[Eila] Brave Witches (720p TV Batch)

This is a collection of translator's notes and other observations. Enjoy.

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GENERAL STUFF

Keeping with Underwater's releases of Strike Witches, Strike Witches 2, and Strike Witches The Movie, in all places I have used "Fuso" instead of "Fusou", and "Hive" instead of "Nest".

I decided to leave seiza untranslated. Seiza (literally "proper sitting") or "kneeling" is both a formal way of sitting in Japan and is a notorious punishment for the 502nd JFW. Go check out the "Seiza Story" [http://strikewitches.wikia.com/wiki/Seiza_Story_Translation] for more info.

Crunchyroll, Underwater, and the Strike Witches Wiki all use different conventions for translating military ranks; Crunchy uses Royal Navy and starting in this episode Royal Air Force ranks (Lt. Commander Sakamoto), Underwater used a mix of US Army and Navy ranks (Major Sakamoto), and the Wiki uses Royal Air Force ranks (Squadron Leader Sakamoto). Technically these are all fine, but I wanted to go a bit further and match the rank with the branch of the military they were in beforehand: i.e. Waltrud and Takami are both 中尉, but Waltrud being Karlsland Air Force gets translated as "Flying Officer" and Takami being Fuso Navy gets translated as "Lieutenant" (technically Lieutenant (junior grade)).

For the 502nd, it ended up like this (barring any promotions in rank):
Rall (Air Force) - 少佐 - Squadron Leader
Sasha (Army) - 大尉 - Captain
Waltrud (Air Force) - 中尉 - Flying Officer
Takami (Navy) - 中尉 - Lieutenant
Jose (Air Force) - 少尉 - Pilot Officer
Naoe (Navy) - 少尉 - Ensign
Sadako (Navy) - 少尉 - Ensign
Rossman (Air Force) - 曹長 - Flight Sergeant
Nipa (Air Force) - 曹長 - Flight Sergeant
Hikari (Navy) - 軍曹 - Petty Officer

The ED (LITTLE WING ~Spirit of LINDBERG~) is from the 90's J-Pop band Lindberg. Here's a clip of them [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTMz6d7XJxM].

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EPISODE 1
SASEBO'S MAGICAL GIRL?

The original (CR's) title was "The Witch of Sasebo?" The current title uses "Magical Girl" instead of "Witch" as a more direct tranlsation and as an allusion to the first episode of Strike Witches (Underwater translated as "Magical Girl").

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EPISODE 2
TAKE FLIGHT, CHIDORI!

The banner at 2:54 could be better translated as "Good Luck on the Battlefield" or "Continued Luck in Battle", but I found "Good Luck at War" kind of funny, so I used that. The phrase on the banner (久長運武祈, except read right-to-left nowadays) can actually be found on some Japanese flags dating back to WW2 that were types of good-luck charms, typically signed by family, friends, neighbours, and given to those heading off to fight.

There are two Russian newspaper articles featured. Both were translated anonymously (not by me). The first at 3:52 was translated as (cutoffs are due to the paper being halfway off screen):

"Gallia will officially sta-
Due to the liberation of Gallia by the 501st Joint Fight-
countless self-proclaimed Gallian governments in diff-
Gallia will establish a united government. Officia-
will most certainly be a step to Gallia's rebirth. We have a-
country under prolonged Neuroi assault, formalit-
emigrated, a lack of provisions and materials
Thus, a government is required in every sense
Hopefully, all interested states lay aside their differences for the time being for the sake of the rebirth of this country."

The second at 3:59 was translated (and then edited) as:

"501st JFW Liberates Gallia
In September 1944 we have made a step of hope forward
The 501st Joint Fighter Wing, "Strike Witches,"
which operated out of Britain, has played an active role
in destroying the Neuroi hive controlling Gallia.
Gallia is back in the hands of humanity."

