Wrong title translations!

[Takai]

I came across many anime and manga titles that were translated incorrectly into English. Some of them are not even translations, but just some random titles that have nothing to do with the original title or the story in the anime/manga. It's making me really angry because I respect the original creator's idea, and I can't stand to see it ruined by ignorance.

Here are a few of examples that are more outrageous than the rest.

Original title: Harukanaru Toki no Naka de
Literate translation: in a distant time
English/American title: Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time

Okay. First of all, the whole phrase/title is supposed to be translated into "in a distant time", not just part of it. But according to our English speaking experts, it's okay to just separate the word "haruka" like it has nothing to do with the rest of the title. "naru toki no naka de" does not even translate into anything that makes sense; it is grammatically incorrect. Even if you were to put aside grammar, without "haruka" it would mean "in a time" or "at a time"; what time?? Future time? Past time? Summer time? And what about "haruka" now that's separated from the rest of the title? What is Haruka? I know what Haruka is; it's a Japanese given name that was never mentioned in the story at all. Any normal person reading that English title will think that it has to do with some Haruka, or at least a place called Haruka. But too bad for that person -- in "Harukanaru Toki no Naka de" Haruka will never show up or be mentioned.

---

Original title: Weiß Kreuz
Literate translation: white cross (German)
English title: Knight Hunters: Weiß Kreuz

What's the big idea this time? ._. I am happy that they did not touch the "weiss kreuz" part; I personally think it's stupid to translate the title that the Japanese creators intentionally made in a different language. But. Knight Hunters? Where did that come from? I can imagine it came from nowhere other than some "smart" person's head. Did they think it would sound cool or something? Well, it doesn't. And that's not the point. The point is -- if you are translating, then translate. Either translate or don't translate. But don't throw your own bullsh*t into where it makes no sense! There are no knight hunters in this story obviously, just a group of four mercenaries for hire. Oh, and -big shock- they don't hunt knights either.

---

There are more that I can't think of right now.
What do you guys think?
Am I the only one that cares about titles this much?
What other wrong translations do you know?

[Montreal]

In general, america's anime companies tend to change names, spellings, titles, and etc. to make them more well suited for america's public.



it used to bother me a lot, but it on a strange level makes sense to sort of 'dumb it down' for american audiences.

[Takai]

In general, america's anime companies tend to change names, spellings, titles, and etc. to make them more well suited for america's public.



it used to bother me a lot, but it on a strange level makes sense to sort of 'dumb it down' for american audiences.

LOL dumb it down! you made my day. Well, I don't purchase any anime from America, so I don't have to curse at my shelf every time I see "Knight Hunters" on it lol. I'm just trying to figure out why it's so hard to just translate without adding things on. (or to at least translate correctly -.-)

[The Guiltiest Gear]

well anime that come to mind are

.hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet
the original title is .hack//dusk

first off the twilight bracelet has no importance in the story aside from the fact Shugo has it(ok well in the anime its what makes data bugs mortal,but they dont exist in the manga)and as far as .hack is concerned the word twilight is used for things associated with the gods(like twilight bracelets/guardians/ect.),the end of the world,and the end of the gods. While the word dusk is used for hope and whatnot.


Fafner:Dead Aggressor
original title is Fafner in the azure sky i believe

iv never understood the dead aggressor part,festums arent some kind of undead creatures.the master types can just take the form of anyone they've assimilated


all that comes to mind at the moment

[Takai]

Yeah, I don't really get the reason between English title of .hack//DUSK either o_o

- - -

Okay, remembered another one.

original title: Hoshi no Koe
literate translation: star's voice
english title: Voices of a Distant Star

First of all, I don't really get why voice is plural. It's one star, not a gang of them o_o and where did 'distant' magically appear from? Can't they just translate without putting in random words? ^^; I'll admit that this time it relates to the plot, but still -- don't put words into the original creator's mouth -.-

- - -

Also, "King of Bandits Jing" ticks me off. I know it's a very little thing, but the word "dorobou" stuck with me ever since Bakura in Yugiou. And "dorobou" is definitely 'thief', not 'bandit'. Thus, it's supposed to be king of thieves. Even in the description it says that he is one of the most feared -thieves-. 'ttaku.

