The FLCL Ultimate Edition booklet design has been approved, so I did a final read-through before it gets sent off to the printers.
When the original booklets were made, we didn’t have any one in the staff who was into survival games (sabage). But now that we have producer Dee, we included a new translation note for AirSoft. If I had known the term during the initial production process, I would have asked ADR director Marc & producer/subtitle script writer Stephanie to work the word into the script.
Reading through the translation notes, it makes me chuckle to know how much of a FLCL geek we were back then. We tried to make the tone of the writing to sound very Haruko-ish. Or how the Japanese booklets sounded. Kinda “now” talk. Imadoki kind of talk. No, I’m not talking about the Yuu Watase manga.
I also let translator S@ki have full range of the booklet translation. So up until now, I hadn’t read some of the booklet content. Terrible producer! Ha.
But it was fine anyway.
Although it’s hard to tell from the US booklet that the original text is from individual volumes (meaning individual episodes), so there’s a time-lag between the original Japanese text. The first volume of the Japanese release contained the introduction of the genga-man (key animators) and a general introduction to the project known as FLCL. So it mentions that in the text, but most people would just read over it w/o thinking much of it.
And in the Hiramatsu x Imaishi interview, the original text mentions that they credited the wrong guy (Hiramatsu) to the Animation Director position (actually Imaishi). We translated the Japanese booklet, but if you didn’t know any better, you’d think that Synch-Point staff wrote the text.
But there is a lot of text.
I wonder if a lot of people out there actually read the stuff.
I sure didn’t.
Although I must have been more relaxed (had more time?) by the time we were working on FLCL DVD #3. Cuz I definitely remember the text from the booklet. Strange, since I remember being frantic to get the FLCL DVD #3 Coolector’s Edition Box released in time for Fanime 2003. That’s the year Tsurumaki-san (creator/director), Sadamoto-san (original character designer), and Sato-san (GAINAX producer who greenlighted FLCL) came to Fanime.
That was a fun event.
Translator S@ki even kept Sadamoto-san’s doodles.
I think it was a Porsche.
And Tsurumaki-san drew a hand?
Some of the English voice actors & staff participated in the Japanese FLCL DVD Box set booklet. They gave comments about FLCL, since the Japanese release included the English dub track too. So some of their text will be included in the FLCL Ultimate Edition booklet. Kari (Haruko), Barbara (Naota), Jennifer (Mamimi), Joe (Kamon) and Marc (ADR director) participated. Words straight from their keyboards. Marc wrote a novel.
Anyway, the FLCL Ultimate Edition booklet goes to print soon.
Cover image to be blogged soon.
Entries (RSS)
October 20th, 2006 at 7:24 am
Dear Producer Shizuki
Sarcasm doesn’t come through in written text, so I think you might want to mention that Marc didn’t actually write a novel. Even if it feels *that* long compared to other people’s comments…
S@ki
October 20th, 2006 at 10:49 am
So, you don’t want to make subtitles in other languages for your Ultimate Edition? It’s bad if it is true…
I really hoped that it could be a chance for “russian-only” speaking people to take their hand on that great anime.
I’m a big fan of that anime. And my sub is the best russian translation of that anime. And I’ll give you that sub for free if you’ll change your mind.
Becose if it’s really an “Ultimate Edition”, than it must have bonusses like that, I think. Especially becose I don’t think that FLCL will be offically released in Russia soon. Your “UE” could be fust a Great present for all russian fans…
Well, I’ll now stop beeng annoying. But I really hope that you’ll think about my suggestion.
October 20th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Man, these are a lot of extras. Now I just gotta wait until my order arrives. The extras are great… but… the release date better not be delayed!!!!!!
October 20th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Sorry Red Priest Rezo. This is a R1 release. Since Russia isn’t Region 1 (Its R3 or R5 I think), there wouldn’t be any need to have russian subtitles in this Ultimate Edition.
