Regrettably, the process of anime localization can result in some strange and even embarrassing name alterations. The characters and the story are two of the most critical aspects in creating a great anime. Viewers want to watch an engaging anime, but they also want characters they care about in their stories. Characters are defined by their personalities and motivations, but something crucial that fans often overlook is a character’s name.
A character’s name, particularly a Japanese name, can reveal a lot to admirers. Some names have meanings that represent the characters’ personalities, and others are a tribute to the character’s appearance. Sadly, when anime is localised to different countries, the names of the characters may be changed, resulting in some strange and awkward substitutions.
10) Rorona Zoro / Rorona Zolo (One Piece)
Longtime One Piece fans will recall the 4Kids dub. One Piece was significantly altered to make it more kid-friendly, reducing violence and even editing out firearms. Fans particularly despised Zoro’s name change. He is called Zolo in the 4kids dub, which some assume was done to protect fans from confusing him with the Zoro films, especially considering he is a powerful swordsman. Whatever the cause, the alteration was ridiculous, and fans were relieved when FUNimation took over the dub and changed his name back.
9) Mai Kujaku / Mai Valentine (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Yu-Gi-Oh! character Mai Valentine is all about girl strength. She plays with a predominantly female deck, and her flirty demeanour has made her a memorable character in the series. Given her personality, it’s understandable that localizers chose the moniker Valentine to replace her real surname. This transformation, however, takes away a substantial portion of her personality. Kujaku’s name means “peacock,” a reference to the harpies she enjoys utilising. It’s a subtle hint that most kids wouldn’t notice, but sticking with the name that the original author intended is always ideal, especially when it comes to important names.
8) Usagi Tsukino / Serena Tsukino (Sailor Moon)
Fans of the original Sailor Moon have pleasant recollections of her. Both the original Japanese and English dub have wonderful openings, and the characters have a charm that some fans believe the modernised version lacks. Many fans have forgotten that Sailor Moon’s name was Serena, not Usagi, in the original English dub. Serena isn’t a bad name, but Usagi alludes to the rabbit on the moon. Many anime enthusiasts are also opposed to Westernization of anime, and anime may be an excellent method for children to learn about people who are different from them.
7) Shinichi Kudo / Jimmy Kudo (Detective Conan)
Shinichi from Detective Conan, like Usagi, was given the moniker Jimmy for the English dub. Many fans are so accustomed to the dub name that it no longer bothers them, although it’s odd that the English dub is one of the only versions to change his name. The name change is obviously needless and unnecessary, especially because Shinichi is such a well-known character. Other localizers recognised that it is important to adhere to the original author’s vision, which the English translation should have done as well.
6)Sakura Kinomoto / Sakura Avalon (Cardcaptor Sakura)
There are numerous female anime characters named Sakura, but the most well-known Sakura has to be the protagonist of Cardcaptor Sakura. She was permitted to maintain her first name for the English release, but localizers felt compelled to change her surname to Avalon. The name Avalon is so dissimilar to her actual surname Kinomoto that it’s startling. It doesn’t suit her, especially for those who like every facet of her persona. Sakura was allowed to maintain her first name thanks to the support of her followers. Her name was set to be changed to Nikki, but fans were so outraged that the localizers reversed their decision.
5) Mao Chen / Mariah (Beyblade)
Beyblade, like many other anime that aired in the early 2000s, had nearly all of its characters’ names changed for the English version. The majority of the names sound similar to the original names. Nevertheless, not all of the names are appropriate for the characters. This is especially true for Mao, who was given the name Mariah. It’s a nice name, but it’s inappropriate for a character that is supposed to be Chinese. Also, Mao’s surname Chen is never mentioned in the English series, so fans are unaware that Mao and Rai are connected.
4) Ichigo Momomiya / Zoey Hanson (Tokyo Mew Mew)
Ichigo is a great name for Tokyo Mew Mew’s protagonist. Ichigo means strawberry in Japanese, which matches her pinkish-red colour scheme well. It can also mean guardian, referring to her role as a mythical girl who saves people. It doesn’t make sense to modify such a wonderful name. Regrettably, the English adaptation changed her name to Zoey, therefore the significance of her name has been lost. While the name Zoey may be more appealing to certain English speakers, it lacks the unique traits of Ichigo’s given name.
3) Utena Tenjo / Ursula Tenjo (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Utena: Revolutionary Girl is a classic magical girl Figure . It’s one of the best representations of queer relationships in anime, but it also delivers a beautiful story that isn’t limited to the romance genre. Given how recognisable the characters are, it’s surprising that some fans call Utena by a different name. Utena’s name was altered to Ursula in the Latin dub. It’s not a bad name, but most people link Ursula with the Disney villain, which causes some confusion. Because Utena does not fit the villain archetype connected with her name, it just does not work for her.