Kamen Rider Kuuga Fansub Project

[MaiKobayashi]

Uhm, Hi everyone here at Henshin Justice Unlimited. I realize I am a new member here and so you guys probably don't expect much off this. but me and some friends of mine have felt frustrated for a while now that there just isn't a good set of Kuuga Fansubs around. Sure TV Nihon did the first 4 eps, and I am told another group made it as far as episode 12.

Now i have seen the HK subs and what truly makes those inadequate to me is the lack of translations for the sizeable parts of the show where the Grongi speak in their 'own language'. So I am proud to announce that as of now the newly formed group,Torisugari no Fansubs will start Fansubbing Kamen Rider Kuuga at Episode 13 and then once we complete the show we will loop back around and do the first 13 episodes in our style as well. Or at least that is the plan. Now you are probably thinking that i should put my money where my mouth is. And we have collectively agreed to do just that. So here is a sneak peak at our Fansub for the shows opening. Tell us what you think!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6REBw9fy51E"]Kamen Rider Kuuga Opening Sub[/ame]

 

[Black Fang]

I don't much like how "Kamen Rider Kuuga" was superimposed onto the logo at the end of the OP. I prefer it when translations are below or surrounding the name. But other than that, I hope you actually do finish this show. I don't know why no one else could ever do it.

 

[KouAidou]

The grongi speech is not supposed to be subtitled. You are not supposed to know what they are saying when they speak their own language. That is the point of it. It is not an "inadequacy" in the earlier translations.

What do you think is added by having the grongi speech subtitled earlier in the show?

 

[MaiKobayashi]

Well, Language exists to convey meaning to other people. If we were meant not to know what they were saying, then they would not be seen talking on screen at all. And as I understand it the Japanese region DVD's actually come with translations for the grongi speech into japanese. So yes I think that translating what they say is important. But its not the only reason we want to do this project. The subtitles that are currently available for this show are not all that good. For instance in episode 10, Yuusuke's sister is seen refering to Kuuga asif she not Yuusuke is infact Kuuga. Were aiming to raise the quality of the subtitled offerings that are out there.

 

[J-Boogie]

Man. There's a couple of things that bug me.

First of all, that other group you're talking about, SCS Works? Did a pretty damn good job. Sure they've taken a break but I hope they continue because I like what they've done.

Secondly they didn't do something you plan to do: subtitling the Grongi speech. Kou had it right in saying that you're *not* supposed to be able to understand what they're saying. Saying them not being subtitled is inadequate is pretty damn presumptuous and I'd even say stupid.

I also concur that putting the title over the japanese graphic is something I don't like. Also the japanese karaoke font could stand to be smaller.

 

[Hidden Masta]

The grongi speech is not supposed to be subtitled. You are not supposed to know what they are saying when they speak their own language. That is the point of it. It is not an "inadequacy" in the earlier translations.

What do you think is added by having the grongi speech subtitled earlier in the show?

How did people figure out that language any way? Even if translations came with the DVD was it like learning another language?

 

[J-Boogie]

Well, Language exists to convey meaning to other people. If we were meant not to know what they were saying, then they would not be seen talking on screen at all. And as I understand it the Japanese region DVD's actually come with translations for the grongi speech into japanese. So yes I think that translating what they say is important. But its not the only reason we want to do this project. The subtitles that are currently available for this show are not all that good. For instance in episode 10, Yuusuke's sister is seen refering to Kuuga asif she not Yuusuke is infact Kuuga. Were aiming to raise the quality of the subtitled offerings that are out there.

I still question you saying SCS Work's sub wasn't good but I'll just call that opinions and let it be.

I do call shenanigans on your language point though. When the show came out there WERE no translations. So all people could do was infer what was going on through actions and movement. It was mysterious and that's what gave the Grongi their creepiness. You weren't exactly sure what was going on but you know that it was *really* bad things. Let's not get what *you* want mixed in with what they originally pulled off. Like I said that just makes you presumptuous.

 

[ryatwo]

How did people figure out that language any way? Even if translations came with the DVD was it like learning another language?

Well appparently each syllable that the Grongi speak correlates to a certain Japanese character, in this case my guess is hiragana.

I got my info from this guy:
http://valsagfantasy.blogspot.com/2010/02/grongi-language.html

 

[Smilodon]

Good Luck. Go where no other fansubber has gone before. To the end of Kuuga. Or atleast, where no one but HK subs have gone before.

Subtitles should be a bit smaller, but that's just me. Grongi can be subbed, whatever. I never had a problem with it being subbed. It's not supposed to be understood, but some may want too.

 

[KouAidou]

Well, Language exists to convey meaning to other people. If we were meant not to know what they were saying, then they would not be seen talking on screen at all. And as I understand it the Japanese region DVD's actually come with translations for the grongi speech into japanese. So yes I think that translating what they say is important. But its not the only reason we want to do this project. The subtitles that are currently available for this show are not all that good. For instance in episode 10, Yuusuke's sister is seen refering to Kuuga asif she not Yuusuke is infact Kuuga. Were aiming to raise the quality of the subtitled offerings that are out there.

Well, language exists to convey meaning to other people who speak that language. Did you miss the whole subplot about the linguist trying to decipher the language over the course of the show? The Japanese characters in Kuuga do not speak Grongi, and the original viewing audience did not understand it, either. If you subtitle the Grongi you will significantly alter the experience for anyone watching it for the first time. Since most people hold back on watching Kuuga simply because the available subtitle are so bad, this is going to cover a lot of people.

I don't know for sure one way or the other, but if the Japanese region DVDs come with grongi translations it's probably through optional subtitles that you can turn on and off, for people who have watched the show once and want to revisit those scenes with a new perspective. Add the grongi translations in a separate text file, if you want. But people should have an opportunity to watch those scenes the way they were originally meant to be seen.

And while I think it's a good thing to resume a series that someone else has dropped, lay off on dissing the other guy's translation, okay? Every translator makes mistakes from time to time. I could call out a few shaky bits just in your OP translation, as well.