The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Moderators: General Help, Kanzenshuu Staff
- Fionordequester
- I Live Here
- Posts: 2873
- Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:33 pm
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
You know, thinking of it now, "Kamehameha" may actually be self-evident enough anyway. Had "Master Roshi" been localized properly to start with, he would have been "Kamesennin", or "Turtle Sage/Hermit", right?
Well, the word "Sensei" is pretty familiar even to English speakers; just call him "Great Turtle Sage", "Turtle Sensei", and "Kamesennin" interchangeably! And when the "Kame" style is referred to in the original script, go back and forth between calling it "Turtle Style" and "Kame Style". Heck, remember that one time when Tenshinhan did the Kamehameha himself? Well maybe have him make a snide remark about the "so-called 'Destructive Turtle Wave'" when he does it.
Do that enough times, and I think kids would figure out that "Kame = Turtle" on their own, without any localization shenanigans.
Well, the word "Sensei" is pretty familiar even to English speakers; just call him "Great Turtle Sage", "Turtle Sensei", and "Kamesennin" interchangeably! And when the "Kame" style is referred to in the original script, go back and forth between calling it "Turtle Style" and "Kame Style". Heck, remember that one time when Tenshinhan did the Kamehameha himself? Well maybe have him make a snide remark about the "so-called 'Destructive Turtle Wave'" when he does it.
Do that enough times, and I think kids would figure out that "Kame = Turtle" on their own, without any localization shenanigans.
Kataphrut wrote:It's a bit of a Boy Who Cried Wolf situation to me...Basically, the boy shouldn't have cried wolf when the wolves just wanted to Go See Yamcha. If not, they might have gotten some help when the wolves came back to Make the Donuts.
Chuquita wrote:I liken Gokû Black to "guy can't stand his job, so instead of quitting and finding a job he likes, he instead sets fire not only to his workplace so he doesn't have to work there, but tries setting fire to every store in the franchise of that company".
- KBABZ
- Born 'n Bred Here
- Posts: 5180
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:38 pm
- Location: The tallest tower in West City
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
It also says Kame right there on his house, but to devils advocate myself the link to the man living inside it is never explicitly called out.Fionordequester wrote:You know, thinking of it now, "Kamehameha" may actually be self-evident enough anyway. Had "Master Roshi" been localized properly to start with, he would have been "Kamesennin", or "Turtle Sage/Hermit", right?
Well, the word "Sensei" is pretty familiar even to English speakers; just call him "Great Turtle Sage", "Turtle Sensei", and "Kamesennin" interchangeably! And when the "Kame" style is referred to in the original script, go back and forth between calling it "Turtle Style" and "Kame Style". Heck, remember that one time when Tenshinhan did the Kamehameha himself? Well maybe have him make a snide remark about the "so-called 'Destructive Turtle Wave'" when he does it.
Do that enough times, and I think kids would figure out that "Kame = Turtle" on their own, without any localization shenanigans.
- Robo4900
- I Live Here
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:24 pm
- Location: In another time and place...
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
That's a pretty good one. I'd side with this.Kaboom wrote:I've practically always had a simple localization in mind... "Demon Drill Cannon." Gets all the key translation points across, has some alliteration with "Demon" and "Drill," and it can easily become "Darkness Drill Cannon" for TV broadcast if that must be a thing that happens.
I personally also don't mind Viz's attempt with "Light of death". It's most certainly not perfect, but if it must be localised, it's not a bad way to do it. Particularly since Americans tend to be quite antsy about "Demon" or "Demonic" being words used in media in any context, particularly media aimed at all at children. Though I would perhaps suggest something along the lines of "Demonic murder wave". It's cheesy, but it does what it says on the tin.
Though honestly, the best way is to just romanise it, and leave it untranslated. Attack names tend to sound better like this anyway, and as long as the actor playing Piccolo makes it sound menacing enough, it'll work great.
Last edited by Robo4900 on Mon Dec 17, 2018 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
The point of Dragon Ball is to enjoy it. Never lose sight of that.
