Tomo-chan Is A Girl & Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Anime/Manga Comparisons

    Welcome back to my review blog, Beyond the Anime! For the second entry in my anime/manga comparison series, I chose to focus on two anime currently airing in the Winter 2023 season, Tomo-chan Is A Girl and Kaina of the Great Snow Sea. 

    Tomo-chan was adapted from an already completed manga, and Kaina is just the opposite - an original anime which is now also being adapted into manga. Read on for the similarities and differences between the manga and anime versions of each series! Mild spoilers ahead, but nothing beyond the most recent episodes of the anime. 

Tomo-chan Is A Girl

    The anime perfectly captures the art style and character designs of the manga, and the backgrounds which were scarce in the original add a lot to the atmosphere. Tomo-chan is adapted from a 4-koma, a manga that portrays short comedic stories told in four panels - technically standalone, but often with the next picking up right where the previous one left off. Many of these scenes are combined in the anime to make an episode which covers two or three short stories, and this format works really well for the series.  

    Tomo-chan's earliest chapters can be a little rough at times, leaning too heavily into the joke that Jun will occasionally forget his best friend is, in fact, a girl. A few of these short skits have Jun accidentally following Tomo to the girl's bathroom or, like the scene pictured below, casually saying he heard from one of the guys who has a girlfriend that bras are difficult to take off - and acts completely stunned by the realization that Tomo wears one herself. The anime focuses more on Jun treating Tomo like one of his guy friends because he doesn't want to take the risk of changing their relationship, and I much prefer that direction.

    The storytelling improves considerably after the beginning, and there's less of the "Jun actually forgot Tomo is a girl" jokes - most of which weren't adapted into the anime. There were quite a few scenes I really enjoyed in this section of the story that the anime cut short, like the scenes where their classmates discussed which boys or girls they like and how similar Tomo's and Jun's reactions were to this information, plus Misuzu asking Tomo what exactly she likes about Jun. Carol saying she didn't want to be friends with the boys because they would think "dirty things" about her was also an interesting bit of self-awareness.

    Side characters like Tomo's parents get more spotlight in the manga, which I really enjoyed. The interactions shown between them were slightly different than what was portrayed in the anime, with flashbacks giving the impression that Akemi was used to reigning in Goro when necessary (like father, like daughter) while the anime seemed to suggest she reveled in the chaos he caused. I also loved the additional scene at the playground where a group of kids wanted to play with Tomo and Jun got jealous like a little kid himself saying that Tomo already agreed to play with him, and Akemi's thoughts about trusting Jun to take care of her daughter after seeing him eat the hilariously tough sardine rice balls Tomo made.

    The scene pictured above is only shown in the manga and occurs after Tomo's hilariously fearsome dodgeball skills prompt the other girls to beg their gym teacher to talk some sense into her. She asks Tomo's friends for advice, but Misuzu turns it around and bargains with the teacher to get herself out of gym class. Meanwhile, Carol thinks it's a staring contest. The anime already does a great job of building up the main characters' personalities, so it doesn't feel like anything is missing despite the fact that some of the manga's skits don't make it into the episodes. It's more like these extra conversations add to and reinforce those aspects of their personalities that fans already know and love, providing more of the same but in a very good way. 

    Scenes like these definitely make reading the manga worth it, even if you've already seen the anime, as they offer plenty of fun new scenarios, which elevates it beyond just reading the same episodes in manga form. At the pace Tomo-chan's anime is moving through the story, it looks like this single season will finish its adaptation of the source material, but if you're a fan of these characters, I would still recommend checking out the manga. 

    Kaina of the Great Snow Sea

   

    There are only three chapters available for Kaina of the Great Snow Sea's manga adaptation on Crunchyroll at the time of this blog post, which covers material from episodes 1 and 2 of the anime. The quality of this adaptation is somewhat mixed, with the artwork ranging from very well done to overly simplistic in a way that doesn't truly show the beauty of Kaina's world, and the translation choices are not always accurate. 

    At times, the artwork of Kaina's manga adaptation is beautiful and detailed, but this level of detail is not always consistent. The background scenery in the manga often fails to capture the awe-inspiring sci-fi landscapes without the subtle, otherworldly shades of color used in the anime. The canopy and the snow sea are often simply shown as white with little shading to make it appear as any more than blank backgrounds. However, when the scenery is the focal point of the image, the difference can be quite stunning.

Kaina walking on the canopy in the anime...

...and that same scene in the manga.

    The action scenes leave much to be desired as well. Rather than portraying the flow of movement during a battle scene or during Kaina's hunt, the panels feel more like static images. It's unfortunate, because the Valghians' armor is drawn with fine detail, and the content of the action itself is actually more ambitious than what was shown in the anime. 

    There's a brief battle in the air when Valghian soldiers swing onto Ririha's basket as it floats away, and a scene where Kaina fully climbs aboard to rescue Ririha and sees the bodies of her fallen comrades still inside. These instances added some excitement to the story and ensures that the manga will not simply be a retelling of the same events exactly as they occurred in the anime. 

    The elderly members of Kaina's village have much more detailed designs in the manga that emphasize their unique qualities, making it easier to tell them apart, whereas the character models used in the anime all look very similar (and wear hoods, unlike their manga designs) in a way that portrays them like a community as a whole rather than individuals, aside from the Signkeeper. 

    The manga version of Kaina also has a few strange translation choices. Ririha's title has been changed from princess to queen - and this does not seem to indicate an actual change in the story, as a panel in Chapter 3 reveals that her father is indeed still alive. Even more odd is the translation of Amelothee's title as king instead of general. The name of the soldier who sends Ririha off in the basket, Jarge, also has a different spelling in the manga, Georges. 

    This wouldn't be the first time there were alternate spellings of characters' names between the anime and manga (like Eren Jaeger vs Eren Yaeger in Attack on Titan) or even military ranks (Captain Levi vs Lieutenant Levi, also from AOT), but the difference in the level of power between a princess and a queen is more prominent, and Amelothee being referred to as a king comes off as especially inaccurate due to Valghia not having royalty and the implication that Amelothee herself reluctantly joined Valghia when her country was destroyed by their fleet. 

Apparently, Ririha receives a slight status promotion in the manga! The snow horses are still adorable as always.

    For these reasons, the manga adaptation of Kaina is a bit of a mixed bag. I will continue to follow the release of the new manga chapters to see any additional scenes and how they impact the story, and I would recommend checking it out if you're also a fan of the story and don't mind a few inconsistencies, but the anime seems to be the definitive version. One note in its favor is that the manga is available with a Crunchyroll subscription, so if you're already watching Kaina, there's no extra cost to read the manga as well. 

