View Full Version : Licensed Azumanga Daioh
I was in a shop the other day and noticed the Azumanga Daioh manga. It was one of my favorite animes and I decided to pick up the manga as well. It's pretty interesting, lots of added short scenes. However, a couple of funny translations that ADV had to do.
I knew from the start when Azumanga Daioh was licensed that it's going to be a very strange anime/manga in English, since it was heavy on Japanese humor and puns. Also, I wondered how they were going to translate Yukari-sensei, the English teacher.
Well, I haven't seen the dubbed anime yet but I've been reading the manga (just started). It turns out that Yukari-sensei is a Spanish teacher in the english version...
Also, some of the pun scenes make very little sense (such as the Osaka obsession early on). Anyway, just now midway through the first volume, but it's still a fun manga and easily worth the $8.00 USD I paid for it ;).
TechnoMage
2004-01-14, 08:17
Actually, by reading more closely, I've noticed that the Yukari being a spanish teacher is only found in a small part of the manga. Further through the volume, when she decides she wishes to teach something else, we see that she's back to being an english teacher (an error in script editing?)
But yeah, it's well worth the buy, as long as you ignore some of these small inconsistancies :).
The first volume has a rather sucky translation and casts everyone in a bad light. For example
- Osaka is translated as having a New York accent for no reason, and also she swears a lot.
- As TechnoMage pointed out, Yukari is a Spanish teacher (?!)
- Chiyo is not at all portrayed as cute, IMHO at least.
The second volume improves on the translation. Many of these problems are fixed.
Fin Fish
2004-01-15, 10:26
Well, since I live here, in Hungary, there are no mangas being published here. But the fan version of Azumanga is very good. Better then the english version (or, at least the first volume).
I love the Manga, and specia-lee the anime^^
Azumanga 4ever! :love:
The first volume has a rather sucky translation and casts everyone in a bad light. For example
- Osaka is translated as having a New York accent for no reason, and also she swears a lot.
- As TechnoMage pointed out, Yukari is a Spanish teacher (?!)
- Chiyo is not at all portrayed as cute, IMHO at least.
The second volume improves on the translation. Many of these problems are fixed.
Really...hmm.
One question:
- Why New York? To my knowledge I have this idea stuck into my head that our Tokyo-Osaka rivalry is similar to New York-Los Angeles rivalry (Tokyo = NY / Osaka = LA). Whereas Tokyoites and New Yorkers are busy and speak in a polite manner (stereotypically), Osakans and Los Angelinos are more laid back and have a more vulgur intonation (again, stereotypically). Of course, Kasuga Ayumu is from the Kansai region of Japan, but she speaks rather softly and is shy from being a stereotypical Osakan (that's why Tomo-chan was shocked that she's from Osaka...she doesn't "act" like the stereotypical view of someone from the Kansai region). So, instead of being a "vulgar-speaking New Yorker," in my head, Osaka would rather fit the image of a "shy Los Angelino."
Really...hmm.
One question:
- Why New York? To my knowledge I have this idea stuck into my head that our Tokyo-Osaka rivalry is similar to New York-Los Angeles rivalry (Tokyo = NY / Osaka = LA). Whereas Tokyoites and New Yorkers are busy and speak in a polite manner (stereotypically), Osakans and Los Angelinos are more laid back and have a more vulgur intonation (again, stereotypically). Of course, Kasuga Ayumu is from the Kansai region of Japan, but she speaks rather softly and is shy from being a stereotypical Osakan (that's why Tomo-chan was shocked that she's from Osaka...she doesn't "act" like the stereotypical view of someone from the Kansai region). So, instead of being a "vulgar-speaking New Yorker," in my head, Osaka would rather fit the image of a "shy Los Angelino."
Hmm, I would say that the reason that they chose New York was based solely for the distinct accent they have. New Yorkers speak in a distinct accent that most people in the US can recognize. But whereas your preconception of New Yorkers portrays them as polite, the actual stereotype in the US is that they are rude and hostile (maybe New Yorkers are more polite to tourists heh). So, in this case, if ADV had shown this correctly, she would have had a New York accent, as Osaka speaks in the Kansai dialect (correct?), but she would still be shy, as this would be the opposite as one would expect someone from New York to be (as Osaka is the opposite as you would expect someone from Osaka would be).