- Polyphase Avatron
- Born 'n Bred Here
- Posts: 6643
- Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:48 am
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
When I watched the dub as a kid, I didn't know the difference between "kame" and "Kami".KBABZ wrote:It also says Kame right there on his house, but to devils advocate myself the link to the man living inside it is never explicitly called out.Fionordequester wrote:You know, thinking of it now, "Kamehameha" may actually be self-evident enough anyway. Had "Master Roshi" been localized properly to start with, he would have been "Kamesennin", or "Turtle Sage/Hermit", right?
Well, the word "Sensei" is pretty familiar even to English speakers; just call him "Great Turtle Sage", "Turtle Sensei", and "Kamesennin" interchangeably! And when the "Kame" style is referred to in the original script, go back and forth between calling it "Turtle Style" and "Kame Style". Heck, remember that one time when Tenshinhan did the Kamehameha himself? Well maybe have him make a snide remark about the "so-called 'Destructive Turtle Wave'" when he does it.
Do that enough times, and I think kids would figure out that "Kame = Turtle" on their own, without any localization shenanigans.
Cool stuff that I upload here because Youtube will copyright claim it: https://vimeo.com/user60967147
- Robo4900
- I Live Here
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:24 pm
- Location: In another time and place...
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
The solution to that problem is for the localisation team to just call Piccolo's other half "God". Perhaps more specifically "The god of earth" once you start exploring the wider Dragon Ball cosmology after the Piccolo arc.Polyphase Avatron wrote:When I watched the dub as a kid, I didn't know the difference between "kame" and "Kami".KBABZ wrote:It also says Kame right there on his house, but to devils advocate myself the link to the man living inside it is never explicitly called out.Fionordequester wrote:You know, thinking of it now, "Kamehameha" may actually be self-evident enough anyway. Had "Master Roshi" been localized properly to start with, he would have been "Kamesennin", or "Turtle Sage/Hermit", right?
Well, the word "Sensei" is pretty familiar even to English speakers; just call him "Great Turtle Sage", "Turtle Sensei", and "Kamesennin" interchangeably! And when the "Kame" style is referred to in the original script, go back and forth between calling it "Turtle Style" and "Kame Style". Heck, remember that one time when Tenshinhan did the Kamehameha himself? Well maybe have him make a snide remark about the "so-called 'Destructive Turtle Wave'" when he does it.
Do that enough times, and I think kids would figure out that "Kame = Turtle" on their own, without any localization shenanigans.
Last edited by Robo4900 on Mon Dec 17, 2018 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
The point of Dragon Ball is to enjoy it. Never lose sight of that.
- Robo4900
- I Live Here
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:24 pm
- Location: In another time and place...
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
"Shit, that's pretty good."Doctor. wrote:...Nail Gun?
The point of Dragon Ball is to enjoy it. Never lose sight of that.
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Leaving it untranslated is totally a valid choice and is what should have been done.Fionordequester wrote: But of course, leaving it untranslated isn't a valid choice either. For most English viewers, it'd sound like Piccolo was just shouting a random word, since we don't actually know Japanese.
?
If anything keeping attacks untranslated makes them sound more exotic and interesting amd it would make sense for Piccolo, a demon/alien, to have an alien sounding (to non-Japanese speakers) attack
- KBABZ
- Born 'n Bred Here
- Posts: 5180
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:38 pm
- Location: The tallest tower in West City
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
I agree! Part of what makes Dragon Ball setting appealing to me is that it's foreign in that way, and it helps give it flavour and be more interesting by embracing its various cultural influences, be that ancient China or Inuits or the Middle-East.MasenkoHA wrote:Leaving it untranslated is totally a valid choice and is what should have been done.Fionordequester wrote: But of course, leaving it untranslated isn't a valid choice either. For most English viewers, it'd sound like Piccolo was just shouting a random word, since we don't actually know Japanese.
?
If anything keeping attacks untranslated makes them sound more exotic and interesting amd it would make sense for Piccolo, a demon/alien, to have an alien sounding (to non-Japanese speakers) attack
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Demon's Flash Fire! Technically only four syllables, but I think it rolls off the tongue a little better than, "Demonic Flash Fire" would.
This is the episode of when Gokuh enrages himself after Freezer talk shit about Kuririn
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Gum-Gum Pistol
Yamcha: Do you remember the spell to release him - do you know all the words?
