Kineta's Wanderings

Licensed manga... and fan service...

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 07:14:34 GMT

Ahhh, sexy Kyouya as an icon to make me feel better....

I just finished spazzing on the GA LJ comm ... ah those poor people.

Right now, I should be studying for finals. But after I read this, I had to take a moment to rant. Wow, half my blogs are rants xD

I totally want to refer to a certain company with a similar acronym to toilet paper, and ask them if they are that, but that's considered slander, and I don't want to get fined. So let's just say, I'm disappointed. You know what disappoints me the most though?

American companies consider their public to be idiots.

I think that's really what this all comes down to. Dubbing issues, manga translation issues, ... HARRY POTTER BEING CHANGED EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL WAS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.

What is the point of considering your clients to be stupid? Don't you think some of them might get a little ticked off?

But I regress, let's discuss translated manga specifically.

At least they put the mangas from right to left now. I guess they got sick of flipping all of the images. At least they really can't edit out most images, so they can't change the plot. Oh thank heavens for that.

So why do they mess with the dialogue?

Little 10 year old Mikan in Gakuen Alice has turned into an american teeny bopper. Everyone in my town is "freaking out". Why is it so difficult to keep these to a minimum? They include them because they think it'll help the public identify with the book more?? Why don't you encourage them to speak properly instead by refraining from things like that!

Then there's this one scene. Mikan looks at a teacher and says "Now I know what you are! You are a transvestite!"
TP's version: "OMIGOSH! I got it! Are you gay?!"

....Ummm... being a transvestite is a little different then being gay. She doesn't care if he's gay. Ack... idiots. Why couldn't they keep that? Oh wait... they think the public is too stupid to know what a transvestite is? That's probably it... Way to go to encourage being gay as a BAD THING.

Then of course, they couldn't leave Iinchou (aka Class Rep). No, they had to translate it to prez. Why not just make a damn list of notes in the back, and say "Iinchou means Class Rep". Again, the public is too stupid...

Did they leave Tohru as Onigiri in Fruits Basket, or did they change it to SANDWICH. (In the pokemon dub they editted out the onigiris and drew in sandwiches instead).

Then they decided to use their own damn version of a main characters name (Ruka became Luka). I figure they should have done one of two things to Ruka - taken the fan based name for him (Ruka which actually came about by a mistake) or take the mangaka's official version for it, being Luca.

This brings me to my central thought pattern, and away from Gakuen Alice specifically:

Why don't they consider these things when they license a damn manga? The scanlations are there on the internet!! USE THEM so you know what the fans are using!! IF YOU DON'T PLEASE THEM THEY WON'T WANT TO BUY YOUR VERSION AND WILL JUST KEEP THEIR SCANLATIONS!!!

USE Japanese words when the English translation is ambiguous! In TRC's manga (and I'm not saying Del Ray is perfect) they put notes in the back when they could have gone a different way when translating it!

I looked at Viz's version of Ultra Maniac... they translated Ayu-chan to Ayu dear!!!!!!!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHH *rolls in grave*

Del Ray is just beginning to get to the point in the story when I started reading translations online. I really hope they don't let me down from now on. I'm really pulling for them. From what I've seen, they're the best so far.

As for mangas like Gakuen Alice (and now I'm wondering about Fruits Basket) ... series that I really want to own, because they're ones that I could read over and over again... It makes me wonder if I should just buy it in Japanese. These American companies don't deserve my money.

It's not that I'm so mad at these specific changes. It's the way that they treat the fans - like they're idiots. Who do you think has been waiting for this to come out?? THE FANS! *deep dumb voice* Oh no, it's the people who haven't heard of it. Yeah, let's please them.

IDIOTS! PLEASE THE FANS! THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES WAITING IN LINE TO BUY THE MANGA - CUT THEM SOME SLACK!!!!!

Argh....

And this is also why I watch subs.

>End rant here<
Sorry guys.

Back to studying *sigh*

PS. I'm glad I live in Canada, and are this weird mishmash between being British/American/Igloo people (Igloo people meaning it's too damn cold to give a damn about our economics and politics half the time. We just want to stay warm...) but at least we get spared from random slaughtering like "Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone" because the publishing copy thought the public was too stupid to understand Philosopher. Hahahahahaha....~.... ah.... idiots.

PPS. I'm not bashing Americans. I think all of you are much smarter than they give you credit for. But if the public can't get credit from it's companies, how do you expect other countries to give you credit?

