slr2moons | My Manga Method, Part I: the script

I've been debating on whether I should share my work process for how I letter manga for some time (would it be presumptuous? Would it be boring??), and after a comment from Rice-kun and some thinking on my part, I've decided to go with it. I think it's interesting myself. I know if I were still a "civilian", I'd be fascinated to learn how manga is converted into English.

An intro: I've been lettering manga for two years now, and I've developed this system from sheer necessity to make my deadlines without killing myself. X_x So let's begin!

A quick distinction: if you're a scanlator, please note that I use the professional manga industry terms, so an "editor" is similar to an editor for writing, NOT the person who tweaks the artwork and covers up any visible Japanese. In the professional world, that person is the "letterer/retouch artist". This difference between professional-manga-editors and scanlator-manga-editors has caused a bit of confusion in a past conversation or two, so here it is up front. Wakatta?

Part I!

Before I can begin lettering, I have to have the script, AKA the translation of the manga volume. This is sent to me via email or ftp from the manga's editor. To write a script, the Japanese is translated into fairly literal English. Then this literal translation is either sent to the rewriter (as in the case of Nana and most manga titles from Viz) or the translator rewrites it him/herself (as is the case with Skip.) Rewriting is exactly what it sounds like, meaning the literal translation is ~~hopefully only slightly~~ changed to make it sound more natural to North American ears. To give you an example:

Imagine a store sales clerk bowing goodbye to a customer.

Actual Japanese: "Doumo arigatou gozaimashita, okyaku-sama."
Literal translation: "Thank you very much, honored guest."
Slightly rewritten version: "Thank you for your business."

Now, sometimes the rewriter ~~takes extreme liberties~~ has lots of fun. To continue with our example from above, an actual line that I had to letter in the above situation:

Extremely rewritten version: "Thanks! Ya'll come back now!"

*slr2moons is silent for several minutes*

Continuing! Some of this script-development is educated guesswork on my part. I know the editor reads over the script after receiving the rewritten version and tweaks it before sending it to me. I do believe the editor is also the person who decides on sound effect translations. This is apparently done in a similar manner as dialogue:

Actual Japanese: kyaa kyaa -- doki doki -- suta suta
literal definitions: excited girly screams -- a pounding heartbeat -- heavy footsteps
possible English FX in the script: squee squee -- th-thump th-thump -- stomp stomp

Once the script is given the editor's stamp of approval, it is sent to me. Most of the time, scripts are 1/2 of a volume long each, but occasionally I'll be sent an entire book's worth in one file.

Wow, that's a long first installment. And I haven't even done anything yet!!

Next up will be the original Japanese pages.

So, what do you guys think?? I know at least two people read my journal who have never commented. Anyone else?? Do you think this is interesting? Now's your chance to ~~reveal yourself~~ speak up!

last tweaked 1-26-09