Flavors of Subtitling

Bruce used to call his subtitling "plain vanilla". As for me, I always seen the "flavors" of subtitling this way...

In 3 distinctively different categories:

Fast and Dirty - the style that's a quick 23 minute job per episode. It can take one run through and be done for the subber. The timing may be off and the script may be very rusty, but it's purpose isn't to be beautiful. It's purpose is to get the show to everyone as quickly as possible. It's a true blessing in it's way, because a prettier sub can always come along later, but it can never come along as quickly.

Technical - this is a clean and generally nicely executed sub. These are some of the most comfortable subs to watch providing the fonts chosen aren't too small and the wording is well chosen.

Creative - this is a sub that can be technically very good but more than anything else it's an emotional subbing style.

These subbing styles, in the order that they are listed, are harder and longer to do than the one listed before it.

The first anime fansubs in the US and Canada were the "Fast and Dirty" variety. These, bless the man (W.C).) that began them in Canada, was one of the beginning of bringing anime to the Western World. He, and Carl Macek behind Streamline. You see without them anime would not have had it's first steps in the Western world. Their work helped inspire the people who have made a difference in today's anime world. When you get right down to it, these people should be considered the fathers of anime among English speakers. "Fast and Dirty" is still used for those fast fixes and continue help spread the word "anime".

The next style of subbing that arose among fansubbers was the Technical style. Men, who liked precision, worked very hard to create a picture perfect type of sub. This is still an excellent style of subbing. And is the general style used by today's commercial companies.

Much later the third style of subbing arose - the Creative style. The Creative style will be talked about in depth in this section from as a first hand viewpoint on all three subbing styles.

Next....What it was like to subtitle before non-linear...

The next style of subbing that arose among fansubbers was the Technical style. Men, who liked precision, worked very hard to create a picture perfect type of sub. This is still an excellent style of subbing. And is the general style used by today's commercial companies.

Much later the third style of subbing arose - the Creative style.

Much later, after fast and dirty and technical, the third style of subbing arose - the Creative style. The Creative style was the shocking style that began to trickle out with Marmalade Boy, but truly made a commotion with Fushigi Yuugi. It arose from the subber's emotions. One's that just ended up expressing themselves that way...in colors, in font sizes, font positioning, and font shapes.

The idea that these things could express emotion more clearly was the direct end of noticing that the animators for Marmalade Boy were using shapes, colors, and symbols in the story itself to represent humor and deep feelings.

Now, when you re-watch Marmalade Boy the next time, watch for these artistic tricks. It's impressive what symbols that the artists came up with to express emotions and feelings!

Next....What it was like to subtitle before non-linear...