Happy New Year (and Chinese New Year!)
It’s been a while since I’ve checked in, and I’ve got a bit of news today! Last time, I mentioned The Story of Saiunkoku (a manga I both translated and adapted) was nominated for the Young Adult Library Services Association’s “Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2012″ list, right? Well, it made the list! 
YALSA’s Best Graphic Novels for Teens 2012 List
(Scroll all the way to the bottom–it’s listed under “Yukino, Sai,” the author of the original Saiunkoku light novels. And lookie, there I am, billed a translator! ).
Well, the honor goes mostly to the artist, Kairi Yuura, and author, Sai Yukino, who dreamed up and wrote/drew this beautiful, epic story. But I’d like to think a good translation helped get its merits recognized. 
In other news, things have been quiet on the translation front for the holidays, but I’m back on board (briefly) for SaiMono 8. After that, I may be taking a bit of a hiatus from translation to focus on a possible new career! Amazon has been interviewing me for the past few months and finally flew me up for an in-house (6-hour!) interview back at the beginning of January. Talk about starting off the year with a bang! But it was a fantastic experience–the Amazon campus is gorgeous, and the city of Seattle as vibrant, exciting and yet mangeable/cool as I’d hoped. So yes, here’s hoping I’ll be able to move up there soon (I’ll be hearing back about the job in the next few days, it seems).
Last thing–one of my most exciting translation projects, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, is finally coming out next month! Volume 1 is hitting both DVD and Blu-ray (and a super-cool limited edition BD/DVD combo set) on February 14th (ahh, perfect Valentine’s gift for an anime lover ). Definitely check it out!
Props for SaiMono :D
Saiunkoku Monogatari (or, The Story of Saiunkoku, in English) is kind of like my baby. I got to translate & adapt it from the start, and got to suggest/decide many of the set terms you see in the finished English version manga. The “Hong” thing we carried over from GENEON’s anime romanization, to keep things consistent for fans and less confusing (since 2 of the 8 Great Clans would have been romanized as “Ko” under VIZ’s style guide). But just about everything else was stuff either I or my editor thought up ourselves.
That, plus my love for the beautifully written and illustrated story of the smart, determined young heroine, Shurei, and her struggle to become her country’s very first female civil servant/public official really give SaiMono a special place in my heart. So I was triply thrilled to find out that the American Library Association has nominated it for their “Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2012” honor. It’s incredibly gratifying to see this wonderful series get some recognition (since it isn’t one of the typical love story shoujo manga that garner tons of sales). Plus, regardless of whether SM actually wins or not, this should mean a little extra pimpage in libraries across the nation. 
So a much-deserved hurrah for SaiMono and its talented mangaka, Kairi Yuura (and Sai Yukino, the author of the original novels)!
Yay for Shoujo Manga + New Micro-Anime Series
Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve checked in here, hasn’t it? But it’s been a pretty busy month and a half. All of July was basically devoted to Madoka Magica, and wow, was that deadline schedule brutal. @_@ It wasn’t that it was an overly talky series (though there were some really powerful and beautiful monologues that made certain episodes a bit dialogue-heavy), but more the extra time and multiple rewatches/rechecks I did to make sure the dialogue flowed/conveyed the right personality and emotions/was ACCURATE, etc, that took so much time. I definitely don’t want to incite the wrath of Madoka’s many passionate fans (and wow, is this fandom phenomenon just exploding or what? Found some breathtaking covers of the series’s beautiful Yuki Kajiura score–check out this dynamic piano version of the ending theme, “MAGIA,” on youtube). More importantly, I didn’t want to fail to do such a fantastic, well-written series justice in translation, and aside from a few lines being a bit on the long side, I’m pretty, darn happy with my work for this one.
So, with Madoka wrapped in the last week of July, I thought I’d take a little breather, recover some of the abundant sleep I lost Madoka no tame ni, and maybe get some reading and writing in. But I got an offer from my translator friend Sam to pick up a few episodes of a cute commercial anime that he was working on, and took those on for about a week, then realized I was too burned out to do more. I needed a break.