    Stay tuned for my next blog post, which will be a feature on my favorite anime from the Winter 2023 season! 

*All images are from the Tomo-chan Is A Girl anime and manga & Kaina of the Great Snow Sea anime and manga (now available on Crunchyroll). Screenshots taken by me.

Spy x Family Anime/Manga Comparison & Season 2 Predictions

    Welcome to my updated blog, Beyond the Anime! As I mentioned in my last post, I'm expanding the anime content covered in my blog to include in-depth comparisons between anime and their source material. The first up in my Anime/Manga Comparison series is a new favorite of mine, Spy x Family! 

    WIT Studio did an amazing job adapting the art style, character designs, and special brand of action/comedy from manga to anime. The beautiful colors, smooth animation, excellent voice acting and a soundtrack fitting the Cold War period all work together to bring this show to life. 

Season 1 Anime/Manga Comparison

A direct scene comparison. Chapter 1 of the manga...

...and episode 1 of the anime. The images are basically a perfect match!

    In the first volume, the only differences in the adaptation are very minor. The scene where Anya cuddles up next to Loid while he's sleeping does have a slight variation between the manga and the anime, which only shows Loid waking up surprised to find her there. In the manga, he's so startled by her presence that he accidentally knocks her off the couch.

    Volumes 1 & 2 also have a few short, single page extra stories with Anya trying to get a mystery prize from a snack box in the grocery store, enjoying a mechanical panda ride at the same grocery store, and visiting a public pool with her parents. These short stories are cute, but would have been a challenge to fit into the anime due to their length, except perhaps as an after credits scene. 

These agents just couldn't wait for the chance to face off against Twilight. Ball pit fight!

    The anime greatly expanded on Anya's spy party from vol. 2, which easily became my favorite episode. The manga version of her party begins with the scene where Loid calls his fellow spies to fill the empty banquet hall and then leads directly into the final battle between Loid and Yor, which occurs in the same room. The helicopter ride, Franky's quiz game, the epic battle in the ball pit with nerf guns, and the pyrotechnics are all anime original scenes. This is an example of an anime elevating the manga in the best way, perfectly capturing the series' comedic tone and showcasing WIT Studio's fantastic action sequences. 

    The dodgeball game in vol. 3 also had a few anime original scenes that really played up the drama and over-the-top action of this episode, much like Anya's party. The scene with Bill Watkins' father as well as a hilarious Dragonball Z reference in Damian's training montage, when he imagined himself preparing for the upcoming match on planet Namek, were also anime original. It seems Damian is a fan of shonen battle anime, because there were quite a few references in this segment! And if you look closely at the cover of volume 7, there's even a magazine titled "Super Manga" among Damian's belongings. A slightly shortened version of the story at the end of vol. 6 showing Mr. Henderson's morning routine was also moved to the beginning of this episode.

    Another notable change is the placement of the aquarium visit, which was shown earlier in the manga - at the end of vol. 2, shortly after Anya is admitted to Eden Academy. In the anime, this little adventure happened later on as the midseason finale. 

Yor trying her best to focus on their date despite the pain from her recent bullet wound.

    The bonus chapter at the end of vol. 3 was the only one skipped in the anime, where Yor is injured on a mission by a gunshot wound to her bottom and tries to hide her discomfort during a date with Loid. However, it's clear from her pained expressions that something is wrong, leading Loid's imagination to run wild as he tried to figure out why she's angry with him. Anya also gets the chance to be a real spy while shadowing her parents when she happens to read the mind of a man who survived Yor's assassination of his group the previous night and is seeking revenge on her. Interestingly, this short story is the first time the Red Circus group, later involved in a major arc, is mentioned in the manga. At the end of the chapter, the Forger family decided to go to a carnival - possibly the same one from the season 2 opening theme! 

    The following volume, which covers the entirety of Bond's introduction arc and the Forgers thwarting a terrorist plot, plays out almost exactly the same in the anime as it does in the manga. However, there is one small detail from the manga that I wish they had included. Remember the german shepherd that Loid saved by detaching the bomb from its chest? A single panel at the end of the volume notes that this dog was adopted by a kindly agent. 

Yor's first attempt at making stew in the anime, and...

...Yor's attempt at making stew in the manga. What is this small animal that crawled into the bowl and died?!

    This next scene comparison, from episode 16 of the anime and volume 5 of the manga showcasing Yor's deadly cooking, had me laughing out loud when I spotted the difference - mainly, the pair of legs sticking out of the soup bowl in the manga which seem to belong to some kind of small mammal. The anime stew is slightly blurred by the powerful aura of death surrounding it, but it's possible to make out a whole tomato in the bottom left side of the bowl. And that same spot in the manga? Half of a tomato, and an unfortunate creature that did not heed the warning signs of this deadly brew. My theory is that it went for the tomato, but how the hyper attentive Yor failed to notice its presence is a mystery to me.

    There was also a difference from the adaptation of vol. 5 in the wordplay during Yuri's tutoring session with Anya. In the manga, the phrase "whole enchilada" is misheard by Anya as "swole chihuahua", complete with an adorable illustration. Thankfully, the buff chihuahua image still remains in the anime, but the dialogue is changed to a pun using the word "unleashed" instead. 

Yor shows off her parkour skills, and WIT Studio shows off their action animation.

    This short story in episode 19, which involves Yor using her best acrobatics as she races toward Anya's school to deliver something she believes her daughter forgot, was made just for the anime and fits in well with the other "slice-of-life" episodes covering the comedic, character focused chapters from volumes 5 & 6 of the manga. The majority of vol. 6 was a near exact adaptation of the manga, aside from a single page short at the end which took place during Loid and Yor's outing at the bar, but from Anya's point of view as she spends time at the park with Bond and babysitter Franky. It's a funny little scene where Franky attempts to play fetch with Bond, who imagines Franky would be better suited to retrieve the frisbee while he sits on the sidelines and claps. 

    The Spy x Family anime covers the first six volumes of the manga, as well as the first chapter from volume 7 (Loid's meeting with Donovan Desmond) and the short story at the end which makes an early appearance in episode 17, detailing a day in Sylvia's life as a spy and the lengths she goes to maintain her secrecy and receive important updates from Loid, like Anya's progress learning to jump rope. Overall, it's a fantastic adaptation of the source material with very few scenes left out, and the anime original content is a perfect complement to the series.

Season 2 Predictions (Spoilers Ahead!) 

    Even without having Bond's powers of future sight, reading ahead in the manga can offer a glimpse into the storyline of season 2. After Loid's first meeting with Desmond, volume 7 has five chapters along the same lines as the character focused, comedic shorts in the second half of season 1 before starting the next big adventure that expands the plot in the final chapter. 

