Headmasters discussion

[Gomess]

Although, to me--that's what you do in a dub. Subtitles should be the most direct translation possible. But a dub isn't an option here, so.

Agreed entirely. Dubs and subs are aimed at different audiences, and should cater as such.

[andersonh1]

When Defensor is fighting Bruticus, he says something about sending him "Straight to the Pit!" and Bruticus replies that Defensor will be going "to the Inferno". Anyone want to bet they originally said something about going to hell, or something along those lines?

90% probability it was the classic anime "I'll be your guide to hell" - "You'll be the one needing a guide to hell!"

This is, yeah, probably Shout Factory's doing. I'm mostly okay with things like this.

Although, to me--that's what you do in a dub. Subtitles should be the most direct translation possible. But a dub isn't an option here, so.

I prefer the most accurate translation for the most part, so that the original meaning of the storyline is maintained. That's with the exception as I've said before of character names, though I don't mind the occasional other reference as well. Substituting "The Pit" for "hell" makes sense in Transformers terminology, since they're pretty much the same place. Or at least, it conveys the same idea. It does show an awareness of Transformers in general by the translators (or at least whoever at Hasbro and Shout Factor is reviewing the translations), which I'm happy to see. It's better than someone completely unfamiliar with the concept doing the translation.

I think there's another in the first episode when Sixshot introduces himself as "the Decepticon phase six consultant", or something like that. That looks like a reference to his role in the IDW comics. I doubt that's how he originally referred to himself.

edit: Went and looked it up. He was originally a ninja consultant, apparently. Or ninja commander.

[Gomess]

Ninja staff officer. Not sure what's so odd about that, the show explicitly paints him as a ninja, and it's not like we've never had one of those before!

Better than arbitrarily changing it to something completely different, c'mon, that sucks. Subbers taking their authority a bit too far.

Notice yet how Ultra Magnus is actually used as a *city commander*, as his tech spec originally laid out? They even refer to him as the Autobots' Earth commander now and then, which I liked. Bit of organisation never hurt anyone!

[andersonh1]

Operation: Autobot Deployers and The Autobot Cassette Operation
We get two titles again, one on the menu and one on the subtitle. The episode sees the return of Soundwave as Soundblaster, and Blaster as Twincast. And the cassettes are called "deployers" throughout the episode. Once again, it's great to see characters from all years mix and match as Ultra Magnus and Jazz "pilot" Metroplex against Trypticon, and all the tapes are shown, going back to Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage and Laserbeak.

The plot of the episode concerns the "madmachine", which is a bug looking thing that can take down Metroplex. So it's pretty tough. Galvatron's plan is to send it to Cybertron and control/destroy Vector Sigma with it. Soundwave pilots it remotely from Chaar, something the newly rebuilt Twincast puts a stop to by destroying Soundwave's sonic controls.

Overall: the plot is mainly an excuse to introduce the new version of Blaster and Soundwave. It's a "weapon of the week" type storyline which gives all the characters something to do and fight over, and as such is functional if not terribly new or interesting. But it's a fun episode.

[Gomess]

the cassettes are called "deployers"

Oh what in even the the pit. Shout Factory can take a flying leap. -___-

[andersonh1]

the cassettes are called "deployers"

Oh what in even the the pit. Shout Factory can take a flying leap. -___-

So how should their sub-group be translated, in your view? I'd have called them cassettes myself.

[Gomess]

Yeup, cassettes would do. They audibly say "Cassettebot" and "Cassettron", surely people can hear that? =/

Surprised they didn't subtitle "Master Planet" as "Nebulos"....

[Onslaught Six]

That could be Hasbro mandate for all we know. At least they didn't call them Minicons.

[Gomess]

Well apparently Hasbro wields no power in the UK then, since there's no such fanwank in my copy of Headmasters. =| Pretty sure it's just a case of the subtitlers putting in what they'd *like* to see, rather than what's actually being said. They could at least put the real names in the booklet or something...

Ah well, Anderson's about halfway through the first arc now, hope he keeps up the pace 'cos some of my favourite moments are approaching! DID SOMEBODY SAY

Spoiler

BATTLE BEASTS

....?


Oh, hey, I just found this:

Hasbro did, however, oversee the new English subtitles produced for the set—and it shows, with some very anachronistic Transformers-specific terminology being substituted in where appropriate, such as Sixshot being referred to as a "phase six officer" instead of a "ninja staff officer", or the Autobot and Decepticon Mini-Cassettes being called "Deployers".

Guess Hasbro really don't have any power in the UK. Hah.

[Onslaught Six]

G, those DVDs were released like ten years ago, at a time when TF wasn't quite as popular as it is now.