... and her name would be Brooklyn or something heh.
This post is in no way a put down of New Yorkers. I am just discussing stereotypes, not reality.
I'm guessing they decided that they decided the racuous, informal stereotype of Osaka was similar to a stereotype of New York. Unfortunately, they hit off the mark, because you would expect someone from New York to be more like arrogant and violent. Also, New York street slang (which someone like Osaka wouldn't even use in the first place) is not comparable to the Kansai dialect. It's more like Japanese mafia-related slang.
I prefer the fan-translation, which had Osaka speaking with a simple Southern accent. Although it's a bit outdated, the northeastern U.S. is viewed as more formal and secular, whereas the southeastern U.S. is more informal and friendly. (This stereotype is exploited horribly during election year... my God -_-;) I think eventually ADV just gave up on the dialect.
I think the New York accent is kinda better than a southern accent. It adds more to Osaka's oozing coolness. As far as ADV's translation, I'm not complaing a lot because I understand the changes they have to do. They made it more americanize for the new/english speaking readers who aren't really familiar of Japanese puns/jokes/the characters or what not.
People complain about changes too much. Sometimes it has to be done, sometimes it makes things clearer, and sometimes things just don't translate. Give these people some credit. People talking about English class in English can very easily appear absurd. I am curious as to why they choose a Brooklyn accent for Osaka as a Southern accent has been standard practice forever, but so what?
In short, eat me.
babbito2k
2004-01-16, 03:58
Heheh, glad I bought this in Japanese. I am not great at reading Japanese and Kansai-ben makes me feel like I'm going crazy but at least I missed all this stuff about New York accents and swearing.
Weissent
2004-01-17, 13:12
During their School-fair in Vol. 1 (the strip was named "Que?"; p.139), Osaka gets talked to by a gaijin in rather "strange" German. (I don't have the slightest idea what "arhen" means ... "Ohren"? "Haare"?)
Does anyone of you who read the Japanese original remember that strip, particularly the nationality of the visitor? What does he say in the Japanese version?
(edit: I scanned the 2 strips dealing with the "Gaijin-problem", copyright for the US American Market by ADV Manga. lol, I hope posting it is just a minor copyright infringement... :heh: Here you go:)
http://www.evereve.net/off/Gaijin-san.jpg
babbito2k
2004-01-17, 14:27
During their School-fair in Vol. 1 (the strip was named "Que?"; p.139), Osaka gets talked to by a gaijin in rather "strange" German. (I don't have the slightest idea what "arhen" means ... "Ohren"? "Haare"?)
Does anyone of you who read the Japanese original remember that strip, particularly the nationality of the visitor? What does he say in the Japanese version?
hehe, nationality you say...
the first 4 panels on that page are titled sappari " I cannot make heads or tails of this." In the second panel Osaka sez "A! Gaijin ya!" which is Kansai-ben for "Whoa! it's a gaijin!" ^_^;;; What the gaijin says, is "Hello pretty girl! How are you? What kind of character do you play?""Or, is this costume something for religion of Japan? I mean..." in English.
Osaka's response is "nani yutten no?" which roughly translates to "WTF are you saying!?"
The strip on the next page featuring Yukari-sensei has her saying in the third panel "Uwa! Gaijin Da!" which is the same as "A! Gaijin ya!" except it's not in Kansai-ben.
So the answer to the nationality question is "gaijin." ^_^;;;
Weissent
2004-01-17, 15:48
So the answer to the nationality question is "gaijin." ^_^;;;
Lol, I guess that sums it up quite nicely, thanx ;)
Weissent
2004-01-31, 21:04
Are you going to let this thread die?
I refuse to give in! Azumanga forever :)
What are your thoughts about this release? (apart from Gaijin etc.)
Or are u still waiting for the R1 DVD?
babbito2k
2004-01-31, 22:24
If you want to keep the thread going you should point out another one of those bizarro localizations. I have no way of knowing how bad ADV's translation is unless someone else clues me in ^_^
I guess I could say that it was refreshing to run across something that dealt with high school and wasn't about stifled romance, pointy-haired hoodlums, pointy-haired sports freaks, pointy-haired wanna-be lechers - did I leave anything out? I mean that kind of stuff has its good points but Azumanga Daioh managed to just be about being in high school and it was great.
