While lettering often goes unnoticed by the general manga-reading audience, translations for seriesespecially popular shonen mangaare heavily scrutinized.
In this case, translators change the Japanese text of weekly and monthly published manga series into English.
By and large, manga translators work on the same schedule as letterers about a month in advance.
© Viz Media
You dont get health benefits from these companies.
It can work out, but it all depends on how much work youre able to get.
Thats one of the biggest misconceptions.
David Evelyn’s English translation forCity Hunter.© Coamix
I also keep track of translations for sound effects across all my titles.
This chapter would be the last, as the series was canceled on February 4, 2024.
InCipher Academys case, that was a bum deal all around, Evelyn said.
David Evelyn’s English translation ofUndead Unluck.© Viz Media
That is not a series meant for weekly translation.
Funnily enough, Evelyn wound up finishing the series after it was concluded with its 32nd chapter.
Not because of it being impossible to translate, but because of the baggage that comes with it.
There are so many people who are going to read it.
He continued: Theres gonna be a ton of people who are really critical of it.
I still have to feel out the pulse of what people are feeling about it.
Stephen Paul’s English translation forOne Piece.© Viz Media
It can be a lot to balance.
This style guide is often shared to help develop other media, likeOne Pieces trading card game.
Though even there, fans have noticed discrepancies with translations, most famously Yamatos pronouns.
One Piece© Shonen Jump
For example,One Pieces aforementioned card game will refer to Yamato with she/her pronouns.
I have to be really careful about the language that I use.
We work before anyone sees the material.
David Evelyn’s English translation ofDestroy All Humans, They Can’t Be Regenerated.©Viz Media
There no prior conception of the material before we get our hands on it.
It definitely happens more with combat and big [shonen] series, Paul said.
I work onAkane-banashi, which is rakugo, so its about the arts.
Stephen Paul’s translation script forAkane-banashi.© Viz Media
Its a fairly successful series.
There are no scanlations.
It just comes out on Sunday when all the other chapters do, and thats the version everybody reads.
© Adam McArthur
Theres no arguing over stuff.
I would say passion, but passion can cross the line.
[Argument] is definitely more prevalent for big battle series, for sure.
Akane-banashi© Viz Media
Eventually, he just got sick of it, locked his account, and moved on, Paul said.
It broke my heart because [McArthur] didnt have to do that, Evelyn said.
What are you gonna gain from that aside from a few thousand likes on Elon Musks masturbation platform?
Were only a single person.
We can only do so much.
With my publisher, specifically Viz Media, they dont give you much in the way of direction.
Dont be a dumbass essentially is the rule of thumb.
Making a living working strictly in manga is a challenge thats only getting harder.
Manga makes for a fun side gig, though!
We gotta eat.
Theres no ifs, and, or buts about that.
I make 5,000 volumes of manga a year, and I dont pay anybody for it.'
etc., he said.
Also, these AI initiatives are not about lost gems in IP libraries that desperately deserve an English release.
There is a ton of localized content out there.
If the big localization houses miss some gem, fan translation communities will pick it up.
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