Yor strengthens her resolve during this battle scene from the cruise arc.

    The cruise arc is action-packed and brings more attention to Yor's character development, something many fans have been waiting for. This is one of the longer arcs in the story so far and contains many of the things that make Spy x Family such a fun series - plenty of hilarious and heartwarming moments between the Forger family, and Yor brings the over-the-top action in spades. It's my theory that season 2 might start with this arc in order to open with a bang, and then show the five comedy shorts later on. This would also be a great time to show Loid and Yor's date which was skipped earlier, because the appearance of the Red Circus group would be perfect foreshadowing at this stage. 

    The first season covered chapters 1-38 of the manga, and the latest chapter released at the time of this blog post is chapter 75. This would be a perfect ending point for season 2, with another major arc just wrapping up and an excellent teaser for the inevitable season 3 - an ominous meeting with Damian's mother which is a great mirror of the season 1 finale where Damian's father was the one giving off the ominous vibe. 

    The second season of Spy x Family is one of my most anticipated anime of the year, and I'm looking forward to seeing my favorite chapters animated, as well as any new content WIT Studio comes up with! I hope you enjoyed the first entry in my Anime/Manga Comparison series. My next post will examine two currently airing series and their manga, Tomo-chan Is A Girl and Kaina of the Great Snow Sea. 

*All images from the Spy x Family anime and manga, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub review episodes 13-23

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld 

Spanish dub review episodes 13-23 

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! This entry will cover the final episodes of Sword Art Online's War of Underworld arc, which includes many of my favorite scenes in the entire series, and features some of the best performances yet from the Spanish dub actors. 

    Part 2 opens with the appearances of Sinon and Leafa in the Underworld. Sinon enters the battle right in Asuna's moment of need, rescuing her and the Human Empire soldiers, as well as Kirito in the wagon. Sinon's reunion with Kirito is equally touching in the Spanish dub, and Ronie's reaction was just as amusing when she notes, "Kirito tiene muchas amigas" ("Kirito has many (women) friends"), and so was the teasing reply from Sinon, "Sí, y no somos las unicas" ("Yes, and we're not the only ones"). Later, Asuna is shocked when Sinon mentions the abilities of her Solus account and asks, "¿Puedes volar?" ("You can fly?") This leads them to form a plan where Asuna's team will hold off the red knights while Sinon flies ahead to assist Bercouli in saving Alice. 

    On the other side of the battlefield, Leafa has a rather unceremonious but hilarious entrance as she falls from the sky and lands right next to orc leader Lilpilin. Although his first instinct is to take her prisoner and bring her to the emperor, Leafa's kind and inquisitive nature causes him to drop his guard despite his prejudice against humans for looking down on him in the past. Leafa's response to Lilpilin, "Pero eres tú una persona" ("But you are a person"), is slightly different from the original dialogue in which she calls him a "human", but I feel this line works better and still maintains the heart of her message. The novel even has one instance where she used the term "person" instead of "human", so it's not a complete divergence from the source material. 

    Regardless, her intent is clear in how she views Lilpilin - "igual a mi" ("same as me"). This revelation leads him to break the seal of the right eye in order to help her fight DIL. Lilpilin does use the word "human" in this scene when he strikes back at the leader of the dark mages and gives Leafa an opportunity to finish the battle. With the overwhelming power of the Terraria account and Leafa's natural skill as a swordswoman, DIL is defeated at last. In the final line of this scene, Leafa calls Lilpilin a friend ("amigo"). 

   The battle between Bercouli and Vector was fantastic, as always. Gabriel's voice actor did a great job shifting from the tone he normally used when speaking to something more sinister, but at the same time bored by his opponent, which reflects Gabriel's true nature. Bercouli's VA showed a great range of emotion in this scene too, from his anger at Vector when he shouted "Por es tu culpa... Ahora muere, bastardo!" ("Because it's your fault... Now die, you bastard!") to his perfectly feigned confusion towards the end of the fight, and his kind words to Alice. Unfortunately, Sinon arrives too late to save Bercouli, and Alice breaks down in tears over her loss in another stunning performance. When Gabriel awakens in the real world following his defeat and finds out PoH returned to the Underworld using his own personal account, he says he also wants to go back in. ("Yo también quiero volver a entrar.")

    At the battleground in the ruins, a large group of MMO players from Japan appear to aid Asuna and the Human Empire's army, which was desperately fending off the American players. Asuna's words when she finds out Yui was a major driving force behind this plan were very sweet - "Muy bien hecho, hija mía." ("Very well done, my daughter.") Renly meeting Liz and Silica was another rare wholesome moment during the war. At first, he approaches with caution and asks, "¿De dónde vienen estos caballeros?" ("Where do these knights come from?") The casual, cheerful introductions from the girls and the relief in Renly's voice when he realized there are other kind people like Asuna from the real world were a perfect portrayal of this scene.

    Just as Asuna and friends are beginning to feel like they can win their battle, PoH arrives on the same battlefield with a team of Chinese and Korean players which vastly outnumbered hers. They quickly overpower the combined Japanese players and Human Empire soldiers, and after they are all captured by PoH's army, Asuna convinces the people of the Underworld to surrender, pleading with them, "Ustedes tienen que vivir." ("You have to live.") When Asuna asks what PoH wants, his words and tone of voice in the Spanish dub, "¿Qué no es obvio?" ("What is not obvious?"), match the original dialogue very well, and his response to Asuna's shock that his goal all along was to drive Kirito and other players to kill in SAO was delivered with the same enthusiasm - "Sí, por supuesto que sí."

    PoH's background story was also portrayed very well in the Spanish dub. Many of his lines as a teenager are direct translations of the original or very close to it, and his voice actor perfectly captured his sarcastic, guarded comebacks during this scene when he asked what his father was doing here ("¿Qué haces aquí?") and his reply after being told about his half brother, "Ese no es mi problema." ("That's not my problem.") Young PoH's reaction as the conversation slowly builds to the real reason behind his father's sudden visit, "¿Y qué?" literally means "And what?" which is very similar to a common English phrase among teenagers, "So what?" When the truth is revealed, PoH's words "¿Así quiere eso?" ("So you want that?") which vary from the English dub drive home the implication that he knew his father wanted something but was still shocked when he found out exactly what that was.

    His father's response surprised me in how close it was to the light novels. Rather than the previous anime dialogues which presented the situation as blackmail, in the Spanish dub he says in no uncertain terms, "No puedes negarte." ("You can't refuse.") This portrayal feels much more accurate to the original story, where PoH made it clear that he wasn't given a choice.' 

