Translation Review: [HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal – 01 (CR/Nico)

A Nico/CR simultaneous broadcast of the reboot of one of the biggest franchises ever and quite possibly one of the biggest shows in years.

Surely the subs will be good, right?

…Right?

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.04_[2014.07.05_17.25.07]

<@usagi> me irl

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.08_[2014.07.05_17.53.26]

“Mom, you idiot!”

I kid, I kid. But there are a lot of lines in this release that ignore the audio in favour of… something. I’d be here all day if I tried to list all of them in this review, so I’m going to ignore stuff that’s acceptable/borderline okay (like this line here), and focus on the egregious errors. Still, do keep in mind that stuff like this exists.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.18_[2014.07.05_18.00.31]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.20_[2014.07.05_18.00.37]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.22_[2014.07.05_18.00.41]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.26_[2014.07.05_18.00.53]

Here’s an example of a translation that might work standalone, but not in context.

The first “ouch” is all right, but not the second one because it ties into Usagi’s response to her mother’s question.

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not!”

“I’m in pain!”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.28_[2014.07.05_18.07.15]

Who talks like this? A healthy dose of contractions would really help these subs.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.31_[2014.07.05_18.09.23]

Ugh, these overlaps.

And not every hai is a yes.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_02.46_[2014.07.05_18.10.41]

Bad…

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_03.07_[2014.07.05_18.11.40]

Surprise! The songs are translated!

The translation’s decent for the most part, only there’s shit like this.

And while I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it down to HS styling, this wouldn’t have been an issue if they’d timed and split the lines properly.

But they didn’t. The timing’s atrocious throughout the episode.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_04.32_[2014.07.05_18.36.52]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_04.34_[2014.07.05_18.36.56]

And so’s the editing.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_04.49_[2014.07.05_18.44.16]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_04.52_[2014.07.05_18.44.23]

“No way!”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_05.56_[2014.07.05_18.51.58]

Rather, uh, interesting choice of translation for youma. And that great’s misplaced.

“Come forth, Evil that serves our great master.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_06.07_[2014.07.05_18.55.38]

I think they tried to avoid using just “Come” and “Go” in successive lines, but I’m not entirely sure they succeeded.

“Now go.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_06.19_[2014.07.05_19.06.18]

There are hardly any signs in the episode and they still didn’t get them all. Good job.

It says Juuban Municipal Junior High (you may know it as Crossroads Junior High), btw.

Also, the teacher clearly knows she’s late.

“Late again?”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_06.27_[2014.07.05_19.49.49]

Innocent doesn’t really fit there.

“poor little”, maybe.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.16_[2014.07.05_19.11.58]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.17_[2014.07.05_19.12.01]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.20_[2014.07.05_19.12.15]

I… I don’t know what to say.

“This is Ms. Sakurada Haruna, our homeroom teacher.”

“Nicknamed ‘Haruda’, she teaches English.”

“Which just happens to be my worst subject.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.43_[2014.07.05_19.23.00]

Okay, I laughed.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.46_[2014.07.05_19.23.46]

Nuke the “to me”. He thinks he’s giving her advice, but it ends up sounding like he’s bragging.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.50_[2014.07.05_19.52.22]

“You really know how to get on people’s nerves.”

The point is that she’s taking offense to his calling exams child’s play when so many people struggle with them.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_07.55_[2014.07.05_19.55.56]

“He’s the last person I wanted to lose to/score higher than me.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.05_[2014.07.05_19.57.18]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.07_[2014.07.05_19.58.15]

“Did you hear that another jewelry shop got robbed?”

“It’s been happening a lot lately.”

Kind of an important detail, you know.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.10_[2014.07.05_19.59.18]

We don’t know if there were multiple robbers involved, and With the changes I suggested to the previous two lines, it’d end up sounding like she caught all of them.

Replace with something vague.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.17_[2014.07.05_20.03.08]

Instead of famous, use “who’s currently all the rage” or something.

At least they didn’t go with ally of justice.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.29_[2014.07.05_20.04.51]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.32_[2014.07.05_20.04.58]

These two lines are spoken by the same person.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_08.46_[2014.07.05_20.05.52]

“and there’s stuff even we could afford.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_09.25_[2014.07.05_20.07.53]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_09.26_[2014.07.05_20.07.56]

Oh, come on. It’s obvious that she’s talking to Naru’s friends in the first line, so why make it sound like she’s talking to her in the second?

Not to mention it could be misread as their friends instead of Naru’s.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_10.26_[2014.07.05_20.13.00]

“It’s a hairstyle!” -> “They’re buns!”

But whatever. Not like it matters, right?

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_10.29_[2014.07.05_20.14.11]

Well, shit.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_11.48_[2014.07.05_20.16.08]

“Why can’t I beat this scrub?”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_11.52_[2014.07.05_20.17.17]

“Taking a detour in uniform again, Usagi?

