takenoko wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:51 am
Maybe I should specify that I will still be translating Princess Jellyfish, just not either of the series from Toei that, if I have any claim to fame, I have been known to work on.
I've been working on Kamen Rider and Sentai on a weekly basis since 2004 with Deka and Blade. I was way slower and worse back then, and I think we didn't release the final episode of Deka till Magi's finale even. I'd like to think that I've been constantly learning and growing since then, and that I still am evolving even now.
Translation is an amazing amount of work. It's not just knowing Japanese, or knowing English, or knowing how to convey a thought or emotion, or working under a time limit, or considering the length the sub appears on screen. It's all those things and the gulf between making a passable translation to one that's even a modicum of good is a great one. The difficulty is sort of what makes it fun for me. I'll never be a great translator, and honestly, I think I'd better serve in QC/editing work, but thank you to those of you who've specifically chosen to watch this group's work and to anyone who's said nice things about us in the past.
I'm glad to have made it this far. Realistically, it's not like I could have translated these shows forever until the end of time, and this day had to come eventually. I don't think most fansub groups end up lasting more than a few years, so it's just nice to be around still.
You'll be in good hands with Lunagel and Xiiliea, who are both really talented and amazing translators. It's always an honor to work with them. I think a lot of the shows are a lot better when Luna and I clash on things, personally.
As for why I'm stepping away, between the last few Toei series, specifically the last 3 Sentai series, the current state of Toei, and seeing the writer for Lupin VS Pat, it's time to step away. I'll always be grateful to Wizard because Nakayama Erina as Medusa was amazing, but I wouldn't have lost anything if I never saw Jyuohger. I know some people on Tumblr like KyuuRanger, but I feel like these shows are killing my enthusiasm, and if the person going deep into the show isn't digging it, it's hard for me to imagine this fanbase feels much different.
I'd rather think positively on the matter and just refocus on past series that I want to redo. Like, I want to finish redoing Decade in Blu-ray. I want to do the same with Kabuto. Maybe at long last I'll get to remaster Transformers Super Link off the DVDs like I've always wanted. There's always plenty of good stuff that we can be working on that isn't mediocre to bad.
Who knows, maybe after a year, I'll feel like one of the Toei series of 2019 looks interesting and I'll be allowed to translate for it.