Odyssey

	Translation Errata Unfortunately, some knowledgeable fans have been upset by the so-called "creative" script writing in the official Bandai DVD releases. In fact, many of the translations in the subtitles and the dubbing of the Seikai series are far off from the original, some cases bad enough that an observant watcher can see direct contradictions between the action on-screen and the translated dialogue. Compiled here are lists of the translation errata for Banner of the Stars disc 2 and 3. Many many thanks go out to Ahjenta for contributing this list. EPISODE 10 Event: Lafiel fires the anti-proton cannon at the first mine. Just before she hits, it splits into multiple warheads. Japanese: Bunretsu!? Bandai: It split in two? Reality: It splits? Comment: A minor gripe, but it does leave you scratching your head. The original dialogue does not specify how many it splits into, just that it splits. So there should never be a numerical quantity attached to this translation. Besides, look at the screen. It splits into 4 warheads. You'd think that should clue in the translator about the mistake. EPISODE 11 Event: Onboard the Flagship, Dousanue is musing to himself. Japanese: ...Aptic ni wa, Doubuse-san no himegimi ga iru hazu... Bandai: We've got Viscountess Paryunu stationed in the Aptic region. Reality: ...Doubuse's own princess daughter should be stationed at Aptic... Comment: I'm sure the Defenders of Bandai will say "It's just semantics! This is just as good a translation!" Event: During the short R&R, Diaho disturbs Lafiel's rest. Lafiel talks to the cat. Japanese: Watashi wa... kono fune o, mattou dekiru to omou ka? Bandai: Have I really... got what it takes to be captain of this ship? Reality: Do you think... I can get this ship through the battle? Comment: Lafiel isn't asking Diaho about her ability as Captain. She is asking Diaho (and foreshadowing) if she can get through this battle without losing the Basroil. EPISODE 12 Event: Title Japanese: Aptic Monchuu Kaisen Bandai: The Battle for Aptic Gate Begins Reality: The Engagement Outside Aptic Gate / The Battle of Aptic Gate Comment: How can you say "Begins" when the battle has been going on for 3 episodes already? Event: As Lafiel prepares to order her crew to abandon ship, she looks at the button that'll give the signal. Japanese: Dekireba... isshou oshitaku wa nakatta na... Bandai: This is something... ...I never thought I'd have to do, Reality: If I can help it... I wish I never had to press this my whole life... Comment: I'm sure Defenders of Bandai will say "Give Bandai a break! It's just semantics!" But is it really? Event: At his command ship, Dousanue is issuing orders. Japanese: Yuugeki butai wa shibaraku taiki... Bandai: The guard ships will stand by... Reality: The flying squadrons will stand by... Comment: There is a big difference between flying squadrons, which are independent raider units, and guard ships which are fleet point defense vessels. In fact, the kanji for both are completely different. But hey, why should I expect the translator to know his kanji? That's such an unrealistic expectation. Event: Spoor explains the essence of Recon Battlegroups to her Chief-of-Staff Japanese: ...Teisatsu bunkantai no hana yo. Bandai: [beating up the weak] ...can be quite a beautiful thing. Reality: [beating up the weak] ...is the glamour of Recon Battlegroups. Comment: What can I say? It's creative translation at work. Event: As Spoor deploys her fleet... Japanese: Jikuuhou wa hanko sentai o hyoujun to suru wa. Bandai: We'll enter space-time bubbles in small groups. Reality: Form space-time bubbles based on half-squadrons [3 ships]. Comment: Apparently the translator doesn't understand the kanji for "half" and "squadron." Either that or he doesn't feel like telling you the formation size. After all army, divisions, squads, or just one guy, it's all just semantics. Event: Spoor's Chief-of-Staff reacts to her plan. Japanese: Nani ga nan demo juurinsen o yaritaku de shikata ga nai you da. Bandai: She plans to demoralize them no matter what it takes. Reality: She wants her trampling warfare no matter what it takes. Comment: Remember what Spoor just said? Beating up the weak is the glamour of Recon Battlegroups. She's dead set on doing just that no matter what. Those of you who've seen Crest may remember the order Admiral Trife gave Spoor at the start of the Battle of Sufugnof--"Trample them." Spoor makes her career out of Trample Warfare. Event: After Spoor orders an all-out mine assault... Japanese: Juurinse yo! Bandai: Go out there! Reality: Trample them! Comment: Defenders of Bandai are going to say "It's just semantics" again. But don't you think "Trample them!" sounds a lot more fitting and impressive? (Weyrlady's note: I know I* like it better!) Event:* As Jinto is counting his misfortunes... Japanese: Tonari no kukaku aida ni wa, gosen daj no shinkuu arushi. Bandai: The pressure in the next sector is probably 5000 daj. Reality: There's a 5000 daj [unit measurement for length] section under vacuum in the adjacent sector Comment: Give me a break. If