Lines from the dubās script for Deku vs Kacchan 2
Since Crunchyrollās subs had several translation errors, I was interested in seeing for myself how much better Funimation would do for the dub. I went in and transcribed most of the notable lines for ref and/or comparisonās sake. (Not for the purpose of comparing the voice acting however.) Also included are some of my thoughts/impressions for particular word choices at the end. Ā
I always loved paying attention to little details. And I want to try and explain why exactly I trust Horikoshi as a writer so much by talking about one of my favorite moments in the whole manga and that is Katsukiās mysterious letter and hidden secrets within it!
So we all already know parts of what this letter contains but Iām gonna remind you. āTogetherā, āIf we couldā, āSharing secretsā, āsmileā, āuntil nowā, āfrom hereā, āthanks to youā, āHelp me Kacchanā (!) those are some of the things Iāve seen Japanese speakers translate. VERY intimate and emotional.
Anyway the part I wanna focus on is āhelp me Kacchanā. So as we also know, this is probably supposed to say āthanks for helping meā but the way the paper was cut, it only shows āhelp me Kacchanā.. which HAS to be intentional and this is what I think it means:
This part is SO IMPORTANT TO ME!!! Because who was the one who indeed came and saved Izuku in the moment where everything seemed hopeless? The one who didnāt give up until he had the whole UA on itās feet looking for Izuku? The one tearing up the letter in frustration?
Katsuki..who looks like an ANGEL in this panel.. probably prettier than EVER..and that just represents the way Izuku felt seeing him here. A beautiful angel coming to his rescue. Izukuās eyes coming back to life and lightening up when he sees Katsuki make this so beautiful.
And when Katsuki appears, little narration is shown at the bottom that says: āAt that moment.. HE was the one who came.ā The wording of this.. the emotion, the way Izuku looks at Katsuki here.. because āHe, who Izuku WANTED and HOPED FOR, was the one who came.ā And I think back to the āhelp me kacchanā from the letter which was absolutely intentional on Horikoshiās side and it makes me think..was this representing Izukuās inner desire.. ? That deep down Izuku was hoping Kacchan would come for him?? AND HE ACTUALLY DID??
I also want to note that Ochako did get the same straight to the point letter like everyone else! And itās so interesting that Horikoshi made sure we see hers specifically and parts of Katsukiās which is so much deeper and more personal and emotional.. This is Horikoshi telling us.. Sheās as important to him as his other classmates while Katsuki is on another level.
Itās things like these that make me have MAD trust in Hori and his writing. Along with chapter 348 which on the first glance seems even unnecessary.. Izuku comes just to be sent back. Nothing happened. Almost like a troll chapter. But then you dig deeper and realise how many layers you can peel off of that little interaction and what it means for so many characters. For Izuku, Toga, Ochako and..well.. for Katsuki. But Iāve already made an essays on this chapter so I wonāt get into it here. Hereās the link.
Because behind a seemingly useless chapter, a big turning point is hidden for all the characters that collided in that moment and those who were indirectly mentioned. Details matter.