Differences between Soul Eater Perfect Edition and Paperback Edition

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• 

  Removed5 years ago5

  ~~~ Chapter 1: Introduction and basic differences.

  Later posts will mostly be about important events or significant differences that REALLY stood out

  TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Sound effects

  ~!

  The English sound effects are emphasized, and often intergrated with the Japanese sound effect like here, sometimes replacing it when the japanese version doesn't have the same presence in the scene as it does here, but instead fills a more background-ish role, or simply takes up so little space there's no proper way to fit the English effect and Japanese one in there while still keeping the weight of the effect.

  The blacks are also blacker in this new version, so they really pop out, which is mostly a good thing, but some panels look better with a more greyscale colour scheme.
  The blacks are blacker and the grays a lighter gray.

  

  The old version had a romanji to tell you the japanese sound and then the English translation of that sound. "Don (Boom)"
  These don't seem to be intergrated into the scene very well, so Perfect Edition definitely wins here (If you're not really attached to Japanese sounds anyway, and I have to admit, they are cute, but what is gained is more than what is lost IMO.) !~

  Translation Differences

  ~!

  There's some translation differences, I especially like Soul's new way of talking, it's less offical, making him contrast with Maka more, he uses more abbriviations, and says "bangin' bod" instead of "nice body", he's way more of a cool guy (wannabe) which is exactly what he's supposed to be.

  !~

  Lettering
  ~!

  The lettering is less impressive in the Perfect Edition though, these lines are KIND OF small and scribbly,

  

  but these ones are breaking and inconsistent, making for a more pathetic feel to the scene.

  The names are also done differently, what was Shinigami-sama has turned into Lord Death in the Perfect edition, and Maka-chan has become "my darling Maka", ot just "Maka" making the Perfect edition feel more western !~

  ~!

  The most critical difference in this chapter (aside from stuff that's a throughline for the entire manga) was Maka's honest and girly moment, in the perfect Edition she has a somewhat standard lettering

  
  While in the old one she has a real shoujo lettering, showing how she opens up her more girly side to Soul because she likes and trusts him. !~

  Colour

  ~!
  The top one accurately shows the Perfect edition's colour while the bottom one shows the paperback colours.

  In this case I prefer the old version, the lesser difference in colour of the outfit makes it look sexier, and the more yellowish paper of he paperback does have a familiar feel to it.
  This is case by case though.
  The Perfect edition's paper also feels more smooth and has a bit more shinny-ness to it, which I'm cool with !~

  ~!

  Here I prefer the Perfect Edition, the old one uses a darker gray on Soul's obscured face.
  The dark makes it look more... condemning? Like Soul's putting on the act erfectly. While the lighter gray looks a bit more... mysterious, ambivalent, or sad to see Maka fall for his trick fully.
  I just... like it more, it's hard to pin down why.

  !~

  Blaire is a well-endowed cat

  NSFW

  ~!

  The new lettering for Blaire is kinda disappointing

  

  These old letters had some real shadow to them, they felt almost as well endowed as Blaire herself, which makes them so great.

  Also, note the "BOING" sound effect difference. ~~~ !~

  • 

    Removed5 years ago5

    I'd personally recommend the Perfect Edition over the Paperbacks just for the better sound effects alone, every action feels more natural and rightly paced seeing the English immediatly and in clear view, instead of seeing the romanji and then the translation of the romanji, it gives a way better flow to everything that has sound effects, which is... a lot of stuff (comedy, movement, action).

• 

  Removed5 years ago4

  #~Chapter 2-6~

  ~~~New versions still on top

  Black☆Star calls Shinigami "boss-man" in the new translation, while he uses "sir" in the paperback.

  Death the Kid translation

  
  Death the Kid uses more sophisticated laguage, giving him more of the "rich kid"/"spoiled brat" vibe that people say he has
  

  General translation

  
  A lot of instances of the same word/verb being used quickly after each other are "corrected", two "going"'s are replaced by one "gonna" and one "telling". perconally this might bother me in a regular book, but in manga the lines are split up from each other so it doesn't really register as weird to me, but pretty fun to see that they actually did this.
  

  Lettering punchline difference
  
  The punchline/cuteness of this lands better with the "aha" being short and fast
  

  The Twins translation
  
  The Twins sound a bit more like the thugs they are, it's not there all the time, but it makes some appearances like this whereas the paperback had even less of them.
  

