StrangerAtaru's Thread of...Stuff

[StrangerAtaru]

Osu! For those of you who don't know me, I'm StrangerAtaru (also known as just "Ataru" or "StrangerAtaru" or "SA" or "that weirdo guy obsessed with Jump and...um...". For those who do know me, nice to see all of you. I have no idea why I'm doing this but I decided to make a thread here to gather my thoughts, my translations, my ambitions...and probably just to make a bit idiot of myself. I have a few other things I do on the web aside from translating...they should be easy to find but trust me: you don't want to know.

I guess I could go on and on but I'll just leave with a few particular notes you may want to know before anyone can contact me on whatever they want:

*I officially have 3.5 years of Japanese training in college...wait, back up. Actually I first started listening to Japanese proper in HS watching subbed anime on VHS and International Channel's Japanese block in '96-'97 and dreaming dreams of moving to Japan and being a writer...yeah, it didn't go that way.
*Before you ask...no, I've never been to Japan...but I have been to the Mitsuwa in Edgewater, NJ quite a few times. (let alone several Japanese bookstores in NY, the Mitsuwa in Arlington Heights, IL and Japan Centre in Piccadilly Circus in London) I freeze in my Japanese every time I go to one of them though.
*I have means to translate both from my own knowledge and dictionary stuff...I will try to make it the best that I can but don't expect it to be perfect grammar or English.
*I guess this is the part you probably want to hear: my translation specs. I actually started translating while still in college when I decided to attempt to do my own personal copy of "Jigoku Sensei Nube" (Hell Teacher Nube)...I got through 9 volumes before getting too distracted and frustrated to go on. (still have the translations and really do want to try the series again but I don't know if or when) I tried a couple translation groups (and actually did one of the Eiichiro Oda one-shots in one), but always felt the last person to know anything so I never stayed long. I actually got back into the swing of things in April '08 when I just decided on a whim to start doing "Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo" due to how far behind it was in the states...and how Viz was not helping matters. Currently I do freelance work with translations, mostly with Jump series: aside from finishing Bo-bobo, I did the really short Sawai series "Chagecha" and I'm currently working simultaneously on Kinnikuman and Cyborg Jii-chan G...as well as side work on a friend's "Konjiki no Gash!" project and trying to coax myself to start "Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo".

What I will do (or contemplate on doing):
-Weekly Shonen Jump...sort of. Essentially, considering all of the modern series seem rather booked in what and who's doing them, I'm trying to fill in the blanks of history by doing some older series that no one knows or have little representation in English. I have a couple ideas for series I really want to do after I finish a share of Kinnikuman or Jii-chan G...but you are going to have to talk with me if you have any ideas and direct me to scans. And if anyone really, really wants me to do a new series...yeah, I sort of want to look it over first and see if anyone else is doing it instead.
-Any other shonen anthology with a story that interests me. Both Magazine and Sunday have interesting series and there are many holes in them too...and I sort of want to use that excuse to read certain series.
-A good seinen: though I don't read them, I have seen some really good seinen concepts out there and I wouldn't mind trying or diving in...but don't come up to me with "Berserk" or "Gantz": I have really no interest in either. (though if no one has done them, I wouldn't mind trying Airmaster or 81 Diver...or something)
-Most importantly: the series has to perk my eye and make me interested. If I'm not interested, I really won't want to translate it.

What I won't do:
-Naruto or Bleach: too many other people do them and I have no interest aside from watching train wrecks. (not including One Piece...mostly since I love that series but so many other people do it better and faster than the time I would get to them)
-Shoujo or Josei: I know there are many good stories in them but I rather watch them as anime. I have bad memories of reading shoujo and I just can't do it...trust me.
-Man-love...eww. (I know my sexuality and this isn't it...not that there's anything wrong with that)
-Series that don't interest me: if you show me something that you may love and I can't see anything that would bring me to do it, I probably will courteously reject.

Outside that, the floor is yours.

 

[Bomber D Rufi]

Awesome another translator thread! :-P Nice! Uh I can't think of anything to ask, but I will lol.

