The "Makankōsappō"...How WOULD you localize that?

[jjgp1112]

I agree, but Kamehameha is supposed to be translated as Turtle wave.

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.

Actually I'm pretty sure this was meant to be a double pun - it actually does mean that but it's also the Hawaiian King's name

[Robo4900]

I agree, but Kamehameha is supposed to be translated as Turtle wave.

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.

Actually I'm pretty sure this was meant to be a double pun - it actually does mean that but it's also the Hawaiian King's name

I imagine it having the "Kame" sound in it made it attractive to Toriyama, but again, I don't think "Kamehameha" actually has any meaning in Japanese. Maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've seen around the net, the furthest anyone has gone in arguing the other way has been "well it has Kame in it", and no one really questions it.

[ABED]

Wasn't that kinda the story of how Toriyama came up with the name? He wanted an attack name for Muten Roshi's ki blast and wanted Kame in the name. His wife was the one that suggested Kamehameha and he liked the name.

[Cure Dragon 255]

God that woman deserves more credit. She truly seems to be the woman behind the man.

[DanielSSJ]

For what it's worth Kamehameha isn't "Turtle Destruction Wave". The whole thing looks like this: (かめはめ波) in Japanese, and aside from the last 波/Ha, meaning "wave"), the whole thing is in hiragana and is inherently meaningless. かめ/Kame is obviously meant to suggest the word "turtle" but it's not the word itself, and はめ/Hame seems to be just a bunch of meaningless gibberish. Obviously, the whole thing is meant to be a reference to King Kamehameha of Hawaii, which complicates the translation matter even further.
Long story short, "Kamehameha" is a bizarre half Japanese/half Hawaiian pun that's better off left alone, not at all comparable to a straightforward Japanese word like Makankosappo.

[KBABZ]

For what it's worth Kamehameha isn't "Turtle Destruction Wave". The whole thing looks like this: (かめはめ波) in Japanese, and aside from the last 波/Ha, meaning "wave"), the whole thing is in hiragana and is inherently meaningless. かめ/Kame is obviously meant to suggest the word "turtle" but it's not the word itself, and はめ/Hame seems to be just a bunch of meaningless gibberish. Obviously, the whole thing is meant to be a reference to King Kamehameha of Hawaii, which complicates the translation matter even further.
Long story short, "Kamehameha" is a bizarre half Japanese/half Hawaiian pun that's better off left alone, not at all comparable to a straightforward Japanese word like Makankosappo.

I can imagine Kid Krillin going "Turtle Something Wave!" as he tries to remember the words would be an amusing way to "translate" it, considering it's mostly nonsense with a Turtle and Wave thrown in there.

[Dagon]

Demon Light Piercer

[Cursed Lemon]

"Kamehameha" is a very simple, elegant phrase which fits the motif of punctuating each interval of a charged attack with a basic, punchy syllable. It works in any language, and it ends with the syllable "ha" which is essentially the syllable of an angry shout - i.e. perfect for firing a powerful beam.

"Makankosappo" is both a garbled mouthful for non-Japanese speakers and doesn't jump off the same way. Translating it into something badass was and is a good idea. "Demon Death Spiral" wouldn't be too bad, as I think "spiral" is a better screaming word than "drill" or "wave".

[tinlunlau]

I like teamfourstar's take on it. Makakapotamus!

[SheonGT]

Piercing Demon Beam!

[Acetona]

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.

That's the best for me, it conveys the original name meaning and doesn't try too hard to sound cool.

[Forte224]

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.

That's the best for me, it conveys the original name meaning and doesn't try too hard to sound cool.

What's wrong with an attack name sounding cool? Go watch Toshio Furukawa shout "Makankosappooooooo!!" at interviews and panels and stuff and tell me he doesn't think it sounds awesome. That's like...the point of attack names. Not to bring across the exact, rigid, literal meaning of the attack.

[Acetona]

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.

That's the best for me, it conveys the original name meaning and doesn't try too hard to sound cool.

What's wrong with an attack name sounding cool? Go watch Toshio Furukawa shout "Makankosappooooooo!!" at interviews and panels and stuff and tell me he doesn't think it sounds awesome. That's like...the point of attack names. Not to bring across the exact, rigid, literal meaning of the attack.

That's not what I said though. There's nothing wrong with them sounding cool, but there are times when you try way too hard to sound cool. Like OP suggested the word "infernal". It doesn't work with this technique in particular, imo. When I see "inferno" on attack names, I think of fire-based attacks. Demon Drill Cannon sounds cool enough. It's natural and depicts what the attack is visually.

[Forte224]

Fair enough, though I think Demon Drill Cannon sounds kind of flat.

[Desassina]

How about Piccolo shouting "screw you, demon"?

[Attitudefan]

Demonic Beam Fire would be a sweet translation. I just put together suggestions here and what the original Ocean dub had for the attack name. Fire sounds really cool when shouted out, especially when Scott McNeil does it

To be fair, "Beam Cannon Fire" was a decent stand in.

[Logania]

Piercing Demon Light would be my translation, but I would honestly just like to keep Makankosappo as the name of the attack.

[Tian]

Demon Spiral Beam?

[p-hyvo]

Let's see
In Italian it's named "cannone speciale" , is like in English but without "special".
Wanting to retranslate it following your guidelines, it may be ... Raggio di Luce demoniaca (?) , in English demonic light beam (?)

[Kokonoe]

Vanquishing Light Beam.
Light Slayer Cannon.