  Colour difference in action
  
  The colour of the perfect edition makes the throw a much clearer move, the outlines and colouring don't mix together as much making it clear what exactly is happening at a glance.
  But the older colours give Black☆Star's attack a lot more impact, since here there's a white and black contrast going on, and not a black and gray one.
  This major colour difference keeps on being situationally better or worse.
  

  ~~~

• 

  Removed5 years ago4

  ~Chapter 7-8~

  ~~~(end of basic differences)

  #TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Crona's speech pattern
  
  Crona has a more chaotic speech pattern in the paperback, this is something that the new version "fixes", yet it worked for the character perfectly as they are mentally unstable
  
  .
  
  the old version asks the same question multiple ways and sound confused and broken, while the new version sounds far more competent at talking normally
  
  -
  One of the first clear wins for the old translation on this one

  Ragnarok's colour
  On the left you see the paperback, a far darker Ragnarok that thus looks far more threatening and "Venom" like, one of the times the lighter grays work against the presentation/impact of the whole
  

  The feeling of motion
  ~!however, these lighter grays do wonders for the action
  
  the blur-lines feel like true movement by blending in with the background and the character more, and having less "solid mass", giving the action a lot more of a feeling of "true movement"
  

  
  I explained it poorly, but I hope you can see the difference
  !~

  Shinigami's/Lord Death's translation
  
  Death has a more casual and friendly speech pattern in the new translation, something very familiar to anime watchers, so I'd say the new one is more accurate to what was intended
  

  Fun little dumb thing
  
  did you think that attack's name was "Needle Bloody"
  I did, but
  
  ~~~

• 

  Removed5 years ago5

  ~Chapter 9-12~

  ~~~
  #TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Emotional response around Masamune
  Masamune, Tsubaki's brother, is given a speech patter more suited to his appearance of "born swordsman", one that also makes his presence more memorable, in the Perfect Edition
  
  .
  

  Both versions use the exact same line for their insult towards Tsubaki
  
  -
  
  Yet only the old translation uses the same phrasing again
  
  to create a greater impact/sense of correction, while the Perfect edition loses it by sticking to the "no same word twice in a row rule", even when it would evoke a greater emotional response... some rules need exceptions

  
  Probably because of greater westernization the Perfect Edition uses the word "Masamune" instead of "Brother" when Tsubaki receives his soul.
  Likely stemming from choosing for the name instead of the suffix both present in the original, the name being the western thing one would say.
  
  However, I felt a much greater emotional impact from "Brother", it was the fourth time this chapter made me cry, while I did not have that response to the "Masamune" translation

  The relationship between Tsubaki and Black☆Star
  ~!
  a somewhat insignificant difference; "with him, are" is left out in the Perfect Edition, the response to this question is critical though.
  

  
  The Perfect Edition gives a way more positive confirmation that warms my heart.
  !~

  
  In the Paperback Black☆Star claims Tsubaki's achievements as his own, while in the Perfect Edition he gives her the credit she deserves
  

  Witch Mass
  
  The non-translated/localized greeting makes the Paperback's Mass feel more ceremonial and ancient
  
  Also, another "Needle Bloody'' situation occurs with "Mabaa Mistress''
  ~~~

• 

  Removed5 years ago3

  ~Chapter 13-19~

  ~~~
  #TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Stein's teaching methods

  ~!After Maka hits Soul during a training exercise Stein says this.

  

  I think this might have originally been a pun, the new version going with the actual advice being giving and the old one using the word-play.

  !~

  Free

  ~!Medusa sounds far more manipulative in the new translation, the old one sounds like she's asking some sort of philosophical question, while the new translation makes it clear she "has plans for Free"
  

  (Plus a line from Free here since it will help with the point I make next)

  !~

  ~!Free is a person who clearly fancies himself a philosophical man, even though he is too stupid to actually live life like one

  

  Having him make the statement of "living life according to a code" is really in line with his character and kind of funny

  

  A subtlety not present in the old translation, somewhat decreasing the quality of his introduction.!~

  Soul's thoughts

  ~!After Maka praises Soul's strength he says this

  

  The new translation... is strange and barely makes sense here, the old one is much better and not at all confusing.

  !~

  ~!

  The old lettering is thicker, making it feel "heavier", more impactful and harsh. The new one can be said to be more of a "constantly grating subconcious presence", but I prefer the old thick one.

  !~

  ~!

  The new translation makes Soul's resistance to the manipulation much smaller lettering and take up less space of the box, making it seem like a less "defiant" resistance, something not spoken, but murmured. Both have their merits, but I prefer the old larger one.

  !~

  Kid's anger

  ~!When Kid is about to give chase to Crona he says

  

  Calling your enemy a "jerk" is not exactly threatening.
  The old translation uses a more appropriate word

  

  One that portrays the hostility between them much better.!~

  Little details

  ~!When using a "mental message" spell the new translation using standard manga lettering

  

  while the old version uses "text-message" lettering, actually employing capital letter use, a lovely little detail.

