Added Insults

Changing a form a media like a movie, video game or TV show into another language involves both translation and localization.

Localization involves intentionally changing the content of the game, show or movie, in order to better appeal to the new target market.

In Disney’s “Zootopia,” for example, four different news anchor characters were created and inserted into the movie depending upon the area it was targeted to.

While a moose for North America, the character was a Tanuki for the movie’s Japan release, a panda for the China release and a koala for the Australian version of the movie. This happens most often with jokes, as humor can vary wildly from culture to culture. 

In Twisted Wonderland, for example, Vil makes a disparaging joke on the JP server about Leona, asking if he is certain that he is a prince and not actually an egg.

One of the ways that the word “egg” can be written in Japanese looks visually very similar to the kanji for “prince,” so Vil is making a Japanese-language joke, saying that Leona might just get mistaken for a prince by those who do not look closely enough, which follows Vil’s habit of simultaneously complimenting Leona’s appearance while insulting everything else about him. And this is impossible to translate into the English language.

To get around it, the English-language adaption of the game rewrote Vil’s dialogue for a joke about jesters. And this is perfect localization.

If you have ever wondered, “Why was this dialogue changed so completely from what the character originally said?,” often times the answer will be, “For you, because the producers thought that you would enjoy this version more than the original.”

There have also been insults introduced to the English-language version of Twisted Wonderland. This is possibly because rudeness is often portrayed via verb forms, personal pronouns and honorifics (or lack thereof) in Japanese. As this cannot be portrayed in English, the English-language adaptation often chooses to add name calling, instead.

Original Prefect: He talks so loudly in his sleep!
EN Prefect: He’s even a jerk in his dreams.

Original Ace: Big words when you and the prefect are each half a student…still, though. Good for you, yeah?
EN Ace: Big words for a sentient pile of lint who’s literally only half a student. Still… Good for you.

Original Ace: Damn it–!! I will NEVER apologize!
EN Ace: I will NEVER apologize! Not to that numbskull!

Original Cater: Ah! Let’s all take a commemorative photo!
EN Cater: Okay, MOM. Now, if you’re done nagging…we should take a pre-game pic!

Original Cater: He really left. He’s the type to finish all of his summer vacation homework on the first day.
EN Cater: That nerd really left me in the lurch… I bet when they give homework over holiday breaks, he does it all on the first day, too.

Original Trey: So…what was all that about?
EN Trey: So…care to explain what had your boa-feathers ruffled earlier?

Original Jade: Ghost-san…
EN Jade: Silly ghost.

Original Leona: He’s never around, though?
EN Leona: And that surprises you? Dude’s a total recluse.

Original Leona: Let’s shoo the fairies away and take the magestone back.
EN Leona: Let’s just shoo off the stupid fairies and take the magestone back.

Original Leona: Tch. Buncha herbivores. I’m telling you, you’ve got me with you.
EN Leona: Tch. Buncha herbivores. You got ME. Do I have to spell it out in crayon?

Original Leona: See ya. Unlike you guys, I’ve got things to do.
EN Leona: See ya. Unlike you freaks, I got things to do.

Original Leona: You think he and I are friends? You’re talking in your sleep.
EN Leona: You think we’re FRIENDS? You’re dreamin’. Come back and talk to me once you wake up. Or better yet, don’t.

Original Ruggie: Yeah, I don’t need a little brother this big and burly.
EN Ruggie: Yeah, but I don’t need some protein-addled muscle freak nippin’ at my heels and beggin’ for advice.

Original Jack: I’ll go alone. You guys will wait here, then?
EN Jack: I’ll go alone if you’re too chicken. You can just wait here.

Original Rook: What are you saying?
EN Rook: Don’t be an idiote.

Original Lilia: Hahaha, recently I have been sleeping properly at night.
EN Lilia: Ha ha ha! Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’ve been getting my beauty sleep recently.