That aside, DOES IT LOOK LIKE SHE’S ON HER WAY HOME? USE YOUR EYES HOLY SHIT.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_11.55_[2014.07.05_20.18.52]

“There’s a trick to this.”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_12.23_[2014.07.05_20.20.12]

Loitering/hanging, not wandering.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_12.45_[2014.07.05_20.22.51]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_12.55_[2014.07.05_20.23.09]

Consistency be damned.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_14.48_[2014.07.05_20.27.13]

“The continuation of the dream I had this morning?”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_15.20_[2014.07.05_20.28.30]

But you can’t translate.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_16.03_[2014.07.05_20.30.26]

“Can I really have this?”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_16.10_[2014.07.05_20.31.12]

“that the police can’t handle”.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_16.19_[2014.07.05_20.32.46]

Find.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_16.23_[2014.07.05_20.33.14]

Brooch is the word you’re looking for.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_18.45_[2014.07.05_20.36.57]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_18.47_[2014.07.05_20.37.01]

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_18.49_[2014.07.05_20.37.06]

What the flippity fuck?

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_20.16_[2014.07.05_20.40.31]

If this reads like “Stop crying right now”, then it’s not supposed to.

Even if it doesn’t, making things clearer wouldn’t hurt.

“Now’s your chance!”

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_21.39_[2014.07.05_20.47.15]

“How dare you” or something.

[HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal - 01 [480p].mkv_snapshot_21.52_[2014.07.05_20.53.36]

Now they translate the sign.

It’s actually a pretty good example of how poor this release is.

Conclusion: the Evil has come out

Accuracy: 4/10, Flow: 3/10, Atmosphere: 3/10

The translation was bad, the timing worse, and the editing nonexistent.

For such a major release, this was an utter disappointment. And considering how easy the show is to translate, this kind of effort is totally unacceptable.

Do yourself a favour and wait for an edit.

This entry was posted by Futsuu.

23 thoughts on “Translation Review: [HorribleSubs] Sailor Moon Crystal – 01 (CR/Nico)

  1. Lol, this is great. I could tell a lot of the subtitles were inaccurate, and kept cringing at them.

  2. Thank you for this! I don’t speak Japanese properly but I understand enough fragments that I was squinting at the screen thinking ‘I’m sure what I’m reading is not quite what I’m hearing.’ I’ll still be watching on Hulu as the episodes come out, but I look forward to seeing alternative versions.

  3. Will you be continuing to do reviews for each episode of Sailor Moon Crystal? I have decided that my group won’t be fansubbing this because the legal risk is too high, but, I think many Sailor Moon fans would be curious to know about the errors / problems that exist in the official release.

  4. [And considering how easy the show is to translate, this kind of effort is totally unacceptable.]
    You are spot on, I am not fluent by any means, but the subject is so familiar to me that I hardly even looked at the subs. Looking at your review now it’s kind of shocking how bad they were. If I had only watched the dub version up to this point it would indeed have been a big disappointment.

    • I think he means because it’s based on a shoujo manga, not because most people already know about Sailor Moon.

      • Yeah. The dialogue’s not complicated at all, which means anyone even halfway competent at Japanese and English could’ve produced a decent script.

        These guys clearly weren’t.

  5. ‘We don’t know if there were multiple robbers involved’
    Except the newspaper before the OP says 全員逮捕 so we do.

    Also, the awkward capitalisation and linebreaking in the songs seems to be a Crunchyroll reformatting error, as in Niconico there’s a linebreak before each Capitalised word, but Crunchyroll just made the lines equal length.

    • Good point. I stand corrected.

      I believe what I said after that still stands, though.

      And yeah, I saw a screenshot of the Niconico stream with the linebreaks, which is why I was willing to chalk it down to HS’s styling. However, I just checked and the actual CR stream has the same issue, so it’s clearly their fault.

      Either way, like I said, this wouldn’t be an issue if they’d timed the songs properly, i.e. split them into separate timed lines.

  6. im french and French subtitled version in English is better than on some points I did comparisons such as the first scene, okay the word baka is not mentioned but the rest of the dialogue it’s perfect!

  7. Where/ can you find updated translations? I understand very, very little Japanese and rely heavily on the translations.

  8. Thank you! I thought I was the only one who was annoyed by this. At the least, they could have had someone review the subtitles before airing this. I read that they were backed up and barely finished in time for the premiere but these subs are ridiculous. I guess it’s better than nothing though…

    • Having someone review the subs wouldn’t help, because they basically need retranslated. It was probably translated by some Japanese person with no oversight.

  9. Could break down the opening song more? I’m very curious to know how accurate that is. My level Japanese tells me it’s way off. Perhaps the ending song is, too?

  10. After all the Hanamonogatari drama, what are the chances of fnord making a review of DameDesuYo’s release? I pinpointed some mistakes myself, mistakes a trusted group shouldn’t commit, but I’m sure fnord noticed much more.

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