Mr_Paper
2004-03-08, 13:44
I recently bought and read all of the Azumanga Daioh mangas
released by ADV Manga. To be honest, I was expecting there to
be some alterations to the dialogue and some minor changes to the
jokes. I knew it would be hard to show them not understanding
English in an adapted English translation, however, by the time I
reached the halfway point of the first volume I was seriously
wondering if I had just wasted forty dollar and was beginning to
look rather painfully at my Gunslinger Girls manga which I had
purchased at the same time.
I was fully aware, call it a rather strong hunch, that Osaka would
be portrayed as a brash, foul-mouthed New Yorker (It seems to be
ADV's corporate policy to depict all people from Osaka this way,
Abenobashi demonstrates this rather wonderfully) but was in no way
ready for how far they took it. Also, the rather inconsistent editing
of Osaka's dialogue. In some strips she's speaking perfect English then
in others her accent has been applied so heavily I found myself pausing
to try and make sense of her seemingly inane ramblings. Yukari-sensei
teaching Spanish seemed horribly out of place. I was pleased in the
second half of volume one and onwards through the other volumes
that they returned Yukari-sensei to teaching English. Although the
number of editing inconsistencies in the first volume were staggering,
to say the least, I was rather pleased that they were, for the most
part, straightened out in the later volumes.
On another note, ADV Manga's rather inconsistent frame alterations
stuck out each and every time. I'm still left pondering why it is that
they would alter one element of the image in one frame then remain
completely oblivious to it in the other frames or alter the element in
all but one frame of the set of four. The image posted by Weissent,
particularly the 'Que?' short, shows this quite nicely. You'll notice in
the top frame, the class' sign is left unaltered but in the last two
frames ADV Manga has altered the sign in both instances.
Overall, it's actually presented and translated (despite those places
where it seems they disregarded the original dialogue and just winged it)
very well. I'm glad I purchased all three volumes at once, if I had only
purchased the first I would have been content with my original Japanese
ones and probably never purchased the rest of the English adapted ones.
If I had gone that route I would have missed one of my favorite scenes,
from the manga and anime alike, where Nyamo explains to the girls that
"Adult relationships are all about SEX!" :heh:
I'm also happy to announce that they left Kimura-sensei's jokes (can
they be called that? It's my opinion that they're more of a sickening
level of perversion and brutal honesty :eyebrow: ) largely untouched! Indeed,
they left lines such as "'Cause I like high school girls and stuff!" as is.
I know this seems odd, but I had to mention it, as Kimura-sensei is one
of my favorite anime characters. :heh:
"ahren" is not a German word. They probably wanted to write "Ohren", which means "ears". That foreigner asks Osaka (in rather bad German): "Hello girl! How are you? What are your ears/What about your ears?" - then: "Or are your ears natural? You're very pretty." ("natural" is wrong here, it should be "natürlich".)
StarCreator
2004-03-08, 18:39
If you haven't noticed, in book 3 there is a section of translation notes which details all changes they made, and why they made them. I don't mind changes in a series like this, which has fast paced comic timing that relies on instant recognition of pop-culture references. They could have translated everything literally and explained it in a separate section, but if you do that, half the jokes in the book are dead.
Off topic, but the manga translators have absolutely nothing to do with the anime production. ADV Films and ADV Manga are completely isolated from each other - the only common link being they are in the same building. I thought I should mention that too.
Renaissance Otaku
2004-03-10, 12:21
They put notes in? I first read this at No Name Anime(a club in San Jose that translated it when it was new) While I expected it, flipping through ADV's version felt awkward with the changed references. I do agree that when you have to explain a joke it often ruins it. It pleases me greatly that they put notes in on what they changed. Idon't mind it as much if they do so. Its interesting to know that they are seperate from AD Vision. I really think ADV has why too much presence in the genre.
Mr_Paper
2004-03-10, 12:56
StarCreator, I'm well aware that the two aren't affiliated in any way
other then by name. I tried to refrain from implying that ADV Films had
anything to do with the manga but it seems I might have failed in that
attempt. My reference to ADV as a whole was an attempt to point out
that both ADV Manga and ADV Films use the same generalization for
their tranlastions of Osakans. Also, the translation notes in volume
three were very helpful and insightful as to the reasons for the changes
they made.