Gakuen Alice Ch.87

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:19:41 GMT

Although it's a week late, if anyone cares to read it *not claiming herself to be a knowledgable person >.< * my thoughts on the latest chapter from Gakuen Alice :)

There was a recent post on a forum asking, "which of the following gakuen alice couples do you think are the best suited for each other -- not your favorite, but the 'best suited' ? " Out of all the couples listed, I honestly thought: "Mikan and Natsume". I believe my answer was somewhere along the lines of: He's cold, she's warm; he's closed, she's open; he's smart, she's dumb xD ... and so on and so forth.

Well, my first thought for this chapter was: maybe Mikan's getting smarter!! xD
... that's really mean, but come on, she is supposed to be an oblivious character ... *cringe*

Finally, we, as the audience, are rewarded with Mikan's realization of the possibility of Luna's involvement in Natsume's random mood swings (or maybe he's discovered puberty ... all the other students do say he's advanced in these areas xD)

And, rather than being confused by the feelings he's openly displayed to her in recent chapters (while being horrible cruel at the same time ... bad neko! bad!), she comes to terms with the fact that he probably has a reason for doing what he's doing, and she's going to trust in him (and his feelings for her???).

Then ensues a lot of boring game and strategy speak (well, not relevant enough to comment on). I had to laugh out loud with Hotaru's and Subaru's interactions in this chapter.

Then, randomly, enter Nobaru and her thoughts of needing to speak with Mikan (I'm guessing we're going to be seeing more of her in upcoming chapters). It really shouldn't have been too much of a surprise that she appeared again, however, with Persona all bright and chipper again. I emphasize the chipper. But we get no satisfaction from Nobaru's knowledge as she is unable to face Mikan. Boo-hiss.

Once again, Hotaru notices the bite marks ... [what's up with those bite marks anyway. Could you imagine a creepy little Luna walking up behind you and sinking her teeth into your neck *shudder* Even if you have vampire fetishes, you have to admit that that is just wrong.] Luna then launches into a little self-monologue about Mikan's horrible and reproachable ways - yeah right, you're just looking for excuses now.

This is, I think, one of the most fabulously creepy pictures of her yet. The one with her fingers around Mikan's neck and her wide eyes is creepy in it's own right, but her malice and entire confidence in her own actions is completely apparent here. I would also say, her maturity as well. If my theory hadn't be confirmed at the end of this chapter, I think this image would have reinforced my belief .... but I'll talk about that in a minute.

Blah blah, more sports festival stuff ... Mikan encourages her team, it looks like they're going to win (~~can you tell I'm waiting for this festival to be over?~~) and then the climax!!!!

Shiki goes to visit Yuka (what a cool-looking mom) and.....

LUNA IS AN ADULT!!!!!!

Okay, most of you probably already have read spoilers and know that. But I can't believe it! My random, BS'd theory was right! I just knew she felt older. Now I wonder about the elementary school principal... but the same surprise couldn't happen twice, could it?

My major questions now are:
- ~~why doesn't she have a mole as an adult?~~
- yay! is Yuka going to go help her daughter? more Yuka x Narumi moments?? will Mikan finally know Yuka is her mother (since everybody else seems to freaking know)??
- could this possibly lead until us finally hearing about her father's "suicide"?
- did Narumi recognize Luna?
- is my theory about the age changing candies and an alice turning Luna into a kid also correct xD (jk)
- and, last but not least ....
- who the hell is Shiki? And why is he so devoted to Yuka (~~are men just drawn to her, like mother like daughter?~~)

Unfortunately we have to wait a whole month for any answers.... I look forward to chapter 88 on November 5th!

Ouran Host Club Ch. 55

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:30:17 GMT

This chapter is just full of love <333

The first thing I thought when I said to myself, "You should write your thoughts on Ouran, too!" was ... compared to Gakuen Alice, there's not a WHOLE lot to say!! I have to admit, in the beginning I was expecting Ouran to get much deeper -- Furuba style, I suppose, with the light first few volumes and then WHAM! explosive emotional territory. And although Gakuen Alice isn't as explosive and churning as Furuba was (I will forever thank the gods above that I didn't start reading manga until Furuba was almost done and I didn't have to wait in agony for the next chapter) it definitely has some deep themes, and reoccurring questions.

But, back to Ouran. So yes, I was expecting (once we began to get hints of deeper backgrounds behind the hosts) there to be some sort of horrible hidden conflict for our heroine/heros (either or) to heal. And although we have gotten some of that (and Tamaki seems to be the one who comforted most of those guys in the past anyway), I guess I expected Haruhi to have a bigger role in it, going along the lines of the manga's I usually end up picking up.

