Are you a person who’s addicted to comics? Then, this blog is about your favorite topic – Manga. While browsing your favorite manga through websites, have you noticed that the chapter was already released, but you might have its English version after a month? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? It isn’t very pleasant to know that your favorite manga chapters have already been released, and you cannot read them because they are written in another language. Besides that, you have to wait a month or two for the translated version of the chapter to be released. And when you finally get a hold of the so-called translated version done by some fans, the quality of the translation would be so depressing that it disappoints you even further. Is there any way to get accurate and timely translations of manga? To answer this, let’s explore the world of manga more and how manga translations play a significant role in the global manga boom.
What is manga?
‘Manga’ consists of two words; ‘Man’ stands for ‘entertaining’ and ‘exaggerated,’ whereas ‘Ga’ stands for ‘drawing.’ In layman’s terms, manga means ‘quick sketch’ or ‘cartoon.’ Although ‘manga’ depicts Japanese comics, it has inspired comics in different parts of the world with other names like ‘manhwa’ for Korean comics and ‘manhua’ for Chinese comics.
Origin and history of manga
Can you believe that these current manga, with colorful palettes and many characters and sceneries, were rooted initially in the 12th century, known in the name of ukiyo-e? Although the era of manga was born in the 18th century through the artist Katsushika Hokusai with his famous work Great Wave, modern manga came into existence through the artists Ippyo Imaizumi and Kitazawa Rakuten. Substantial changes in the manga occurred post-World War II due to American and European influence. Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka was one such manga that attracted the global audience to the manga.
Today, manga includes a broad range of genres and adapted different styles to engage various types of readers, thereby gaining its fan base in the global entertainment landscape.
Let’s list some of the reasons for its popularity:
Diverse themes: Today, manga contains all genres ranging from romance to zombies, including the tastes of all kinds of people. These manga consist of relatable characters and stories that quickly bond readers and the characters.
Artistic style: The visually appealing and engaging art style engages the readers in the plot for hours. It is created in a way that makes it easy to follow, even for readers unfamiliar with the language.
Engaging storyline: The gripping plots, relatable characters, and diverse layouts target people’s morals, such as personal growth, relationships, friendships, and more.
Adaptations: Many successful manga series, such as Naruto, are adapted to anime and movies, helping to attract new audiences.
Cultural influence: Manga exposes their readers to Japanese culture and language, thus creating a huge impact on areas like fashion, video games, and more.
Manga Translation
Did you know France is the largest manga market outside of Japan, and half of the comic sales are comprised of translated manga?
As manga popularity surges, the need for its translation is expanding to make manga accessible to all the readers. Though it is believed that the anime adaptation has helped create a global sensation, in fact fans usually prefer manga to enjoy the true essence of the story. However, due to the unavailability of the translations of manga, they often turn to anime as an alternative.
Thus, translation has become crucial to support the growth of the global expansion of the manga market.
Currently, manga translations are either done by fans or by publishers. Hence, the translations can be divided into two types:
Fan-made translations: Dedicated fans of manga create these translations, known as ‘scanlations,’ as a hobby to quench the international demand for manga. Although the fans’ efforts are very much appreciated, the process is illegal, and the translations are accompanied by substandard quality and untimely delivery due to the lack of people.
Official translations: These translations are undertaken by specific publishers. They are done by a team of professional translators, proofreaders, typesetters, and editors to provide high-quality work. Since it takes time and effort, they are often released much later after the original version.
Translating manga: What are all the steps that need to be taken care of?
Although the need for manga translation is expanding, it’s not as simple as it looks. Manga translation is not simply translating words into another language; it requires understanding cultural nuances, idioms, and context.
Let’s list out some of the points that need to be kept in mind while translating manga:
Quality and Cultural Nuances: Most comics are Japanese; some are Korean and Chinese. Hence, there might be various idioms and honorifics that do not have proper translations into other languages. In Japanese, sentences are short but carry a lot of meaning. This differs from English, where you convey the same sentence using more words. Therefore, translators must creatively provide correct phrases according to the culture and context, ensuring accuracy.
Editing and proofreading: To ensure a polished final product, the translated text must be edited and proofread for grammar, clarity, and consistency.
Maintaining artwork and layout: Manga is typically read from right to left, which differs from the Western culture of reading left to right. In addition, the translated text must be added in speech bubbles instead of the original text without altering the layout.
Cultural awareness and censorship: Certain themes or plots can be sensitive or considered taboo in some markets. Therefore, translators must adjust the content accordingly while adhering to the storyline.
Today, many manga have been translated into countless languages, bringing manga’s popularity to the next level. Let's take examples of popular manga and how translation has increased its global impact.
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto:
Translations: This iconic manga has been translated into over 40+ languages.
Global impact: This is the best-selling manga series of all time, with 250 million copies. The English-translated copies of the manga have been on The New York Times bestseller list and USA Today several times.
Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama
Translations: It has been translated into more than 40 languages, helping it become one of the best-selling manga series.
Global impact: Besides the 140 million copies sold, six of the seven volumes of English-translated copies were charted on The New York Times Manga Best Seller List then.
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
Translations: My Hero Academia has been translated into many languages, including Khmer, Georgian, and Brezhoneg. In addition to the translations, the anime series was dubbed in Indian regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam.
Global impact: The series has achieved over 100 million copies sales worldwide.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge
Translations: The Demon Slayer manga series has been translated into 14+ languages, including Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Global impact: The bestselling manga of that time sold over 150 million copies and earned over $500 million in sales alone.
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama:
Translations: Translated in over 20 languages, this popular manga has been translated into many languages, including Mandarin, German, and Indonesian.
Global impact: This manga series became a commercial success, with over 140 million copies sold worldwide.
As the international demand for high-quality and accurate translations increases, it’s time for manga publishers and creators to incorporate translations into their manga. Although it can be a complicated task, they are not impossible. Textar is always ready to take up this challenging task by providing expert translation services tailored to your needs, ensuring accurate translation through relevant and emotional contexts. We support manga creators and publishers by bridging language gaps and solidifying the relationship between fans, creators, and artists worldwide. What are you waiting for? Drop a mail at sales@timbel.net to get your manga translated.
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