History Main / Woolseyism

As a rule of thumb, the requirements for a Woolsey-like translations are good translators (of course), good script adapters (sometimes translators and adapters are the same person, sometimes they're not), a good communication with the developers/animators/filmmakers and, in the case of video games, a good localization testing team. The best way to get this requirements is either that the producing company and/or the publisher have their own localization department, or hiring a reliable outsourced translation company which is properly familiarized with the product.

[[LampshadeHanging (Note: This is what happens when you do a direct translation.)]]''

(Note: This is what happens when you do a direct translation.)''

Ted Woolsey was the primary translator for most of Square's SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem-era {{RPG}}s from 1991-1996. He is a polarizing figure in the video game community, even today. Depending on whom you ask, Woolsey was either an iron-fisted dictator who was convinced that American gamers were morons or a hard-pressed but nonetheless creative artisan who was the primary reason the scripts for these games weren't either [[WidgetSeries rendered incomprehensible to Westerners]], [[BlindIdiotTranslation translated literally with little regard for accuracy]], or, on the contrary, [[CutAndPasteTranslation completely remolded to suit the audience]] or [[{{Macekre}} worse]].

Either way, his impact was keenly felt. He frequently modified the scripts he was handed in order to render them more accessible for American release. Fans coined the term "'''Woolseyisms'''" to refer to places where Woolsey had obviously been tinkering with the original Japanese script. In a 2007 interview, Woolsey revealed that the original drafts of his translation had to be cut by over 25% just to fit on the SNES cartridge for testing (due to the fact that Japanese is a more compact language than English), which accounts for the amount of cut or abridged material in his version.[[http://www.playeronepodcast.com/2007/02/15/transcript-of-ted-woolsey-interview/]]

Either way, his impact was keenly felt. He frequently modified the scripts he was handed in order to render them more accessible for American release. Fans coined the term "'''Woolseyisms'''" to refer to places where Woolsey had obviously been tinkering with the original Japanese script.

Ted Woolsey was the primary translator for most of Square's SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem-era {{RPG}}s from 1991-1996. He is a polarizing figure in the video game community, even today. Depending on whom you ask, Woolsey was either an iron-fisted dictator who was convinced that [[ViewersAreMorons American gamers were morons]] or a hard-pressed but nonetheless creative artisan who was the primary reason the scripts for these games weren't either [[WidgetSeries rendered incomprehensible to Westerners]], [[BlindIdiotTranslation translated literally with little regard for accuracy]], or, on the contrary, [[CutAndPasteTranslation completely remolded to suit the audience]] or [[{{Macekre}} worse]].

{{Atlus}}.com lays bare the processes of Woolseyizing with their [[http://www.atlus.com/pd.php Production Diaries.]] Some are about Woolseyizing, but others are about localization in general -- marketing, website design, an so on. Atlus is currently considered the company that most does Woolseyisms to good effect, since their [=RPGs=], being much more Japanese-flavored than other companies' series, require lots of re-interpretation and adaptation of idioms and concepts. In the process, characters are given attitudes and verbal patterns that make them distinctive and give them sometimes even more fleshed out personalities.

Woolseyisms and well-made dubs overall are most likely to be found within translated {{seinen}} anime, where even with the AnimationAgeGhetto, translators know better than to attempt to turn an adult program into a low-quality kids' show. {{Shonen}} anime, with their younger demographics, usually don't fare as well. Woolseyisms are also so common in Latin American dubs that many people actually prefer watching the Hispanic dub rather than the Japanese original.

->''"This is White Snow, a town [[CaptainObvious filled with snow]]. \\
Enjoy the world of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment snow]]." \\
([[LampshadeHanging Note: This is what happens]] when you do a direct translation.)''

ThrowItIn is the more domestic variation.

->''"Decease it! I mean, this is it!"''
-->-- '''Rika''', ''[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Story of Eastern Wonderland]]'' [[note]]Most examples on the wiki are in footnotes, but this one is straight in the main script and is footnoted [[LampshadeHanging "Whoever thought of this is pure genius."]][[/note]]

-->-- [[spoiler:'''Rika''']], ''[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Story of Eastern Wonderland]]'' [[note]]Most examples on the wiki are in footnotes, but this one is straight in the main script and is footnoted [[LampshadeHanging "Whoever thought of this is pure genius."]][[/note]]

{{Atlus}}.com lays bare the processes of Woolseyizing with their [[http://www.atlus.com/pd.php Production Diaries]]. Some are about Woolseyizing, but others are about localization in general -- marketing, website design, an so on. Atlus is currently considered the company that most does Woolseyisms to good effect, since their [=RPGs=], being much more Japanese-flavored than other companies' series, require lots of re-interpretation and adaptation of idioms and concepts. In the process, characters are given attitudes and verbal patterns that make them distinctive and give them sometimes even more fleshed out personalities.