Anyway, despite my misgivings over the first volume and the image
changes/ajustments, I'm still very pleased with the product as a whole.
I hope ADV Manga continues to improve and release quality products.
Time to wait for volume four now.
StarCreator
2004-03-10, 14:38
They're not separate from AD Vision - AD Vision is the parent company of ADV Films, ADV Manga, ADV Toys, NewType USA, The Anime Network, etc...
Translation of the Osaka dialect is often translator's choice - different translators (and translations) will often depict them differently, if at all, usually if it is important to the series in some way. It is important to show Ayumu is an outsider in Azumanga, since some of the humor revolves around that. Similarly, Abenobashi has its own cultural reasons to need to depict their accent. (That, and there are similar dialect-related jokes, too.)
Personally, I'd prefer it being depicted as a New York accent to a southern one. Sometimes a southern accent is a better fit to the character, but not always...
[0_o] im from new york.... i dont speak like that.... nor do i know anyone that does... fuhgeddaboutit??? wtf? -_-''
Mr_Paper
2004-03-10, 22:55
That's more or less my beef with the New York translation.
It seems, to me, more like a weird derivation of the infamous
Italian Mobster dialect.:heh:
Briareos
2004-03-11, 10:20
Maybe they should have specifically said Brooklyn instead of New York? Or maybe Boston.
The point about the jokes is that the kids think that all New Yorkers talk and behave in one stereotypical way. (Perhaps learning this from gang/mobster films, who knows?) The truth is very different, and that's what makes it funny.
babbito2k
2004-03-11, 17:10
Maybe they should have specifically said Brooklyn instead of New York? Or maybe Boston.
Boston has its neighborhoods too though...
A fun fact about accents - the accent of people from Hoboken, NJ used to be exactly the same as people living in a certain parish in New Orleans, LA hundreds of miles away. Hoboken has changed a lot and maybe New Orleans has so I can't say this is still true.
diabolistic
2004-03-11, 21:16
just read the second volume for azumanga daioh..
a HUGE improvement over the first volume.. i kinda wish i didn't give the first one away now ;_;
Mr_Paper
2004-03-11, 22:24
The third is even better than the second. ^^
RavenChild
2004-03-11, 23:18
i'm reading the first two right now. i got them so that i could scan in pictures and cg the color. i've only had time for a few of these.
ADV needs to do a v2 of the first volume. :D
Mr_Paper
2004-03-12, 00:06
A v2 of the second volume would be nice too...
They could include translator notes in all the volumes.
StarCreator
2004-03-13, 04:27
Yes, a lot of jokes at Ayumu's expense are from the stereotypical view of Osakans. A stereotypical view of a New Yorker is a pretty good parallel to that.
BanditKing
2004-03-13, 10:59
Just read v1 - v3 damn good series.
I like how ADV did to volume three with the translation.Telling what they change and why they change it.I wouldn't be able to know about tomo haircut mean if it wouldn't those notes. :)
OutPhase
2004-04-13, 10:02
Yes, the final volume is here in the US. My brother bought it on the way home from school. I read it, I loved, so has anyone else finished the manga?
New quote coming soon....
Mr_Paper
2004-04-13, 10:16
Couldn't you have posted this in the other Azumanga Daioh manga thread?
OutPhase
2004-04-13, 11:19
Couldn't you have posted this in the other Azumanga Daioh manga thread?
.....There's another AzuDai manga thread?! And I never knew about?!
*Being Depressed* I have no right to call myself an Azumanga Daioh fan......
Tell me where it is!
i ordered it :)
i had it in my hands friday ^_^
it issssss goooood
though kinda depressing...NO MORE AZUMANGA DAIOH! :( ;_;
Mr_Paper
2004-04-13, 13:00
The other Azumanga Daioh thread...
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=4792
A v2 of the second volume would be nice too...
They could include translator notes in all the volumes.
They did a great job with v3. It would be nice if they rereleased v1 & 2 with notes and make the notes available on their website (for those who have purchased v1 & 2 already).
Spooky-Electric
2004-04-13, 20:50
They did a great job with v3. It would be nice if they rereleased v1 & 2 with notes and make the notes available on their website (for those who have purchased v1 & 2 already).
