Fansub Review: [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san (Episode 02)

This post was written by Dark_Sage. He is Dark_Sage.

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Watch the show but avoid these subs.

Table of Contents

Release Information

Visual Quality

Script Quality

Results

Release Information

Episode details.

Release format: MKV (245 MB, 10-bit)

Japanesiness: Honorifics.

English style: British English.

Encoding details: http://pastebin.com/qgw6CLMt

Speed: Slow (>48 hours)

 

External links.

Group website: N/A

IRC channel: #[email protected]

SubCompare screenshot comparisons: http://www.subcompare.com/kotoura-san/

Commie’s fansub reviews: N/A

 

Visual Review

Karaoke.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_01.41_[2013.01.26_19.57.47] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_01.50_[2013.01.26_19.58.07]

Opening. This doesn’t even match. How hard is it to use the fucking eyedropper tool? Fucking stupid.

Rating: Okay.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_21.56_[2013.01.26_19.58.49]

No. (In case you didn’t know, I tend to tackle the visual section after I’ve already done the script review and by this point I am not gonna spend anymore goddamn time on this pile of shit than I have to.)

 

 

Typesetting.

Signs:

Spoiler:

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_02.40_[2013.01.26_12.55.54] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_06.41_[2013.01.26_13.49.30] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_06.53_[2013.01.26_13.49.52] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_08.34_[2013.01.26_15.26.49]

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_08.34_[2013.01.26_15.26.49] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_11.25_[2013.01.26_15.42.07] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_11.26_[2013.01.26_15.42.22] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_12.01_[2013.01.26_15.50.53] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_12.03_[2013.01.26_15.51.00] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_14.30_[2013.01.26_16.49.49] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_17.45_[2013.01.26_16.58.05] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_18.13_[2013.01.26_17.03.24] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_19.11_[2013.01.26_17.02.44] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_23.38_[2013.01.26_17.09.48]

I don’t even fucking care. With the shitty main script in this release, your typesetter wasted their fucking time.

 

 

Other.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_06.57_[2013.01.26_13.50.05]

Great overlap text choice.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_08.47_[2013.01.26_15.27.25]

I have no fucking clue what retard they put in charge of linebreaking, but he needs to be shot.

 

 

Script Review

Karaoke.

I don’t even want to know how they fucked up the karaoke here. Let’s just assume it’s all as gibberish as their main script.

 

Main Script.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_03.00_[2013.01.26_13.09.31]

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_09.29_[2013.01.26_15.28.21]

Except she didn’t say “Nyaa”. It was “Iya~” Yes, there is a difference between the sound a cat makes and “No”.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_03.23_[2013.01.26_13.21.13]

This is going to be the worst release ever, isn’t it?

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_03.39_[2013.01.26_13.21.53]

Fuck me. How does someone even write this shit?

Wait. Oh god no, this can’t be right. This is a… Crunchyroll edit? And they changed it to this line from “You there. Is there a girl named Kotoura in this class?”

How did this happen? Why did this happen? Fucking hell…

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.08_[2013.01.26_13.22.28]

Haha? I’m… supposed to laugh, right? Good one, Fapulous. That’s pretty… yeah…

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.11_[2013.01.26_13.23.54]

I’m “why am I watching this shit what I have done with my life” Club’s Dark_Sage.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.28_[2013.01.26_13.25.06]

With the “, please?” at the end there, you’re indicating a change of tone which never occurs. (I know there’s a “ka” there, but that’s not how it’d be said in English.)

The easiest fix would be to change the question mark to a period (because he’s not asking a fucking question), but I’d just cut that “please” bit out altogether because the point of the scene is that he’s trying to say that he and Kotoura are a 2-for-1 deal.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.44_[2013.01.26_13.30.42]

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.48_[2013.01.26_13.28.24] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_04.51_[2013.01.26_13.28.30]

Okay, let’s just compare this to Commie’s.

“H-How can you even imagine something like that?!”

“As you can see, I have the one-of-a-kind power to touch espers’ minds.”

“I touch them with my lust!”

