Fansub Review: [Kaylith] Zankyou no Terror (Episode 04)

August 30, 2014August 11, 2014 by Dark_Sage

This post was written by Dark_Sage. He is Dark_Sage.

K-k-k-kawaii!

Release Information

Visual Quality

Script Quality

Results

Release Information

Episode details.

Release format: MKV (565 MB, 10-bit), LQ MP4 (201 MB)

Japanesiness: Defaults to no honorifics, but there’s a second track with honorifics included.

English style: American English.

Encoding details: http://pastebin.com/TRKruX1k

Speed: Slow (>48 hours)

Translation style: Funi edit.

External links.

Group website: http://kaylith.co.uk/

IRC channel: #[email protected]

Visual Review

Karaoke.

Do be aware that since this is a webm, it’s not gonna look quite as good as the actual version. Should be good enough for the purposes of this post, though.

Opening. I can see what they were going for, but it didn’t feel like the color/font choice lent itself to every single scene of the OP.

Rating: Okay+.

Ending. Simple black and white. Best I can give it is an Okay+.

Rating: Okay+.

Typesetting.

Be warned, 50 images lie in wait inside the spoiler tags.

Spoiler for

Above and beyond, absolutely. The typesetting stalled my AMD rig for a brief section, but when tested on my beastly Nvidia machine, it… also stalled. I’d wager it’ll stall out on most computers.

Regardless, the sheer effort put into the typesetting here more than outweighs a second’s stutter. Something may be wrong with the typesetters who worked on this release, but it’s the good kind of wrong.

Script Review

Main Script.

This line may not be wrong, but I do hope Kaylith got sponsored for it.

Most groups would use “which” over “whom” here, cuz even though it’s not “right”, it’s how a lot of people would say the line in real life. Don’t have much of a preference myself, but what little I do have errs on the side of grammar Nazi-ism.

Language varies from character to character and doesn’t break the pace of the script. It’s pretty easy to hear the guy’s accent, even in Japanese, so reflecting it in lines like this one — and blatantly — was a good choice.

Throughout the release, the dialogue itself felt very… mature. A screenshot or two doesn’t really get it across, but the writing definitely captured the tone of the show and added to the atmosphere.

~~Need an article there. “That’s the Metro PD for you.”~~

8/30 Update: While I’m confident my fix makes the line better/more accurate, I’m gonna consider this line just fine. Based on various pieces of evidence I was provided (some people linked me on IRC to decent examples where the article was dropped) AND based on some more real-life evidence I came across (saw a sign outside a convenience store that also dropped the article), this line gets a pass.

I get that Cape Erimo is a place, but where the fuck is Shiretoko Journey? A google search doesn’t even bring anything up. Considering Kaylith didn’t even put anything about this in their release post, I imagine anyone who actually cares about what they read in their subs will be confused too.

Results

Watchability: Faith in fansubbing redeemed-tier.

Visual grade: A+

Script grade: A+

Overall grade: A+

The sheer amount — and quality of — the typesetting in this release really puts Kaylith above anything else I’ve seen from groups on this show. Combine that with a quality script and nice karaoke and you’ve got a winner. It’s gonna be really, really hard for a group to beat Kaylith out on this show.

Do note that Kaylith is rather slow to release their eps (this particular release took them 8 days to get out), so if time’s an issue for ya, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you can wait, I doubt you’ll be displeased with what Kaylith has to offer. This was a truly commendable release.

8/30 Update:

Based on further review of the typesetting (and by that, I mean an in-depth look at the typesetting’s English), it absolutely fit the tone and content of each scene it was displayed in. Match that with only one part where I really disagree with Kaylith (which can be attributed to localization preferences), and you have yourself a release as close to perfect as it’s gonna get.

Well done, Kaylith. Well fucking done.

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49 thoughts on “Fansub Review: [Kaylith] Zankyou no Terror (Episode 04)”

PP

August 11, 2014 at 9:23 pm

>Be warned, 50 images lie in wait inside the spoiler tags.