Yeah, they could also fix Yukari being a Spanish teacher in Volume 1 and remove Osaka's brooklyn accent like they did in later volumes. They still use "fuhgetaboutit", but no more brooklyn accent.
Yeah, they could also fix Yukari being a Spanish teacher in Volume 1 and remove Osaka's brooklyn accent like they did in later volumes. They still use "fuhgetaboutit", but no more brooklyn accent.
instead, they seem to slur her speech a bit (dropping g's from -ing words from time to time)
*sniff*
i'm going through withdrawal...2 weeks til the first anime DVD comes out >_<
instead, they seem to slur her speech a bit (dropping g's from -ing words from time to time)
*sniff*Despite what the Triad may have you believe, Osaka does not talk in standard Japanese...
OutPhase
2004-04-14, 15:06
Yeah, they could also fix Yukari being a Spanish teacher in Volume 1 and remove Osaka's brooklyn accent like they did in later volumes. They still use "fuhgetaboutit", but no more brooklyn accent.
Oh, yes, I remember that crisis. The fanboys were bitching and moaning all over the internet not knowing when to shut up or possibly wait until it gets better. They were shouting "They killed the AzuDai manga! The web translations are so much better" and from what I heard it sounded like Yoda wrote it. Later they made Yukari teaching English and got rid of Osaka's Brooklin accent but that doesn't mean it made them shut it. They still complain about "fuhgetaboutit" not being "nandeyanen" (Translation: 1. "Why" 2. "Why in the heck" 3. (Most acceptable) "What the hell") To this day they still whine about the manga.
They did a great job with v3. It would be nice if they rereleased v1 & 2 with notes and make the notes available on their website (for those who have purchased v1 & 2 already)
They might release the first 2 with the notes (and by might, I really mean we ain't getting squat.) It would be kind of nice if they took the time and did.
As for me now I'm waiting for the anime. Hurry up and come out! You allowed the manga to come in our stores a week earlier than usual! Do it for the anime, too! Oh, well. (Watches episode one from the Newtype DVD again.)
The reason why Yukari was changed to a spanish teacher is because there are several strips detailing on how she dealt with foreigners. Now if her role as an english teacher remains for the adv version, it would seem kind of strange that she would run away from men that speaks her native language(in the adv version it would be english) and people might think she has a shy personality(which any azumanga fan will disagree).
As for me now I'm waiting for the anime. Hurry up and come out! You allowed the manga to come in our stores a week earlier than usual! Do it for the anime, too! Oh, well. (Watches episode one from the Newtype DVD again.)
It is out, I do belive it has been out for a week now.
I got my copy in the mail today. :p I'm going to go watch it now.
Despite what the Triad may have you believe, Osaka does not talk in standard Japanese...
ok...the only version of the anime i have EVER seen has been the first episode packaged with April's newtype thusfar
in the MANGA that ADV translated, they "slurred" her speech like i said, dropping g's, making it sort of dialectical (but later on it just sounds like rough english rather than specifically New York or Southern accent)
And the first volume was a major hiccup, the way they deal with Yukari's english teaching and dialogue later in the series influences their later work that has english words among the original japanese dialogue (Happy Lesson for instance)
in the MANGA that ADV translated, they "slurred" her speech like i said, dropping g's, making it sort of dialectical (but later on it just sounds like rough english rather than specifically New York or Southern accent)There's no better way to indicate the accent in English as far as I know.
Despite what the Triad may have you believe, Osaka does not talk in standard Japanese...
just a personal preference, but i think trying to translate a Japanese accent like Osaka's to an English analogue is wasted effort. since the end result just looks bad. i'm glad ADV's taken the route of just roughing her speach rather than stick to authentic brooklyn (which was stupid). re: Triad's -- since we can obviously hear her speaking differently from others there isn't an urgency to translate her accent in the dialogue. in a manga though instead of roughing speach, pointing out that she has an accent would be sufficient in my book.
OutPhase
2004-04-15, 20:52
It is out, I do belive it has been out for a week now.
I got my copy in the mail today. :p I'm going to go watch it now.