Now does anyone know the main difference between these two versions? Yes, you, dear reader. Oh, one’s enjoyable, clever, and sets a good tone for the show while the other is transliterated garbage with no sense of flow? Goddamn, you fucking nailed that answer. Well done.

 

Yes, so far the difference between Commie’s script and Fapulous!’s has been night and day. I’m only 5 minutes in, but there’s no way Fapulous can bridge the gap because they’re shit.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_05.58_[2013.01.26_13.42.16]

This makes no fucking sense. Commie?

“A grade schooler? Did he skip a few years?”

Hey Fapulous, if you just took Commie’s script and claimed it as your own, you’d have a decent release.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_06.08_[2013.01.26_13.44.10]

You mean “well aware”. You’re avoiding the one phrase perfect in this context for a “very”. Dumb.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_06.38_[2013.01.26_13.45.52]

Honestly, I lost it when I got to this line (maybe I should think about livestreaming this shit or something, because I was screaming “No!” at my screen for a good ten seconds).

Firstly, don’t use “firstly” here. Secondly, don’t use “firstly” here. Thirdly, you get the fucking picture.

Yes, it is a word, but if you don’t understand how to use it, don’t.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_07.06_[2013.01.26_15.24.23] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_07.08_[2013.01.26_15.24.17] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_07.12_[2013.01.26_15.24.57]

“psychic powers” is not singular, you fucking morons.

it’s -> they’re

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_08.45_[2013.01.26_15.27.09]

Okay, I get it. Japan can’t use brand names in their anime. Fine. Then at least make the parody name reflect how it actually would be spoken.

No one in America says “Would you like to go to McD’s?” We’d know what you meant, sure, but that’s now how we’d say it.

Mickie/Micky D’s, McDonald’s, McHerps, etc.

In this case, your best option is to just call it WacArnold’s or, y’know, call it McDonald’s like they wanted to in the first place.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_11.01_[2013.01.26_15.38.54] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_11.04_[2013.01.26_15.39.08]

This should be “girl-on-girl” but the most egregious offense is the word “stuff” used back-to-back. You must have the worst fucking editors.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_12.19_[2013.01.26_15.51.30] [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_12.20_[2013.01.26_15.51.44]

Exercise makes you hot, but hot is not an adjective that describes exercise.

Why the fuck am I even explaining this? You’re clearly too stupid to get it. I need a drink.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_13.17_[2013.01.26_16.36.41]

“Scamming people for their money, and then committing suicide.”

Nobody would say “working as a scammer” because that would be legitimizing it. How do you fucking miss that?

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_13.31_[2013.01.26_16.45.50]

Mum. Capitalized.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_13.36_[2013.01.26_16.46.09]

Why would you capitalize “Fortune”? Do English rape your mother or something? I can’t see any other reason why you’d hate the language this much.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_14.39_[2013.01.26_16.50.16]

This can’t be real.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_18.23_[2013.01.26_17.03.05]

If you don’t speak English, don’t fansub. Seriously, don’t.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_19.21_[2013.01.26_17.02.38]

“Stop kidding!” is the perfect phrase to use here. Commie’s “Don’t give me that bull!” would actually be what the character would say in English, but this isn’t set in England! It’s set in Japan, where good English is inaccurate.

Thanks for keeping to the setting, Fapulous. Fuck those liberal monsters.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_19.45_[2013.01.26_17.04.01]

COMMAS SO HARD TO USE

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_20.28_[2013.01.26_17.04.57]

Something seems off about this line, bu–

“She’s never once asked me for help.”

Oh, thanks Commie.

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_20.50_[2013.01.26_17.05.34]

Who the fuck walks into a room and says “Yo ‘sup”?

[Fapulous!] Kotoura-san - 02 [6A9AB6F2].mkv_snapshot_21.47_[2013.01.26_17.06.47]

The last time I give you nitwits the time of day.

You know the worst part? All of this was edited from better lines in the Crunchyroll script. They took something that was English and turned it into… this. So fucking disappoint.

 

Results

Watchability: Don’t watch this.

