The “ Kengan Ashura ” franchise has been in
the spotlight recently, not only for its success in Japan, but also for an
unfortunate incident involving its English translation for the Western
market. The manga's official artist, Daromeon, has revealed shocking
details about the localization process and the challenges he faced.
According to
Daromeon, the initial English translation and localization task was assigned to
the company Comikey. However, when reviewing the work carried out, it
was found that the quality did not meet the expected standards. Despite
being technically correct, the translation lacked naturalness and fluidity when
read.
What was the
cause of this imbalance? It turns out that Comikey chose to use
Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed by the company Mantra to carry out the
translation process. This decision, although innovative, resulted in a
translation that failed to capture the essence and style of the original manga.
The
incident reveals an emerging dilemma in the manga industry: the growing trend
toward using AI for mass translation. While this technology promises efficiency and speed, it
also raises concerns about quality and fidelity to the original work. The
“Kengan Ashura” case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with relying
exclusively on AI in the translation process.
Additionally,
the episode highlights the crucial role of a quality translation in the
international success of a franchise. Poor translations can undermine the
reader's experience and negatively affect the reception of the work in other
countries. That's why “Kengan Ashura”'s decision to reject Comikey's
translation and turn to translators who had been working on pirated Internet
versions demonstrates a commitment to excellence and respect for international fans.
The fragment
of the interview:
- « Speaking of which, I
have never heard how you and Yabako-sensei agreed on the location of
Kengan. Who did you approach first, the fan translation team, your editor,
or the manga streaming service Comikey [the manga streaming platform your
series is currently on]? ».
- Daromeon: « I ended
up recommending the fan team to my editor, since what they showed me at
first was horrible. I don't know how the rest went on .
- " Wait to? What was
wrong with what the editor showed you?! ».
- Daromeon: « The first
translation I saw was quite good as a translation, as if it had been done
as part of an English test for school, but it was not natural to read. I
had to print both what they showed me and the pirated version and show it
to my editor, side by side, to explain how much more fluid the fan
translation was than the “official” one .
Ultimately,
the setback in the translation of “Kengan Ashura” raises important questions
about the balance between technological innovation and the preservation of
artistic and narrative quality in the world of manga. As the industry
moves towards an AI-driven future, it is essential that careful attention be
maintained to ensure that translations capture the essence and intent of the
source material, thereby preserving its impact and relevance across all
audiences.
Source: BoundingInto Comics