This, however, seems not to be the case. And to tell you the truth, it's a nice change. Throughout this chapter, Tamaki and Haruhi quietly supported each other, and it was wonderful. That is what happens in real relationships (*still fuming over the most recent development in LoveCom the anime*). I regress.

<------ insert random side tangent: I was looking at manga at Chapters, and then have TRC and Hayate no Gotoku on the adult shelves, and Furuba and Ouran on the teens .... er. I agree with the placement of Ouran and TRC (TRC is darker than any of the above [oh why, why, Clamp, do you love so much blood?] and Ouran really is more of a romantic comedy than a drama romance). But Hayate and Furuba?? As much as i've seen of Hayate the anime, it could totally be on the teens shelves. And as for Furuba... I thought that'd be going a little more deeper than what we usually "expose" our teens. Huh. End random thought ------->

I regress AGAIN.

I was laughing when Tamaki and Haruhi stood outside of Haruhi's complex screaming "AHH!" at each other, lol. Gotta love Kyouya and his diarrhea story! And Haruhi - who knew he was lying - prepares gruel for him anyway xD

Tamaki really is the only one she feels she can talk to, isn't he? Now we see how upset Haruhi really was over the twins' fight (which Koaru was very mean to her, and completely used her) and that she is upset that Tamaki didn't tell her he couldn't go to France -- and she was worrying about him and everything!! I really didn't realize the extent of her turmoil, and was actually shocked when she was visibly brought to tears.

Considering how easy it was for her to put Hikaru at ease on their "date" and wander around Kyouya in the mall, etc., I didn't really think she had any social misgivings, and in fact, perhaps she doesn't -- as long as those social interactions are at a distance. But here we see she's fumbling, probably with her own developing feelings for Tamaki, and the way in which the twins randomly treated her (the more I think about it, the more I want to kick Koaru for confusing her like that, even if it was an awesome image at the time xD)

Of course, Tamaki has to completely ruin the moment (yeah yeah, he probably did it subconsciously so he could take his shirt off and corner her in the bathroom xD Oh Tama, you devious fiend you!) and dump gruel all over himself. He really is half child/ half adult - which probably works well with Haruhi because it doesn't really seem like she's ever been much of a child.

The drawings were very lovely in this scene, and I felt my shoujo girl's heart jump in my chest! Mmm, mmm, Tama! (.....or Rene? o.O) He comforts her (while getting incredibly close!) and she doesn't seem bothered by it at all. If anything, his words and even his closeness to her, comforts her. Things were looking so good here!

So we finally get the truth about Tamaki's life in France, from both the master himself and the lady Kyouya speaks with. I have to admit that I like Tamaki and Kyouya's relationship in the manga a lot more than the anime, even though I have to say Kyouya doesn't come alive for me in the manga as much as he did in the anime (except when he crushed his cell phone in the last chapter xDDDD). But yeah, their relationship. They really take care of each other and look out for each other, and I think it is a wonderful male relationship in a manga that is not a romantic one.

Then Tamaki brings up what he's been worrying about, and you can see Haruhi soften and her quietly support him, just as he supported her. And it was wonderful. I could feel so much potential for them here. I thought, "ah, I knew from the beginning this pairing was inevitable"...

First time through, I was pleased with the kiss he gave her, and to tell you the truth, I still kind of am. There are two distinct things I DON'T like about it though: Tamaki's STUPID "I'm her father" crap. That is SO getting old, you turkey-face! The second thing occurred when I realized how much he actually upset her!

I was so excited the first time through, I saw the blush, but didn't see really look and that he confused her even more. Tamaki, you idiot. After comforting her, you've just made it worse! How, how could you be such a fool?? :(

So... I wonder what will come in the next chapter?? Kyouya will (maybe!!) find his mom ... actually, if this is the last episode of the school trip arc, then they'll likely focus more on that. Maybe there's more trouble to come for Tamaki after all... I'm just wondering how poor Haruhi is going to be feeling next chapter :(

Man, when he had his shirt off, I totally envied her. Now, I don't think I do, poor girl.

.....

Okay, I lied, I still envy her xD

Gakuen Alice Ch.86

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:45:51 GMT

Chapter 86 was released on September 20th, and as one of my favorite manga at the moment, I figured it would make a good first entry. Includes not only yours truly's thoughts, but links to translations and scanlations as well ;)

Comments!