Bulma: Of course! I'm not gonna pull a Frieza and screw it up!
Master Roshi: Bulma, I think Frieza failed because he wore too many clothes!
Cold World (Fanfic)
"It ain't never too late to stop bein' a bitch." - Chad Lamont Butler
Bulma: Of course! I'm not gonna pull a Frieza and screw it up!
Master Roshi: Bulma, I think Frieza failed because he wore too many clothes!
Cold World (Fanfic)
"It ain't never too late to stop bein' a bitch." - Chad Lamont Butler
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
"Demonic Driller"
"Super Demon Drill"
"Demon Light Spear"
Just throwing around a few names... I personally prefer to stick with japanese name but I think it sounds kind of a complicated for the general community, especially the more casual fans, in which case I would understand a localization.
"Super Demon Drill"
"Demon Light Spear"
Just throwing around a few names... I personally prefer to stick with japanese name but I think it sounds kind of a complicated for the general community, especially the more casual fans, in which case I would understand a localization.
I'm back!
Lurking around here since 2014. Just an old fan who regained his passion for Dragon Ball since then.
Lurking around here since 2014. Just an old fan who regained his passion for Dragon Ball since then.
- JohnnyCashKami
- Temporarily Banned
- Posts: 1597
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2018 11:16 pm
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Just leave as is. I love hearing the original terms on foreign dubs.
If you're gonna try to translate that, then what's Kamehame-Ha!? Blue Energy Solar Wave?
If you're gonna try to translate that, then what's Kamehame-Ha!? Blue Energy Solar Wave?
- Kamiccolo9
- Namekian Warrior
- Posts: 10353
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:32 pm
- Location: Regensburg, Germany
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Demon/Devil/Darkness Drill Spiral, or something like that.
Piercing Devil Beam
The Penetrator.
Piercing Devil Beam
The Penetrator.
Champion of the 1st Kanzenshuu Short Story Tenkaichi Budokai
Kamiccolo9's Kompendium of Short Stories
Kamiccolo9's Kompendium of Short Stories
Cipher wrote:If Vegeta does not kill Gohan, I will stop illegally streaming the series.
Malik_DBNA wrote:"Achievement Unlocked: Rule 34"Scarz wrote:Malik, stop. People are asking me for lewd art of possessed Bra (with Vegeta).
- Cure Dragon 255
- Born 'n Bred Here
- Posts: 5121
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 5:23 pm
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Change the DEVIL word for DEMON, and we have a deal Kamiccolo!
Spoiler:
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
I agree, but Kamehameha is supposed to be translated as Turtle wave.JohnnyCashKami wrote:Just leave as is. I love hearing the original terms on foreign dubs.
If you're gonna try to translate that, then what's Kamehame-Ha!? Blue Energy Solar Wave?
"We became like friends, we became like good friends." Broly to Cheelai and Lemo about his fur pelt.
- Robo4900
- I Live Here
- Posts: 4386
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2016 2:24 pm
- Location: In another time and place...
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Kamehameha actually comes from the name of a Hawaian king. "Turtle wave" and/or "Turtle destruction wave" are just attempts people make at trying to make sense out of it as a Japanese word phrase... Which ends up similar to trying to make sense out of the "German" in the Monty Python funniest joke in the world sketch.Hulk10 wrote:I agree, but Kamehameha is supposed to be translated as Turtle wave.
The point of Dragon Ball is to enjoy it. Never lose sight of that.
- Cure Dragon 255
- Born 'n Bred Here
- Posts: 5121
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 5:23 pm
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
I KNEW IT! I was going to say something along those lines but you know way more than I do. Also this brings one more reason it shouldnt be translated, Like the Kameha Wave sounds weird and adds too many lip flaps. Its better to just keep as is.
Spoiler:
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Simply "Demon Drill." Short enough that working it into lip-flaps wouldn't be an issue, alliterative, and a decent-enough translation.
- 8000 Saiyan
- I Live Here
- Posts: 2841
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2016 9:03 am
Re: The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?
Honestly, just keep it as it is. Like Forte said, Makankosappo is a cool name on its own.
"It was deemed to be too awesome." - Scott McNeil on Dragon Ball Kai not being aired yet in Canada.