Many anime, manga, and especially light novel series have fairly lengthy titles. Frequently, they wind up picking up a portmanteau series nickname, with a syllable or two of each word in the series name. Sometimes, the producers explicitly encourage this, and refer to the series using the nickname in the Post-Episode Trailer.
Portmanteau words are the Japanese equivalent of acronyms. The Japanese language is syllabic — instead of single letters, Japanese is built from entire syllables; consonants (except "n") don't occur by themselves. So where a Western term would produce an acronym, the Japanese equivalent produces a pronounceable word. The Japanese use portmanteau terms in much the same way that English speakers use acronyms. Which is to say, frequently. More so recently thanks to the need to create short hashtags on Twitter, some of which have been officially endorsed by the author or publisher.
Probably the most famous is Pocket Monsters becoming Pokémon. The longer name is official for both the games and the show in Japan, but couldn't be used in America because an early-90s toyline/comic/cartoon had secured the trademark on the name "Monster in My Pocket". This is actually slightly common; some of these are so ubiquitous that they get used as the official English titles.
See also: Officially Shortened Title.
Alphabetical order by official Japanese title, please.
Examples:
- Aggressive Retsuko -> "Aggretsuko"
- Aishiteruze Baby -> "AiBaby"
- Ai Yori Aoshi -> "Ai-Ao" (the creator uses this himself in the omakes)
- Animal Yokocho -> "AniYoko"
- Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranainote -> "AnoHana".
- Ano Ko ni Kisu to Shirayuri wo -> "AnoKiss"
- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu -> More commonly referred to as Assassination Classroom -> "AssClass"
- Arata Kangatari -> "AraKan"
- Azumanga Daioh -> "AzuDai". The full title is a portmanteau itself, meaning something like "Azuma's Manga for Dengeki Daioh Magazine".
- Bakuretsu Tenshi -> "Bakuten"
- Bamboo Blade -> "BanBure"
- Berusaiyu no Bara -> "BeruBara"
- Bessatsu Friend -> "BetsuFure"note
- Bessatsu Margaretnote -> "BetsuMa"
- Black Lagoon -> "BurakuRa"
- Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo -> "Bo7" (Also written "Bo-7" and "Bo^7")
- Bocchi the Rock! -> "BoZaRo" (for "Bocchi Za Rokku")
- Boku no Hero Academia -> "HeroAca"
- Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu -> "BokuYaba"
- Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou -> "BokuKawa"
- Cowboy Bebop -> "CowBe"
- Crayon Shin-chan -> "KureShin"
- Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou -> "DanNichi"
- Death Note -> "DesuNo"
- D.Gray-Man -> "D.Gure"
- Fruits Basket -> "FuruBa"
- Fushigi Yuugi -> "FushiYuu"
- Garasu (Glass) no Hana to Kowasu Sekai - > GaraKowa
- Garasu no Kamen -> "GaraKame"
- Gendai Shikaku Bunka Kenkyuukai ("The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture") -> "Genshiken" (A special case; the official title is Genshiken; the long form is used only in-series for the actual club.)
- Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka? -> "GochiUsa"
- Gokudo no Sensei -> "Gokusen"
- Girls und Panzer -> "Garupan"
- Hachimitsu to Kurobaa -> "Hachikuro"
- .hack//tasogare no udewa densetsu -> "Udeden"
- Hagane no Renkinjutsushi -> "HagaRen"
- Hana Yori Dango -> "HanaDan"
- Hanazakari no Kimi-tachi e -> "Hana-Kimi"
- Hidamari Sketch -> "HidaSketch"
- Hikaru no Go -> "HikaGo"
- Hoshikuzu Telepath -> "HoshiTele"
- Ichigo Mashimaro -> "IchiMashi"
- Ikemen Joshi to Josou Danshi -> "IkeDan"
- Initial D -> "IniD"
- Jungle wa Itsumo Hale nochi Guu -> HareGuu
- Kagerou Project ->"KagePro"
- Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has an in-universe example with Momo-chan wa Kangaenai -> "MomoKan".
