Nintendo is renaming Pikachu in China

[BurningDesire]

Pikachu was originally translated as 比卡超 (Bei-kaa-chyu) in Hong Kong. Now it is named 皮卡丘 (Pikaqiu). While the name 皮卡丘 in Mandarin sounds similar to the global name Pikachu (as it was always called in China and Taiwan), it reads as Pei-kaa-jau in Cantonese, which doesn’t sound the same at all.

On Monday (May 30) morning, dozens of Hong Kong protesters marched to the Japanese Consulate in Central, demanding Nintendo adopt a different Cantonese translation for the new Pokémon video game in Hong Kong.

Source

 

[migles]

why it needed a renaming?

 

[BurningDesire]

why it needed a renaming?

I think what happened is they tried to make it sound like Pikachu but then failed.

 

[Pacheko17]

I think what happened is they tried to make it sound like Pikachu but then failed.

And hong kongers really don't like it when you do things in Mandarin.

 

[BurningDesire]

And hong kongers really don't like it when you do things in Mandarin.

I did not know that! The more you know

 

[Flame]

its still Pikachu ...


I thought it was going to be named to "LookAtMe"

 

[Pacheko17]

its still Pikachu ...


I thought it was going to be named to "LookAtMe"

You english speaks with your silly Pikachu jokes xD
You have to get into Portuguese, where "Pika" means dick.

 

[Flame]

You english speaks with your silly Pikachu jokes xD
You have to get into Portuguese, where "Pika" means dick.

and please let "achu" mean butt.

 

[Pacheko17]

and please let "achu" mean butt.

Unfortunately it means nothing :/

 

[Minox]

I only ask myself - do they really have nothing better to do?

 

[Sliter]

why it needed a renaming?

well why did US version renamed over 500 pokemon (and human characters that is worse ) to start with? XD

well now they are getting an offcial version but if is what the fans want ...

I would be really sad if an offcial portuguese version follow what "we are used" here in Brazil...
to start with the anime version never cared to proniciante Pikachu right ... I can't explain the sound but it's like "pikashoo" not "pikatyuu"
Also the other over nine tosuand pokemon, or siglith adapted of the english version (magicarp -> magicarpa Bulbasaur> bulbassauro... wtf is a "bulba" in portuguese? sound Like "vulva" and... don't search it if you are under 18 :v) or the english name with portuguese pronunciation if we can read it, like charmander is just reading , "squirtle", "jigglypuff" is smilar to english because it sound terrible if just "read"
Also people that don't watch the anime and play, say the names on the mostly variety of forms lololo(Not counting a LOT of other problens xp pokemon here is a stupid mess lol)
and the otaku like me that rather the original name xD (I'm just against people name changing... pokemon are a interesting stuff, it's bad that italian and spanish do for humans but not for the pokes :v)
But for a Brazilain official version I would rather having new names for the pokemon and original/Japanese for the humans , I don't care that e are 20 years used to shit, a well made work value more than bad made stuff just because we are used...and if someone want the englsh names, play the english version, right?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Unfortunately it means nothing :/

Talking about pokemon and translation... XD

 

[migles]

well why did US version renamed over 500 pokemon (and human characters that is worse ) to start with? XD

but this is another situation..
pikachu is around for 25 years IIRC
renaming stuff for release in other countries is a totally normal procedure.. but thinking to renaming something that is already known for 25 years, i mean.. why they didn't bothered to do it earlier? what did changed to think now it's a bigger problem than 25 years ago?

 

[Sakitoshi]

but this is another situation..
pikachu is around for 25 years IIRC
renaming stuff for release in other countries is a totally normal procedure.. but thinking to renaming something that is already known for 25 years, i mean.. why they didn't bothered to do it earlier? what did changed to think now it's a bigger problem than 25 years ago?

They changed Pluto from being a planet to a dwarf planet, nobody complained.
Name changes for flora and fauna have also occurred in the past when necessary.

Seeing as Pokemon studies are treated as in real life I don't see the problem about a name change.

 

[azublazer]

Lol, protesters over a fictional video game/cartoon character's name? Shit like that would never go down in 'Murica.

Edit: I take it back. I bet bronies would flip their lids if they wanted to change a MLP character's name.

 

[Sliter]

They changed Pluto from being a planet to a dwarf planet, nobody complained.

well there are complains ... I remeber that lol but mostly memes

Name changes for flora and fauna have also occurred in the past when necessary.

Seeing as Pokemon studies are treated as in real life I don't see the problem about a name change.

this is not the same thing or reason to change Satoshi to Ash or worse, Sakura to SAYO (yes changing the japanese name form a we-can-tell-it's-not-a-japanese to ANOTHER FKNG JAPANESE NAME ) and the others "kimono girls "
Come on, Mickey mouse is Mickey all around the world, ok Pikachu too, but why to change person name? pokemon are like fauna stuff so it's nice to have different names per country but the people? Everybody know the stuff come from japan, so why care to change? talking that " Kids would like/can be able to talk" is like saying the children are all dummies because they can name all Naruto and Avatar (ok it's murika, but chinese names, come on) character without problems lol

Anyway about the getting official version I think It's valid in taiwan, like I told it should be here when we get an official version...

Lol, protesters over a fictional video game/cartoon character's name? Shit like that would never go down in 'Murica.

Edit: I take it back. I bet bronies would flip their lids if they wanted to change a MLP character's name.

nah a lot ofpeople compained about 4Kids works, and mostly anime but yeah there are two kind of people, that have mostly fun playing the way they can, don't mind about general changes if the gameplay is good, and the others that are more there for the history and want stuff close as he original possible or at least some good localziation work, not something just pretending it's not made in japan xD

 

[GreenStone99]

and please let "achu" mean butt.

chu means butt in Japanese iirc

 

[Sakitoshi]

@Sliter
I was only talking about the Pokemons. But yeah, I also dislike name changes for characters.
My name is Jorge but not because I go to an English talking country my name is now George, I'm still Jorge.

 

[Sliter]

@Sliter
I was only talking about the Pokemons. But yeah, I also dislike name changes for characters.
My name is Jorge but not because I go to an English talking country my name is now George, I'm still Jorge.

on english clases I've got the techer made us sure that name don't change withthe language xD Sadly USA localizator don't agree it lol

 

[Sonansune]

First thing I have to say...
I don't think there exist a game with display language in Cantonese.

I think Cantonese is more likely a spoken language, even it has a much longer history than mandarin.(correct me if I'm wrong.)

Let's say Naruto Shipudden and other games that have T-Chinese, NONE of them are using Cantonese as it display language.
Audiences group is too small.


Like most Computer or smartphone OS: S-Chinese(mainland); T-Chinese(TW); T-Chinese(HK) This is the perfect solution.

 

[keven3477]

I may not be correct but I heard Pikachu translate to something about the devil or something in some countries, maybe that maybe the reason for the protest.