October 20th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Oh, yeah, I forgot
In Russia we don’t really care about Regions, becose our DVD-players can play all of them 
October 21st, 2006 at 9:47 am
Even if you already have the subtitle script I’d bet it’s still a lot of work to implement it. You’d have to convert it to a format that works on DVD (bitmap images), make sure the timing is correct throughout, add an option for the subtitle track to the menu, make sure everything’s included and assigned correctly during authoring, and finally test that it works. Most likely you would also have to get the permission to include it from the licensor.
Besides, you can’t just blindly accept scripts in foreign languages from fans. For all you know the subtitle script could be fake and be nothing but a long string of swear words in Russian. If you didn’t have anyone on staff who knew the language well enough you’d have to hire an additional third party to make sure it was legitimate which would take even more time and money.
In short, it would simply be _a lot_ more work than it would be worth to include it.
October 21st, 2006 at 10:13 am
I’m absolutely agree with Red Priest Rezo.
Why you there really don’t want to put these Russian subs on your “Ultimate Edition”? Why not, guys?
This is really the best russian translation of FLCL ever. I saw how RPR worked. And I saw how many time he spent to complite this translation… This is his life-work, in other words.
So, now you deprive ALL russian fans of this Absolutely Best Anime Ever
without a reason. I think, it’s some kind of discrimination there, right? Or not?
Anyway, I hope all of you will understand us, russian FLCL fans, right.
And hope all of you will make a right decision about this small request.
Just put these subs on your “Ultimate Edition” release. Please.
With best regards…
October 21st, 2006 at 10:28 am
to re-time sub you’ll need about 10 minutes (or even less).
I never made a DVD version of sub, but I know for sure, that it won’t take long too.
If you want to prove, that it’s a true translation - just use any online-translator. It will make a Really bad rus-eng translation, but at least it will be proved, that original was the real thing.
Don’t know anything about licensors, but I don’t see why someone could be against that. All that could be made by that - maybe FLCL will become a little more popular in our country. Well, and maybe some russian people living in USA will become happy… That’s all.
October 21st, 2006 at 12:22 pm
In soviet russia, Synchpoint forks you!
October 21st, 2006 at 12:32 pm
Actually, the presence of Russian subs might raise the question “Why not Deutch? Why not French? Why not Norvegian, for Kanti-sama’s sake?” If there was a multi-language release, the inclusion of Russian subs (whose translation didn’t cost a penny for producers, for that matter
) would seem natural. As it is, I can clearly see this standalone bonus making a perplexed “Hmm?”.
It’s a pity, though. I’ve seen these subs myself and I can testify that they’re nearly perfect - as good as a translation ever can physically do.
Kazin: “So, now you deprive ALL russian fans of this Absolutely Best Anime Ever without a reason”
You mistake Synch-Point for a philanthropic organization.
Волкодафф: Calling names clearly doesn’t help a cause, whatever good intentions you might have. >:(
October 21st, 2006 at 1:23 pm
I really want FLCL with russian sub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2006 at 1:27 pm
You people are just being unrealistic here. As has already been pointed out, this is a North American release, aimed at the North American market, which is mainly English-speaking. How many percent of this population do you think are dependent on having Russian text to understand anything? And how many of those are into anime? And how many of _those_ would be willing to spend the $70 on this set to begin with?
It would make infinitely more sense to include Spanish subtitles, which AFAIK aren’t included, so why should Russian?
And about the discrimination comment, that’s just laughable. If a DVD is released in Russia and it doesn’t have Swahili subtitles on it, is that discrimination too?
October 22nd, 2006 at 1:42 am
Well my first suggestion was about to make as many subs in different languages, as possible. ‘Cos I really think that THIS could be a great bonus for “ultimate release”. I was talking so much about rus-sub only becose I personally, can give you that. It won’t cost any money, taking it into release won’t take a lot of time. But I don’t know if it would be easy to find good free subs for other languages.
I am a great fan of FLCL. And I fust want that release to be as great as possible… And even only with one added sub it will become a little closer to perfection, don’t you think?