- Kaleido Star -> "KareSuta"
- Kamichama Karin -> "KamiKarin"
- Some fans also try to shorten the sequel's title (Kamichama Karin Chu) to "KamiChu", unaware that's it's already the name of another series (or more accurately, the Portmanteau Series Nickname of another series).
- Kamichu! -> already a portmanteau of "Kamisama de Chuugakusei" (Middle-school student god)
- Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai -> "Kaminomi"
- Kareshi Kanojo no Jijyou -> "KareKano"
- Kaze to Ki no Uta -> "KazeKi"
- Kimi ni Todoke -> "KimiTodo"
- Kimi no Koto ga Dai Dai Dai Dai Daisuki na Hyakunin no Kanojo -> "Hyakkano"
- Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo -> "Kochikame"
- Kodomo no Jikan -> "Kojika"
- Kodomo no Omocha ("Child's Toy") -> Kodocha
- Koisuru Asteroid -> KoiAsu
- Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai -> "KonoMini"
- Kotonoha no Miko to Kotodama no Majyo to -> "MikoMajyo"
- Kujibiki♡Unbalance (from Genshiken) -> "Kujiun". (Another special case as the name "Kujiun" was introduced in-series in the first episode of Genshiken.)
- Kyoto Animation (the studio) -> KyoAni (Also "KeyAni" for adapting so many games from Key/Visual Arts.)
- Lovely★Complex -> "Love* Com"
- Machikado Mazoku -> MachiMazo
- Matantei Loki Ragnarok -> "MaLoki"
- Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch -> "P3"
- Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou -> "MonMusu"
- Mugen no Ryvius -> "MugeRiva"
- Mukuro Naru Hoshi - Tama Taru Ko] -> "Narutaru"
- Nazo no Kanojo X -> "NazoKano"
- Okusama wa Joshikousei -> "OkuKousei"
- One-Punch Man -> "WanPan"
- Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai Yo Ne -> "OniAi"
- Oniichan no Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki ja Nai Dakara ne!! -> "OniiKoto"
- Ookiku Furikabutte -> "Oofuri"
- Osomatsu-san -> "OsoSan"
- And its predecessor Osomatsu-kun -> "OsoKun"
- Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Love is Hard for Otaku) -> "Wotakoi"
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt -> "Pansuto"
- Paradise Kiss -> "ParaKiss"
- Pita-Ten - special case, as the official title is already a shortening of Pitari Tenshi (clinging angel)
- As with the games they spun off from, Pocket Monsters -> Pokémon
- Pokémon Special -> "PokeSpe"/"Pokesupe"
- Pokémon Card Ni Natta Wake -> ''PokéWake'’
- Pretty Cure (and its first installment, Futari wa Pretty Cure) -> "PreCure". While the Japanese equivalent "Purikyua" has always been the Officially Shortened Title of the series in Japanese, the English logos of each series always wrote out "Pretty Cure" in full until HeartCatch Pretty Cure!, at which point they just say "PreCure". English sources still use the two interchangeably.
- It's also a pun on purikura (lit., "Print Club"), those trendy photobooths popular in Japan. Just why is a mystery; its relevance is never alluded to within the series, other than the occasional Accidental Misnaming.
- Individual series tend to have their own nicknames, such as HappinessCharge Pretty Cure! -> "Hapcha" and KiraKira★Pretty Cure à la Mode -> "Kirapre".
- Princess Princess -> "PuriPuri" (Unfortunately the actual name of a very different manga series.)
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica: -> "MadoMagi"
- Renkin San Kyuu Magical Pokaan -> "MagiPoka"
- Romeo × Juliet -> "RomeJuli"
- Rosario + Vampire -> "Rosa-Vam" (which is also used by the author)
- Rurouni Kenshin -> "Ruroken"
- Saikin Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiin Da ga -> "ImōCho"
- Saishuu Heiki Kanojo -> "Saikano"
- Saiunkoku Monogatari -> "SaiMono" and "KokoMono"
- Samurai 7 -> "Sam7"
- Samurai Flamenco -> "SamuMenco" Used in universe when Mari talks to Masayoshi when both are in hero getup.
