Ika Musume – The Invader Speaks English!

I agree that though this dub doesn't really sound "that" horrible(I didn't get the urge to escape through the window like in some cases) but the fact that the puns just don't work in english, just don't do it...

I also hate how most fansubbers change her name into squid girl(-ie), it's a name damn it, don't translate it! You don't need to englsih-ify(yes, I know) everything...

People like you make me angry. This is an 'English Translation' and last time I checked, the words 'Ika' and 'Musume' aren't in the fucking Oxford Dictionary. I'm sure Ika Musume isn't any more catchy to a native Japanese speaker. Just because your brain wires all things Japanese as cool or catchy doesn't make it true.

Regardless, all dubs suck and this show isn't worth it anyway.

@ Anonymous 21:24 18/10/2011

The fact that "Ika" and "Musume" are not in the Oxford Dictionary mean nothing. Japanese names like "Yuki", "Kuro" or even "Nami" in One Piece aren't in those official dictionaries too, but they do appear in subtitles in anime, manga or J-drama. Literally translating these names would sound awful; Nami would be called "Wave" in the English version of the One Piece anime/manga. That's why there are something that are called romanized terms/names. And Ika Musume is not only a term to show Ika Musume is a Squid girl, but it's also her name, so Ika Musume is perfectly fine in an English translation.

Yeah some dubs sound good. Of course cowboy bebop, samurai champloo... even Gits that old commander guys english dub voice matched the the character better than that japanese version, which sounded like a generic old japanese man. ^_^

^most dubs suck there are about 5 or so that sound better than the original language, cowboy bebop being one.

@ anon 21:51:

Precisely. Using the 'dictionary excuse' is absolute rubbish.

There are terms and concepts that are unique to a certain culture that are impossible to translate from one language to another. 'Tsundere', 'Freeter', 'Skinship', 'Lolicon', 'Otaku' and even names of stuff like 'Taiyaki', 'Sakura' and 'Bento' are all Japanese terms that aren't in the English dictionary, but are usually left in translations as they are all important cultural concepts and/or proper names. There are much better examples, but the above is what I can think of at this time.

People who refuse to acknowledge this are either lazy to learn or are just purely xenophobic. Or perhaps they are simply forgetting that Anime is a *GASP* Japanese cultural product.

Speaking of translations, I hate it how they don't put honorifics in subtitles, but for American cartoons and movies, they deliberately add in the -san to emphasize the Japaneseness of someone. That's bullshit.

@Actar The general anime audience who are already used to many Japanese terms would think that, but I have some friends who aren't so used to such terms. Whether it be subtitles or dubs, if a Japanese term is used without context to explain what it means, they are completely lost and either have to ask me or look it up. It ruins the experience for them, and they don't typically remember the terms, anyway, since they don't know how the Japanese language works. Even the random 2-second side notes put on the screen in subtitles are a bit distracting. Some subtitles are also so flashy, they take from the original experience, too. Watch a high-quality anime without subs and you'll see why I prefer watching RAW instead of (or before) watching the subtitled versions.

On the other hand, by "translating" or leaving out honorifics and such, there is a lot of potential for misunderstanding or a loss of context, ruining the experience just as much.

There are no legal standards to dubbing/subtitling/translating anime and manga, which is actually kinda nice, since by indulging in both results, you become more conscious to the fact that people do it differently and are more curious and willing to do research about why that is... if you care. And if you don't, to each his/her own. =)

Long story short, the show is great popcorn material, its a fun ride, no more no less.

Don;t let a bad dub stop you from watching it in japanese from a FANSUB group that doesn't put in the shitty squid puns. that just KILLS the show for any sub reader out there.

Also Crunchyroll fails hard, last second comment there :D