    I was happy to hear Asuna's heartfelt prayer for Kirito to awaken used nearly identical phrasing in Spanish as in English, "Tú tienes mi corazón, mi vida, todo lo que tengo." ("You have my heart, my life, everything I have.") Kirito's line at the end of the episode, where he's shown in his dream state, is also the same, "¿Todo fue un sueño?" ("Was it all a dream?")

    The scene where Asuna's memory of Yuuki encourages her to fight is just as impactful in the Spanish dub, with a beautiful line from Yuuki - "Tienes que proteger a la persona que amas." ("You have to protect the person you love.") When Kirito awakens at last, Asuna greets him with the familiar phrase "Bienvenido, Kirito." ("Welcome, Kirito.") His response is another great example of my favorite couple's more romantic dialogue in the Spanish dub -  "Hola, amor. Ya estoy de vuelta." ("Hello, love. Now I'm back.") 

    PoH's dialogue with Kirito during their fight also stays very close to the original, using the same phrasing on many occasions, and even when they vary slightly, his lines still have the same spirit as the ones I've watched so many times. As the battle begins, he warns Kirito "Si no peleas en serio, mi deceptionarás" ("If you don't fight seriously, you'll disappoint me") and later boasts "Si no quieres hacerlo y prefieres morir, está bien. No te preocupes." ("If you don't want to do it and prefer to die, that's fine. Don't worry.") Once Kirito turns the tides and begins to power up his sword when PoH is unable to do the same, he delivers one line with the same frustration in his voice as in the English dub - "¡Hijo de perra!" ("Son of a bitch!") I've learned a few colorful phrases from PoH since I started watching the Spanish dub, and this one was the most fun to spot then play again just to make sure he really said what I thought he did. 

    The translation choices continued to be great throughout Kirito's fight against Gabriel, starting with Kirito's fading resolve when surrounded by Gabriel's powerful Incarnation. The only answer he can come up with for the question of his own name is "No puedo recordarlo" ("I can't remember it"), but after a little encouragement from Eugeo, he announces himself as "Kirito el espadachín" ("Kirito the swordsman") and then asks Gabriel "¿Cuál es tu nombre?" ("What is your name?") Gabriel's response in the Spanish dub makes an interesting distinction by saying "Mi nombre real es..." ("My real name is...") when the original version, even the novel, only implies he gave his real name without saying it outright. Gabriel's voice becomes truly chilling after his avatar transforms into an angel of death and he threatens to steal "tus recuerdos, tu corazón, y toda tu alma" ("your memories, your heart, and all your soul").

    At the end of the battle, Kirito says the same farewell to Eugeo that he used following their fight against Administrator on the top floor of Central Cathedral, "Hasta siempre, hermano." Meanwhile, Asuna informs Dr. Koujiro through the control panel of her intent to stay by Kirito's side in the Underworld, having realized there was something he wasn't telling her. She expressed her desire for the Rath team to protect Alice, saying she is a sweet girl ("ella es una chica dulce") and then offers her final message before the max acceleration phase begins, "Todos... Por favor... Perdoname." ("Everyone... Please... Forgive me.") In the original, her words were, "Thank you. I'm sorry. Goodbye." 

    When Kirito is surprised to find Asuna waiting at the World's End Altar, she says she already knew ("ya lo sabía") and asks him, "¿Por cuánto tiempo estaremos en este mundo?" ("How long will we be in this world?") Of course, his answer doesn't worry her, as they're just happy to be together again ("juntos otra vez"). Their reunion in the real world later is equally adorable, with Kirito greeting Asuna and calling her pretty ("Hola, bonita") in another example of the Spanish dialogue between couples being more openly romantic.

    Even now that the battle is over and he knows he's safe, the memory of Eugeo still weighs heavily on Kirito's mind, and he breaks down in tears after returning to his home. Suguha's lines as she comforted Kirito were just as touching in the Spanish dub, "Puedes hablar conmigo, hermano" ("You can talk to me, brother"), and encourages him to open up to her about his experiences there, all the good and bad in the world ("todo lo bueno y lo malo del mundo"). 

    Soon after, Alice disappears from Rath and shows up at his home in hilarious fashion. Just like in Alicization, she and Kirito have great banter. The scene where Alice speaks with his dad was comedy gold as well. When she calls Kirito the greatest swordsman in their world, he acknowledges this by saying that Kirito is a great hero in this world too ("Él es un gran héroe en este mundo también") and then using his old nickname from SAO, much to Kirito's shock. However, the very best part of the exchange was Alive addressing Kirito's dad as "suegro", which means "father-in-law". In the English dub, she simply said "father", but this makes her intent even more clear rather than just hinting at it.

    The reason Alice showed up is because she insists she needs to talk to Kirito in person ("necesito hablar contigo en persona"). After hearing her concerns, Kirito reassures her about her place and purpose in this world and how he sees her - "Tú eres mi esperanza. Pero no solamente para mi. Todos confiamos en ti. Tu eres nuestra esperanza." ("You are my hope. But not only for me. We all trust in you. You are our hope.") His words, and a brief sword fight, are enough to convince Alice that she can live in this world ("Yo puedo vivir en este mundo").

    This entry ends the Sword Art Online: Alicization & War of Underworld review series! Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode. I'm planning an expansion for my blog soon which will include more anime reviews, comparisons between light novels/manga and their anime adaptations, and also continue my Learning Spanish With Anime series, so I hope you'll enjoy reading. ¡Hasta luego!

 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Moderate/Intermediate

Key phrases: 

• Genera todos los elementos - Generate all elements
• Nuestros corazones están unidos - Our hearts are united
• Se buscan voluntarios - Volunteers wanted (the message PoH instructed Critter to post online seeking reinforcements from China & Korea)
• Matando a todos - Killing everyone (variations of this phrase are used several times throughout the season)
• Muchas gracias por tu servicio - Thank you very much for your service (Sheyta to her dragon, Yoiyobi)
• Simplamente no puedo morir - I just can't die (Leafa describing the Terraria account's healing abilities, both a blessing and a curse) 
• ¿Sabes qué es la fuerza? - Do you know what strength is? (Iskahn when the sky in the Dark Territory turns black and the stars representing the hopes of everyone in the Underworld begin to appear)
• Un sueño para proteger - A dream to protect (Kirito and Kikuoka both consider the Underworld to be this)

Common phrases:  