 

[zefur]

When you explain everything so clearly like that it makes it so hard to think of interesting questions =p

ok first question how long had you been studying when you first attempted to translate and how much did u understand without going for a dictionary

Second question are you planning to go to japan?

those are my two questions...................................for now (evil laugh)

 

[StrangerAtaru]

When you explain everything so clearly like that it makes it so hard to think of interesting questions =p

ok first question how long had you been studying when you first attempted to translate and how much did u understand without going for a dictionary

Second question are you planning to go to japan?

those are my two questions...................................for now (evil laugh)

1. I swear two or three years of Japanese were under my belt before I first started on Nube. (when I originally tried to do it) I can understand a good chunk of it even then...but I always go crazy in interpretations since one verb can mean several different things, forcing me to look it up then as in now.
2. I want to go to Japan eventually...but I never have the money, the time or just feel I'll have culture shock. Heck, I'm just lucky I've been to Canada and London.

 

[zefur]

Lol london aint nothin special but i guess im talking for the point of someone living here lol iv been japan for a weekend thats probably why i didnt experience culture shock but since you kind of immerse yourself in the culture through manga wouldnt you experience less to little culture shock? just a thought anyways next questions (i should become an interviewer)

1) how long does it take you to translate an average 20 page chapter

2) what first got you interested in manga was you first interested in the country then manga or the manga 1st

 

[StrangerAtaru]

Lol london aint nothin special but i guess im talking for the point of someone living here

It was my first time in Europe so of course I was amazed by the city.

1) how long does it take you to translate an average 20 page chapter

2) what first got you interested in manga was you first interested in the country then manga or the manga 1st

1. It all depends on the chapter itself. I've been mostly working a bit on shorter-chapter series (akin to Bo-bobo and early Kinnikuman), where the former took a couple hours at least due to all of the dialogue and references (many took longer) and the latter takes 30 minutes to an hour due to not too much dialogue. Jii-chan G probably takes me a bit longer...I don't time myself but my best guess is between 2 and 3 hours. (but to tell the truth, I never time myself and really don't want to...let alone I know I would probably take forever to coax myself to do a more dialogue-based series like Gintama, which I love BTW)

2. Manga first actually. The first volume I ever bought was the original run of Viz's Ranma 1/2 in Englsih back when I was first getting into anime. (sort of was more into anime than manga at the time) First Japanese volume I ever got was Ghost Sweeper Mikami vol. 1 when I first went to Kinokuniya with my Asian club in college. (can't say too much more due to having to go somewhere)

 

[bobsinbobsled]

Okay, hmmm... I know you know it, so how about Bo-bobo V. ?, the one with all the one-shots? If you need scans, I can pro'lly provide them in case you don't have the actual volume.

 

[StrangerAtaru]

Okay, hmmm... I know you know it, so how about Bo-bobo V. ?, the one with all the one-shots? If you need scans, I can pro'lly provide them in case you don't have the actual volume.

I actually do have Volume ? but somehow it slipped my mind compared to Shinsetsu (which I really still want to start but never find the time anymore on weekends). The only one I probably won't do is Janken Island cause that one was already done...well OK, it's all silent. But I do want to do all the Bo-bobo pilots and the first "poop hero" tale (whom I think ended up influencing Softon).

 

[Oni_James]

wooooaaah!!! i didn't know it, StrangerAtaru you got a topic!! that's great^^
first of all: thanks for translating all BoBoBo XD
i had some full-of-work times back then when you finished translating it, so i couldn't follow BoBoBo as in the times i started reading your
i've been watching Kinnikuman lately, also Kinnikuman: Kinniku-sei Oui Soudatsu-hen (currently on ep 44, at 2 left for the last), and i'm downloading all the Nisei, it's a shame that i could only find Nisei in Portugese, and lucky for me that i could found the First anime in Catalan

i have some questions:
1 Is your name based on (can contain spoilers from the manga or the second anime for those who haven't read it)

Spoiler

Suguru's big brother, Ataru?