there is 5000 daj of pressure next sector, then Jinto won't be trapped because his helmet cracked. Even if the translator doesn't know Japanese, you'd expect he has a brain, right? Or am I presuming too much? EPISODE 13 Event: Lafiel talks to Jinto after he wakes up Japanese: Sonata... ...neteiru toki made, shimari no nai kao o shite irunda na... Bandai: You know... ...you look like a fool even when you're asleep. Reality: You know... ...you have a loose-looking face even when you're asleep. Comment: Okay, I'll admit this one may well be just semantics. Though to me, having Lafiel calls Jinto a fool comes across as too harsh for her to say in this siutation. Event: Jinto replies... Japanese: ...Sore to... ...Klasbul no reikyuudan no koto... Bandai: And the body of Klasbul was lying in his coffin. Reality: ...And also... ...the time we were in the coffin rocket of Klasbul... Comment: Ahh, because we are ignorant of what happened in Crest, we don't know how to translate the dialogue as it stands. So let's make stuff up and change the plot. Nevermind that, right after Jinto says this they show you the coffin rocket scene in Klasbul. So all you have to do is watch another 30 seconds of footage, and this line will make sense to you. But that's asking too much from our translator. It's quicker, easier, and more seductive to just change the plot. Event: Jinto recites part of the Abh national anthem. Japanese: Hoshitachi yo-- Nanji no inochi mijikaki kenzoku no nozomi o kiku ga yoi.) Warera no nozomi, Sore wa-- Nanji no motokudachi yukusue o mitoru koto. Bandai: O Stars, listen to our plea as our lives are but short. Our wish... ...is that you will guide us to you when we meet our end. Reality: O Stars-- hear the wish of thy short-lived kin. Our wish-- is to care for thy steady future. Comment: Look at the last line carefully, in particular motokudachi yukusue which means "a steady future." Here motokuda is kanji, and so is sue. By itself, sue means "the end [of something]"; however, add the hiragana yuku before it, and yukusue means "the future." On the other hand, the three hiragana chiyuku is gibberish and makes no sense. So how did the translator screw up? Simple, he parsed the phrase into motokuda[kanji] chiyuku[hiragana] sue[kanji] ignoring the fact that chiyuku is gibberish and should be a telltale sign this parsing is incorrect. This kind of elementary level parsing mistake is what you'd expect out of first year Japanese students. So what does that tell you about our professional translator here? I wonder. Event: Dousanue comments on Spoor's tactics Japanese: ...Muriyari juurinsen ni motte ikimashita ne. Bandai: She has taken a merciless and devastating tactic. Reality: She has forced a trampling battle on us/them. Comment: Dousanue isn't complimenting Spoor here, he is griping that Spoor has taken upon herself to force her way past the enemy scout cruisers so she can beat up on the weaker ships, instead of dueling it out with enemy scout cruisers as he had hoped. Event: Hard sub over a gigantic space station Japanese: Vobeirunei chinjufu Bandai: Vobeirunei Deity Ministry Reality: Vobeirunei Naval Station Comment: Hey, nevermind the fact that Abhs are atheists and proud of it. Nevermind that this is a point of debate between the Empress and the United Mankind Ambassador in Crest. Nevermind that Lafiel explains to Jinto why Abhs choose to be atheists as a result of their original sin in Crest. Chinjufu is a word listed in my Nelson kanji dictionary. But who am I kidding huh, Ken and Steve Ziolkowski (translation) and Kevin McKeown (subtitle script) are professionals who got paid to do this. They have deadlines to meet and they just don't have time to look up dictionaries. Besides, most of their audience, including their employer, won't even notice the difference. Not bad for "customer satisfaction" if you ask me. That's why they're pros and I am just a whiner. EPILOGUE Event: Jinto reciting in Abh (Repeated mistake) Bandai: Oh Stars, listen to our plea as our lives are but short. Our wish is that you will guide us to you when we meet our end. Reality: Oh Stars Hear the wish of thy short-lived kin. Our wish Is to care for thy steady future. Comment: What a difference this makes to the end don't you think? In the Bandai version, Jinto sounds weak and meek, pining for an embrace when he dies. In reality, Jinto is re-affirming his pledge to stay by Lafiel's side, echoing what he said at the end of Crest and the beginning of Banner. Only this time, Jinto uses much stronger words that reflect his greater dedication to Lafiel after what she had told him. You see determination and conviction in this version, but not Bandai's. You're supposed to walk away from Banner knowing Jinto means a lot to Lafiel, and likewise Jinto has pledged the rest of his life to her. It's a positive, uplifting message that Bandai's mistranslation obscured. (Weyrlady's note: It also, in my mind, seems to indicate that Jinto has finally accepted his status as a member of the Abh empire- something he's been confused about for all of Crest and Banner.)