- A lesser used abbreviation is "SamFlam".
- School Rumble -> "SukuRan"
- An interesting case; it's something of a back-translation on the Japanese side. The original title had the English "Scrapped" [Sukurappudo] rather than the Japanese equivalent "Suterareta."
- Shaman King -> "ManKin"
- Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso -> "KimiUso"
- Shinshi Doumei Cross -> "ShinKuro"
- Shojo Comic -> "ShoComi" (it's most commonly used name)
- Shōnen Magazine -> "ShoMaga"
- Shonen Jump -> "ShoJump"
- Shonen Sunday -> "ShoSun"
- Shuuen No Shiori Project -> "ShuuenPro"
- Slam Dunk -> "SuraDan"
- Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru -> "SoreAyu"
- Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru -> "SoreMachi"
- Soukou no Strain -> "S-Strain"
- Spellbound! Magical Princess Lil'Pri -> "LilPri", short for the characters' group name "Little Princesses."
- Star Driver -> "SutaDora"
- Sugar Sugar Rune -> "S2R" or "Sugar2 Rune"
- In the anime, "S2R" is engraved on Chocolat's heart holder.
- Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge -> "TanaKeda"
- Tatoeba Rasuto Danjon Mae no Mura no Shōnen ga Joban no Machi de Kurasu Yō na Monogatari -> "LasDan"
- Tiger & Bunny -> "TaiBani"
- Tennis no Oujisama -> TeniPuri
- Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo -> TokiKake
- Tonikaku Kawaii -> TONIKAWA (used as the official English anime title)
- Trigun Maximum -> "Trimax"
- Tsukiuta the Animation -> TsukiAni; Tsukipro the Animation -> ProAni. Tsukipro itself is already this, abbreviated from "Tsukino Talent Productions", the music label of the franchise's idols.
- Ultra Jump -> "UruJan" (seinen manga magazine by Shueisha)
- Ultra Maniac -> "UruMani"
- Cardfight!! Vanguard has three in-universe examples: United Sanctuary (both the country on the planet Cray, and the Vanguard branch in G) is commonly called "UniSan" for short, while "Dragon Empire" is sometimes called "DoraEn". There's also the Trinity Dragon team, also from G, who are sometimes called "ToriDora" for short.
- Another example is the idol group Rummy Labyrinth, who is sometimes called "RummyLaby" for short.
- Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru -> "UraBoku"
- Uta No Prince Sama -> "UtaPri"
- Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaete mo Omaera ga Warui -> "WataMote"
- World Trigger -> "WorTri"
- Yami no Matsuei -> "YamiMatsu"
- Yona of the Dawn -> "AkaYona"
- Young Jump (another seinen manga magazine by Shueisha) -> YanJan
- Yumeiro Pâtissière: "YumePati"
- Its anime-only sequel series Yumeiro Patissiere Professional: "YumePati Pro"
- Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de aru -> "YuYuYu"
- YuYu Hakusho -> "YuuHaku," "YuYu"
- Yuyushiki, "YuYu Formula," is basically in this format already; it's based on the Alphabetical Theme Naming (the heroines' names all start with Yu).