Fansubbing goes too far yet again, I bet they won’t buy me a new toaster to watch their releases, scrubs.
Reply
- LotusGG
  
  August 11, 2014 at 10:07 pm
  
  LQ is hardsubbed, good luck.
  Reply
duplex

August 11, 2014 at 9:39 pm

>I get that Cape Erimo is a place, but where the fuck is Shiretoko Journey?
They’re supposed to be song names. Shiretoko is a peninsula and national park in Hokkaido.
Reply
- Dark_Sage
  
  August 11, 2014 at 9:41 pm
  
  Everyone should have their own personal duplex. Thanks.
  Reply
anon

August 11, 2014 at 9:45 pm

>inb4 butthurt cartel groups’ staff bitch about D_S being bias.
Reply
- HeavenlyArmed
  
  August 11, 2014 at 10:04 pm
  
  Kaylith got blue on nyaa too, so the cartel can’t be THAT upset.
  Reply
- fnord
  
  August 12, 2014 at 4:40 am
  
  We’re so upset someone put out a decent release that we gave them blue.
  Reply
  - anon
    
    August 12, 2014 at 11:07 am
    
    I’m talking about actual staff here though.
    Not commie song TL.
    Reply
    - :)
      
      August 12, 2014 at 11:33 am
      
      The guy editing it for Kaylith also works for Commie, so…
      Reply
      - FalseDawn
        
        August 12, 2014 at 11:46 am
        
        I knew it! It’s an inside job!
        Reply
Solaristics

August 11, 2014 at 11:08 pm

Sugoi Typesetting.
Reply
Humanity

August 11, 2014 at 11:25 pm

I do appreciate great typesetting.
I can’t remember the last time you gave such a glowing review either.
Reply
- HeavenlyArmed
  
  August 11, 2014 at 11:51 pm
  
  It’s been quite some time. I think this is the closest anyone’s gotten to an A+ since Gotwoot’s Mirai Nikki managed to do it.
  Reply
  - Dark_Sage
    
    August 11, 2014 at 11:54 pm
    
    It’s damn well on the edge. Really an excellent effort from all involved.
    
    Edit: I’m gonna have to think about that Metro PD line. If it’s actually fine (sounds off to me), I’ll do a deep dive on the typesetting lines and see if we can’t have Crymore’s second A+ of the ever.
    Reply
    - HeavenlyArmed
      
      August 13, 2014 at 6:31 pm
      
      If it helps, I’m pretty sure the English in Gotwoot’s Mirai Nikki TS had some notable derps and next to no consistency.
      Reply
      - Fyurie
        
        August 13, 2014 at 6:32 pm
        
        Vouching for that inconsistency. QCing those diaries for BDs was suffering. ;_;
        Reply
        
        Fyurie
        
        August 13, 2014 at 6:33 pm
        
        Uh, BDs*
        
        D_S pls fix.
        Reply
        
        shcboomer
        
        August 14, 2014 at 3:17 pm
        
        Ganbatte Fyurie-pon
        Reply
        
        puddi
        
        August 14, 2014 at 5:29 pm
        
        i got you covered <3
        Reply
        
        Fyurie
        
        August 14, 2014 at 6:09 pm
        
        <3
        Reply
  - Anon
    
    August 12, 2014 at 12:43 am
    
    The grade may be an A-, but as far as glowing reviews go, gg’s Magi is up there[/url].
    Reply
    - Anon
      
      August 12, 2014 at 12:44 am
      
      Ah, it seems the URL tag doesn’t like that one. Here it is raw, I guess: http://www.crymore.net/2012/11/22/fansub-review-gg-magi-episode-07/
      Reply
elenrod

August 12, 2014 at 1:17 am

>it’s the good kind of wrong

Made my toaster’s demise worth it. Thank you, Kaylith.
Reply
Fyurie

August 12, 2014 at 3:09 am

Oh. Cool.
Reply
- Solaristics
  
  August 12, 2014 at 3:38 am
  
  ( ¬‿¬) Cartel group. Jk<3. Good work.
  Reply
  - Fyurie
    
    August 12, 2014 at 3:47 am
    
    Solar pls go. :<
    Reply
- qwerty
  
  August 12, 2014 at 4:36 am
  
  Did you sacrifice Underwater to the Fansub Devil in exchange for this? It explains everything!
  Reply
NexXKinn

August 12, 2014 at 9:26 am

can you take a screenshot of your CPU percent and RAM usage when dat “glorious typesetting” happen?
’cause i’m going to put it on 60fps mode…
Reply
- Dark_Sage
  
  August 12, 2014 at 10:43 am
  
  Don’t have a screenshot for you, but doing some tests it looks like it doubled my CPU use but didn’t hit my RAM.
  Reply
Koby

August 12, 2014 at 11:06 pm

What’s the point in going to the extreme if it makes it unplayable by most watchers? I doubt the majority will have machines more powerful than that.

