!
Benio’s a total pervert!
>Well, of course Sis loosens up a little when she’s at home.
So when she loosens up, she calls people lolis?!
>I {\i1}do{\i0} agree that she’s going too far,
>but I think your resisting is making it more fun for her.
to break off the engagement :: N/A. They all suck.
Decision Point:
- More Mashiro, please. (It’s all about the Benio, but okay. Click the spoiler for more.)
- I better get the results right now, close down all my internets, and watch this godtastic show. (Solid move, but make sure to grab a release before you hit step 2.)
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Which group had which line (unformatted, lazy-mode Sage):
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 1 time
t33d: 0 times
Underwater: 13 times
Looks like your best bet is Underwater
No surprise here. Underwater’s release is far better IMO, at least I think so.
HorribleSubs: 11 times
t33d: 4 times
Underwater: 4 times
Looks like your best bet is HorribleSubs
Well that was… unexpected. I think Underwater just went too over the top with the slang/wap. Most of t33d’s edits either added nothing to the original HS script or introduced errors. Very imperceptive of them indeed.
But I am watching it…
As you should be.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 9 times
t33d: 4 times
Underwater: 5 times
Looks like your best bet is to drop due to insufficient quantities of Mashiro-tan.
And dammit fansubs, you made me choose a “double that” line. A “double that” line! I will never forgive any of you.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 0 times
t33d: 2 times
Underwater: 6 times
Looks like your best bet is Underwater
A decent showing by t33d (whoever they are), but Underwater takes it handily for me.
You better have a damn good reason you’re not watching this.
Mashiro. Quite possibly the most annoying moe character of all-time.
If you want to watch a moe show, may I suggest something good like Non Non Biyori? The characters in that show actually have something resembling a personality.
I like Non Non Biyori as well, but I don’t see how you perceive less character from Mashiro than Renge. If anything, I’d say the reverse is true.
I think she’s one of the better examples of the archetype. She tries to be mature, because she feels the need to make up for her brother, but time and time again her childishness comes out. There’s an honesty in her portrayal that a lot of similar characters can’t match. There’s an easily inferred motive to her actions, but her youth gets the better of her more often than not.
I actually find it kind of touching that she tries to be the brains for her brother, but then immediately runs to him whenever something bothers her. That’s family right there.
Your mistake here is comparing Renge with Mashiro. The closer comparison is Komari and Mashiro. Both have an inferiority complex…but Komari actually manages to be funny, meanwhile I find that Mashiro grates the ears. One of the reasons that Komari works better is because there are intervals between sessions of Komari suffering. Mashiro is one thing after another in quick succession and this destroys any impact that her scenes might have had.
No, Renge is the better comparison (not perfect, mind you, just a better one). They both have the same base archetype, a child who acts older/smarter than she is. Komari wants to be perceived as an adult due to, as you said, an inferiority complex about her height; but her age also suggests a simple desire to become an adult. Mashiro isn’t motivated by an inferiority complex, she wants to be perceived as mature for the sake of her brother.
And sorry, I’m not buying that Mashiro being in multiple scenes destroys her impact as a character. If anything, it bolsters it and gives you a better picture. Not to mention the fact that I just can’t call a character better just because you suffer them less. That sounds more like the annoying cousin that you don’t actually like but tolerate because they aren’t around that often.
NNB is the superior show (judging 12 episodes against 2), but Mashiro is probably the best character out of both shows. She’s fresh, consistent, believable and adorable. She’s what I would unhesitatingly call a great character.
Ren-chon is also pretty damn good, but she doesn’t have the effortless credibility that Mashiro does.
What? Mashiro?
Dude, I hate lolis, but Mashiro’s great. How the hell can you dislike anyone who tries so hard?
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 4 times
t33d: 1 time
Underwater: 2 times
Looks like your best bet is HorribleSubs
Disliked many of CR’s lines. Maybe should go with RAW… Seems an easy enough show.
It’s kind of heavy on the dialogue. Don’t know if that’d be the best idea if you’re not already going RAW for everything else.
Though the images may lead you to believe otherwise, it’s romcom moe, not slice-of-life moe.
It better be a romcom focusing on the development of Benio’s relationship with Mashiro.
Hmmm. Guess I could go with HS and look at subs if they ever say anything I don’t understand. Always watched subs just in case I don’t miss anything.
From the lines used for comparison here, I got everything except the “adulthood, job hunting, middle age, your 60s, your 80s, your 90s” part. Don’t believe I’ve heard the terms before or, at least, often enough to remember them.
HorribleSubs: 7 times
t33d: 5 times
Underwater: 6 times
Looks like your best bet is Harem Time
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 0 times
t33d: 3 times
Underwater: 7 times
Looks like your best bet is Underwater
It kind of shocked me just how clearly the original translation stood out. It also suprised me that, even knowing exactly which one was the original TL, I had to vote against it. Mostly because of overused slang.
>Besides, a {\i1}fiance{\i0} in {\i1}this{\i0} day and age?
That line makes no sense. Do people not get married at all in this day and age?
Also, someone sure went overboard with the italic in that UW release.
They also missed off the accented E (unless that was D_S’s laziness manifesting itself) [/nerd]
While mistakes may be introduced on my end for things like hardsubbed releases where I have to transcribe the script, I’m pretty much just copy pasting scripts here.
tl;dr: Blame daiz.