- Battle Spirits -> BatoSupi
- Magic: The Gathering -> MajiGyaza note
- Duel Mastersnote -> DueMa
- Monster Collection -> MonCollenote
- Pokémon Card Game -> PokéCardnote
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game: Duel Monsters -> DueMon
- The Wicked + The Divine -> WicDiv
- Ana to Yuki no Joou (a.k.a., "Anna and the Snow Queen", a.k.a., "Frozen (2013)") -> "AnaYuki"
- Princess to Mahou no Kiss (a.ka., "The Princess and the Magic Kiss", a.k.a., The Princess and the Frog) -> "PriKiss"
- Treasure Planet -> "TrePla"
- Zootopia -> "Zutopi"
- The Ghostbusters franchise in Japan -> "GhosBus"
- Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu -> "BakaTest"
- Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai ("I Don't Have Many Friends") -> "Haganai" (wa is spelt with the hiragana for ha when it is used as a particle)
- Chunibyo Demo Koi ga Shitai! ("Even with Eighth Grader Syndrome, I Want to Be in Love") -> "ChuniKoi", as well as "ChuKoi"
- Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka? -> "DanMachi"
- Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu -> "DenYuuDen"
- Ginga Eiyū Densetsu -> "GinEiDen"
- Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora -> "Hantsuki"
- Imouto Sae Ireba Ii -> "ImoSae"
- Inou Battle wa Nichijoukei no Naka de -> "InoBato"
- Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni -> "IseSuma"
- Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita -> "Jintai"
- Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi -> "Kaminai"
- Kanojo ha kawaii "kon" to suru ("she gives a cute "kon" yelp") -> "Kanokon", which, similarly to Genshiken is actually the only title ever used, but refers to the title of the first chapter.
- Kara no Kyoukai -> "Rakkyo"
- Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai -> KimiSui
- Kono Subarashii Sekai Ni Shukufuku O ("Gifting the Wonderful World with Blessings") -> "KonoSuba"
- Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? -> "Korezon"
- Kyo Kara Maoh! -> "MaruMa" (Actually not technically portmanteau as it was named after the symbol - the character 'ma' from 'maou' in a circle 'maru'.)
- Ladies versus Butlers! -> "LadiBato"
- Log Horizon -> "RoguHora"
- Maria-sama ga Miteru ("The Virgin Mary is Watching") -> "Marimite"
- Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai Suru -> "Nanatsuma"
- Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai ("My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute") -> "Oreimo"
- Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru ("Caught In the Battlefield Between My Girlfriend and My Childhood Friend") -> "Oreshura"
- Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru ("My Mental Choices are Completely Interfering with my School Romantic Comedy") -> "NouCome".
- Otome Gēmu no Hametsu Furagu Shika Nai Akuyaku Reijō ni Tensei Shite Shimatta… -> "Hamefura"
- Otomegē Sekai wa Mobu ni Kibishii Sekai Desu -> "MobuSeka"
- The Alternate Universe Fic, Ano Otomegē wa Oretachi ni Kibishii Sekai Desu -> "AnoSeka"
- Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata -> "SaeKano"
- Scrapped Princess -> "Sutepri" (shortened to "Scra-Prin" in English)
- Seishun Buta Yarō wa... no Yume o Minai -> "AoButa"note
- Shūmatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii Desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii Desu ka? -> "SukaSuka"
- Sister Princess -> "SisPri"
- Strawberry Panic! -> "SutoPani" (just StoPani on English boards)
- Suki na Mono wa Suki Dakara Shouganai!! -> "Sukisho" (or "Sukisyo")
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu -> "Suzuharu"
- Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken -> "TenSura", although "Tensei Slime" has also been used.
- Tsundere Akuyaku Reijō Liselotte to Jikkyō no Endō-kun to Kaisetsu no Kobayashi-san -> "Tsunlise"
- In-Universe, the series involves a Fictional Video Game titled Magical ni Koi shite, which is often shortened to "MagiKoi".
- Trinity Blood -> "Toribla"
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru -> "HaMachi", as well as "OreGairu"
- 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown -> "Catsdown"
- Absolutely Fabulous -> "AbFab"
- Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen Terebi -> "KatoKen"
- Power Rangers -> "PawaRen"
- Star Trek -> StaTre
- Ultraman -> UruMa
- Ultraseven -> Uru7
- Ultraman Ace -> UruAce
- Really, anynote of the series can be subject to this.
- All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (Zen Nihon Joshi Puroresu) -> "Zenjo"
- Almost any 2.5D production will get called "TitleMyu" (for musicals) or "TitleSta" for stage plays.
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Musicals -> "Sera Myu".
