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NEWS: Utawarerumono to Keep Name

I'm calling this series "Underwater Ray Romano" from now on.

It should also be noted that Pioneer's original VHS dub release of "Fushigi Yuugi" was under the translated title "The Mysterious Play" (while the sub was sold under the Japanese title).

Individually, yes, they are easy syllables. But put it together into one meaningless word, and its not so simple. In the case of Underwater Ray Romano, you have words that mean something making it easy to remember.

jgreen wrote:

I'm calling this series "Underwater Ray Romano" from now on. It should also be noted that Pioneer's original VHS dub release of "Fushigi Yuugi" was under the translated title "The Mysterious Play" (while the sub was sold under the Japanese title).

Every time someone calls this series "Underwater Ray Romano" I just can't help but crack up!

Having gotten into anime after the sub vs. dub tape deal, it's interesting to think about how things once were. I haven't seen it, but given the description of Fushigi Yuugi, calling it The Mysterious Play for the English dub release isn't that bad a title. (My Japanese is limited to few words, is this an accurate translation?)

"Yuugi" is most often rendered as "game," but I've seen "play" as a valid meaning. Considering the melodramatic nature of the series, I'd let it slide if it was a little artistic license. (Edit: Forgot to mention -- the tapes actually featured both titles, but one was a much smaller subtitle. I.e., the dub had "Mysterious Play" as the dominant title, with "Fushigi Yuugi" in much smaller print, and the sub had that reversed.)

If there's been enough of an outcry against the title change for ADV to stick with Utawarerumono, hopefully the fans will put their money where their mouths are and purchase the series. (My guess is that if ADV feels comfortable with reverting to the original name, they must feel comfortable with expected sales from the die-hards. That or they're mortified at the thought of convention-goers snickering and muttering "Underwater Ray Romano" in passing...wait, that didn't come out right. Well, it'll probably happen anyway, though I think to a lesser degree than if the name had stayed "Shadow Warrior Chronicles.")

Otherwise, next time a similarly strange title change comes up...why listen to fan protest when the numbers don't bear them out?

(I've seen about 1 1/2 episodes, and while I'm not sure I'd buy the series, it does have a certain charm. It might end up on our purchase queue somewhere, but nowhere immediate.)

And whatever happened to the speculation that Shin Angyo Onshi and Utawarerumono had their 'adapted' titles switched, given that each title made more sense if they were exchanged?

Having gotten into anime after the sub vs. dub tape deal, it's interesting to think about how things once were. I haven't seen it, but given the description of Fushigi Yuugi, calling it The Mysterious Play for the English dub release isn't that bad a title. (My Japanese is limited to few words, is this an accurate translation?)