Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) - generic discussion thread

[Jan-Poo]

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

I actually think it should be the opposite: instead of the Titans attacking, it should be attacking the Titans since that's what Eren is training for, right?

The problem is that the original title implies that the "titans" are the subject of the sentence. "Advance of the giants" is an almost literal translation.
"Rise of the titans" could have been a good way to adapt and render the meaning in English. The emphasis is definitely on how these monsters are subjugating humanity and dethroning them from their position at the top of the ecological pyramid.

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

That's why the show should be translated in to English as "The Eotena Onslaught"

Definitely an interesting acid trip, but well I hope no one is going to take that too seriously.
It's interesting to note that the fan translators of the manga chose the term "titan" for "kyojin" even though the only time their name appears romanized in the manga it reads "giant" which is the closest translation of "kyojin".
Then "titan" became the official English translation when the anime was announced. Coincidence, or did they check how the English speaking fanbase grew accustomed to call them?

At any rate I think Titan is a good way to call them. The point is that "kyojin" is a very mundane term in Japanese, "giant" would have been a good translation too for that reason, but titan sounds nicer and more menacing.

[Tranhieu]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

It's never easy to say which is the correct spelling in roman characters of names that in the original only appear in katakana.

Most of the times translators whether they are "amateur" or "professional" only take a guess and adapt to what they think it's the most logical spelling.
In a few cases the original work provides the spelling in romaji, that doesn't seem the case with Shingeki no Kyojin, but even in those cases often it is a last-minute guess (meaning that the author originally only thought about the katakana names and only later tried to render them in romaji for promo materials, artbooks and so on) often with not very satisfying results.

Take for example the English title "Attack on titan", exactly what is that supposed to mean? If I didn't know what's this story is about I'd think "Titan" refers to the moon of Saturn.

I was taken aback a bit by the english title at first as kyojin (巨人) doesn't actually mean 'Titan', and if you go by the Japanese title it's not the 'Titan' who's being attacked, it's them doing the attacking

Edit: opps didn't see your comment above. never mind then.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

I actually think it should be the opposite: instead of the Titans attacking, it should be attacking the Titans since that's what Eren is training for, right?

That's definitely one way to interpret it. I think Attack of the Titans works the best IMO and still says what the story about on a basic level. Probably sounds too much like a 80's B movie though. lol

[Accelolita_]

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

Jaeger or Yeager?

What's the correct English spelling for Eren's surname?

I personally would say "Jaeger" since it's the German word for "hunter" and that would fit Eren pretty good lol

[bastek66]

They did it, they nailed everything, what a perfect episode

[MisaoFan]

Spoiler for Episode 3:

This new episode was pretty good. I wasn't sad that there isn't much drama happening, but it still remains serious on its own. There is some comedy here, but Sasha and Christa really gets me a lot of attention, not counting Conny's humorous schtick and Mikasa's lips as well. I didn't realise until now that I.G likes to use lipsticks on its mature female characters, which turns me into a sucker for them!
Other than that, everything about the episode's seemed perfect but has a realistic charm to it. I still don't know where I keep watching, but I'll still give a few more episodes since the next episode will most likely feature a blonde with strange blue eyes.

[Randrak42]

Originally Posted by bastek66

They did it, they nailed everything, what a perfect episode

And this is the second time in 24 hours that I die of happiness.

[EroKing]

[Fenrir_valindri]

The lips really bug me tbh.

[Randrak42]

First time in a long time I've actually went and watched the RAW before a sub was out...

Spoiler for Episode 3:

Oh Potato-chan...my love for you grows every day!

[Trogdor Jube]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

That's why the show should be translated in to English as "The Eotena Onslaught" :p

Spoiler for Long Explanation:

Source: A certain site I can't name, because of form rules

The problem with this is that they assume that the Eoten of legend and the Titans in SnK are the same thing based only 2 episodes of speculation.

[Randrak42]

BTW It was just pointed out to me by a friend but........how the hell did I not notice Annie in episode 2 getting bread!?

[Jan-Poo]

Originally Posted by Randrak42

BTW It was just pointed out to me by a friend but........how the hell did I not notice Annie in episode 2 getting bread!?

Oh... what the hell! I totally didn't notice...

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by Trogdor Jube

The problem with this is that they assume that the Eoten of legend and the Titans in SnK are the same thing based only 2 episodes of speculation.

Bigger problem is that most people won't know what the hell Eoten means.

[Randrak42]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

Oh... what the hell! I totally didn't notice...

I know right!? It's just so freaking subtle...I wonder if thereare cameos from the other squad members during episode 1 and 2 that we completely miss.

[Shadow5YA]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

That's why the show should be translated in to English as "The Eotena Onslaught"

Spoiler for Long Explanation:

Source: A certain site I can't name, because of form rules

I don't particularly agree with that argument. Despite it not being historically accurate, people still use "Titans" interchangeably with Giants/Gigants (with Titan having more mythological connotations), even moreso with Disney's popularized (even if bastardized) versions of Titans in their version of Hercules.

[Helius]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

The last time I saw similar bold outlines was in Toshokan Sensou, a Production I.G anime:

I wonder if it's a part of the studio's aesthetic housestyle.

Quite the opposite, actually. Production I.G is generally known for their fine, consistent lines and proportioned character designs with perhaps a few exceptions due to the particular styles of the source materials e.g. Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san. Even Library War is typical I.G with some "bold outlines" thrown in here and there.

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep3:

Mm... I couldn't really tell how much of the episode was actually useful. I guess it introduced some characters, but other than that... The whole bungee thing ended up just being a malfunction, and the long walk with Liner........... was just a walk.
It was, uh, entertaining in a comedic sense though. And oh Kobayashi Yuu........ (;-_-)

Misaka really looks too old. It's probably because her lips are colored, which is a question in itself.

Although I should have questioned in the first episode, but I wonder if the human race evolved to become stronger than humans in reality. Otherwise, I don't really feel all of those people should be able to fly from tree to tree so easily, but...

...Kobayashi...

[Panzerklein]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

That's why the show should be translated in to English as "The Eotena Onslaught"

Spoiler for Long Explanation:

Source: A certain site I can't name, because of form rules

Then, why Commie don't use "Giant" instead the old English "Eoten"?

[Trudinh]

Originally Posted by Jan-Poo

The problem is that the original title implies that the "titans" are the subject of the sentence. "Advance of the giants" is an almost literal translation.
"Rise of the titans" could have been a good way to adapt and render the meaning in English. The emphasis is definitely on how these monsters are subjugating humanity and dethroning them from their position at the top of the ecological pyramid.




Definitely an interesting acid trip, but well I hope no one is going to take that too seriously.
It's interesting to note that the fan translators of the manga chose the term "titan" for "kyojin" even though the only time their name appears romanized in the manga it reads "giant" which is the closest translation of "kyojin".
Then "titan" became the official English translation when the anime was announced. Coincidence, or did they check how the English speaking fanbase grew accustomed to call them?

At any rate I think Titan is a good way to call them. The point is that "kyojin" is a very mundane term in Japanese, "giant" would have been a good translation too for that reason, but titan sounds nicer and more menacing.

ya, i think the translator should just use titan or giant since many people understand it. I literally went to google and try define Eoten. err, maybe im just not well educated.