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The English edition of Super Mario Manga Mania (a single curated volume of author Yukio Sawada's handpicked fav chapters from the ~30-year serialization) came out last week
The two big themes for me were:
-getting Mario minutiae correct
-localizing jokes
Here're some highlights
The two big themes for me were:
-getting Mario minutiae correct
-localizing jokes
Here're some highlights
1/ Lava Piranha from Paper Mario (with a very distinct laugh that has nothing to do with Count Bleck) says,
"You'd better kousan [surrender]"
and Mario mishears as "tousan" [husband/dad]
(then says, "Bring me some tea, wifey!")
![1/ Lava Piranha from Paper Mario (with a very distinct laugh that has nothing to do with Count Bleck) says, "You'd better kousan [surrender]" and Mario mishears as "tousan" [husband/dad](then says, "Bring me some tea, wifey!")](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpN-Kf3VQAElqFZ.jpg "1/ Lava Piranha from Paper Mario (with a very distinct laugh that has nothing to do with Count Bleck) says, \"You'd better kousan [surrender]\" and Mario mishears as \"tousan\" [husband/dad](then says, \"Bring me some tea, wifey!\")")
"You'd better kousan [surrender]"
and Mario mishears as "tousan" [husband/dad]
(then says, "Bring me some tea, wifey!")
1B/ The key with that one (and several others in the book) is imagining a whole other interpretation of the visuals that could work with the localized joke.
"Bespectacled man reading paper at home" reads as "husband/dad" in Japan, but it also works as "retirement."
"Bespectacled man reading paper at home" reads as "husband/dad" in Japan, but it also works as "retirement."
2/ The second chapter involved dialogue from F.L.U.D.D., and even after not playing Sunshine for the past decade+, I can still hear that voice pretty clearly.
3/ When fighting the Elder Shroob Princess (from M&L2:PiT), she says, "My shokushu [tentacles] reign supreme!!"
Luigi mishears as "akushu" [handshake].
![3/ When fighting the Elder Shroob Princess (from M&L2:PiT), she says, "My shokushu [tentacles] reign supreme!!"Luigi mishears as "akushu" [handshake].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpN-9RKUYAA4DzG.jpg "3/ When fighting the Elder Shroob Princess (from M&L2:PiT), she says, \"My shokushu [tentacles] reign supreme!!\"Luigi mishears as \"akushu\" [handshake].")
Luigi mishears as "akushu" [handshake].
4/ Count Bleck and Nastasia also have pretty distinct voices in the English version of Super Paper Mario. Tried to capture that. Some lines are ripped right from the game!
(Joke 1: "Nasutasia" (nasu = eggplant))
(Joke 2: "uchuu" = "outer space" OR "in the rain")
(Joke 1: "Nasutasia" (nasu = eggplant))
(Joke 2: "uchuu" = "outer space" OR "in the rain")
5/ The angel people in the Overthere (also SPM) have this whole faux middle-English thing going on.
(Joke 1: Mario confuses "sukai" (from "Skyland" = the Overthere) with "suika" (watermelon))
(Joke 2: "suteki na prince" -> "steak prince?")
(Great font choice here, for Luvbi)
(Joke 1: Mario confuses "sukai" (from "Skyland" = the Overthere) with "suika" (watermelon))
(Joke 2: "suteki na prince" -> "steak prince?")
(Great font choice here, for Luvbi)
6/ In this panel from the Bouldergeist chapter (from Galaxy), Luigi just ends all his exclamations with "-iwa" (boulder). ("Sugoi wa!! Kowai wa!! Osoroshii wa!!)
7/
Joke 1: "sarawareta" (passive form of kidnapped) -> "sara wareta" (broke a plate)
Joke 2: "jigusoo" (jigsaw) -> "No, it's 'iku zo!' [let's-a-go]"
![7/ Joke 1: "sarawareta" (passive form of kidnapped) -> "sara wareta" (broke a plate)Joke 2: "jigusoo" (jigsaw) -> "No, it's 'iku zo!' [let's-a-go]"](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpN_UPIUYAE_PpB.jpg "7/ Joke 1: \"sarawareta\" (passive form of kidnapped) -> \"sara wareta\" (broke a plate)Joke 2: \"jigusoo\" (jigsaw) -> \"No, it's 'iku zo!' [let's-a-go]\"")
Joke 1: "sarawareta" (passive form of kidnapped) -> "sara wareta" (broke a plate)
Joke 2: "jigusoo" (jigsaw) -> "No, it's 'iku zo!' [let's-a-go]"
8/ And the grand daddy joke:
"ikanai to" [have to go] -> "ika natto" [squid, natto]
Working "natto" into the English wasn't hard ("...can natto wait to start fighting!") but it was decided that the target audience likely wouldn't know natto, which is fair! So, "stir" instead.
![8/ And the grand daddy joke:"ikanai to" [have to go] -> "ika natto" [squid, natto]Working "natto" into the English wasn't hard ("...can natto wait to start fighting!") but it was decided that the target audience likely wouldn't know natto, which is fair! So, "stir" instead.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpN_ZQjVEAEF60P.jpg "8/ And the grand daddy joke:\"ikanai to\" [have to go] -> \"ika natto\" [squid, natto]Working \"natto\" into the English wasn't hard (\"...can natto wait to start fighting!\") but it was decided that the target audience likely wouldn't know natto, which is fair! So, \"stir\" instead.")
"ikanai to" [have to go] -> "ika natto" [squid, natto]
Working "natto" into the English wasn't hard ("...can natto wait to start fighting!") but it was decided that the target audience likely wouldn't know natto, which is fair! So, "stir" instead.
Since a huge chunk of these pages are giant goofy SFX that need retouching, Coro Coro books are especially hellish for letterers, so special shoutout to @vsatone making this shine.
please consider supporting local shops if at all possible, but if that isn't an option for whatever reason...
here's a link to purchase:
https://amzn.to/37ihku0
here's a link to purchase:
https://amzn.to/37ihku0
be warned! Not many people know this, but comics from the land of Nippon (called "manga") read right-to-left