And of course, that was when Bang Zoom! offered me another series. XD
Naturally, no amount of exhaustion could put a damper on getting that all-important second job from a new client. It’s kind of at that point that you can feel you’ve established a business relationship with a new client/that they’ve seen your work, liked it enough to want to go on with you, and now you’re a part of their go-to list for more work. So I happily (if with deep bags beneath my eyes) accepted.
Luckily, this one was a micro-anime series (i.e. a series where each ep is only 2-to-5 minutes long, a la Hetalia) and since the license for this series hasn’t been announced (as far as I can see), I’ll avoid mentioning the name here. But yes–that’s what I’ve been working on these past two weeks. Almost done now (there’s only 13 eps in the series), and then, for the last two weeks of August, it’s going to be Ouran volume 18 (the final one! Exciting~ Also, extra-long page count… =_=; ) during every free evening and weekend moment.
So. That will basically bring me to the end of the jobs I’ve got concretely lined up. Which is actually a good thing because I’ve got big plans for my free moments in September: the Kurodahan Press Annual Translation Contest. XD Just the opportunity I’ve been hoping for–a way to break into fiction-translation on top of manga and anime translation. The point of the contest is to search for new talent, so I’ve got as good a chance as anyone with a translation degree or JLPT 1 creds. The deadline is the end of September, and since I won’t get a chance to even start the short story translation for the contest until I finish Ouran at the end of August, I’m going to need every free moment I can get. Especially since September has several social obligations/festivities that I will absolutely be unable to wriggle out of (where’s my isolated hermit cave when I need it?), I’m hoping the jobs will ebb a bit (but not permanently, of course!) because if a client offers, I just can’t seem to say “no.” ^^;;;; #FreelancerInsecurities
Oh! That’s right–the reason I was posting today (and the reason the post title mentions “Shoujo Manga”) is because ICv2 has posted its Top 10 Shoujo Manga Properties of 2011 (First Half) list, and 2 of my series are on there!
| Top 10 Shojo Properties – Q1 & Q2 2011 | ||
| Rank | Title | Publisher |
| 1 | Vampire Knight | Viz Media |
| 2 | Black Bird | Viz Media |
| 3 | Alice in the Country of Hearts | Tokyopop |
| 4 | Fruits Basket | Tokyopop |
| 5 | Dendeki Daisy | Viz Media |
| 6 | Ouran High School Host Club | Viz Media |
| 7 | Shugo Chara | Del Rey Manga |
| 8 | Ottomen | Viz Media |
| 9 | Maid Sama! | Tokyopop |
| 10 | Kamisama Kiss | Viz Media |
Ouran High School Host Club at #6, and Maid Sama! (I’m so proud of you, Misaki!) at #9. Ouran is a staple on the list, but I’m really proud of Maid Sama!, featuring such a tough, smart, non-lovesick female protagonist and apparently striking quite a chord with the American audience. I’m sure the maid outfits and rocky love story are mostly responsible for this, but I like to think my snappy translation of the first 5 volumes of the manga helped win over a few of the doubters/on-the-fencers, at least. Since Maid Sama! was my very first professional translation job, it always holds a special spot in my heart. ^^
Well, that’s about everything I’ve been up to lately. A few fun writing-related things are on the horizon, but I’ll save that for another post. Eventually, I should probably put up a “how I got started” post in case aspiring translators have stumbled upon my blog and want all the down and dirty in’s and out’s. After 3.5 years of this, I’ve got at least a few things young’uns might find useful.
Oh, but I’ll leave you for now with the #1 tip I’ve learned from all my experience translating…
Never make a contract with this guy: ／人 ◕ ‿‿ ◕ 人＼
-Su
Where’s That Blasted Time-Turner When I Need It?!
Seriously. Hermione had the right idea, dudes.
Or–as her eventual collapse from overwork in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban shows–perhaps the wrong idea, trying to pack too much into a single day by turning back a few hours at a time. But I do understand the sentiment–there’s just so much to do, so many dreams to chase. And as every other fable out of Aesop’s will tell you, if you want to make it in this world, you’d best start working your butt off while you’re young and healthy, grasshopper! (or hope you stumble across a hill of charitable ants with an appreciation for fiddle music somewhere, I guess)
It’s the right of any kid to dream, and dream big. If you’re lucky, you find that at least one of those dreams and your talents/personality penchants coincide, and poof! You’ve found your calling in life. Mazeltov, off you go. Just massugu itte* down your preordained path Touya Akira-style and fame, success, fortune and your Destined One True Rival will just fall into your lap along the way.