Damn you, Weebull, you win this time. >_<
I really mean good for you. I was just pulling your chain and in Philadelphia it ain't coming out for a while. I'll check the mall over the weekend.
I'm guessing they decided that they decided the racuous, informal stereotype of Osaka was similar to a stereotype of New York. Unfortunately, they hit off the mark, because you would expect someone from New York to be more like arrogant and violent. Also, New York street slang (which someone like Osaka wouldn't even use in the first place) is not comparable to the Kansai dialect. It's more like Japanese mafia-related slang.
I prefer the fan-translation, which had Osaka speaking with a simple Southern accent. Although it's a bit outdated, the northeastern U.S. is viewed as more formal and secular, whereas the southeastern U.S. is more informal and friendly. (This stereotype is exploited horribly during election year... my God -_-;) I think eventually ADV just gave up on the dialect.
Heh, better late than never. I think that they gave Osaka a New York accent is because (after speaking with a bunch of translators I know), the Japanese look at the Kansai dialect in the same manner english-speakers view the "New York accent". I guess someone listened to all the complaints about why you should not give Kansai-ben speakers the southern accent (I can still hear the infernal Kitsune dub T_T)...
Either way, they're just stereotypes. Kinda like the whole thing with how the Yakuza tend to really roll the r's (and change stuff like "nai" into "nee"...).
The first volume has a rather sucky translation and casts everyone in a bad light. For example
- Osaka is translated as having a New York accent for no reason, and also she swears a lot.
- As TechnoMage pointed out, Yukari is a Spanish teacher (?!)
- Chiyo is not at all portrayed as cute, IMHO at least.
The second volume improves on the translation. Many of these problems are fixed.
I know. Osaka saying the phrase "Bald ass old men" sounded disgustingly inappropriate. On top of that, she sounds like she's coming close to speaking eubonics on several occasions. Even if she is sopposed to have an accent, she's still trying to make a good impression, and isn't actually sopposed to act like a stereotypical New Yorker. That's the point of her character.
Welcome to ADV Manga. The department with no funding, no staff, and is edited by a Trained Monkey who's resume includes 'Throwing Feces at the Enemies'.
Actually, the big game these days is FINDING ADV Manga -- outside of a long abandoned webpage on the ADV website, no one at ADV will respond to any manga questions -- email sent isn't responded to (though they add you to their spam newslist) and phone calls end up at voicemail.
Wierdly, you can still find new prints of AzuDa and the first 3 volumes of Yotsuba& on shelves.... as if the head was removed but the body is still making prints.... wierd and antagonizing.
I have both the ADV english and the original Japanese releases of the manga (it is only 4 volumes after all). Its kind of fun comparing the two and shaking your head...
One of the best handlings of multiple language situations I ever saw (and wish folks who handled Ichigo Masimaru and AzuDa would have watched for hints) was Red October (the nuke submarine Cold War spy movie).
There is Manga version for this anime ? Couldn't find it anywhere here .... Would love to get it in manga version...
Its available as a 4 volume set from Amazon.com, bn.com (Barnes&Noble), and other bookstores. If you want the original japanese version, amazon.co.jp carries all 4 volumes as well. In other words, its in print and licensed. Since you're a recent join, best take a look at the forum rules if you haven't already :)
I have a question.. Is there only 4 volumes to this series because thats all ive been able to find.. -_-
Yes, it's only four volumes.
The story ends at the end of the fourth volume.... (though it might be kind of neat to have a college sequel - the girls do split up to go to their various colleges).
The manga author is working on a series now called Yotsubato. There are six volumes released in Japan... ADVmanga released three and then stalled almost two years ago (bastards). Currently they're just sitting on the license.
MugenIchiban
2007-01-27, 02:22
Damn, 4 Volumes seem kinda short. Does it follow the anime or does it go on a different path? I'm kinda interested in buyin it now that I know its only 4 volumes.
Damn, 4 Volumes seem kinda short. Does it follow the anime or does it go on a different path? I'm kinda interested in buyin it now that I know its only 4 volumes.
Both the anime and the manga cover the same time period -- the three years of japanese high school. For the most part, its almost a frame by frame transposition (they do re-organize some events and change a character involved here and there). The manga is actually a collected works made up of 4 panel strips, so almost every page has a gag even when they're telling an extended story (like the Okinawa trip for example).