Scanlations:
http://www.savefile.com/files/1075075
Translation:
http://sorasan0000.livejournal.com/3589.html#cutid1
Summary (with slightly different text translation):
http://applechips.livejournal.com/6987.html

Enter Persona... I guess it was too good to be true that Mikan had defeated him forever in the Hanahime arc... It seems reasonable though, that as the dangerous abilities teacher (and really, who could be more dangerous than him?), he would be investigating this incident. It didn't really occur to me in the last chapter how much danger she really was in (mabye because I knew she would be saved? xD)

Cut to Natsume and Luna -- I'm surprised he didn't light Luna on fire right there and just be done with it. He knows she's responsible for it, which made me want to cheer right there. But before I can get the Luna-roast I've been dying for, she finally tells us (and Natsume) what she's doing here.

We knew she was here for Mikan, but for some reason I kind of thought she would have been placed in the school by someone on the outside that hates Mikan -- not from WITHIN the school. Where have they been hiding that little she-devil? And I was under the impression when Narumi introduced her, he knew her alice (as a teacher, wouldn't he?) ... why doesn't he have any misgivings about her as of yet?

What I also would liek to know is, who is that damn elementary school principal? God, he's a little terror.... but what strikes me with both the principal and Luna, is that they don't really seem like children, which is weird......

The ability to make people change age? Or change others' ages? ... Could that be where the candy came from?? Hmmm... I doubt it, but it's definitely odd.

The thing I don't get, is Mikan should have been placed in the dangerous abilities class after... after what? Standing up against Persona and nullifying him? Or because of who her father was? OR does the school suspect she has the stealing alice like Sakurano and Subaru did? Didn't they say Subaru was the only one known to survive Persona's alice though, so couldn't he theoretically have healed Mikan? ... unless Mikan's mother saved Subaru, and THAT'S why they figure she has the same alice as Yuka in addition to her nullification. We do know that Subaru and Sakurano knew Yuka quite well...

Cut back to good ol' Persona and everyone else. My first thought during all this was: Mikan made a real mistake in the last arc by making Persona an enemy, holy shit. But, Mikan's been told now she's under surveillance -- even if she thinks it's just Persona. Maybe she'll be able to keep herself out of trouble more :S I can't imagine what Natsume and Tsubasa would do if she got placed in the dangerous abilities class... but who knows? Maybe that's how we'll find out exactly what it is they do...

You know, I could have sworn it was Mikan's father who gave Persona the power to stop his alice from eating away his face. It just makes sense, since he also consoled Mikan's mother, saying she had a wonderful alice. Therefore, shouldn't Persona feel something towards her? Or maybe Persona hates her because he blames Mikan's mother for her father's death???

Or maybe Persona caused her father's death..?!?!?!?! :O

I think it's interesting to see how the people around Mikan have grown (the more people that might be able to protect her, the better). But our faithful and intelligent Hotaru has figured things out -- to some extent anyway. I felt like standing up and cheering in the last chapter when she figured out the whole bite mark thing, and here she's telling Mikan to stop hiding things.

Unfortunately, Mikan doesn't say anything (I mean, come on, how's she gonna know you told, hehe) and runs off to apologize to her classmates.

Then the big shocker -- Natsume has fully demonstrated to everyone that he doesn't care about Mikan at all. Letting Luna sit beside him, and going on her team are one thing, verbally abusing her (and knowing she's there while he's doing it) is another. Even knowing that he was only saying those things to protect Mikan, it still really felt like all the progress that has been made between these two in this series has been wiped away since Luna's appearance.

Thus, I was soooo happy to see Natsume go after her - that guy with the mask sure is coming in handy! - and there's no way she can have any doubts now about Natsume's feelings now. It doesn't make it any easier on our characters (I'm wondering just what is going to happen next?!?!?!) but it was definitely nice to see him comfort her after he hurt her feelings. Hopefully she realizes now how much he really cares for her.

Ahhhhh, I was in shoujo-bliss in that moment... *sighs happily*

She shouldn't have believe Luna's "he was with me the WHOLE TIME" comment... come on Mikan, be more distrustful! But, I guess one good thing about Luna's appearance, is we've been getting lots of MikanxNatsume fan service xDDDD (and hell, a little MikanxRuka fan service too ;)

New Here...

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:06:22 GMT

I read so many people's journals online -- and continue to post anonymous -- that I thought I might as well start my own journal. The way these things go, I don't really know that anyone will read this, but I suppose that doesn't particularly matter. Even worse, this might just be another horrible way to waste time >.<

We'll see how this goes, I suppose :)