[The Guiltiest Gear]

.hack//GU(it counts,Haseo is still the main character and he has an anime >.>)

vol 2's english title was translated as .hack//Reminisce
original title .Hack//The Voice That Thinks of You

i admit thats an odd sentence but imsure its alluding to Atoli.i base this on those 2 lines constantly bieng repeated when Skeith and Innis duke it out
[spoiler:1h0i95af]"I want you to look at me!!!"
"Nobody ever looks at me!!!"[/spoiler:1h0i95af]

vol 3's title was .hack//Redemption
and japanese title was .Hack//At A Walking Pace

i think the translators just wanted to rythme here because Haseo is just peachy having The Terror of Death attached to him,not like he did anything redeeming.still hated by all lol O_o

Negima
Negima!?
Mahou Sensei Negima:jap title
magical teacher negima?
Negima Magister Negi Magi(only used for the manga):english title

if it where Negima magister Magi Negi it would be latin for Master Wizard Negi,the negima part is just something Asuna dubbed his group because they resembled Nagi's group due to each of thier fighting styles bieng similar to one of the Crimson Wing members(no comment on how negima came out of crimson wing....)

well Negi's not a Magister magi,thats his life GOAL. ^^;

Gravion:english title
Super Heavy god Gravion:jap title

makes sense considering the emphasis on gravitrons

well that was fun,wonder what others i can stumble on ^^

[Takai]

I knew I was forgetting a big one.

original title: Ayakashi - Japanese Classic Horror
English title: Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales

*DIES* what the heck?! i can't even begin to comprehend this nonsense. Ayakashi consists of three stories based on Japanese classic horror legends, three independent stories. Samurai?! I think only the first story can even relate to that -_- It doesn't even sound cool. I don't know what else to say about this. It just sounds lame and it sucks.

[The Guiltiest Gear]

english title:Stellvia of the Universe
jap title:Uch? no Stellvia
translates to:The Road to the Stars

as much as i like the english title it doesnt fit when Stellvia is an inanimate object and not say...a spirit or person.

[Takai]

wait, which one is the official english title? i got confused.

Uchuu no Stellvia translates directly into "Stellvia of the Universe". the road to the stars makes no sense at all o_o i didn't watch it, but that is like.. not even a translation, just nonsense o_O

[The Guiltiest Gear]

stellvia of the universe is the english title,i've read in a few places Stellvia is latin for road of stars or road to the stars ^^;

[Takai]

Hm. so Stellvia isn't anything in the series? was it ever mentioned at all?

But I still think that "Stellvia of the Universe" is the closest to correct translation. It's complicated because it has both Japanese and something else. See, I thought Stellvia was like the name of something in the story. But the Japanese title still has "uchuu no..." in it. So if you really want to translate both Japanese and whatever the other language is, it'd be like... "road to the stars of the universe"? ^^;;

Though my personal opinion is that if they really must translate, then only Japanese should be translated. Because if Japanese creators include other languages in the titles, then it must be for a reason and should be left alone. So my opinion still remains that "Uchuu no Stellvia" is okay as "Stellvia of the Universe".

[The Guiltiest Gear]

ah i see

Stellvia is the foundation(freefloating colony/fortress/academy) that orbits the earth,the other 6 are in random places all over the solar station.

so i mighta been wrong lol

[Takai]

Another strange occurrence i noticed is... "of" ?

original title: Le Chevalier D'Eon (French)
literate translation: Knight D'Eon / D'Eon the Knight
english title: The Knight of D'Eon

where did the "of" come from? ^^; reading the english title, i'd think that there is D'Eon and then there is his knight. But D'Eon is the knight's name, the "of" makes no sense! lol and must they really translate the title? i mean honestly, come on. It totally loses its touch if it's not in French.

- - -

original title: Master Mosquiton (omg english!)
literate translation: NONE
english title: Master of Mosquiton

*dies* what gives?? the title was already in english! XD and again the "of" thing that makes no sense. Again, it makes me think like there is Mosquiton and his master or something. This is just stupid ^^;

[The Guiltiest Gear]

english title Origin:Spirits of the Past
japanese Origin:Agito the Silver-Haired

just WOW,talk about a big difference.And these "spirits of the past" are just a pair of humans from the old world that slept through the catastrophe caused when plants aquired sentience and rained down from the moon.