Kamen Rider vs. Fansubbing

Kamen Rider vs. Fansubbing

Melissa Moore

Subtitling is one way in which foreign language television and movie media is consumed by fans who don’t speak the language of the original media. In the case of Kamen Rider, which has a strong following in its native Japan but a relatively low audience in English speaking countries, fan enthusiasm for the show has led to fansubbing. Through this process, fans of a show with knowledge of the native language translate, subtitle, and distribute the work to an English speaking community on a non-official basis. The two primary translation theories examined are literal and liberal. Through examination of the subtitling efforts themselves, public message boards, blogs, as well as translation theory, this article analyses the community and their interpretations of fansubbing efforts. What makes for a well-received subtitling translation? How important is it that the show give you exactly the same experience as the original language, and is it possible at all? Is one subbing style more legitimate than another? How much of this legitimacy is perceived and implemented through fan interpretation? This paper argues that indexing oneself as a part of a certain group is the central point of the debate. Future research could examine other views on subtitling methods, which could broaden audiences, lead to better marketing, and more effective subtitling.