The long and sordid history of subbing Mellowlink
First, misc. updates: Translator for Jecy 5 busy with some deadline, so that may be delayed. I’m about to begin work on Mospeada – Live Love Alive as a favor for the translator. Now, Mellowlink.
Long ago there was a fansubbing group called Arctic Animation. They were largely pariahs in the fansubbing world for two reasons: 1) translation on the level of “mass naked child events,” and 2) they sold their tapes for profit. But they were the first to subtitle part of Mellowlink.
We managed to get an Nth generation copy of Mellowlink 1-4, fairly poor condition, and we really liked it. So, my partner decided to make it one of his projects. After a bit of searching he managed to obtain the LD boxset, and we began working on it. He actually managed to subtitle all 12 episodes, but unfortunately we never released 9-12, because at the time we were both really slowing down, and our distribution network kinda went under and at the end of college I just didn’t have the time or energy to invest into in any more. I’m really sorry about that, everyone.
Now, I stopped paying attention to the fansubbing world for quite a few years, but I did get word that others had worked on the series after us – and that’s good. It seems it was at least partially subbed by Anime Classic, and completely subtitled by /m/-subs. I’ve heard that both versions have problems. I know the existing video rips used by both groups look terrible – I’ve looked. I’ve heard the scripts of the /m/-subs version are incomplete. They appear to have used our translation of the ending theme, which I must say I was always suspicious of the accuracy of.
My partner never gave me his Mellowlink scripts – they may or may not be sitting on the hard drive of his Commodore Amiga, which may or may not even still be functioning. I have not had contact with him in many years. But I have the /m/sub scripts for Mellowlink 1-12, and I’ve been asked about re-subbing the series yet again. There would certainly be a certain justice to that. I would prefer to move forward and work on previously unsubbed titles. But I’m not totally against the idea.
First, I would need new rips – no problem, at this point I also own the Mellowlink boxset. I know the series has since been reissued on R2 DVD, but it is my understanding the DVD version is just a dump of the LDs due to the accidental destruction of the original masters. At some point I will do that, if nothing else, but right now I haven’t even finished recapturing Hi-Speed Jecy.
As to the scripts – if they are incomplete, I’d like to correct that situation. I’d certainly need to have the ending theme looked at (good news – the LD boxset actually comes with two CD soundtracks complete with printed lyrics). In short, I’d like to be handed scripts that I can just run off and not have to think too deeply about. Or someone else can take my new rips and do the same. If the scripts were being actively worked on today, I might step up the timetable for the capture and cleanup of Mellowlink episodes. These are all merely possibilities – at this point I promise nothing.
One Response to “The long and sordid history of subbing Mellowlink”
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i love merr/llowlink
the r2j dvds (released at least twice) are def not up to snuff compared to other r2j dvds, and i have heard the rumour that the LD masters were used due to lost/destroyed telecine masters, but who knows the veracity of such things. it may have been a budgetary decision for a side project of a fan show that won’t sell oodles, and even the really high cost of the dvds still didn’t offset enough to make it worth it to them.
I had hopes the reissued set would be remastered, but it wasn’t.
anyhow, complete translation would be great, especially since the subs by AC was only 1-6. I really loved this series, and only wish all the dougram and votoms stuff were more popular (both in jpn and the us).