But what if your talents don’t coincide with any of your dreams? Or worse (better?), what if you have multiple coinciding talents and dreams, and thus, multiple viable paths to take? It’s like coming to a crossroads on your Final Fantasy XIII character’s skills grid (sorry, nerd analogy alert!) and realizing there’s a whole bunch of defense-enhancing skill boosts down that branch (so you could turn her into an awesome tank character!), but on the other hand, high-level spell after high-level spell lie further down the other branch, so you could make her into a master wizard instead… The possibilities…!
Well, while it’s definitely nice to have options, what happens if you can’t (read: “are too greedy to”) pick just one? You could wing it for a little while, I guess. Even with a fairly demanding full-time job, I’ve managed to translate 25 volumes of manga on the side over the last 3 years and gotten in at least a little writing practice and reading (another necessary type of “training” to become a writer) every week. On the downside, my drawing time dropped off to absolutely zero and every single one of my friends and family can rattle off at least a half-dozen times I’ve had to cancel or decline an invitation in order to meet a deadline. Plus the hit to my health—ever-thicker contact lenses, permanent bags under my eyes and several extra inches around my waist from the sedentary, screen-staring lifestyle. =__=
But there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s been worth it—especially lately. My translation career is suddenly booming, what with the imminent flood of new jobs from the Jmanga translators’ coalition (translating manga directly for Japanese publishers!!) and my first anime translation job from BangZoom!/Aniplex. Ah, which I can finally reveal is Puella Magi Madoka Magica, btw, since Aniplex announced the license officially on Saturday at Anime Expo. ^^
Yeah, I know. I’m pretty darn psyched that they entrusted me with such a popular series for my first time out too. But it’s going very well—anime translation is much easier than manga translation, it turns out (or at least, suits me better, since for kanji I don’t know, I can just listen to the character say it out loud and then search for it by sound rather than do a multi-radical kanji search). I’ve only translated episode 1 so far, but I’m contracted for all 12, due in mid-July. Which I’m thrilled about, of course, though I also have 2 jobs for VIZ lined up kind of concurrently. @_@ Plus the Jmanga stuff, due in August. So for the foreseeable future, it seems that I’ll be eating, sleeping and breathing translation day and night–and I really couldn’t be gladder or more grateful. And if this continues, I may finally be stable enough with the freelance stuff to quit my day job! XD So yes, I really couldn’t be happier.
That is… until I opened up my e-mail today and read the monthly newsletter from Kristin Nelson’s (big-time literary agent) agency. Kristin had written about her recent trip to NYC to talk with all the big publishers, and reported:
“Just about every children’s editor I talked to would love an action-adventure story for the middle grade boy reader.”
Meep!!
“But if you are going to hold me at gunpoint and ask me what editors want, they’ve said the following:
…
Epic fantasy – with a literary voice”
Aaaaauughh!!!
In other words, they want GADIA. (My epic fantasy YA series, btw—seven years in the planning at this point. =__=) Now is apparently THE time when my poor, unfashionably genre’d baby actually stands a chance of being noticed in the cutthroat, highly-fashionable-and-desirable YA market, because the publishers are getting sick of the dystopian and paranormal romance glut and are looking to draw boys back into the reading circle. And GADIA—planned as a shounen manga series—would really have the sort of wide, well-rounded appeal to do that. =__= Aaaaghhh. So now I’m burning with a desperate need to work on my beloved fantasy series BUT DID I NOT JUST WRITE THAT I WILL BE DOING NOTHING BUT TRANSLATING DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE?
Thus, the wangsty post. Seriously, people, I want to do it all. Even at the ripe, old age of 27 (and that IS ripe and old for someone still trying to live the “Dream big! Never give up!” shounen hero lifestyle), I can’t seem to let go of any part of my three-pronged dream. I want to become a great translator who turns out perfectly adapted, faithful-but-artful scripts that do these amazing anime/manga series I treasure true justice! I want to write a best-selling, widely read (and fandom’ed ;-D), and deeply beloved YA book series! And I want to write AND draw the manga adaptation of that series, which will hopefully go on to become one of the most successful American-made OEL manga ever created!
