In the last few weeks, there has been arguments going on between fans and Western anime & video game localizers in regard to years of awful, politicized English localization & translations works within the media. With localizers fearing over the fact that they may lose their jobs to rights owners using AI for their works, fans have been seeing this as a good thing if it means better & more accurate translations and localization works. Fans have stated that they would rather have an actual person do the work instead of AI but with years of what would be considered disrespectful and butchered jobs by localizers, AI seems to be the only feasible option if it means a more accurate translation and localization works in Western released games & anime.
In the case of the anime series Kobayashi-chi no Maid Dragon (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid), there is a scene within season one in the 12th episode of the English dub which has been used as the main example & subject of much debate and contention over localizers using their power to infuse their own politics within anime when the original Japanese version has none within it.
In the infamous scene, Lucoa and Tohru are seen having a back-and-forth conversation. In the original, Lucoa tries to conform to criticism she faced after coming to this world, but it comes off as comedically excessive; Tohru’s cheeky response is that Lucoa’s real problem is her body more than the clothes.
You can find the original translation and dub comparison along with the AI redub from YouTuber Prompt Pirate below.
https://youtu.be/IbgDZ8PsysY?si=cD2kPtSWYeWIgbh5
In the recent weeks, the English dub for this series has seen a resurgence of criticism after Western localizers have voiced their contention and concerns over official Twitter/X account for the manga series The Ancient Magus Bride announced that they’ll be relying on AI translation assistance for their simulpub releases, cutting out Western publisher and localizers who have been cheering cheering over they’re erroneous translations and censorship.
Source: Niche Gamer
