クロトリ getting the literal “Blackbird” treatment is a good example of how impossible direct localization is. It’s why I appreciate–and support–injecting similar vibes elsewhere in scripts that may not have literal connections to the original Japanese. I think Woolsey got there in this particular case with Flea, Slash, and Ozzie. Not so much with the gurus.
I think, though, the answer to “why did we end up with this Woolsey-ism?” is no more complicated than him sitting bleary-eyed with a spreadsheet at 2am because of insanely short deadlines, and getting zero feedback. I’ve always figured that’s how we ended up with phoenix down.
Yeah, I suspect when it first appeared it was a short form of 尾羽. I’m not sure the exact kana limits they had, but I could see the extra two in おばね being too far.
A more direct translation would be along the lines of “Phoenix’s Tail”, but even that is misleading because it’s referring to the tail feathers. The Japanese version didn’t specify the individual tail feathers, the same way English wouldn’t designate the individual hairs on a cat’s tail. A more accurate localization may be something like “Phoenix Flight Feather”, but that’s a bit of a mouthful (and would take up a lot of room in your game menus).
クロトリ getting the literal “Blackbird” treatment is a good example of how impossible direct localization is. It’s why I appreciate–and support–injecting similar vibes elsewhere in scripts that may not have literal connections to the original Japanese. I think Woolsey got there in this particular case with Flea, Slash, and Ozzie. Not so much with the gurus.
I think, though, the answer to “why did we end up with this Woolsey-ism?” is no more complicated than him sitting bleary-eyed with a spreadsheet at 2am because of insanely short deadlines, and getting zero feedback. I’ve always figured that’s how we ended up with phoenix down.
deleted by creator
It’s フェニックスの尾. Technically, it’s the “tail” of a phoenix, but it’s clearly depicted as the “tail feather”.
Yeah, I suspect when it first appeared it was a short form of 尾羽. I’m not sure the exact kana limits they had, but I could see the extra two in おばね being too far.
A more direct translation would be along the lines of “Phoenix’s Tail”, but even that is misleading because it’s referring to the tail feathers. The Japanese version didn’t specify the individual tail feathers, the same way English wouldn’t designate the individual hairs on a cat’s tail. A more accurate localization may be something like “Phoenix Flight Feather”, but that’s a bit of a mouthful (and would take up a lot of room in your game menus).
Just Phoenix Feather would be fine. Better than Down.
I was in my 30s when I realized phoenix down was, like, the down feathers from a phoenix. Like goose down. And not “PHOENIX DOWN!”
deleted by creator
Which results in a WTF moment when you start playing the games in English
deleted by creator
https://youtu.be/JS6CXgloFUg
Phoenix Quill? Down feathers are the small, soft feathers close to a bird’s body. The long flight feathers are called quills.