2 What's your opinion about Warsman? And Yosaku (yes, the one that appers randomly in Kinnikuman XD)?

3 Do you think this part of Bobobo is based in Kinnikuman? I've also found other references like when bobobo shots tennosuke's body to the oponents is just like Ashuraman did with Sunshine

Spoiler

4 Do you know if Nisei's manga is still ongoing? I heard it was first published in one manga magazine and then they re-did it in another one and it's still ongoing, and something about 8 New generation choujin going to the past to avoid Robin Mask's death, it'd be great if it would

5 Do you think The Canadian and Specialman deserve more screentime?

6 I think you may know it by now but Sawai published a volume of Chagecha! What do you think of it?

i hope it explains something more about Chagecha's gang, and who was behind Tiger Mask's mask, may be prince kamehame? XD
END OF THE QUESTION ROUND
OMG, i didn't know i could be so annoying...

 

[zefur]

Heya Stranger Im back again to harass um i mean interview you yea thats it

well im back and i have really thought this over reaally well um as well as my frazzled brain can think work is boring the _ _ _ _ (fill in your own blanks) outta me at the moment

well anyways here they are

Outside of manga what holds your interest?
Are you planning to do translation at a proffessional level and make a career out of itor is it still just for fun and practice?
What is your main genre of manga?

ps i sometimes chat in txt speak sorry bout that its a hard habit to break

 

[StrangerAtaru]

i have some questions:
1 Is your name based on (can contain spoilers from the manga or the second anime for those who haven't read it)

Spoiler

Suguru's big brother, Ataru?

Spoiler

I actually didn't know of Kinniku Ataru until I got into Kinnikuman. In fact that's sort of connected to my name at "Little Rubber Guys" (Soldier Ataru)...but it's not why I became Ataru actually.

The Ataru in my name is actually connected to one of the first anime I ever really got obsessed with: Ataru Moroboshi, the idiot lecher from Rumiko Takahashi's "Urusei Yatsura". Sometimes I felt like him with my luck and being at the wrong place at the wrong time so I made myself connected to him. (though sadly still without a Lum)

2 What's your opinion about Warsman? And Yosaku (yes, the one that appers randomly in Kinnikuman XD)?

I've only read the 2nd Choujin Olympics so far but Warsman is defnately a favorite! A brutal monster who hides a gentleman underneath. Yosaku...no clue on who that is actually.

3 Do you think this part of Bobobo is based in Kinnikuman? I've also found other references like when bobobo shots tennosuke's body to the oponents is just like Ashuraman did with Sunshine

Spoiler

In some ways, a lot of Bo-bobo's soul has a ton of Kinnikuman and a ton of Dragonball in it. (among the many, many other things) But the source of everything is a WSJ, but neither of those: it's actually "Fist of the North Star" (Hokuto no Ken). Once you have the HnK base, then you build on stuff like the Kinnikuman attributes of "anything and everything fights" and the base shonen concepts of DB to start getting an image of the weirdness.

4 Do you know if Nisei's manga is still ongoing? I heard it was first published in one manga magazine and then they re-did it in another one and it's still ongoing, and something about 8 New generation choujin going to the past to avoid Robin Mask's death, it'd be great if it would

Nisei is still going. It's actually been in "Weekly Playboy" since it started so I really don't know what you're talking about. And yeah, it's in the midst of this overconvoluted time travel arc involving saving Kevin Mask...

5 Do you think The Canadian and Specialman deserve more screentime?

The weirdest thing is Canadianman actually seemed more formidable when he first appeared but he is a joke. And Specialman...moreso. To tell the truth, a ton of characters could have had more development and fought more often but unfortunately it was up to the Yudetamago duo who did and when. I mean, aside from the main idol Choujin and some of the major villains, it was lucky that we heard from characters like Black Hole, Pentagon and The Ninja again after their main appearance.