The english version has some translation oddities (like at first they try making Yukari's class a spanish class, then later drop that idea and just use odd fonts and stuff for 'english'.) The end of each volume has an appendix where the translator explains why they made the choices they did (often it was that jokes involving wordplay and puns needed to be replaced with something that worked in English).
I dunno, I have both the JP and EN versions and consider them some of my best buys in my manga collection.
Ah, I just finished reading the 4th volume and I absolutely loved it! Incredibly cute characters and some scenes literally had me rolling on the floor laughing. :heh:
It was also rather easy to read, which for me, with my still quite weak knowledge of Japanese, was a plus.
If there's any not-so-difficult manga out there which can be compared to Azumanga Daioh, please let me know. ^^ Are the author's other works worth checking out?
Quarkboy
2007-04-04, 19:22
Ah, I just finished reading the 4th volume and I absolutely loved it! Incredibly cute characters and some scenes literally had me rolling on the floor laughing. :heh:
It was also rather easy to read, which for me, with my still quite weak knowledge of Japanese, was a plus.
If there's any not-so-difficult manga out there which can be compared to Azumanga Daioh, please let me know. ^^ Are the author's other works worth checking out?
Yotsuba to. It's by the same manga-ka. That's all anyone needs to say. It's a simple read (in japanese), it's hilarious, it's awesome, it's great. Go. Buy. It. Now.
Mmmmmm, yotsubato is really, really .... yes, it must be read.
There are six volumes of Yotsuba& out in Japan with more on the way. (ADV's manga division has released volumes 1-3 in english but they have totally dropped the ball on it and don't appear to be releasing anymore though they won't release the license nor do they respond to inquiries on their manga products ... I use every opportunity to take them to task over their absymal public relations behavior).
FatPianoBoy
2007-04-05, 02:19
In that case, these (http://www.amazon.ca/Yotsuba-4-Kiyohiko-Azuma/dp/1413903452/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/702-2194899-6357654?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175757417&sr=8-1) items (http://www.amazon.ca/Yotsuba-5-Kiyohiko-Azuma/dp/1413903495/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/702-2194899-6357654?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175757417&sr=8-4) might be relevant to your interests ;)
Yotsuba to. It's by the same manga-ka. That's all anyone needs to say. It's a simple read (in japanese), it's hilarious, it's awesome, it's great. Go. Buy. It. Now.
Thanks, I will have a look (say: I ordered all 6 volumes just now :D ).
Mmmmmm, yotsubato is really, really .... yes, it must be read.
There are six volumes of Yotsuba& out in Japan with more on the way. (ADV's manga division has released volumes 1-3 in english but they have totally dropped the ball on it and don't appear to be releasing anymore though they won't release the license nor do they respond to inquiries on their manga products ... I use every opportunity to take them to task over their absymal public relations behavior).
Umm, they've already solicited next volumes for it Vexx.
EDIT: Nevermind, FPB beat me to it. Didn't realize that's what those links were for.
EDIT 2: I'd also like to point out that I predicted this would happen a long time ago. ;)
It still doesn't excuse their lack of public relations skills (website dead since 2004, failure to respond to inquiries, failure to answer the phone, etc). Three cheers for the projected releases (June - 4, Oct - 5) but I'll be more confident in June and still not very happy with them. I had basically given up on them.
FatPianoBoy
2007-04-05, 14:22
Believe me, I hear ya, Vexx. Frankly, I'm just glad for more delicious Yotsuba goodness that I had given up on ever seeing stateside (although I still plan on getting the Japanese releases), so I'm too excited to still be angry.
It still doesn't excuse their lack of public relations skills (website dead since 2004, failure to respond to inquiries, failure to answer the phone, etc). Three cheers for the projected releases (June - 4, Oct - 5) but I'll be more confident in June and still not very happy with them. I had basically given up on them.
