Subtitle Comparison: [Crunchyroll vs Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan (Episode 01)

This post was written by Dark_Sage. He is Dark_Sage.

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Normally I like to give fansubs a week to get running, but for short series, I don’t think that’s particularly necessary.

 

[Crunchyroll]

In general, Crunchyroll commenters should not have internet access.
In general, Crunchyroll commenters should not have internet access.

Release format (based on the [HorribleSubs] rips):

  • 480p MKV (22 MB, 8-bit)
  • 720p MKV (48 MB, 8-bit)
  • 1080p MKV (80 MB, 8-bit)

Japanesiness: Honorifics. “onsen” as “hot springs”. “manjuu” as “steam bun”.

English style: American English.

Encoding details: http://pastebin.com/KBR0Tg4f

Speed: Simulcast, but with a slight delay (~5 hours).

Website: http://www.crunchyroll.com/

Spoiler:

Karaoke.

Nothing to see here, as you’d generally expect with Crunchyroll. The OP is entirely unremarkable, so I won’t even bother with a “clean” credited OP.

Keep it in your pants, sister.
Keep it in your pants, sister.

 

 

Typesetting.

[HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_01.05_[2015.10.04_14.51.35] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_01.08_[2015.10.04_14.51.43] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_02.09_[2015.10.04_14.53.57] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_02.11_[2015.10.04_14.54.05] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_02.21_[2015.10.04_18.23.29] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_02.33_[2015.10.04_14.54.52] [HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_03.00_[2015.10.04_14.55.27]

Par for the Crunchy course, the typesetting is serviceable but unimpressive.

 

 

Release.

[HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_00.04_[2015.10.04_14.50.12]

Colons can be shitty, but I woulda preferred one here over the comma choice.

[HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_00.06_[2015.10.04_14.50.25]

I wonder if this is readable if you’re color blind, cuz it sure as hell ain’t from my perspective.

[HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_01.16_[2015.10.04_14.52.07]

Nasty? In response to a kid calling herself a hot springs deity?

Guess the generation raised on tumblr is old enough to get a TL gig with Crunchyroll. We’re so fucked.

[HorribleSubs] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [720p].mkv_snapshot_03.28_[2015.10.04_14.56.18]

Just a succinct, perfectly worded line. +1 like.

 

 

tl;dr.

It’s a three-minute show, and Crunchyroll didn’t fuck up too much. So yeah, pass.

 

 

[Mori]

You know you're in for a trip when the TL complains about the difficulty of a three-minute anime.
You gotta be a bit worried when the TL complains about the difficulty of translating a three-minute anime.

Release format: 720p MKV (47 MB, 10-bit)

Japanesiness: Honorifics. “onsen” as “onsen”. “manjuu” as “manjuu”.

English style: American English.

Encoding details: http://pastebin.com/2Udk5eXW

Speed: Per Mori’s plans, this should go up ~1 day after the show airs.

Website: http://mori-subs.blogspot.com/

Spoiler:

Karaoke.

[Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_00.49_[2015.10.04_18.28.37]

Webm link (7 MB)

While it may be low-effort, Mori is providing a translation here that Crunchyroll isn’t. Graded in a vacuum, this passes, but barely. D-tier, if we’re gonna be honest. And we are gonna be honest.

 

 

Typesetting.

[Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_00.05_[2015.10.04_17.23.09] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_01.05_[2015.10.04_17.24.18] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_01.08_[2015.10.04_17.32.53] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.09_[2015.10.04_17.34.19] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.10_[2015.10.04_17.34.25] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.17_[2015.10.04_17.34.51] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.22_[2015.10.04_17.35.01] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.33_[2015.10.04_17.40.22] [Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_03.00_[2015.10.04_17.40.54]

Better than Crunchyroll, but this is not where a fansub wants to be if it wants to be the definitive choice for a show.

 

 

Release.

Due to Mori’s localization decisions, the script sounds more accurate than Crunchyroll’s, but it doesn’t always come across too well.

The script ranges from stiff and awkward…

[Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_00.26_[2015.10.04_17.23.47]

…to confusingly wapanese.

[Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_01.35_[2015.10.04_17.33.30]

Additionally, this release comes up with new translations for its terms each time they come up.

[Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan - 01 [E0C49139].mkv_snapshot_02.19_[2015.10.04_17.35.13]

Apparently, Hakone is all of the following:

  • An onsen spirit
  • A master of “this water source”
  • A god
  • A spirit of “this source”

Pick one or two and then stick with it. Christ.

 

tl;dr.

Though the script is passable under the consideration that each episode is over with quickly, I don’t think I’d be keen on seeing what Mori would give us were the show to be much longer. Still, this is a pass.

 

 

Crunchyroll vs Mori.

Hakone vs Whoeverthefuckthatis

There isn’t anything that will particularly punish you for your choice of going one route or the other. I’m inclined to give the nod to Crunchyroll simply for speed and consistency, but if you’re really into the bells and whistles that are typically associated with fansubs, and are fine with the somewhat questionable translation decisions they made, Mori is a fine option.

Not that there’s too much on the line for a forgettable show like Hakone-chan.

 

9 thoughts on “Subtitle Comparison: [Crunchyroll vs Mori] Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan (Episode 01)”

    • You don’t get a free pass just because you have “an original TL”. Hell, each official translation is an original TL itself, often done by former OR current fansubbers.

      The goal of the reviews is to help you decide what your best option for the show is. Just because I offer a conclusion does not mean I expect you to agree with it 100%. That’s why I have more in my posts than just a one-word rating.

      Reply
  1. Ah, I see that pointless disclaimer stayed, even in Japanese…I don’t now who would think “things that look similar” aren’t just coincidences and would need to be forcibly told this…companies protecting themselves and how someone’d believe any of these characters look like anything in real lif–I give up!

    Reply

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