UlasanAnime.com – The author expresses frustration with the use of “Engrish,” particularly concerning the name “PANDORA” and the term “Phisicalquantity” in the anime “Darker than Black.”
The author begins by lamenting the poor quality of English used in some media, specifically referencing “crappy Engrish.” This sets a tone of exasperation for the subsequent discussion.
You might also be interested in : Minoru Shiraishi Makes Me Proud
The piece then pivots to a critique of how names and terms are used, drawing a parallel to the real-world debate surrounding gay marriage in the United States. However, the author quickly dismisses the significance of PANDORA’s name in “Darker than Black” as being “just plain gay,” implying a lack of thought or substance.
A personal anecdote is shared about working with an aspiring writer who created mnemonic words for phrases. These made sense when fully elaborated, which was necessary for her to secure funding and support from potential investors, publishers, and lawyers. The author emphasizes that in an English-speaking society, using coherent language is crucial for serious professional endeavors, especially for writers.
A short, emphatic “Ugh” follows, underscoring the author’s strong negative reaction to the linguistic issues being discussed.
The core of the author’s frustration is directed at the seemingly arbitrary and nonsensical naming conventions. They question the difficulty of coming up with a suitable name for PANDORA and express bewilderment at the term “Phisicalquantity.” The author directly asks, “Why must you do this, Japan?”
The author argues that there are “NO EXCUSES” for such linguistic missteps, especially considering that a significant portion of the anime industry’s revenue originates from international markets. This point is reiterated with emphasis on titles like the one being discussed.
A strong, almost visceral reaction is expressed with the command, “UNINSTALL, UNINSTALL.” This suggests a desire to completely disassociate from or reject the problematic naming.
The author states that they would have been content if the meaning of PANDORA had never been explained. Similarly, they would have been fine not knowing the meaning of “HiME,” although they concede that “HiME” at least made some sense. The author acknowledges that the “Engrish” in “HiME” provided a humorous moment for a show that wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously, and this leads to a contemplation of whether “Darker than Black” should also not be taken seriously.
The piece concludes with a reflection on the author’s long-term engagement with anime. Despite decades of watching, they admit to still being bothered by such perceived linguistic “crap.” The final sentence, “But alas,” conveys a sense of resignation and continued annoyance.