6 I think you may know it by now but Sawai published a volume of Chagecha! What do you think of it?

i hope it explains something more about Chagecha's gang, and who was behind Tiger Mask's mask, may be prince kamehame? XD


I was the one who translated Chagecha and personally, I loved it. It was probably the most insane, brilliant comedy-action shonen I had seen and showed Sawai was trying to move beyond Bo-bobo and develop a world to call his own with more order amidst his chaos. Can't say too many others liked it due to it's instant bombing...but it should be expected since Sawai isn't for everyone. Oh, and Tiger Mask...yeah, somehow there are rumors that a certain character could be it...but I won't say yes or no.

Outside of manga what holds your interest?

(in Crispin Glover from "Back to the Future" voice) "Stories..."(...not disclosed to say what though cause they're pretty crappy and not worth getting into)

Are you planning to do translation at a proffessional level and make a career out of itor is it still just for fun and practice?

It's just for fun. I wish I could be professional but I know I'll never be as good as practically every other translator on here.

What is your main genre of manga?

For the moment, shonen, but preferably older series that have gotten lost in the cracks. I've seen a couple nice seinen or recent shonen I wouldn't mind trying either but I'm sort of not willing to try after Chagecha.

All answers are in blue.

 

[Oni_James]

Probably you won't know much about Yosaku because he mostly appears in the anime, but he sure makes a great paper on it. He's always there doing any tasks. Someone who sells food in the stadium, a judgeman that judges Kinkotsuman and Iwao in the anime, he appears dancing, also as a prison guard. He has lots of tasks, much like Pandaman but with more protagonism.
Here it is!! The great Yosaku:

Spoiler

YOSAKU

http://kinnikuman.wikia.com/wiki/Yosaku​

that thing i got confused about Nisei is that it has two mangas, but i read i don't know where, that it first got published i VJump, i shouldn't go wikia-ing so much to know more about nisei XD ah, i wish the second manga of nisei would get licensed and published, at least in USA, i wouldn't mind on buying it online >.<

it must be soo cool to see New generation vs Legends in their great times >.< i wouldn't mind even just "reading" the raws, i fact, i've seen all the Oui Soudatsu-hen in RAW (today i finished watching it, great ending, must watch nisei now XD)

 

[StrangerAtaru]

Probably you won't know much about Yosaku because he mostly appears in the anime, but he sure makes a great paper on it. He's always there doing any tasks. Someone who sells food in the stadium, a judgeman that judges Kinkotsuman and Iwao in the anime, he appears dancing, also as a prison guard. He has lots of tasks, much like Pandaman but with more protagonism.
Here it is!! The great Yosaku:

Spoiler

YOSAKU

http://kinnikuman.wikia.com/wiki/Yosaku​

that thing i got confused about Nisei is that it has two mangas, but i read i don't know where, that it first got published i VJump, i shouldn't go wikia-ing so much to know more about nisei XD ah, i wish the second manga of nisei would get licensed and published, at least in USA, i wouldn't mind on buying it online >.<

it must be soo cool to see New generation vs Legends in their great times >.< i wouldn't mind even just "reading" the raws, i fact, i've seen all the Oui Soudatsu-hen in RAW (today i finished watching it, great ending, must watch nisei now XD)

Oh yeah, him. I remember Yosaku cameoing here or there in the early chapters of the original but that's about it.

Yeah, there were two Nisei manga but the one everyone seems to obsess with (and pretty much the first one) is the Playboy one. I sort of wish we got the V-Jump series to see what it's like but unfortunately that seems a bit more obscure compared to the actual one.

 

[Alan Smithee]

A simple question to start of with and that would be your age, how old are you? What are your hobbies outside of the internet? If you have any... I hope you do!

 

[StrangerAtaru]

A simple question to start of with and that would be your age, how old are you? What are your hobbies outside of the internet? If you have any... I hope you do!

Age: Unknown. Somewhere between 1 and a 100 I think...try around the late 20s, that's a good start ;p (hint: 3 cubed)

Hobbies Outside the Web: "Stories"...(as I said earlier...I write but as I said, my stuff isn't that good) Also like taking a walk, seeing old movies and such. Or just daydreaming.