I figured as much but didn’t want to accidentally do a disservice to the group. But yeah, the way they’ve written it, fiance isn’t a word, never mind the wrong word to stick in there :D
I feel it’s pretty acceptable to omit accents on characters when using loanwords. I don’t see an issue with spelling it “cafe,” “fiance/e,” “deja vu,” etc.
Yeah, fuck typing accents on loanwords. In all cases (except when it’s not? anyone have examples?) it’s clear what’s meant anyway.
exposé is one. There might be a few others, but not many.
Good call. Expose: I was exposed.
I’m used to the lack of accentuation on American English releases. Can’t be helped.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 3 times
t33d: 3 times
Underwater: 3 times
N/A: 3 times
It’s a tie between HorribleSubs, t33d, and Underwater
(only essentials)
HorribleSubs: 5 times
t33d: 7 times
Underwater: 1 time
Looks like your best bet is t33d
I’m as wap as the next guy, but “loli” looked really dumb to me in those sentences. I really didn’t like any of Underwater’s lines.
They didn’t even say “loli”, instead they said “youjo”.
The difference between a loli and a youjo is that everyone knows what a loli is.
(There’s a bit more to it than that, but the difference is subtle enough that the use of “loli” conveys what’s being said much better than translating it to something like “young girl.”)
Why don’t you elaborate on this difference and “youjo” in general for us?
They both refer to a girl who is or looks young, but that’s where the similarities end. Put simply, “loli” has a sexual connotation while “youjo” does not. In Japan, it would be acceptable to refer to a random girl you saw on the street as a “youjo” or “shoujo”. Doing the same thing with “loli” would be worrisome to the people around you. Some contexts would reduce the likelihood of a negative reaction, but probably only if the girl was doing some sort of cosplay.
“Youjo” is just the Kanji for “infant” or “child” and the Kanji for “woman”. “Little girl” is a good translation to an equivalent term in English.
The term “loli” comes from the book “Lolita”, by Vladimir Nabokov. A synopsis of the plot is given on Wikipedia, but it’s basically about a man who becomes obsessed with and repeatedly exploits a pubescent girl sexually, physically, and mentally (with varying degrees of consent). While some of the sexuality of this reference is lost due to few people actually having read the book, it retains enough to give “loli” a very different meaning than other terms referring to young girls.
Actually, I’ve been told that “youjo” is the term of choice they use in news report whenever an underaged girl gets raped or killed or something.
Why is that space so big?
I’ve only encountered it once in conversation with a Japanese person so I can’t attest to its widespread use in conversational Japanese, but I wasn’t given the impression that it’s unusual or has any special meaning beyond the easy translation. Since it was the first time I encountered the word, I asked what it meant and was told that it was basically the same thing as “shoujo”. Given the difference in Kanji, it may specify a slightly younger range than “shoujo”, but I’m just guessing about that and would have to check with a native speaker.
If it is indeed used in news reports as you say, that strengthens the thought that it’s just a normal way to refer to a girl rather than weakening it as you imply it might (“The body of a young woman was found in downtown Los Angeles earlier today…”).
I kinda agree on the first point, but I think the more literal translation to “little girl” in CR’s script is a better choice regardless. While basically all anime fans know what a loli is, far more English speakers know what a little girl is. I think Benio actually saying “loli” repeatedly would have upped her creepy factor quite a bit for viewers who speak any Japanese at all, notably the main audience: Japanese people living in Japan. While Benio’s behavior so far has been borderline, I think that alone would be enough to push her into creepy rapist territory.
I occasionally watch anime with non-fans, so I try to keep creep factor and Japanese terms in the subs I download to a minimum. People who I watch with that are familiar with the internet would recognize and be put off by the term, and those who aren’t would require an awkward explanation.
If Underwater wants to target the harder core fans alone, that’s great for them and their target audience. I’ve loved some of their work on other shows, but this one just didn’t hit the spot for me.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 1 time
t33d: 2 times
Underwater: 13 times
Looks like your best bet is Underwater
underwater can fuck off with how they use the term “loli” despite trying to localize everything else.
Not only that but loli has a complete different connotation, but the people in charge of Underwater are not dumb they’re doing this on purpose and because it’s wrong.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 5 times
t33d: 5 times
Underwater: 8 times
Looks like your best bet is Underwater
Essentials…
HorribleSubs, Underwater: 2 times
t33d: 6 times
Looks like your best bet is t33d
Essentials & Expanded…
HorribleSubs: 3 times
t33d, Underwater: 8 times
Well, that was inconclusive. Underwater (original TL?) tried a bit too hard. But t33d didn’t seem to try hard enough. The former could have, for example, pulled back from “loli” to something like “lassie.” The later could have tried things like editing “space-case brother” to the better nuanced “space-cadet brother,” though I don’t entirely fault them since I still picked their edit “idiot elder brother” as the best choice among the three.
tl;dr
With no clear winner, I’ll have to wait for the reviews to see if there’s a sub good enough to help me tolerate Hakuya.
HorribleSubs: 6 times
t33d: 1 time
Underwater: 1 time
Looks like your best bet is HorribleSubs
I’m surprised.
Overall scores…
HorribleSubs: 4 times
t33d: 4 times
Underwater: 1 time
It’s a tie between HorribleSubs and t33d
Hmm, interesting. Didn’t expect I’ll dislike Underwater’s script this much. What the hell with ‘loli’ and the flood of slang?!
I guess I’ll go with t.3.3.d for the honorifics, whoever t.3.3.d are…