• Aún así - Even so
• Tengo esperanza - I have hope
• Cuenta con nosotros - Count on us
• Levántate ya - Get up now
• Voy a entrar - I'm going in
• No voy a perder - I'm not going to lose
• No es así - It's not like that
• Espera un poco - Wait a bit
• No te atrevas - Don't you dare
• Creo que si - I think so
• Estamos bien, ¿verdad? - We're fine, right?
• ¿Qué dices? - What are you saying?
• Pero no esta vez - But not this time
• Es mi nombre de jugador - It's my player name
• No tienes que ayudar - You don't have to help 
• ¿Ellos verdad están aquí? - They are really here?
• Claro que si. Aquí estamos. - Of course. Here we are.
• ¿Usted conoce a estas personas? - Do you know these people?
• Mucho gusto / Encantada de conocerte - Nice to meet you
• Es un placer conocerte - It's a pleasure to meet you
• El placer es mío - The pleasure is mine
• Eso me recuerda... - That reminds me...
• Oye, hablando de eso... - Hey, speaking of that...
•  ¿Estás comiendo bien? - Are you eating well?
• Seguramente no me conoces - Surely you don't know me
• Es justo lo que esperaba - It's just what I expected 
• No tengo otra opción - I do not have any other option 
• No tienes que disculparte de nada - You don't have to apologize for anything
• ¿Estás allí? ¿Me escuchas? - Are you there? Can you hear me?

Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub episodes 4-7 review

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld

Spanish dub episodes 4-12 review

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! While I was still in the process of rewatching this season, it was unfortunately removed from Crunchyroll due to licensing changes, and I was unable to finish. However, I did have the chance to watch War of Underworld's Spanish dub nearly a year ago. My Spanish back then wasn't quite at the level it is now, but I will still be able to finish this review series based on memory, the notes I took from my first viewing, and video clips that I managed to find on YouTube. As a result, the reviews for the rest of this season won't be as in depth as the previous ones, and will be completed in two halves with this entry covering the remainder of part one, and the next covering part two. 

Gabriel as Emperor Vector and PoH as a Dark Knight

        Following the end of the previous episode, in which Gabriel and PoH logged into the Underworld as Emperor Vector and a high level Dark Knight, the representatives of each faction in the Dark Territory are summoned before them. Although most seem excited by the concept of war, Gabriel realizes that not every fluctlight will blindly follow his lead when Shasta declares, "Antes de ofrecer mi espada, tengo una pregunta." ("Before I offer my sword, I have a question.") Gabriel, skillfully playing the part of the emperor, responds with what he seeks -  "Sangre y terror. Fuego y destrucción. Muerte y gritos." ("Blood and terror. Fire and destruction. Death and screams.") This line was delivered with the same impact as the original, and the exact same wording as well. 

    It's interesting that Shasta asks what Gabriel seeks because the meaning of his player name in GGO, Subtilizer, can be translated as "one who seeks", and we see exactly what that is in a flashback to his childhood. Young Gabriel was fascinated by the idea of the human soul, and his clear, thoughtful speech is very easy to understand even for someone still learning the language, which makes it all the more unnerving to hear word for word when this child delivers lines like, "Los humanos no pueden vivir sin sus cabezas." ("Humans can't live without their heads.") After young Gabriel is shown killing his childhood friend Alicia in this flashback scene, he expresses interest in doing the "experiment" again with much enthusiasm, saying "¡Quiero ver mucho más!" ("I want to see much more!") Gabriel reminisces about this event while looking forward to continuing the experiment when he finds Alice, who has been overlapped with the memory of Alicia in his mind. His line here is also a direct translation of the original, "Tu alma será dulce." ("Your soul will be sweet.")

    PoH's dialogue with Gabriel in response to the suggestion that he might need to make speeches to his subordinates also makes it clear why he signed up for this mission, "No me interesa en esas estupideces. Yo quiero solo atacar." ("I'm not interested in that stupidity. I just want to attack.") Interestingly, some of his lines are a little more vague as to his intent in the Spanish dub, like when he asks, "¿Crees que puedo dar un pequeño paseo por el centro ahora mismo?" ("Do you think I can take a little walk downtown right now?") The English dub uses the phrase "blow off steam", which is a little less innocent than a walk, but it does match up closely with the original Japanese dialogue. His comment about "las mujeres y la sangre" ("the women and blood") in place of his "women and murder" line from Japanese and English does seem like he's being intentionally vague and making a direct reference to Gabriel's line regarding blood and pain in the Underworld. It adds a layer of mystery not present in the original, like he doesn't want to tell Gabriel everything, and is very reminiscent of a later conversation they had in the novel which was not adapted into the anime where Gabriel questioned his reasons for coming. 

    When Gabriel arrived in the Underworld as Emperor Vector and made his declaration of war, the residents of the Dark Territory raised a cheer for the emperor's conquest against the Human Empire, "¡Larga vida al emperador!" ("Long live the emperor!") At the end of the episode, they do the same, but out of fear for his power this time after seeing Shasta's incredible assassination attempt fail, led by Dark Mage leader DIL shouting "¡Larga vida al rey!" ("Long live the king!")

    The Human Empire is preparing for war too, and Alice knows they are running out of time when she shows up at the army camp with Kirito. Although Eldrie has concerns about her ability to fight while protecting Kirito, Bercouli doesn't seem worried. After a test of clashing Incarnate power, Bercouli reassures Alice, "Su corazón no está en este lugar, pero no está muerto." ("His heart is not in this place, but his soul is not dead.") 

    This episode had some very heartfelt scenes, first when Ronie and Tiese broke down in tears upon learning the fates of Kirito and Eugeo and were consoled by Alice, and later when Eldrie begged Alice not to speak as though this would be the last time they see each other. Brilliant performances all around, especially the emotion in Eldrie's voice. 

    The voice acting in the opening scenes of the war are fantastic. Deusolbert in the Spanish dub sounds very reminiscent of his English dub performance with clear, direct speech and a strong conviction. His promise to the faint memory of his wife was heartfelt, "Lo protegeré con mi vida." ("I will protect it with my life.") 

    I was also quite impressed with the goblin and orc voices in the Spanish dub. Even as someone who is still learning the language, I found their voices easy to understand. The goblin leaders in particular are chilling when they deliver their threats, such as Shiburi calling Deusolbert and humans "carne" ("meat"). Interestingly, the voice of orc leader Lilpilin appeared to be the same as any other human, in contrast to the English dub and the light novels where he and the other orcs are shown to have difference speech patterns. 

    As far as the demihuman residents of the Underworld, the best performance was given by Sigurosig, the leader of the giants. The scene where his fluctlight overloaded and broke down was just as chilling in the Spanish dub, as he started repeating the phrase "No puede ser" ("It can't be") which then devolved into broken speech during his fight with Fanatio. 