- The Prince of Tennis -> TeniMyu
- Touken Ranbu has TouSta and TouMyu.
- Tsukiuta Stage -> Tsukista; the same franchise has Alivestage -> Ivesta, Vazzrock Stage -> VazzSta, and Tsukiuta Girls' Side, which features idols who are goddesses (megami) -> Megasta. Tsukipro crossover plays are called... ProSta.
- Hamster's "Arcade Archives" series -> "AkeAca"
- Assassin's Creed (a rare Western example) -> the somewhat unfortunate "AssCreed"
- Brotherhood -> "AssBro"
- Revelations -> "AssRev"
- Banjo to Kazooie no Daibouken -> "BanKaz"
- beatmania -> "Bemani" (no longer used for this purpose; in recent years, "Bemani" is used to refer to Konami's Rhythm Games as a whole.)
- Bokujo Monogatari -> "Bokumono"
- Bokura no Taiyou -> "Boktai"
- Bubble Bobble -> "BubBob"note
- Puzzle Bobble (AKA: Bust-a-Move) -> "PuzBob"
- In-universe example: in Mighty No. 9, Cherry Dynamics is also called "CherryDyn" for short.
- Crash Bandicoot -> "KuraBan"
- Dance Evolution -> "DanEvo"
- DanceDanceRevolution -> "DanceRevo"
- Dark Souls -> "DaSo"
- Demon's Souls + Dark Souls and sequels + Bloodborne -> "Soulsborne"
- Double Dragon -> "DabuDora" (also applies to Billy and Jimmy's expies, Ryuichi and Ryuji, from the Kunio-kun series)
- Doubutsu no Mori -> "DouMori"
- Oide yo! ("Come on over!") Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: Wild World) -> "OiMori"
- Machi e Ikou yo! ("Let's Go to the City!"note ) Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: City Folk) -> "MachiMori"
- Tobidase ("Jump out!") Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) -> "TobiMori"
- Atsumare ("Gather!") Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) -> "AtsuMori"
- Dragon Quest -> "DraQue" (incidentally, the name "Duracuets" in La-Mulana is an alternate spelling of "DraQue 2")
- Dragon Slayer -> "Drasle", though this only really shows up in the Japanese title of Legacy of the Wizard, which is Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family.
- Eiyuu Densetsu (The Legend Of Heroes) -> "EiDen"
- Emerald Dragon -> "EmeDora"
- Ensemble Stars! -> Enstars
- Famicom BASIC -> "FamiBe"note
- Famicom Tantei Club -> "FamiTan"
- Final Fantasy -> "FiFan"
- Crystal Chronicles -> "KuriKuro"
- Gensou Suikoden -> "GenSui" (Though Konami simply uses "Gensou" as the abbreviation for the game series.)
- Golden Axe -> GoruAku
- Groove Coaster -> "GuruKosu"
- Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania (collectively) -> "GitaDora". Notably, three games share this exact title: a port of GuitarFreaks 4th Mix and drummania 3rd Mix, the 2013 arcade game simply called GITADORA, and said arcade game's accompanying iOS spinoff.
- Gyakuten Saiban -> "Gyakusai"
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka de -> "HaruToki" (Although the "official" short version used in Japanese media is "Haruka" — it even made its way into the title of the English-language release of the manga adaptation.)
- By extension, the TV series based on the franchise, Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Hachiyou Shou -> "HaruHachi" (or, going from the Japanese version, "Haruka8")
- Hyper Olympic (AKA: Track & Field) -> "HyOly"note
- Ice Climber -> "AiKura"
- Idol Katsudou -> Aikatsu!