I haven’t tested the release myself but I’m on a FX-8150 with a Radeon HD-6670 and 8GB ram that I built myself 2 or 3 years ago when the FX-8150 was first released.
Reply
- Jing
  
  August 12, 2014 at 11:17 pm
  
  It’s not unplayable by any means. I have an integrated Intel card and only experience a second’s worth of stutter.
  
  In this case, half-assing the signs in question would’ve been more jarring than a hiccup in the video. That said, I think there’ll be an effort to streamline it for the batch release.
  Reply
  - Koby
    
    August 12, 2014 at 11:23 pm
    
    As I said; I hadn’t tested myself. I was just going by what Dark_Sage stated: “The typesetting stalled my AMD rig for a brief section, but when tested on my beastly Nvidia machine, it… also stalled. I’d wager it’ll stall out on most computers.”
    Reply
    - Jing
      
      August 12, 2014 at 11:32 pm
      
      Yeah, naturally. I wasn’t rejecting your point or anything, just trying to help clarify.
      Reply
      - Nevreen
        
        August 13, 2014 at 1:04 am
        
        PSA: The bottleneck to subtitle rendering is always going to be your CPU unless you’re messing with hardware acceleration. Comparing graphics cards is mostly meaningless.
        Reply
        
        TotallyDenpa
        
        August 13, 2014 at 12:18 pm
        
        But I just got back from BestBuy where I got a new card.
        Are you telling me this wont help me?
        Reply
        
        Darkseid
        
        August 14, 2014 at 11:07 am
        
        If your old graphics card was really bad then it will….but if you have got less than an i5 then no probably not much :P
        Reply
Dark_Sage

August 13, 2014 at 5:53 pm

I’m going to re-review a few pieces tonight based on valid points raised on IRC. Score may increase as a result.
Reply
- Sky
  
  August 13, 2014 at 6:34 pm
  
  >Score may increase as a result.
  
  Wow.
  Reply
Abunja

August 13, 2014 at 11:09 pm

Let’s see how madVR + xy-Subfilter would fare.
Reply
- LotusGG
  
  August 14, 2014 at 12:21 pm
  
  FX-6100 crying at typesettings.
  MADVR + XY-SUBFILTER.
  Reply
  - Abunja
    
    August 15, 2014 at 7:36 am
    
    Yup, experienced the same. I’m running using Intel i5 @ 4GB RAM with GeFOrce GT 630.
    Reply
    - Darkseid
      
      August 15, 2014 at 6:07 pm
      
      seems fine with my i7 :P
      Reply
      - Abunja
        
        August 16, 2014 at 1:33 am
        
        Better upgrade our toasters XD
        Reply
triviper

August 15, 2014 at 10:10 pm

For when the karaokes are not animated, I find the screenshots to be much more insightful. Plus there’s not much of a need to see the ‘karaoke’ as a video in that case?

When they are animated, maybe just show a section so that way you can retain video quality while keeping file size in check.
Reply
Anonman

August 20, 2014 at 4:00 am

I would love to read your reviews of manga “scanlations”. I think that would be an endless source of fun.
Reply
Shauneepeak

August 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm

Nice to see Kaylith getting some high praise. I have been downloading their releases since they started with Sakura Trick they seem to really care about their subs and I think Zankyou proves it. Hopefully this group stays strong and manages to stick around for a good long while.
Reply
ToasterPC

September 6, 2014 at 12:42 pm

Don’t get me wrong, Kaylith’s pretty beast and they’re doing a great job with the show, but I think perhaps these groups should consider PC specs when they’re typesetting this hard. (What comes to mind: their release of Tokyo ESP, which brutally grinds my MPC to a halt during the opening animation for the sake of some totally unnecessary animated typesetting.)
Reply
- cheshyre
  
  September 7, 2014 at 1:36 pm
  
  I want to mention that on the twitter feeds (which I believe is the laggiest part of the Terror release), I would have liked to avoid masking the entire screen, but there would simply have been no room to include the translation. If I had been able to do that, it probably would have run fine. Regardless, Fyurie found the source of the 1 second stutter, and we will be finding a workaround for the BDs. Though, if your computer lags at the title TS for ESP, then it probably won’t change much for your viewing experience. That typesetting is moderately light, and the TS for terror is far more intense than anything you will find in ESP.
  Reply
floogulinc

July 11, 2015 at 4:02 am

this typesetting tho. http://grab.by/IKsw that entire right note and the tape is part of the sub and goes away when turned off.

Also, that feel when you need a new CPU for anime subtitles…
Reply