    Iskahn and Sheyta's first battle was an excellent adaptation, with great chemistry between the two of them. Their voices and tone both match well with the English dub, and their banter was very fun to watch. Iskahn's opening line is a nearly direct translation of the original when he meets Sheyta on the battlefield, "¿Quien eres tú, y que estás haciendo aquí?" ("Who are you, and what are you doing here?") He also has a great, entirely new comeback when he joked that Sheyta wouldn't be able to prevent a child from passing through. ("Tú no podrías impedir que paso un niño.")

     Later in the same episode, the confrontation between PoH and Ronie has a somewhat mixed translation. The scene starts off with a good adaptation of PoH's lines, some of them even literal translations like "matando el tiempo" ("killing time") or slightly different wording that still captures the spirit of the original dialogue as seen in his reaction to being faced with a whole squad of soldiers to fight, "¡Perfecto! ¡Esto es lo que quería!" ("Perfect! This is what I wanted!") and also his orders to the Dark Knights, "¡Vamos a divertirnos!" ("Let's have fun!") However, the choice to change his lines during the fight itself was a poor choice, in my opinion - while the original dialogue focused on PoH's excitement for player-killing and made no derisive comments towards Ronie or her combat abilities, the Spanish dub places emphasis on referring to her as a helpless girl, which couldn't be further from the truth. Even though she was outclassed by PoH's years of experience in life or death battle, she nearly caught him off guard (which he even admitted to himself in the novel) and successfully defended against his first few sword strikes. So far, this is the only time I've totally disagreed with a translation choice. 

    Asuna's arrival in the Underworld is met with even more hostility from Alice in the Spanish dub when she enters the scene and demands to know, "¿Quién demonios eres tú?" ("Who the hell are you?") Asuna's response is portrayed with the same emotion and in many cases the same words, like her declaration that "Kirito es mío." ("Kirito is mine.") Bercouli, as always, was totally smooth as he convinced the two to talk things out, and his VA captures his relaxed tone of voice well. Ronie's VA also did a great job with her adorably awkward request to join Asuna and Alice in sharing their stories about Kirito, "Me gustaría saber más sobre él." ("I would like to know more about him.")

    The battle begins the next day with a face off between the Human Guardian army and a group of pugilists and Dark Knights who managed to cross the canyon Asuna created when she appeared in the Underworld, but thanks to a daring leap of faith from Iskahn, an alliance is formed between them and his pugilists. The determination in his voice and this declaration make it clear that he no longer intends to serve Emperor Vector if he can help it, "Mi gente y yo ya podemos hacer lo que queramos." ("My people and I can now do what we want.") 

    Meanwhile, back in the real world, PoH wakes up and slowly remembers the details of Asuna dropping his Dark Knight account down a hole and knocking him out of the Underworld, but seeing a familiar face from Aincrad only excites him. Despite my issues with the translation of his dialogue in an earlier episode, PoH's VA always does a good job portraying the excitement in his voice as well as the hint that he's planning something. His lines in this scene are very similar to the originals, like his reaction to Asuna's presence in the Underworld, "¡Es mi día de suerte!" ("It's my lucky day!") and his remark about the account he plans to dive back in with, "Tengo una perfecta para jugar." ("I have a perfect one to play.")

    Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will cover the remaining episodes of the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego!  

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate

Key phrases: 

• Comandante de los caballeros - Commander of the Knights, or simply Knight Commander (Shasta's title in the Spanish dub, instead of "General" used in English, which mirrors Bercouli's title as Integrity Knight Commander)
• Destruido en la última fase - Destroyed in the last phase (the message written on the gate between the Human Realm and the Dark Territory) 
• Magos oscuros - Dark mages 
• La noche antes de la batalla - The night before the battle
• La persona más fuerte de este mundo - The strongest person in this world (Fanatio says this about Bercouli)
• Mejor espadachín de todo los tiempos - Best swordsman of all time (Alice later says this about Kirito) 

Common phrases: 

• Ya veo - I see
• Hasta ahora - Until now
• Hermosa vista - Beautiful view
• Despierta, cariño - Wake up, darling
• ¿Quieres jugar? - Do you want to play? 
• Podrías hacerlo - You could do it
• Ya comenzó - It already started
• Vamos a ver - We'll see
• No era un tarea fácil - It was not an easy task
• Eso es todo por ahora - That's all for now
• Yo siempre vuelvo - I always come back 
• ¿Como te diste cuenta? - How did you realize?
• Entonces ire a dormir un poco - Then I'll go get some sleep 
• ¡Este es nuestro momento! - This is our moment!
• Por exemplo, como eso - For example, like this
• Asi es, soy yo - That's right, it's me (a more direct translation of the first half of this phrase would be "it is so") 
• Es un maldito imbécil - He's a damn imbecile (PoH calls Critter a variety of insults, including this one)

*All images are from Sword Art Online: War of Underworld, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: War of Underworld Spanish dub episodes 0-3 review

 Sword Art Online: War of Underworld 

Spanish dub episodes 0-3 review

    ¡Bienvenido! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime! This entry begins my review series for Sword Art Online's War of Underworld arc following the cliffhanger ending on the last episode of Alicization. 

    The first surprise to me was that the recap episode, which sums up the events of the Alicization arc from Asuna and Alice's point of view, was actually dubbed in Spanish when it hasn't even been dubbed in English. There's no new content here, but it is a nice reminder of the key plot points moving into the next arc.

"Este es el mundo que tu salvaste." ("This is the world that you saved.") - Alice

    The scenes set in Rulid village during the Alicization arc were some of my favorites to watch in Spanish, and the same is true for the opening episode of War of Underworld when Alice returns with Kirito, who never quite recovered from the events of the finale. The dialogue between Alice and Selka is perfect for anyone still learning the language because their casual conversations focused mainly on their everyday life in the village are very easy to follow, and Rulid itself is one of the most beautiful, iconic locations in the anime. 

    The events of the last six months are summed up during a brief flashback sequence, showing how Alice and Kirito came to have a home just outside the village border. Somehow, hearing the village elder tell his daughter to go away ("vete") sounded even more harsh in the Spanish dub than it did in English. Although it was only half a year since their brave stand against Administrator, Alice has spent several months around people who show indifference and cruelty towards her and Kirito, and now her bitter tone of voice has none of the same resolve as she remarks to the comatose Kirito that she doesn't understand why they fight to protect these people. ("No entiendo por que peleamos para proteger esta gente.") 