- The iDOLM@STER -> iM@S (used officially by Namco Bandai, especially when referring to the franchise as a whole ["Project iM@S"])
- Its spinoff manga Petit iDOLM@STER -> Puchimas
- THE iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls -> Deremas
- THE iDOLM@STER: Million Live! -> Milimas
- THE iDOLM@STER: Shiny Colors -> Shinymas
- Inazuma Eleven -> "InaIre"
- Jak and Daxter -> "JakuDaku"
- Kantai Collection -> "KanColle"
- The King of Fighters -> "KinFai"
- Kingdom Hearts -> "KinHa"
- Live Powerful Pro Baseball -> "PawaPuro"
- Power Pro-kun Pocket -> "PawaPoke"
- MLB Power Pros -> "PawaMajor"
- Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono -> "totomono"
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable -> "NanoPo"
- Marble Madness -> MabuMado
- Mario & Luigi RPG series ("Superstar Saga", etc.) -> "MariLui"
- Mario Kart series -> "MariKa"
- Mario Party series -> "MariPa"
- Master of Monsters -> "MasuMon"
- Melty Blood -> "MeruBura"
- Metal Gear -> "MeGi"
- Metal Gear Solid -> "MeSo"; also "MeGiSo"
- Metal Slug -> "MetaSura"
- Metroid Prime -> "MetoPura"
- Minecraft -> "MaiKura"
- Momotaro Dentetsu -> "MomoTetsu"
- Monster Hunter -> "MonHun"
- Mortal Kombat -> "MorKom"
- Western example: In fandoms for games which feature the Chinese Civil War (such as Hearts of Iron or Steel Panthers), it's not unusual to sometimes see NatChi and ComChi used for the Nationalist / Kuomintang and Communist forces, at least when they aren't using the KMT and CCP acronyms.
- Mega Man Battle Network has an in-universe example: "Network Navigator" -> "NetNavi" (which is what they are most commonly known by)
- Operation Wolf -> "OpeUru" note
- Operation Thunderbolt -> "OpeThun"
- Panel de Pon -> "Panepon", which shows up in the Japanese titles of Tetris Attack (Yoshi no Panepon) and Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (Pokemon de Panepon).
- The Paper Mario games -> "PepaMari"
- Super Paper Mario -> "SuPeMari"
- Pocket Monsters -> Pokemon/Pokémon (the official international name)
- Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon -> "PokéDun"
- Poitters' Point -> Poy Poy (the official international name)
- pop'n music -> "PoMu"
- Princess Maker -> "PuriMe"
- Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium -> "FamiSta" (which soon became an Officially Shortened Title)
- Puzzle & Dragons -> PazuDora
- Ratchet & Clank -> "RacheKura"
- Robot Ponkotto -> Robopon
- Romancing SaGa -> "RomaSaGa"
- Rhythm Tengoku (AKA Rhythm Heavennote ) -> "RizuTen"
- Sengoku Basara -> "SenBasa"
- Shin Megami Tensei -> "MegaTen"
- One of its more obscure spinoffs, Giten Megami Tensei, is commonly abbreviated as "GigaTen".
- Sonic the Hedgehog -> "SoniHe"
- Sonic Adventure (and by extension, its sequel) -> "SoniAdo"
- Sonic Rush (and by extension, its sequel) -> "SoniRa"
- Space Harrier -> "SupeHari"
- Space Invaders -> "SupeInbe"
- Splatoon -> "Supura"
- Street Fighter -> "SutoFai"
- Street Fighter II -> "SutoTsuu" (or "St. II", as one prototype for the Genesis port spells it out.)
- Street Fighter ZERO -> "SutoZero"
- Street Fighter EX -> "SutoEX"
- Street Fighter III -> "SutoSurii"
- Street Fighter IV -> "SutoFoo"
- Street Fighter V -> "SutoFaibu"
- Street Fighter 6 -> "SutoShikkusu"
- Subarashiki Kono Sekai -> "SubaSeka"
- Super Mario Bros. -> "SuMari"
- Super Mario World -> "SuMariWor"
- Super Mario Sunshine -> "SuMariSun"
- Both Super Mario Galaxy games -> "SuMariGala"
- Super Mario Odyssey -> "MariOde"
- There's also "MariBro", which can refer to the brothers themselves, their original 1983 arcade game, or the franchise in general.