->''"This is White Snow, a town [[CaptainObvious filled with snow]]. \\
Enjoy the world of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment snow]]." \\
([[LampshadeHanging Note: This is what happens]] when you do a direct translation.)''
-->-- ''VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure''

Ted Woolsey was the primary translator for most of Square's SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem-era {{RPG}}s from 1991-1996. He is a polarizing figure in the video game community, even today. Depending on whom you ask, Woolsey was either an iron-fisted dictator who was convinced that [[ViewersAreMorons American gamers were morons]] or a hard-pressed but creative regardless artisan who was the primary reason the scripts for these games weren't either [[WidgetSeries rendered incomprehensible to Westerners]], [[BlindIdiotTranslation translated literally with little regard for accuracy]], or, on the contrary, [[CutAndPasteTranslation completely remolded to suit the audience]] or [[{{Macekre}} worse]].

Here's the thing. Woolsey's changes? They actually ''worked''. Some of the lines were so well integrated into the collective consciousness of the game that they have been ''embraced'' by the fandom instead of reviled. While a good number of the script changes were probably unnecessary, many fans have come to the agreement that they don't hurt the final product; sometimes they even make it better. The script has diverted from the original -- maybe wildly -- and yet, it works anyway, just like a good localized translation should.

Woolseyisms and well-made dubs overall are most likely to be found within translated {{seinen}} anime, where even with the AnimationAgeGhetto, translators know better than to attempt to turn an adult program into a low-quality kids' show. {{shonen}} anime, with their younger demographics, usually don't fare as well. Woolseyisms are also so common in Latin American dubs that many people actually prefer watching the Hispanic dub rather than the Japanese original.

Ted Woolsey was the primary translator for most of Square's SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem-era {{RPG}}s from 1991-1996. He is a polarizing figure in the video game community, even today. Depending on who you ask, Woolsey was either an iron-fisted dictator who was convinced that [[ViewersAreMorons American gamers were morons]] or a hard-pressed but creative regardless artisan who was the primary reason the scripts for these games weren't either [[WidgetSeries rendered incomprehensible to Westerners]], [[BlindIdiotTranslation translated literally with little regard for accuracy]], or, on the contrary, [[CutAndPasteTranslation completely remolded to suit the audience]] or [[{{Macekre}} worse]].

Please note that this has nothing to do with Richard Woolsey from ''Series/StargateSG1'' and ''Series/StargateAtlantis''.

Please note that this has nothing to do with Richard Woolsey from ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'' and ''StargateAtlantis''.

Here's the thing. Woolsey's changes? They actually ''worked'' (and he wasn't responsible for some of the terrible translations some blame him for such as Final Fantasy IV). Some of the lines were so well integrated into the collective consciousness of the game that they have been ''embraced'' by the fandom instead of reviled. While a good number of the script changes were probably unnecessary, many fans have come to the agreement that they don't hurt the final product; sometimes they even make it better. The script has diverted from the original -- maybe wildly -- and yet, it works anyway, just like a good localized translation should.

Woolseyisms and well-made dubs overall are most likely to be found within translated {{seinen}} anime, where even with the AnimationAgeGhetto, translators know better than to attempt to turn an adult program into a low-quality kids' show. {{Shonen}} anime, with their younger demographics, usually don't fare as well. Woolseyisms are also so common in Latin American dubs that many people actually prefer watching the Hispanic dub rather than the Japanese original.

->''"Son of a Submariner!"''
--> -- ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI''

->''"This is White Snow, a town [[CaptainObvious filled with snow]]. \\
Enjoy the world of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment snow]]." \\
([[LampshadeHanging Note: This is what happens]] when you do a direct translation.)''
--> -- ''VideoGame/RhapsodyAMusicalAdventure''

Ted Woolsey was the primary translator for most of Square's SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem-era {{RPG}}s. He is a polarizing figure in the video game community, even today. Depending on who you ask, Woolsey was either an iron-fisted dictator who was convinced that [[ViewersAreMorons American gamers were morons]] or a hard-pressed but creative regardless artisan who was the primary reason the scripts for these games weren't either [[WidgetSeries rendered incomprehensible to Westerners]], [[BlindIdiotTranslation translated literally with little regard for accuracy]], or, on the contrary, [[CutAndPasteTranslation completely remolded to suit the audience]] or [[{{Macekre}} worse]].

Here's the thing. Woolsey's changes? They actually ''worked''. Some of the lines were so well integrated into the collective consciousness of the game that they have been ''embraced'' by the fandom instead of reviled. While a good number of the script changes were probably unnecessary, many fans have come to the agreement that they don't hurt the final product; sometimes they even make it better. The script has diverted from the original -- maybe wildly -- and yet, it works anyway, just like a good localized translation should.

This sometimes leads to the strange effect that re-releases with more literal or accurate translations, whether they are purely literal or merely closer to the original while still being localized, can actually [[InternetBackdraft start wars]] between fans of the Woolseyisms, the diehard purists, and the poor saps who only know one way to read the story and have no idea what's going on. Attempts to appease the first two groups have led more recent re-releases to reuse some of the more favorite lines. After all, what fan can think of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' without wanting to shout "[[SpoonyBard You Spoony Bard!]]"?

([[LampshadeHanging Note: This is what happens when you do]] a direct translation.)''

([[LampshadeHanging Note: This is what happens when you do]] [[BlindIdiotTranslation a direct translation]].)''