Ascalon Scans: An Overview of a Manga Translation Overdrive

Ascalon Scans is a well known name among lovers of manga as it is efficiently translating these Japanese graphic novels into English, helping non-Japanese readers enjoy these comics.

In this EliveStory blog post I’ll tell you how this team of translators is helping the manga industry gain rapid international growth.

What is Ascalon Scans

Manga are graphic novels originating in Japan. It has also Chinese and Korean counterparts, namely Manhua and Manhwa respectively.

These comics are rapidly gaining popularity among lovers of such entertainment among people with English as the first or second language all over the world.

One reason for this growth is that some people are carefully translating manga into English. 

Ascalon Scans is such a team of translators committed to providing  the world with high-quality English versions of manga.

Ascalon Scans: The Team

This group is a clique of some close-knit and dedicated manga enthusiasts. The members of this group don’t talk much about themselves and seemingly want to keep low profiles.

As a result, not much is known about the individual members of this team of manga translators. 

Until they come out in the open and reveal themselves, we can only discuss their work and critically appreciate it. 

Ascalon Scans: Significance of the Name

St George, a venerated name in Christian mythology, is said to have killed a dragon with a lance. The name of that lance is Ascalon. 

This name represents the virtue of bravery, courage and dedication.

This team of translators probably named their group Ascalon to signify their dedication and diligence to make manga popular among non-Japanese lovers of comics and graphic novels.

Ascalon Scans: A Symbol of Adamant Dedication

The work this team is doing is no easy job, considering the complicated features of manga. 

We will now discuss some key features of manga to understand what a tough job these guys are pulling.

Complicated Reading Format

Manga is read from right to left whereas English script is read left to right. This is a grave problem for non-Japanese manga enthusiasts.

So Ascalon Scans members will have to translate these graphic novels so they attract and not dissuade people habituated to reading English comics from reading manga.

Lengthy and Complicated Publication Methods

Manga is usually published as long series in manga magazines. If they are hit, then they are collected and compiled into volumes.

It is difficult to keep tabs on the continuity of events in manga if one doesn’t carefully follow the chronological development of each story.

So a translator of manga will have to be always alert and efficient to maintain the complicated plot development chronology of manga series.

Inappropriate Content and Themes

Some manga contain themes and content that depict violence and other themes in graphic details that some western readers may find objectionable.

So Ascalon Scans guys must be doubly cautious to make sure their work doesn’t hurt or shock readers who are not accustomed to enjoying these comics.

Problem of Limited Text Scope

Manga relied on visuals more than texts. A translator may find it difficult to align the text with the visuals as he will have to tell a lot in as few words as possible.

Black and White Tradition

Manga are published in black and white, barring only a few special occasions. 

People who are used to enjoying colourful English comics, may not like this black and white manga style. 

So a translator will have to translate Japanese texts into English so well that English readers will not be dissuaded from enjoying manga.

Overwhelming Quantity

According to a study, 21.8 million manga volumes were published in 2023. This overwhelming output may be problematic for readers to select which manga to read from millions of publications.

This is a tough responsibility for Ascalon Scans to translate only those manga that have the potential of satisfying people habituated to reading English comics.

Conclusion

Ascalon Scans is a group of manga enthusiasts who are efficiently translating Japanese manga into English.

Their hard work and efficiency are helping people, not habituated to reading manga, enjoy this special kind of comics and graphic novels.

One can truly understand their dedication if they consider the difficulties in translating manga like dealing with unusual reading format, overwhelming quantity and too much reliance on visuals.

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