Fan translation, also called user-generated translation, is when fans create unofficial translations of books, movies, or other media. These translations are usually done in languages where official translations are not yet available. Fans who do this work are not trained translators, but they volunteer because they are interested in certain types of TV shows, movies, or other media.

Media

Notable areas of fan translation include:

• Fansubbing – This is when fans add subtitles to movies, TV shows, video games, and other visual media. For many languages, the most popular fansubs are of American movies and TV shows. Fansubs into English and Hindi often focus on entertainment from East Asia, such as anime and tokusatsu (a type of Japanese action show).

• Fan translation of video games – This practice became common in the late 1990s with the rise of video game emulation. Most fan translations focus on older games. These translations are usually shared as unofficial updates that change the original game’s computer code. Vazquez-Calvo (2018) explains how the process of translating, sharing, and distributing fan translations can help people learn languages. Some fan groups use crowd translation, where many people work together on a project. These translations are sometimes made with the permission of game developers, who promise to release the translated games as playable versions. While professional translators are often needed, companies may not always have the money for large-scale translations. Some fans prefer to play games in their native language, even if they understand other languages. For example, a group of Catalan gamers translated games from English to Catalan with developers’ permission. These fans know multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Aranese (a language related to Occitan, spoken in Catalonia), and Catalan. Their work supports their language community and creates opportunities for language learning through cultural exchange.

• Scanlation – This involves translating comics, especially manga, short stories, and sometimes full novels. Fans scan the original comic pages, turn them into digital images, and translate the text in those images. The translated versions are usually shared online as digital files. Some groups only share the translated text, requiring readers to own the original version of the work.

• Fandubbing – This is when fans replace the original audio in movies, TV shows, video games, or other media with a new version. The new audio might be a direct translation of the original soundtrack or a completely new version, often for humorous purposes like parodies or shortened versions of the original work.

History

Fan translations of movies and TV shows, especially anime subtitles, began in the 1980s. O'Hagan (2009) says that fansubbing started as a way to protest against "official versions of anime that were often changed too much and shown in dubbed form on TV outside Japan." Fans wanted more accurate translations that could be made faster.

At first, fansubbing and fandubbing used VHS tapes, which took a lot of time and money. The first fansub made in the United States was of the anime Lupin III, created in the mid-1980s. It took about 100 hours to subtitle each episode.

Influence

As cultural industries grow, new technologies, and online platforms become more common, more people are translating content for fun. This has led to more groups of people who volunteer to translate, and the types of content being translated have increased. People who enjoy movies, games, and other media benefit because they can learn about other cultures directly. Entertainment and other cultural industries also gain from this, as their work reaches people around the world, leading to greater understanding between cultures.

Some people worry that fan translations might harm the work of professional translators. However, fan translation groups are based on sharing, volunteering, and a do-it-yourself attitude. Most importantly, they are driven by a love for the same interests. Professional translators need a lot of experience and knowledge, which is different from fan translators. Fan translation isn't a threat. It helps fan translators gain experience and prepares them for future work. It also helps professionals by providing examples they can use.

Now, fan translations include more than just movies and games. They also translate educational materials, speeches, and news, giving them new importance beyond just entertainment. As Henry Jenkins says, "popular culture might be helping create a more meaningful public culture." Because of the internet, fan translation is now part of society, not just personal hobbies. So, it's clear that fan translation is a trend that's here to stay.

Problems concerning copyright and censorship

Fan translations may be close to breaking copyright laws because fans often translate movies, video games, comics, and other works without asking for permission from the copyright owners. Studies show that fans do this because they enjoy the works they translate and want to help others access them. Some copyright owners allow fan translations because they can help more people learn about their products. However, many rights holders also warn or stop people who create fan translations. In 2007, a teenager in France was arrested for sharing a French version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In 2013, Swedish police removed a website that offered fan-made subtitles for others to download. Releasing subtitles without the original copyrighted work usually does not break copyright laws, but sharing the actual copyrighted material, such as in scanlations, does break the law. Japanese copyright holders and publishers often remove fan translations, considering them illegal copies of their works.