"Este pueblo será su tumba." ("This town will be your grave.") - Alice 

    After a short meeting with Eldrie, in which he gives an impassioned speech begging Alice to return for the coming war and she refuses on the basis that she no longer feels able to fight, her resolve is tested by an attack on the village. The knowledge that her sister is in danger and the sight of Kirito trying in vain to stand and protect Rulid moved Alice to vow that she will fight in his place. ("Yo pelearé en tu lugar.")

    Although many of the townspeople are reluctant to follow her direction at first, even going so far as to accuse her of being a witch ("una bruja"), Alice reveals at last that she is a knight and protects the village from a horde of invading goblins and orcs. Alice's threats are delivered with an inspiring strength of will that sends the (remaining) invaders running. One thing I've really enjoyed about using anime to supplement my Spanish study is learning cool lines like the one Alice says here. 

    It was heartwarming to see Alice's father begin to accept her again after the revelation that she's an Integrity Knight. His line during this scene, "Cuidate mucho, hija", which translates to "Be very careful, daughter", is much more personal and a notable difference from both the English and Japanese versions where he calls her "milday" or "lady knight".

    Back in the real world, as the assault team led by Gabriel infiltrates the Ocean Turtle, Asuna and the Rath team have retreated to the sub control room. Asuna's voice actress did very well portraying her sudden shift in emotions as she went from fiercely interrogating Kikuoka to feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by the situation. 

    Higa's dialogue when he explains the decision making process that has been damaged in Kirito's mind is mostly easy to follow even with an intermediate grasp of the Spanish language because he uses a very simple concept to illustrate his point to Rinko - deciding whether or not to have an extra serving at her favorite restaurant. Interestingly, the food in question is called "beef bowl" in the original, and in the Spanish dub, it's translated as "arroz con carne" (literally, "rice with meat") - which seems to be a specific variation of the dish.

     Meanwhile, the assault team in the main control room is busy preparing for their next move, which involves Gabriel and PoH entering the Underworld as Emperor Vector (the super account of the "lost children of Vector" myth) and a high level dark knight. The bickering between PoH and Critter, the team's hacker, is just as much fun to watch in the Spanish dub. PoH's nickname for Critter translates literally into Spanish ("cuatro ojos" = "four eyes"), and many of his remarks are very close to the original lines, such as "Atrévete a repetirlo" when he's daring Critter to repeat himself and "Solo quería darle una lección a este gusano." ("I just wanted to teach this worm a lesson.")    

    A few lines of dialogue were actually spoken in English, just like in the original Japanese version, such as Critter's "Yes, boss" and Gabriel saying "Your soul will be so sweet" in Sinon's flashback to the Gun Gale Online tournament. However, at the end of episode 3's opening scene, Gabriel is speaking in Spanish when he says he hopes Alice's soul will be delicious.  

This adorable proposal is interrupted by the arrival of Gabriel and PoH in the Underworld! 

    Just before Gabriel and PoH log in, we're introduced to two new characters in the Dark Territory - Shasta, leader of the Dark Knights, and his second in command Lipia. Their discussion shows that the Dark Territory is only now becoming aware of Administrator's death at the end of Alicization, and Shasta plans to use this opportunity to initiate peace talks with Bercouli (whom he refers to as "el viejo Bercouli" or "the old (man) Bercouli"), though Lipia objects to the dangerous idea of taking down the leader of the Dark Mages first claiming that it's madness ("es una locura"). Then Shasta completely stuns her with a surprise marriage proposal.

    Shasta's proposal to Lipia - "¿Te gustaria casarte conmigo?" ("Would you like to marry me?") - sounds even more romantic in the Spanish translation when compared to the original Japanese line ("Isn't it about time you officially became my wife?") and the English dub version ("make it official and become husband and wife"), but his tone of voice still gives the same impression that he's uncertain about her answer. Shasta's dialogue sounds more romantic in general, with him even calling Lipia "love" when he asks her how many years they've been together. ("¿Hace cuántos años que estamos juntos, amor?")

    Now that all of the major players are entering the Underworld (or preparing to), the war this arc was named for is about to begin. Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will continue my weekly reviews for the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Moderate/Intermediate

Key phrases:

• ALO - the abbreviation for ALfheim Online is read as a single word (which sounds like "ah-lo") rather than pronouncing individual letters, the same as SAO 
• Alma humana - Human soul (look, it's Gabriel's favorite phrase)
• El jefe de la guardia - The head of the guard
• La sala principal - The main room (control room taken over by Gabriel's team during the raid)
• Caballero oscuro - Dark knight (PoH's avatar, as well as the faction of knights in the Dark Territory led by Shasta) 
• Las artes oscuras - The dark arts (used in reference to the dark mages) 

Common phrases: 

• Come - Eat
• ¡Basta! - Enough! / Stop!
• Toma asiento - Take a seat
• Estoy de acuerdo - I agree
• Hace mucho frío - It's very cold
• Eso lo entiendo - I understand that
• ¿Estás cansado? - Are you tired?
• ¿Te gustaría ir? - Would you like to go?
• Qué hermoso lugar - What a beautiful place
• ¡Eso es tan emocionante! - That's so exciting!
• Entonces a trabajar - Then (get) to work 
• Esto es tu culpa - This is your fault
• Es demasiado peligroso - It's too dangerous
• ¿Oye, dónde estan todos? - Hey, where is everyone? 
• No tenemos tiempo ahora para eso - We don't have time for that now
• No hay tiempo para explicaciones - There is no time for explanations
• Necesitamos resultados, no excusas - We need results, not excuses
• ¿Qué está aquí? ¿Cómo me encontraste? - What are you doing here? How did you find me?
• ¡Atención todo el mundo! - Attention, everyone! (Literally, "Attention, all the world!") 
• Ya me encargo - the literal translation is "I'm already in charge", but it's more commonly used to mean "I'll take care of it/I've got this" 

*All images from Sword Art Online: War of Underworld, screenshots taken by me

Sword Art Online: Alicization Spanish dub episodes 22-24 review (finale)

 Sword Art Online: Alicization

Spanish dub episodes 22-24 (finale)

    ¡Bienvenido y Feliz Año Nuevo! Welcome back to Learning Spanish With Anime, and Happy New Year! This is the final batch of Alicization episodes before War of Underworld, and it's been a lot of fun rewatching my favorite series again in my second language. 

   The battle against Chudelkin that served as a cliffhanger at the end of the previous episode came to a swift end shortly after this one began in a beautiful show of special effects, but the main focus of the episode is a confrontation with Administrator. Alice's voice actress excells in scenes of raw emotion like this, and Kirito's cool and clever dialogue provided a good balance. However, Administrator realizes the truth about Kirito as well and makes an accusation of her own - "Eres un humano del mundo exterior." ("You are a human from the outside world.")