There, I said it. Huge, ridiculous dreams, but there they are. And I’m a long, long way from achieving any of them. But somehow (and perhaps this has to do with the “burning with shounen hero passion” Sengoku Basara opening theme blasting in my ears as I write this—but probably not), I just can’t get realistic and give up at least one of them so that one or both of the others gets a real fighting chance of happening some time before I turn 50.
So you know what? At least until age or marriage or kids or something like that slows me down, I’m gonna keep going for it. Even for someone who believes in reincarnation, THIS life at THIS point and time in history only comes once, so we may as well do what we can to live it to its fullest, right? Ganbarou, shokun! Let your inner shounen hero shine!!!
—-
*[“Walk straight ahead” - Touya Akira's motto from Hikaru no Go]
AX Prep & Some Good News~
And no, not the kind of “good news” those cheerful folks with the pamphlets are advertising door-to-door.
It’s happened at last–I am now officially an anime translator! (that is, in addition to being a manga translator already ^^; ) A contact I made at Anime Expo last year referred me to the folks at Bang Zoom! Entertainment, who e-mailed me about 2 weeks ago to ask how my schedule was for some potential freelance work. I actually did have jobs lined up until about mid-August (SaiMono 6 & 7, followed by Ouran 18–thank you, VIZ~!), but I told them I’d try to shuffle my work schedule around a bit to accomodate them, and lo and behold–got my first 12-episode series! XD
The series hasn’t been announced as licensed yet (and anyway, I signed an NDA about it ^^; ) so I can’t say what it is, but it’s a fun one with some gorgeous animation from Aniplex. I wasn’t familiar with it myself beforehand, but a good friend whose opinion I trust had recommended it heartily a few months back, so I’m definitely excited to get started!
That said, this does rain on my little Anime Expo mini-vacation plan a bit. I’d cleared my schedule and taken a few extra days off work (the nine-to-six one) to just unwind and enjoy the weekend for once, but I’m thinking I’ll have to cancel my plans to check out AM2 Con in Anaheim on Sunday. Too bad, since I was looking forward to seeing that sneak peek of Gackt’s Hollywood debut movie, BUNRAKU (co-starring Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson. Not too shabby a cast for G’s first time out on the big screen, huh? ^^ Check out this heart-stoppingly cool teaser trailer highlighting Gackt’s role in BUNRAKU). But oh well–this chance to expand into the world of anime translation is definitely more important. I seriously couldn’t stop beaming like an idiot the entire day after they sent their offer. ^^
So that’s it for now. I’ve got some photos from this awesome book event called “YA in Bloom” I went to last Saturday (where I got to meet the fabulous Marie Lu in person and hang out with her for quite a chunk of the afternoon~). Full report to come later!
First Post – Happy Summer Solstice!
Well, a fine day for a new beginning, eh?
Wait… no, actually, it would have made a lot more sense to have a “new beginning” on the Spring Equinox or something. But hey, since it just happens to be the Summer Solstice today, let’s just say I planned it that way! After all, after today, the hours of night are only going to grow longer for the rest of 2011, and that dreamy “Magic Hour” of nightfall will be going on all night long up in the Arctic Circle tonight. (Cuz, y’know, that’s totally relevant to a California girl like me. XP)
Okay, seriously now–as the little blurb off to the right somewhere says, my main interests lie along the writerly and Japan-related, so I’ll probably mostly be posting up fun things I find around the ‘net that fall into one of those categories. Plus some original stuff, of course, if I can think of anything folks might find interesting (random song lyric translations, maybe? Book reviews? Nostalgia from past trips to Japan?). Eventually, if I find the time to start drawing again, I’ll also post up a few original comics and doodles as well. #fouryearartdrought …Yeah, it may not be pretty. ^^;
Anyway, I’d better scuttle off and finish up a bit more housekeeping around here. So fellow Japanophiles, aspiring novelists, actual novelists (awesome, and welcome!) and cool visitor-folk in general–douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! (Translation: Like, don’t flame me, ‘kay? Lol, kidding!)
-Su