EDIT: But hey, at least you have all that spam to read, right? ;)
Tiamat's Disciple
2009-04-02, 14:03
Yen Press have confirmed they're picking up the Azumanga license and releasing their own version at the end of the year. Check out the interviews with Kurt Hassler on my blog for more information
KimmyChan
2009-04-03, 13:34
I'm the proud owner of the complete Azumanga Daioh 4 volume manga collection, together in one massively oversized Omnibus edition, and I'm almost halfway through reading it so far...It's so good! I absolutely love it! :)
Here's a bit of a shocker... Kiyohiko Azuma has re-released Azumanga Daioh --- and redrawn it (or at least over 60% of it). Most of the Japanese fans seem excited over it and I'll say what I've seen so far is interesting -- only complaint so far is that Sasaki seems to have lost a good bit of her "scary coolness" and the characters overall are less angular. You can definitely see Azuma's modern Yotsubato style in the work.
(NSFW site) http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/06/16/azumanga-daioh-now-azumanga/
(amazon.co.jp link) http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4091216951/sankakucomple-22/ (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4091216951/sankakucomple-22/)
wow, why do you think he wants to redraw the manga?
ACSephiroth
2009-06-18, 17:56
I was lucky, I was in an anime club that had the 2nd and 3rd Azumanga Diaoh volumes. I won one in a contest. Someone else won the other one, but he said he really didn't need it so he gave it to me :D . I bought the 4th volume during a closing sale in a store and now all I need is the 1st volume.
Looking at those changes, I think the original version was better.
I was lucky, I was in an anime club that had the 2nd and 3rd Azumanga Diaoh volumes. I won one in a contest. Someone else won the other one, but he said he really didn't need it so he gave it to me :D . I bought the 4th volume during a closing sale in a store and now all I need is the 1st volume.
.....lucky..
yongshun
2009-06-18, 18:02
I just so happen to have all 4 in original manga form as well as the anime series and the artbox.
I just so happen to have all 4 in original manga form as well as the anime series and the artbox.
wow, I have the anime but not in an artbox..whatever that is.
yongshun
2009-06-18, 18:44
wow, I have the anime but not in an artbox..whatever that is.
it is just a box for the dvds with art either from the show or by some artist.
it is just a box for the dvds with art either from the show or by some artist.
ok, thank you
Looking at those changes, I think the original version was better.
Aye, in a number of cases, I prefer the older art (though I do like the thinner lines he uses now).
Yeah, I have the 4 volume series both in English (ADV) and in the original Japanese (acquired when I started learning the language). I also have the DVD collection.
ACSephiroth
2009-06-18, 23:49
Wait, so does that mean ADV still has rights to the anime or did they sell that too?
ADV does not and never had the rights to this re-release (which just came out in Japan). They used to have the rights to the original release.
Yen Press now owns the rights to Azumanga Daioh (ADV lost it and Yotsubato to Yen Press) as of 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azumanga_Daioh
Yen is slated to release the series in December 2009 --- I don't know if they plan on releasing the original work or the new version.
KimmyChan
2009-06-21, 05:36
This new look re-released AD looks ok, and I may end up reading it, but I much prefer the original manga series of it :)
I don't like what the new manga looks like..but when or if it comes to America I'll read it too
kenjiharima
2009-06-22, 23:16
A real AD fan would love both old and new one. :)
A real AD fan would love both old and new one. :)
yeah, your right.
M.Marangio
2009-08-19, 03:41
The third and last volume of the new edition was released yesterday (the volumes were re-arranged according to the three high school years).
For some pictures see akibablog (ads may be NSFW): http://blog.livedoor.jp/geek/archives/50875018.html
I picked up the new 3 volume version the other day. In most respects I like the new release better (amazing). There's a fair amount of new material. However, a few pieces of the old material is gone (haven't done a strip by strip check yet).
The full color plates are great. I like the regrouping of the strips into the 3 years of high school.
In general, I like his revisualizations of the characters. Sakaki comes off leaner and more statuesque. The others have more texture to their hair and body lines. There's more background art (Yotsuba work influences).
I really hope that Yen Press has picked up the new version of the series. I'll be keeping my old japanese 4 volume version but will probably donate the old ADV 4 volume english version to the library or something.
sakurafice
2009-12-19, 01:40
new material? :D :D :D
DO WANT
Haven't seen a single noise about anyone licensing the new Azumanga Daioh 2.0 three volume series. Will query Yen Press if they might issue a limited edition or something.
Whatever, I have the japanese editions (both 1.0 and 2.0) so I'm set - but it would be nice.
vBulletin® v3.8.6, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.