Why do the Japanese episode titles contain spoilers?

EricM · Post by **EricM** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:34 am

For example, the following episode titles translated from Japanese completely give away the major events of the episode.

005 - Goku Dies! There's Only One Chance Left
023 - Yamcha Dies! The Terror of the Saibaimen
024 - Farewell Ten-san! Chaozu's Suicide Strategy
028 - Ferocity of the Saiya-jin! Kami-sama and Piccolo Both Die!
049 - Dodoria Dies by Explosion! Vegeta's Fearsome Shockwave
086 - Such Regret...!! Pride of the Saiya-jin - Vegeta Dies

Why?

Mike JD Silva · Post by **Mike JD Silva** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:45 am

From what I've read, for the Japanese, they don't mind being told what happens, its that they want to see how it happens.

There was a story to go with this in one of my books back in college about an American woman married to a Japanese man(both living in Japan) and the newspaper gave an extremely massive spoiler about a character in a show she loved. Disappointed she asked her husband about why they would do this only to get the answer above as well that it was normal for them, and that they have no problems with it.

snaku · Post by **snaku** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:55 am

The manga was always ahead of the anime, so it's not like most people didn't know what was coming.

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:58 am

Keep in mind they also do this to a lot of other anime series' as well. So yeah, for the most part, it's fairly common & not exclusive to Dragon Ball.

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:28 am

That was one of the reasons I preferred the dub episode titles.

sailorspazz · Post by **sailorspazz** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:02 am

Agreed, Super Sonic. I'd say that's the ONLY case in which I prefer something dubs do over Japanese versions. For DBZ, most of it was spoiled before I saw it anyway, but I'd still rather not have character death spoilers right in the title.

"Did you see the episode where Vegeta died?"
"Yeah! What was it called again?"
"Uhh....'Vegeta Dies'"
"Oh yeah....kind of anti-climactic, huh?"
"Yeah...."

(though I think for Vegeta's first death, even Funimation's title was a giveaway...."Death of a Prince", I think")

But yeah, especially if the series is already out in manga form, the Japanese don't care about giving away massive spoilers, 'cause all the kids know what happens, anyway. They don't care about the foreigners who will probably see the anime first.

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:36 am

Think of this. You're watching an episode one week. The title in the next episode preview mentions Vegeta dying. Preview ends. You're left with absolute shock (that is, if you weren't following the manga).

Then comes the realization that you have to wait a week to watch the next episode. Not only is it shocking to find out that Vegeta dies, but it leaves you wondering how it happens.

It's called "suspense."

BrollysKin · Post by **BrollysKin** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:26 am

I think you're scrambiling for a defense because someone has actually pinned a problem in the japanese version.

MajinVejitaXV · Post by **MajinVejitaXV** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:56 am

BrollysKin wrote:I think you're scrambiling for a defense because someone has actually pinned a problem in the japanese version.

Eh, I disagree. The episode titles being spoilers in Japanese are tantamount to running up to a Christian and telling them Christ dies: It doesn't ruin the impact for the given audience.

As already mentioned, the manga had already been out and sold millions of copies. Plus, one obvious advantage of the episode titles is that if you want(ed) to watch a specific part of DragonBall being animated, you could tell what was happening in a given episode.

-Corey

BrollysKin · Post by **BrollysKin** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:50 pm

So it has to do with the japanese culture? I would think it would be like if you walked out of the Empire Strikes Back and yelled out that Darth Vader is Lukes father to the others waiting in line. But it's ok if the movie is titled "Revenge the empire seeks against the rebels! Luke Skywalker is the son of the sith lord menace Vader!"

MajinVejitaXV · Post by **MajinVejitaXV** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 1:37 pm

BrollysKin wrote:I would think it would be like if you walked out of the Empire Strikes Back and yelled out that Darth Vader is Lukes father to the others waiting in line.

Your analogy depends on whether you are talking about walking out of the theatre today or back in 1980. Because if you meant today, well...

-Corey

P.S. - Snape ki--err, nevermind.

Synapse · Post by **Synapse** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 2:36 pm

MajinVejitaXV wrote:P.S. - Snape ki--err, nevermind.

You know a dude literally committed suicide when he found that out before he read it?

TriforceCaptre · Post by **TriforceCaptre** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:11 pm

That Kong comic strip thing actually hits home with me. I went to see the remake with my nephew who was a freshman at the time I believe. Anyways toward the end of the movie he leans over and says "I'm gonna be so bummed if he dies". So I didn't say anything. I couldn't beleive he didn't know, but at the same time I bet that made the movie that much better for him.

Black Mist · Post by **Black Mist** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:37 pm

I saw something today that reminds of these titles. When playing Sonic and the secret rings' Party mode which is like Mario party. It would seem that they did a direct translation of the Mini game names that would seem out of place in an American Mario Party. Names Like Play it Violn! or Roll it Heavy Ball! It made me think that maybe these titles might have to do with cultures in other countries.

Rocketman · Post by **Rocketman** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:50 pm

Tsukento wrote:Then comes the realization that you have to wait a week to watch the next episode. Not only is it shocking to find out that Vegeta dies, but it leaves you wondering how it happens.

It's called "suspense."

"Huh, maybe Piccolo kills him."

Taku128 · Post by **Taku128** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:52 pm

Synapse wrote:
MajinVejitaXV wrote:P.S. - Snape ki--err, nevermind.
You know a dude literally committed suicide when he found that out before he read it?

Source? To stay on topic though, the next episode previews spoil what happens anyways, so I don't think it really matters unless you missed out on the previous epiode, and thus didn't see the next episode preview.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:09 pm

Here's another question: why do most English fiction titles make little or no sense until the ending? Why do we like vaguely worded titles?

There's nothing wrong with titles being 'accurate and informative'.

And there are English fiction titles that are 'spoilers'. Ever hear of 'Death of a Salesman'?

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:35 pm

I find it a bit annoying but after seeing the possible reasons why they do this, I guess it makes sense. Well, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have to worry about what's to come in the episodes anyway...Even now, if you have access to the internet (or even seen a commercial for a Budokai game) and have seen at least one Dragonball-related site, everything pre-Cell Games is basically spoiled for you.
-Rick

Cold Cobra · Post by **Cold Cobra** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:31 pm

What about FUNimation episodes 69 (Dende's Demise), 71 (The End of Vegeta), 137 (Say Goodbye, 17!), and 173 (A Hero's Farewell, kind of vague I'll admit). That's just mentions of death.

Episodes like "Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku", "Captain Ginyu... The Frog", "Piccolo’s Return", "Frieza Defeated!!", and "Namek’s Explosion... Goku’s End?", just from the Frieza Arc, revealed things I didn't want to know the first time round. FUNi didn't have the Manga being ahead excuse either!

KillerCory · Post by **KillerCory** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 6:22 pm

I find it funny in the dub episode 25(episode when Tien dies) is called "Sacrifice" and then episode 153 of the Cell arc is titled "Sacrifice" and it features Tien holding off Cell (and almost dieing again).