- Super Mario Maker -> "MariMe"
- Super Smash Bros. -> "SmaBro(DX,X,for,SP)" (mostly in Japan), "SSB(M,B,4,U)"
- The "Smash" ability from Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is "SumaBura" when romanized from the Japanese name.
- Supreme Commander -> "SupCom" (another Western example)note
- Tokyo Afterschool Summoners -> "Housamo" (the Japanese full name of the game is Tōkyō Hōkago Samonāzu)
- Touken Ranbu -> "TouRabu"
- Undertale -> "AnTe"
- Virtual-ON: Oratorio Tangram -> "OraTan"
- Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune -> "WanganMaxi"
- Yandere Simulator -> "YanSim" (often used in English)
- Yoake mae yori ruriiro na ~Crescent Love~ -> "YoakeNa"
- Zelda no Densetsu -> "ZelNoDen"; also "ZelDen" and "ZeruDeru"
- Kamigami no Triforce ("Triforce of the Gods", AKA: A Link to the Past) -> "KamiTora"
- Toki no Ocarina (Ocarina of Time) ->"TokiOca" and "TokaRina"
- Mujura no Kamen (Majora's Mask'') -> "MujuKa"
- Kaze no Takuto ("Takt of the Wind", AKA: The Wind Waker) -> "KazeTaku"
- Twilight Princess -> "TowaPuri"
- Skyward Sword -> "SukaSo"
- Breath of the Wild -> "BureWai"
- Tears of the Kingdom -> "TiaKin"
- Xenoblade -> "ZenoBure"
- Dreamcast -> "DriCas"note , "DreCas", "DoriKyasu" or just "Dori"note .
- Family Computer (Nintendo Entertainment System) -> Famicom note
- Game Boy -> "GeBo"
- Game Boy Color -> "GeBoKa"
- Game Boy Advance -> "GeBoAdo"
- Nintendo GameCube -> "GeCu"
- Game Gear -> "GeGi"
- Mega Drive (Genesis) -> "MegaDora" or just "MeDo"
- Neo Geo -> "NeGe" (pronounced like "Neji")
- The NeoGeo Pocket, and NeoGeo Pocket Color are both also known as "NeoPoke" for short.
- Nintendo 64 -> "RokuYon" (from the Japanese pronunciation of 64)note
- PlayStation -> "PureSute"note
- Sega Saturn -> "SegaSata" or just "Sata"note
- Super Famicom (Super NES) -> "SuFami"note
- WonderSwan -> "WonSwa"
- Ikemen Sengoku -> "IkeSen". Also from the same game creators: Ikemen Revolution -> "IkeRev" and Ikemen Vampire -> "IkeVamp".
- Kimi ga Nozomu Eien ("The Eternity You Wish For") -> "Kiminozo"
- Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi -> "Totono"
- Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai -> "MajiKoi"
- Nukige Mitai na Shima ni Sunderu Watashi wa Dou Surya Ii Desu ka? -> "Nukitashi"
- Osananajimi wa Daitouryou -> "OsaDai"
- Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai -> "OreTsuba"
- Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru -> "Otoboku"
- Ristorante Amore -> "RisAmo" (also used by the developers)
- Sono Hanabira ni Kuchizuke wo -> Sonohana
- Subarashiki Hibi ~Furenzoku Sonzai~ -> "SubaHibi"
- Tokimeki Memorial -> "TokiMemo"
- Triangle Heart -> "ToraHa" or "Toraha"
- Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito -> "Yamibou"
- Western example: Madness Combat -> "MadCom"
- DuckTales (1987) -> "DakkuTe"note
- My Little Pony -> "MaRiPo"
- Strawberry Shortcake -> SutoShonote
- Drinks chain Beverages & More! now calls themselves BevMo! (Yes, with the exclamation point in both versions.)
- Coleco, of Colecovision fame, stands for Connecticut Leather Company.
- American shipping company Federal Express rebranded to FedEx, a popular nickname, and used both till 2000. [1]◊
- National Biscuit Company -> Nabisco, they changed their name so long ago, most people don't even know of the full name.