 

[Oni_James]

i some questions Stranger Ataru:
1 Why do you translate some Kinnikuman chapters that seem to be random (i know they aren't)? i mean, why didn't you translate the first Akuma Chojin, Buffaloman's arc, it's not that i wanted translations of the arc, i saw the anime, but why this "special translation order"?
2 Also, are you planning to translate any Nisei chapter or any Nisei Time Travel Chojin Tag chapter?
*cheers on your translation, gambare!*

 

[StrangerAtaru]

i some questions Stranger Ataru:
1 Why do you translate some Kinnikuman chapters that seem to be random (i know they aren't)? i mean, why didn't you translate the first Akuma Chojin, Buffaloman's arc, it's not that i wanted translations of the arc, i saw the anime, but why this "special translation order"?
2 Also, are you planning to translate any Nisei chapter or any Nisei Time Travel Chojin Tag chapter?
*cheers on your translation, gambare!*

1. That's simple: it's fill-ins. I made a deal with a notable Kinnikuman board that I would do fill-ins for stuff Toriyama World didn't do. That way I don't do some stuff twice and we can use a combination of both with the scans. As it stands though I'm moving ahead with consistancy finally since I'm on-board for all the Gold Mask and the Tag Tournament arcs. (someone else wanted the Throne arc so I won't be translating that)
2. I'm not sure whether or not I'll be doing Nisei at this time. Depends on what's going on by then out there.

 

[Doragon]

Hey, I'm your biggest fan! (I think.) I got a couple of questions here.

1. Was it hard learning japanese? (I plan to learn japanese and I really want to know if it's damn hard.)

2. Will you translate anymore mangas? (I have a couple of recommendations like Chobits by CLAMP or Undead by Kazurou Inoue, the guy who made Ai Kora. If you need any Raws for both, last time I checked, MH has some.)

 

[StrangerAtaru]

Hey, I'm your biggest fan! (I think.) I got a couple of questions here.

1. Was it hard learning japanese? (I plan to learn japanese and I really want to know if it's damn hard.)

One word: yes. To tell the truth, I'm more a man who's better with math and science than languages, but I was the one foolish enough to take East Asian Studies as a major in college. (well mostly cause I wanted to) Somehow I survived and I have a good understanding of the language and the structure and such, but I still need to look up things for context.

2. Will you translate anymore mangas? (I have a couple of recommendations like Chobits by CLAMP or Undead by Kazurou Inoue, the guy who made Ai Kora. If you need any Raws for both, last time I checked, MH has some.)

Didn't know Inoue did that "Undead" series. To tell the truth, I mostly picked up Ai Kora at the suggestion of someone else and it just exploded from there. Could consider it as like an extra Ai Kora volume if I do it after that's over but I'll see.

Thing is that currently I sort of want to either stick with shonen or maybe venture into seinen after I finish with a couple of the things I've been doing. I have a few ideas in my head, mostly some older series (Jump mostly) that I want to actually do but I'm still open to anything if it draws me in. (sort of like Ai Kora...though that I sort of liked anyway after reading bits and pieces when it was running) A few series I'm contemplating currently though include:

-Hell Teacher Nube (a personal favorite from when I got into manga and one that needs to just be out there)
-Wingman (early Masakazu Katsura and looks really neat)
-Ring Ni Kakero (another early Jump series, this time by Masami Kurumada pre-Saint Seiya)
-Go! Tenba Cheerleaders (sort of stumbled on this...somehow it gave me vibes of "what could have been" with one of my favorite Negima girls...before Akamatsu ruined it)

 

[Doragon]

So you mostly like older mangas? To tell you the truth, I really don't like older mangas, the art style doesn't look that attractive. But that's just my opinion. I really hope you could translate some of the mangas like Undead, or Toradora, but it's fine if you don't. Oh, and one more question, are you going to be translating any new Ai Kora chapters soon? If you do, I'll be sure to scanlate all of 'em!