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:28 am
Red Priest Rezo: “Oh, yeah, I forgot
In Russia we don’t really care about Regions, becose our DVD-players can play all of them ;)”
Perhaps thats because you buy nothing but bootlegs?
I have a suggestion, start up your own anime company and attempt to license the anime from the Japanese creater of this title. Then you can put the russian subs on there.
October 23rd, 2006 at 9:25 am
[…] Synch-Point producer Shizuki Yamashita has an amusing look at the new FLCL Ultimate Edition booklet, noting such nuggets as the Japanese book’s failure to correctly credit the show’s animation director. […]
October 24th, 2006 at 5:26 am
Maybe it’s not right, but I ‘m only tell u about my view of this them.
I’m on the Rezo’s sight. Wy only english? If it is Ultimate Edition, why ther can’t be different subs?!
lt’ll be right add for DVD russian subs. It’s not so hard, but a lot of russian otakus will by it only couse there are a russian subs.
From my sight: Let it be!
October 24th, 2006 at 6:38 am
hmm, has there been a release date given somewhere? Anyone mind telling me or pointing me in the right direction? Much appreciated!
And chalk me up as one who’ll go thru every single page of text there is in the booklet.
October 24th, 2006 at 7:18 am
It’s coming out November 21st. You can already pre-order it on most online stores.
October 25th, 2006 at 7:15 pm
To the Synch-Point staff,
I’m looking forward to seeing what the box will look like. Hopefully it’ll be something lushly illustrated, like this: http://www.sonryu.homestead.com/files/dvd_flcl.jpg.
It seems like so far, the more minimalistic, basic-tone approach is the name of the game. However, for the box, I think the above example would be ideal. Either way, please be VERY careful with the box — it should be eye-catching, something you can study the details of for a while. Durable, too. ^_^
October 26th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Juno Reactor: This is not coming in any type of box. It is coming in a digipak form, and information about it has already been posted in this blog.
October 26th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Dan, I remember hearing that the digipack, book, postcard set, sticker set, and t-shirt card all come packed in a collector’s box. So what I’m really asking is, “What’s the collector’s box like?” I know the DVDs are in a digipack, but the digipack and everything else is in a box.
Or so I’ve read.
October 26th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
In addition to what I wrote above, Producer Shizuki confirms what I said above further back in this blog. Quote:
“FLCL Ultimate Edition DVD Box set comes inside a box. Digi-pack, booklet, postcards and stickers will be inserted inside a cardboard keepsake box.”
I guess I just confused you, Dan. You probably thought I was talking about the DVD packaging. I’m talking about the overall package. I hope it’s durable, and lushly illustrated.
I’m sure I’ll like whatever they put out, though. Oftentimes you don’t know you like something until it’s shown to you.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Well, if you include some subs extra, don’t you think it also attract extra customers?
I’m absolutely agree with Red Priest Rezo. Why not?
October 28th, 2006 at 4:00 am
i’d like To have Russian Sub’s Too !! , i dont live in russia and i am Not russian i just Talk and understand russian ;p , And believe me Guys Russian lauguage is cool and Direct and clear and can be dramatic , i ‘ll totally get FLCL ULTIMATE EDITION , with russian and maybe arabic Sub’s
I Think arabic Sub’s SHOULD BE INCLUDED all the international DVD’s Including some JAPANEESE has Arabic sub which makes the lauguage almost international in our world ^^
i dono But japaneese and English are in No way ULTIMATE TO be called ULTIMATE EDITION .
Regards ^~
January 16th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
I WOULD LOVE TO READ ABOUT THE GENGA-MEN/KEY ANIMATORS!!!
It’s animators that really love that stuff. I just bought the entire storyboard collection of FLCL today and im really excited. Over 800 pages! Anyhow, just so you know, there are people like me, who kill for stuff about the key animators!
It’s also awesome to give hard working animators the credit they more than deserve.