    Kirito tried to reason with her, warning her about all of the things that would be lost if the Dark Territory's invasion is successful due to her own arrogance - "Las montañas. Los rios. Los pueblos. Las ciudades. Todas las personas incluyéndote." ("The mountains. The rivers. The villages. The cities. All people including you.") Instead, Administrator reveals a creation of her own intended for this very purpose, The Sword Titan. Kirito recognizes it for what it is, an automated weapon ("un arma automatizada"), but Eugeo is the first to realize it's connection to the fragments of memory embedded in the ceiling of the cathedral. Administrator boasts that it's a machine of death and destruction ("una máquina de muerte y destrucción"), and when it proves too much to handle, Cardinal steps in to protect them.

      Administrator takes pleasure in the fact that Cardinal can't fight the Sword Titan due to the presence of its human soul, and her mocking tone and maniacal laugh fit her personality so well. Her VA really showed the depths of her character in this scene as Administrator acted amused by their struggle, like a game of cat and mouse, until finally losing her cool when she realized she might be in danger. Likewise, Cardinal's outrage upon hearing Administrator's plan and the sense of helplessness that followed displayed a good range of emotion for a character who is usually shown to be calm and collected. All of the voice actors in SAO so far seem to have great chemistry and play off of each other's performances nicely. 
    However, for anyone still learning the language, the detailed explanations related to the Sword Titan, fluctlights and the system itself during episodes 22 and 23 can be a lot to take in. Administrator and Cardinal's rapid fire dialogue moves from one big reveal to the next in record time, and may require multiple viewings to catch all of the important information.  

"¡Tus rayos no tienen efecto sobre mi!" ("Your lightning has no effect on me!") - Alice holding the line during Eugeo's transformation

    Through the same technique Administrator used to create the Sword Titan, Eugeo asks Cardinal to fuse him with the Blue Rose sword before she dies so that he can fight back. The drastic shift in Administrator's voice and speech when she realized she's in trouble is a good indication of her mental state, and her VA did a great job shifting from her former pompous attitude to her desperate shrieks of, "¡Te voy a matar!" ("I'm going to kill you!")

    Although Eugeo managed to wound Administrator, the grave injuries that he suffered shocked Kirito to his core. He sounds absolutely heartbroken in this scene when he tries in vain to heal Eugeo with sacred arts and cries out, "Por favor, funciona!" ("Please, work!") It was especially emotional when he said "Eres mi mejor amigo! Eres mi hermano!" ("You're my best friend! You're my brother!") because this line is different from both the English and Japanese dialogue - here, Kirito calls him "brother". 

"Ahora, salvemos a Alice juntos." ("Now, let's save Alice together.") - Eugeo

    This is one of the things I love about the Spanish dub. Kirito and Eugeo always say they're best friends in the English and Japanese versions, and in the Spanish dub as well, but hearing them call each other "brother" adds even more depth to their relationship and really drives home the reason why Kirito was so devastated by this loss. Eugeo was more than just a friend; he was like family, the only one Kirito had during his two years in the Underworld. 

    When Eugeo says goodbye to Kirito, he uses the phrase, "Hasta siempre, hermano" - also calling him "brother". Literally, the words "hasta siempre" translate to "until always", but the meaning behind it implies a farewell that is likely permanent (or at least implies a very long time apart). It pairs really well with the "stay cool" phrase Kirito taught to Eugeo, which he uses again here, and the way Kirito explained it's not used as a casual goodbye. 

    Kirito, snapped out of his shocked state by Alice jumping between him and Administrator to protect him and Eugeo's encouragement, proceeds to battle the ruler of the Underworld and wins, but not without taking significant damage himself. After a heartfelt goodbye, Eugeo and the memory of young Alice depart while reassuring Kirito, "Estaremos contigo para siempre." ("We will be with you forever.")

    Now that the battle is over, Kirito examines the control panel summoned by Administrator and establishes a link to the real world at last. However, he finds out that not all is well for the Rath team on the other side...

Two familiar faces from the GGO scene in the first episode - PoH (left) and Gabriel (right)

    A brief shift back to the real world gives us a glimpse of the assault team attacking the Ocean Turtle, along with the two main antagonists of the following War of Underworld arc. PoH's relaxed, confident tone of voice even as the sounds of gunfire ring out in the background fits the leader of Laughing Coffin very well. I loved the translation of his line for the Spanish dub - "Sí, yo lo se, bro. No es mi primera vez." ("Yeah, I know, bro. It's not my first time.") When compared to the lines used in the English dub ("I know what to cut") and the original Japanese version ("I wouldn't mess up like that"), all three are great and portray the same kind of cool confidence, but the fact that he basically brags about having experience with breaking and entering in the Spanish dub adds an interesting layer to their dialogue. Ultimately, their actions in the real world result in a power surge which causes Kirito to fall unconscious.

    This concludes Sword Art Online: Alicization's Spanish dub. Check out my translation guide below for common and key phrases from this episode, and stay tuned for my next blog post, which will begin weekly reviews for the War of Underworld arc. ¡Hasta luego! 

Voice Acting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Translated Script: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended Proficiency: Intermediate/Advanced

Key phrases:

• El titán de la espada - The Sword Titan
• El fin del mundo - World's End (the place where Kikuoka tells Kirito to go with Alice, same name meaning as in English)
• Llamada al sistema. Remover protección del núcleo - System call. Remove core protection (this command is used before the synthesis ritual and before Eugeo's transformation)
• La técnica de cuatro golpes - The four strike technique (description given for multi-hit sword skills; number depends on the technique)

Common phrases: 

• Descansa - Rest
• ¿Esto es para mi? - This is for me? 
• Es mi oportunidad - It's my opportunity
• Entonces, vamos a pelear - Then let's fight
• Por fin termino - Finally finished
• O mejor dicho - Or rather/Or better said
• No te atrevas - Don't you dare
• Por supuesto que lo sabía - Of course he knew
• ¿Ahora lo entiendes? - Do you understand now?
• Levántate una vez más - Get up one more time 
• No importa las veces que cayas - It doesn't matter how many times you fall
• Dime, ¿quién es esta persona? - Tell me, who is this person?
• ¿Cómo puede ser tan insensible? - How can you be so insensitive?
• No puedo matar un humano - I can't kill a human
• ¿Eso es todo lo que tienes? - Is that all you have?
• ¿Qué crees que estás haciendo? - What do you think you're doing?

*All images from Sword Art Online: Alicization, screenshots taken by me