- The British bank National Westminster Bank rebranded to NatWest in the mid 90s.
- As did now-defunct American bank Washington Mutual ("WaMu").
- Service Games was originally founded as an American company, but after it opened its Japanese offices in the early 1950's, they would eventually be referred to as Sega.
- Japan Capsule Computer Co. was only in the business of making video game arcade cabinets, which they thoughtfully named "Capsule Computers." Now that they're in the business of making games themselves, we have since known them as Capcom. This was then inverted with their first would-be mascot, Captain Commando.
- Although Bandai Namco is generally known in the West as "Bamco" (which was used by the Japanese company at one point), the company in Japanese materials is often referred to as "BanNam"note .
- "Namco" itself is one, standing for either "Nakamura Manufacturing Company" or "Nakamura Manufacturing Company" (it's unclear which).
- Jagex's name originally stood for "Java Gaming Experts", though they have redefined it as "Just About the Game Experience".
- Bluesman Keb' Mo', originally Kevin Moore (not that one).
- Jennifer Lopez -> JLo.
- Jennifer Lawrence -> J.Law (also spelled "J-Law")
- Amy Schumer -> A.Schu
- The Color Computer was known to many of its users as the CoCo.
- National Geographic -> NatGeo
- Hassenfeld Brothers -> Hasbro
- (T. E. S)tockwell + Jack (Co)hen -> Tesco stores, world's second biggest supermarket
- Japan Leisure Company -> Jaleconote
- American Football (in Japan) -> AmeFuto
- American comic books (Superman, Spider-Man, etc.; also in Japan) -> These are sometimes called AmeComi in Japan, whereas the word "manga" in Japanese refers to all comics regardless of origin.
- Japanese convenience store chain Family Mart -> FamiMa, which was the name they used for its short lived attempt at expanding to North America
- 7-Eleven in Japan -> "SeEle" (Some even call it "VenVen")
- Circle K in Japan -> "CirK" (pronounced like "Sir Kay")
- McDonald's in Japan -> "MakuDo"
- Burger King in Japan -> "BurKin"
- The video game magazine Famitsu takes its name from Famicom Tsūshin (or the "Famicom Journal"), its original name back when it mainly covered the aforementioned Famicom console.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan -> "KenChiki"
- Personal Computers (i.e., PCs) -> "PersoCom" (has nothing to do with the other kind)
- Tokyo Daigaku (Tokyo University) -> "ToDai"
- Remote control devices are typically referred to as "remocon" in Japan.note
- Smartphone -> "SumaHo"
- Southern California is often called "SoCal" for short.
- Similarly, Northern California is sometimes called "NorCal"
- Arcades in Japan are also known as "game centers" or "GeCen" for short.
- The late Olympic track star Florence Griffith-Joyner -> "FloJo"
- Dungeons & Dragons -> DunDra
- Electromechanical arcade games are sometimes called "EleMecha" in Japan.
- One of AKB48's songs, Heavy Rotation is sometimes called "HebiRote" for short.
- Square Enix -> SukuEni, along with "Squeenix".
- Koei Tecmo Games -> KoTec
- Spike Chunsoft -> SpiChun
- TV Tokyo -> TeleTo
- Nippon TV -> NitTele
- TV Asahi -> TeleAsa
- The Japanese airline Zen Nippon Kuuyu (All Nippon Airways) -> ZenNikKuu
- Subverted with Tokyo Movie Shinsha (AKA: TMS Entertainment). The official shortened name for the company is "To-Mu-Su", which instead of being short for the Japanese name, is simply the three English letters T, M, and S being pronounced in Japanese.
- Slot machines in Japan -> "Pachislot", or "Pachisuro"note
- Credit card company American Express -> AmExnote
- Japanese satellite TV provider Sky PerfecTV! -> SukaPa!
- Union Oil Company of California (original owners of the Union 76note chain of gas stations) -> Unocal (used as a trade name, which also makes this an Officially Shortened Title)