Ask John: Why Don’t Commercial DVDs Include Translation Notes?

Question:
I’ve noticed that fansubbed anime usually contains at least an occasional translator note, and that sometimes the translator’s notes are required to even remotely understand what the characters are talking about (as is often the case in Azumanga Daioh.)

However, I’ve also noticed that commercially subtitled releases rarely include translator notes. Does this mean the commercial subtitles have been “dumbed-down,” so that translator notes aren’t needed?

Answer:
Generally official domestic translations are reliable and accurate, although not always quite as literal as some fans would prefer. From personal experience I can confirm that professional DVD subtitles are sometimes significantly better than even excellent fansub translations because professional translators have more resources to work from. Fansubs have to be produced from the audio track on the anime alone. Official, licensed subtitle translations have the benefit of access to both the anime’s audio track and the original printed Japanese shooting scripts. But fansubs also have certain opportunities that aren’t always open to professional, official subtitle translations.

Since fansubs are traditionally concerned with introducing Japanese language and culture to English speaking fans, fansubs often retain references to Japanese culture, and occasionally Japanese terms or honorifics that don’t have direct English language equivalents. Certain official American DVD releases, such as titles from AN Entertainment, AnimEigo, Synch Point, and, to a lesser degree, TOKYOPOP, do sometimes include Japanese terms in the subtitles and include extensive translation notes. But while fansubs aren’t commercial and therefore don’t have to worry about overwhelming or confusing viewers, professional anime DVD releases have to concern themselves with their accessibility to mainstream viewers. An anime DVD that’s too heavily steeped in Japanese culture or language may actually hurt its own sales potential by seeming too daunting or foreign to mainstream consumers. In simple terms, fansubs exist to educate and inform viewers. Legitimate, official DVDs, by necessity, prioritize appealing to and entertaining viewers- a goal that’s sometimes incompatible with appearing didactic.

AD Vision has included translation notes with its Steel Angel Kurumi DVDs, although the translation notes not only explain certain Japanese characteristics in the show, but also point out Japanese elements in the show that have been edited out of the subtitles. TOKYOPOP and Synch Point include translation notes in their DVD release, and AnimEigo and AN Entertainment are both relatively famous for their extensive, exhaustive translation notes. So it’s not really accurate or fair to say that legitimate subtitle translations are “dumbed down.” Rather, often times they’re written so as to avoid the necessity for translation notes, which is not exactly editing so much as it is colloquial translating, (or in the opinion of some critics, good translating). And again, in their defense, can’t always be as eager to produce translations that require extensive additional reading as fansubs sometimes are; a professional, commercial product has different standards and requirements than a non-commercial, non-profit product. Fansubs make presumptions about their viewers which official DVD translations cannot. Fansubs are designed to appeal to a small target audience of viewers predisposed toward Japanese culture and foreign film. Official DVD releases are translated with the goal of balancing translation accuracy with accessibility to the widest possible audience. Neither goal is more valid than the other; both have their pros and cons.