NPC Creation in DC

[manikus]

As a non-Asian-language speaker/reader, it is a bit less important to me, except for a few words that I know. But, if I did know the word it might help add another layer (sophistication? comedic?) to the narrative.
There is a tradition of Manga characters bearing nouns from other languages as names.

I think if you feel silly doing it a certain way, then don't do it that way.

[Uatu]

No no, your approach is good (the main problem is when people just make up words that sound "Japanesey" (for example), or when they import words and then change their meanings (probably because they just didn't know better)).

Manga is especially bad, probably because most writers went to high school at best; they just want to be cool, so they for example might write for a "special technique":

竜王紅蓮拳! (Ryuuourekkaken, i.e. "dragon king crimson lotus fist")

But on top (the pronunciation) write:

Reddo Doragon (Red Dragon)!

To just make a mess of everything.

[manikus]

I was thinking of DBZ with it's large number of villains named after food items or musical instruments. I think they are intended to make the reader laugh.

[Uatu]

Ah - well, Dragonball is a bit of an exception - the writer is just a funny guy (who likes puns). Dr. Slump, his previous title, had a lot of funny names, too - like Mr. Scope (who looks exactly like Mr. Spock).

I have seen other stupid mistakes in other manga, though - such as "Chinese names" for characters that are just wrong (the pronunciations given are wrong). If the author had just looked it up...

[manikus]

As someone who only reads the English version of manga (and not very often anymore), I have only read DragonBall (I was so disappointed with everything in DBZ after Vegeta comes to the Earth) with much regularity, for exactly the reasons you've mentioned above. I always just thought it was a bad translation (into English).

[Uatu]

Well - to be sure, Dragonball is a bit of a hard one to translate (first of all, it is a Japanese comic based on a Chinese fable (do you call the main character "Son Goku" or "Sun Wukong?")) - but sometimes it is just the translator's fault

Now, the upcoming Hollywood production takes this a step further and just makes "Goku" Caucasian Uh, um, yeaaah...

[manikus]

Originally Posted by Uatu Well - to be sure, Dragonball is a bit of a hard one to translate (first of all, it is a Japanese comic based on a Chinese fable (do you call the main character "Son Goku" or "Sun Wukong?")) - but sometimes it is just the translator's fault Now, the upcoming Hollywood production takes this a step further and just makes "Goku" Caucasian Uh, um, yeaaah...

I know that they're making that movie...and I know "Spike" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is Piccolo. I'm afraid to know more. If "Goku" is Caucasian, what are they going to do to Kuririn/Krillin?

[manikus]

Originally Posted by manikus I know that they're making that movie...and I know "Spike" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is Piccolo. I'm afraid to know more. If "Goku" is Caucasian, what are they going to do to Kuririn/Krillin?

Ack! Kuririn is not even in the movie and Yun-Fat Chow is playing Master Roshi and part of the movie takes place in a .... high school!

[Uatu]

Arrrgh... Talk about completely ignoring the original work.

[manikus]

I am pretty sure I will not be seeing this movie. But, who knows - I may check it out once the library gets it on dvd. I will definitely not spend money to see this (other than time equaling money).