Neither translation made it in to the final episode, but here is a screenshot of the second newspaper translation [http://i.imgur.com/kOH2Acv.png].

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EPISODE 3
THE 502nd JOINT FIGHTER WING

Blade Burst sounds cooler than Shining Sword, but don't tell CTSHiryuu I said that.

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EPISODE 4
IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT, BE STRONG!

The title is the Brave Witches' motto [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loEMf7G2y78&t=1m32s].

There's a bit of background dialogue left untranslated in Crunchy's release during the first meal scene. Jose asks Sadako what zakuski is and Sadako responds by saying "ざく好きなの、取っている" basically "We're having this because I like vegetables (zaku suki)." I thought that having it like that would convey the literal meaning but not the pun (at least not without a t/l note in the scene), so I translated it as it appears in the episode, zaku meaning vegetables.

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EPISODE 5
DEADLY BATTLE IN THE FREEZING COLD

Sadako says that she's from "The Aki Province" then corrects herself to say that she's from "Onomichi, in Hiroshima". Hiroshima was originally named the Aki Province until 1871.

Here's a list of Kanno's books:
A Study on the Appearance of the Heart (心の姿の研究) by Takuboku Ishikawa(?)
Sad Toys (悲しき玩具) by Takuboku Ishikawa
A Handful of Sand (一握の砂) by Takuboku Ishikawa
The Cherry Orchard (櫻の園) by Anton Chekhov
The Seagull (かもめ) by Anton Chekhov
Flower Fables (花のおとぎ話) by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women (若草物語) by Louisa May Alcott

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EPISODE 6
GOOD LUCK

I've been told the word "Circus" is misspelled in Russian on the eyecatch.

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EPISODE 7
ON A HOLY NIGHT

Saturnalia (Saturnus) was a Roman holiday which occured from the 17th to the 23rd of December which honored Saturn and was marked by feasting, partying, and gift-giving. Technically the original translation of "Saturnus" isn't wrong just based on the fact that this is a 100% made-up holiday in the World Witches universe, but I felt like translating it as Saturnalia would give it more flavor.

And, in the same vein there's Grandfather Frost (Grandpa Winter) and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden (the Snow Girl). These two are Russian/Slavic characters which bring gifts to children on New Year's Eve.

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EPISODE 8
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, GRAPE JUICE

The original (CR's) title was "Grape Juice for Your Eyes", which is a direct translation of the Japanese text. After some research I found the Japanese title for this episode (君の瞳にぶどうジュース) seemed to be a play on the famous line from the 1942 movie Casablanca "Here's looking at you, kid" (JP: 君の瞳に乾杯). The line is even referenced by Krupinski in the episode (she tries to remember the last few words of the saying in order to use it when she meets the Britannian Witch).

When Krupinski is telling Hikari about the Liberator, Hikari mentions that it's like Hama Ya, an "Evil-Destroying Arrow" which also acts as a good-luck charm.

At 3:33 those are macarons, not macaroons.

The Britannian Witch is never named.

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EPISODE 9
BREAK WITCHES

The new translator note that appears at 24 seconds was in the original release (albiet commented out). I uncommented it this time around because it made me laugh.

The sign at 9:02 says something to the effect of "Sickroom".

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EPISODE 10
BIG SISTER AND LITTLE SISTER

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EPISODE 11
WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE TRY

At around 52 seconds in, when Hikari thanks Chidori for everything, it's Takami's arm (white outfit). This shot is reused at 4:48 when Takami comments on Chidori's scratches.

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EPISODE 12
SHINING WITH LIGHT...

The title could also be translated as something along the lines of "Hikari Shines" due to the fact that Hikari is both a given name and the word for "light" in Japanese.

There is an additional video, audio, and subtitle track for this episode which include the Episode 13 teaser and the final Humikane eyecatch artwork.

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EPISODE 13
THE GRAND PETERSBURG STRATEGY

Nation-wide screening event happens May 13th. BD release August 25th.