  !~

  In the Perfect Edition Blaire's lettering has also become more convex/bubbly than it was previously, suiting her curvy body better

  NSFW

  

  ~~~

• 

  Removed4 years ago1

  <center>

  Chapter 20-25

  #TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Maka's confrontation with Crona

  
  in the new translation Maka says her name first, not her title/rank, and since the scene is about asserting yourself saying your name first does give more power to the statement.
  

  
  Here the older translation shows more assertiveness and confidence, though only Maka gets to assert herself now, and Crona does not get to do the same in return, so it does not make up for the previous lack of assertion fully.
  
  

  
  The old translation gives Crona he/him pronouns
  

  
  The phrase ''surrender yourself to me'' has a better and more poetic ring to it than the new ''surrender to me'', it carries a more internal implication that I think is fitting for the situation
  
  

  
  ''Confidence'' being able to talk does not make any more sense within context, I feel like they just wanted to get rid of a complicated word like ''conviction'' since the manga has a general ''cool'' tone, even though Maka is a bookworm...
  The new translation significantly weakens the impact of an important scene of Maka taking the lead.
  

  ---

  Medusa vs Stein

  
  Here the two translations set somewhat different tones, the newer one makes her sound more like a detached researcher while the old one sounds more like a casual discussion.
  

  
  
  In the new translation she gives a more witty reply to Spirit's outburst
  
  
  I think both of these work fine, but they do have a significant difference between them.
  The new translation shows an enjoyment of goading Spirit, while the old one shows disdain and non-interest in him and a desire for an intellectual conversation.
  While the old translation shows an enjoyment of taunting people the new translation shows a commitment to it.
  I like both, though I prefer the old one, since it shows Medusa as disliking purposelessly/inadequately being addressed about morality.

  ---

  Little Demon

  
  I think it makes more sense for the door to be open, for Soul to always be able to enter, than it does for Little Demon to have a key.
  

  A reminder of some information needed later

  From a young age Spirit was tasked with keeping Stein's psychotic urges in check
  
  (This is the Perfect edition, in the paperback the dude says ''SHIT!!'', which makes this feel like a proper threat instead of a school-ground bullying session, at some point I might include a pic of that...)

  Medusa's world-view

  
  While the new translation certainly has better prose, I don't care for the use of the word ''blah'' instead of monotonous, she's talking about her worldview and philosophy here, if there's ever an appropriate discussion for using big words this seems to be it.
  

  ---

  Stein's insanity

  
  [Medusa replies]
  
  
  The phrase ''ego'' is used several times in this conversation, yet by the end Stein says ''until your way becomes the only way'', implying a great deal of dedication to the current way of things.
  
  [Medusa replies}
  
  
  The old translation uses the word ''arrogance'' instead, and has Stein say ''until your arrogance becomes the norm'', which implies a far less definitive commitment to the current way of things, which I think is appropriate given his reasoning for joining with Death is not related to a specific moral judgement, but more-so needing a bigger ideal to fall in line with.
  Also, the old translation mistranslates the name of an attack, ''reverse'', as ''it's the exact opposite''

  ---

  Stein and Spirit

  
  In the old translation Stein calls Spirit ''Senpai'', showing how, despite his greater strength and skill (and doing experiments on Spirit on occasion), he views Spirit as someone he respects and 'follows' (for which reason I included the reminder of their relationship)
  
  The new translation's habit of getting rid of honorifics in favour of names gets rid of the beauty of this moment

  Death and The Kishin

  
  
  Lord Death shows his (rarely seen) anger in this scene, the new translation refuses to use cuss-words, which ruins some of the impact, but using the term ''flay'' and implying an enjoyment of it makes up for it.
  
  
  Meanwhile the old translation does not go as hard initially, but does use ''piece of shit'' instead of ''oh hell'' which conveys anger properly too.
  I think the new translation had the anger portrayed on a better frame, one with more intensity, but this also made the use of ''oh hell'' somewhat out-of-place.

• 

  Removed3 years ago1

  <center>

  Chapter 26-35

  #TOP IS ALWAYS PERFECT EDITION, BOTTOM IS PAPERBACK

  Arachne's introduction
  
  Arachne says ''I know all about you'' in the Perfect Edition instead of ''I am already up to speed''
  ''I know all about you'' sounds far more ominous, which is something I'm usually going to skip over at this point of the comparison, but since this is Arachne's introduction I think portraying her as ominous is more important here.
  

  
  In the new Translation Arachne says ''How delightful to find you so unloved'' upon meeting Crona
  
  The old translation is way better, here Arachne expresses happiness for finally getting to meet Crona, and that she finds it unfortunate that they've not been loved by Medusa.
  In the old translation her intentions could be read as a genuine affection for Crona, a manipulative tactic, or a taunt.
  When she offers to take care of Crona/love him it makes sense, as she's established that she finds it unfortunate to find them unloved (whether genuinely or not), while the new translation misses all that nuance, and it would take a lot of mental effort to read her intentions as genuine.

  Medusa making an argument to Stein

  What's important here is what's missing in the Perfect Edition.
  Specifically the line ''fear gives rise to more fear'' and ''in possession of far too much power''
  
  
  The old translation uses the lines ''fear gives rise to excess'' and ''they possess an excess of power''
  
  The implied link between the two is that the power has been acquired because of fear; using the word ''excess'' in both circumstances highlights that.
  Removing that link damages the argument Medusa is making.

  Maka and Soul

  
  The difference between the lines ''I heard him just the once'' and ''He played for me just one time'' are different in how personal that concert/performance was.
  

  (old) power levels
  
  In the Perfect Edition the witches are said to have had a ''Demon Toom research facility'', like they acquired one/them and are researching them, while the paperback implied that they were developing their own demon tool(s). A big difference in world building and (old) power levels.