Shueisha Adopting Funimation's Name Spellings

[DaSuperBaby]

Those of you who don't use Funimation's name spellings, how do you feel about Shueisha adopting and currently sticking to those name spellings (or other, non-Funimation spellings that the Kanzenshuu staff decided not to use), using them in the titles of popular works, using them on the front covers of V-Jump issues, and so on?

Also, how do you feel about Shueisha, Bandai, etc. using terms like "Android" (which isn't "wrong" from what I understand, but "Artificial Human" is generally preferred here)?

[SuperSaiyaManZ94]

Apparently it's some kind of brand "internationalization" or unifying of some sort. Though it's seemingly not across the board with every name and term, like i don't think they've gone so far as using such pronunciations like Korin, Tien Shinhan, Krillin or naming schemes like King Piccolo and so on.

Also, in terms of the Android/Artificial Human thing, i think there's also the distinction that #17 and #18 were formerly full organic humans at one point in time but had since been scientifically altered and augmented by Dr. Gero much as how he'd done with himself, while #16 and #19 on the other hand are or were fully cybernetic creations.

[TechExpert2021]

I feel skeptical of Toei, Shueisha, and Bandai Namco standardizing the Funimation name spellings in official Japanese- and English-language Dragon Ball material. And this is coming from a dub fan who actually prefers the correct name spellings and terminology. What's even worse is that official English subs of modern and future DB anime and films from DBS Broly onwards will use the Funimation name spellings instead of the correct ones (this was already done with the official English subs of DBS Broly and DBS Super Hero and I believe the same will go for DB Daima). Official English localizations of DB video games always use the Funimation name spellings and they still do.

[JulieYBM]

i try not to think about it, because i'm a really old and tired lady now and i don't want to complain about the same shit i did when i was a teenage in the 2000s.

I think it sucks that some less-than-accurate terms and spellings are being adopted, but hey, why should I care? I don't have to interact with them or whatever. What benefit am I going to get out of this that is going to make my life easier? If I complain about 'Android' or...actually, I don't know what else to use as an example here, but if I complain about it is somebody going to pay my bills? I could use a couple grand for my medical bills, that would be nice!

Like, even these days I'm not really consistent about what terms I use because...who cares? I socialize too much to need to explain myself and my own bullshit over-and-over when talking to someone about Dragon Ball or what the fuck ever, so some of the English terms slip in for the sake of convenience.

[MasenkoHA]

Somewhat seconding Julie here, does it really matter? People will continue to call the characters whatever they want to. A Bulma by any other name is still a Buruma.

Also, how do you feel about Shueisha, Bandai, etc. using terms like "Android" (which isn't "wrong" from what I understand, but "Artificial Human" is generally preferred here)?

Artificial Human is the literal translation of Jinzo Ningen. Android is a perfectly valid translation. Some fans will insist Artifical Human is a better umbrella term for Androids and Cyborgs (what 17 and 18 are) but that seems like a big reach.

[TheGreatness25]

Hasn't this been happening for a while at this point? It kinda sucks, but the Japanese version ain't going anywhere. They can adapt the names however they'd like, but the names are still pronounced the way they're pronounced and their native spelling is still open to interpretation. I think fans of the Japanese version of Dragon Ball don't need a company to tell them what the names are at this point.

[tinlunlau]

Over in the Chinese side of things, the manga used localizations from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. Some of the names are different pending on the 3 Chinese speaking areas. Bandai uses neither of these localizations and decided it would be best to go by their localized naming. This would apply to current video games and collectible cards.

Nintendo has been practicing the same stance for their IP's. Hong Kongers even protested over Pokemon, lol!

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

If I complain about 'Android' or...actually, I don't know what else to use as an example here, but if I complain about it is somebody going to pay my bills? I could use a couple grand for my medical bills, that would be nice!

Ironically part of the reason you'll hear so much vitriol over little details the average Joe who watched Dragon Ball Z on Toonami as a kid wouldn't care about is because some people do profit from this on platforms like YouTube.

As someone who is not an "influencer" or content creator with a large following (I've relaunched my blog, but it's a small fan project that I don't profit from) though I agree with your "what's the point?" sentiment. I'm 33, and likewise have far bigger things to worry about than the finer details about media I went out of my way to educate people on when I was younger.

I was talking to a good friend some years ago, I said "Mr Satan", not in a pompous, elitist way but because I'm used to using the name now and I think the pun is important, especially when you consider the fact the Earthlings generally worship him, and although my friend said "Hercule" I didn't feel the need to correct him and berate him for using a dubism. We both knew what the other was talking about, so why give a damn otherwise? I'm not going to benefit from trashing people for being "filthy casuals" and understand we will say certain names, terns and pronounce a certain way out of habit.

I'll still say "Say-An", as I'm sure a lot of fans who even learned to appreciate the Japanese version still will because its so iconic. Even if you don't, why complain harshly if someone else doesn't. It only looks bad on you at the end of the day. There's far bigger things to worry about in this day and age.

[BlueChi]

As much as I'd prefer the original japanese naming, I think that, given the international range that Funimation has, what with the videogames being a lot of people's first exposure to the series outside of the anime proper, it was only a matter of time until both aspects were merged.

It's not a gigantic loss, and we know what the names are referring to either way.
Now if they corrected the manga translations and redubbed the first 3 anime, that'd be swell.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

the international range that Funimation has, what with the videogames being a lot of people's first exposure to the series outside of the anime proper

Probably true in a lot of cases, but for a lot of old school fans in the Britain and Ireland the games were our first exposure to the Japanese cast. The UK releases of Ultimate Battle 22, Final Bout, and Budokai 1 all featured the Japanese cast exclusively and it was only from Budokai 2 onwards the games included both the Japanese and Funimation casts (with Japanese becoming the default from Xenoverse onward) with the exception of Super Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure.

I agree though, that love it or hate it this was inevitable. The writing was on the wall when Super was streamed with dubtitles despite the simulcast being for fans of the Japanese version or revised spellings in figurines.

TOEI and Shueshia just wanted a cheap product to sell manga and merchandise and likely never thought people would be talking about Dragon Ball in the 2010s and 2020s. Hell they were probably quite shocked with the global pop culture phenomenon it became in the late 90s and early 2000s. I'd imagine they made more money during this time than during the series original run in the 80s and 90s and for that reason they were ultimately going to use what Western territories became accustomed to as a template for brand uniformity.