Visual grade: B

Script grade: F

Overall grade: F

Fapulous ruined the characters by fucking with their personalities and made the subs confusing by removing important details from lines. Their English is fucked and distracts from the anime itself. Odds are you’d have a worse experience by watching this show with their subs than you would by turning the subs off and guessing at what’s being said.

This release isn’t worth wasting a second of your time on. Go with Commie or with HorribleSubs. Both are better.
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48 thoughts on “Fansub Review: [Fapulous!] Kotoura-san (Episode 02)”

    • I wish. The one instance of added “humor” would be the Barnacles line. Jokesubs do not put in the effort to typeset every sign either.

      It’s a convenient excuse to hide behind now that you’ve brought it up as an option, but the mistakes and issues with this release are not in line with what is traditionally referred to as jokesubs — these are clearly just shitsubs.

      Reply
    • Egh, Spergy sounds so 1980s. Go back to Seiji-kun.

      The Hadena releases of seasons past were significantly worse than this was. I’d say from what I’ve seen so far, Fapulous and Hadena are about on the same footing this season.

      Reply
    • Some people I’ve talked to from Hong Kong were genuinely surprised when I looked at them weird when they said “McD’s”… And I’ve definitely seen it called that in at least one American TV commercial.

      But still, it sounds horrible.

      Reply
      • In Germany, most people just say “Mackes” (or “Mäckes”, with our way to write it). I don’t really know how I should write it in English. Maybe “Mc’s” or “Mackey’s” would also get pronounciation across.

        Any other interesting names for this temple of healthy food from other countries?

        Reply
    • MaccyD’s here. Confirmed as a Brit.

      Oh and another thing: Am I the only Briteditor out there who at least attempts to sub in American English? All these groups doing Brit releases… what’s this about? :S

      Reply
  1. >Now does anyone know the main difference between these two versions? Yes, you, dear reader. Oh, one’s enjoyable, clever, and sets a good tone for the show while the other is transliterated garbage with no sense of flow?

    Dark_Sage confirmed for shadow puppet master of the ESP Club. The Surgeon General recommends limiting consumption of Crymore without the use of a Class 2 protective tinfoil barrier.

    Reply
  2. I have never in my life heard someone say “Don’t give me that bull!” – the line used by Fapulous here seems far more natural to me (although still a little awkward) than that used by Commie, which I just find jarring. Probably like the “Yo ‘sup?” line did to you. And yes, I have known people to walk into a room and say that.
    Not that I’m defending this shoddy release. I just wanted to remind you that what seems to you to be unnatural use of language may, to other people, seem completely normal, and the language that you praise may be the one that, to them, is uncomfortable.

    Reply
    • Exactly. This relates to a question that I have with regard to localization.

      English is a language that is spoken all over the world, from England to India, and each culture has its own unique spin to the language, be it conventions or terms and phrases. Japaneseness aside, seeing the source material is Japanese, when translating a show into English, wouldn’t it be wiser to make the script as culturally ambiguous as possible in order to make the show more accessible to a wider audience?

      Reply
      • Well, it would be if
        1: You somehow had sampled enough of the world’s English to make it completely neutral without being bland as fuck.
        B) You think the extra downloads you’re getting are worth the time you took to avoid speaking the way you’re used to.
        III. People actually care a lot about the difference between “Don’t give me that bull,” and “Don’t give me that bullshit.”

        tl;dr No.

        Reply
      • Speaking generally, but when most of your viewers are in the US, it makes sense to use American English. Beyond that, the rest of what I use is what I’d consider pretty neutral expressions in the first place, and honestly if I can understand pretty much every turn of phrase I’ve seen in fansubs despite never having lived in the US in my life, I don’t think it’s that unreasonable to expect others to as well.

        It’s always funny to hear complaints about me “Americanizing” the scripts I work on (I remember getting this for Binbougami in particular) when I’m not even American in the first place.

        Reply
  3. I feel that this review was more of a Grammar-Nazi opinion, made by someone focusing around the flaws of a fansub as opposed to trying to enjoy an anime helpfully translated by some people who just felt like it. :I

    Reply
    • Btw, I only skimmed through and read a few parts of the reviews. I might be wrong, but that’s the heavy impression I got.

      Reply

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