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yoroshiu · 11 months

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Translating a Scene From Kingdom Hearts (Japanese to English) (Part 2)

NOTE: Part 1 has my general overall note. I have so many thoughts in regards to different scenes so I might post more often. High key, doing this was done out of impulse but I hope to make it a fun learning experience at least! Also, I should have said this on part 1 but I’m so thankful to The Wayfinder Project for making finding KH-related things so much easier. They’re the best v-v Additionally, this is by no means to make fun of the ENG localization. There will be criticisms but translating and localizing is very difficult and I respect what these teams do.

Scene: Darkness Is What I Am* (KH3 + Re:Mind)

Sora: That face is—

Vanitas: I am Ventus' missing piece/presence. You made up for [the missing part of] Ventus' heart. That's why my appearance came from you. I was shaped by you two—Ventus, Sora.* We're brothers who make up for each other's shortcomings.

S: if you think that, why be hostile? It would be good/nice if we cooperate (or "if we cooperate, it would be good/nice")

Van: That's what I was born for (or "that's the meaning for me being born"). Because I am darkness, you (both) can exist as light. Aren't I cooperating?*

S: That kind of thing—

Ventus: I didn't ask for that [kind of thing]. Which is light or which is darkness—there's no need to separate them. I am me, you're you. We can live freely (or “let's live freely”).

Van: Freedom...Aa, [I did] live freely.

Ven: Is being trapped in darkness freedom?

Van: That's the way I chose to live.

Ven: I see...

S: Is that (really) okay? Vanitas!

~~~

1* If someone knows, I’d like to know what this scene’s title is in JPN, I have an idea of what it is but I’m not sure how to find it.

2* (lit. I was, Ventus, Sora, shaped by you two [people]). I phrased it differently in my translation since it made a bit more sense in my head.

3* I recall being a bit confused by the phrase. From what I understood and searched, あえている means “to dare.” Another way I could translate it (and be more accurate/literal) is “Aren’t I daring to cooperate?” (I think I might be wrong on that tbh) I think what gave me the hardest time here is the grammar structure. I’m weak when it comes to grammar ToT

- Despite saying relatively the same things, the big difference with JPN here is that Ventus and Vanitas are talking about freedom here. I remember reading people criticizing/making fun of this conversation in ENG but saw a comment that said JPN handled this way better, hence why I had checked it out. ENG leans into the light and darkness parts a bit too hard, in my opinion, and it seems a lot of other people agree with that too.

- The line that translates to “If you think that...” is “Then why won't you stand by our side? Instead of with darkness?” in ENG. I think ENG didn’t want to just reiterate the first question so they added the darkness part. As a result though, it makes the rest of the scene focus on it when it didn’t in JPN. In a way, it almost makes Ven’s point about not being just light or darkness counterintuitive due to the execution. There’s less focus on ‘freedom’ which is a shame, because considering the theories surrounding those two, especially Vanitas, this is a very loaded conversation. (Now that I think about that aspect I might make a separate post about it)

Overthinking KH part 2 lol

#kingdom hearts #sora #ventus #vanitas #japanese to english #translation #for fun #kh3 #kh sora #i'm open to suggestions #yoroshiu translates

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