fansub
Unofficial translated captions
A fansub is an unauthorized subtitle translation of foreign media—typically anime or other Japanese content—created by fans rather than official distributors.
Before streaming services offered licensed translations, fansubs were often the only way English speakers could access foreign shows: I watched the whole series through fansubs back in 2008.
The term also works as a verb: They fansubbed the movie within days of its Japanese release.
Adapting for specific markets
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- honorificsRespectful name additions
- romanizationScript-to-alphabet conversion process
- transliterationCross-script phonetic spelling
idiom · nuance · glossary · bilingual · meaning · interpretation · vernacular · literal
Art of choosing moments
- typesettingArranging text for print
- encodingConverting data to format
- karaokeSinging to backing tracks
- ASSInformal emphasis acronym
sync · font · styling · overlay · resolution · bitrate · release
Assembled collection of things
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- amateurNonprofessional participant
- forumGathering place for discourse
IRC · Discord · seeder · leecher · torrent · tracker · distribution · credits
Obsessive anime enthusiast
- mangaJapanese comic medium
- shonenManga for young males
- shojoManga aimed at girls
- mechaPiloted giant robot fiction
isekai · hentai · kawaii · simulcast · OVA · raw · J-drama · weeb
Seaborne theft or bootlegging
- licensingGranting official permission
- DMCADigital copyright protection law
- takedownForced grounding maneuver
- CrunchyrollAnime streaming service
Funimation · simulcast · legal · copyright · preservation · accessibility · paywall
One who renders between languages
- timerDuration-tracking mechanism
- typesetterArranges text for printing
- encoderFormat conversion component
- editorOne who revises text
localization
Adapting for specific markets
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- honorificsRespectful name additions
- romanizationScript-to-alphabet conversion process
transliteration · idiom · nuance · glossary · bilingual · meaning · interpretation · vernacular · literal · liberal
timing
Art of choosing moments
- typesettingArranging text for print
- encodingConverting data to format
- karaokeSinging to backing tracks
ASS · sync · font · styling · overlay · resolution · bitrate · release
group
Assembled collection of things
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- amateurNonprofessional participant
forum · IRC · Discord · seeder · leecher · torrent · tracker · distribution · credits
otaku
Obsessive anime enthusiast
mecha · isekai · hentai · kawaii · simulcast · OVA · raw · J-drama · weeb
piracy
Seaborne theft or bootlegging
- licensingGranting official permission
- DMCADigital copyright protection law
- takedownForced grounding maneuver
Crunchyroll · Funimation · simulcast · legal · copyright · preservation · accessibility · paywall
translator
One who renders between languages
- timerDuration-tracking mechanism
- typesetterArranges text for printing
- encoderFormat conversion component
editor · proofreader · distro · backlog · stalled · dropped · batch
- Anime/Mangaanime, manga, shonen, manga adaptations, mecha
- fansubstranslator, subber, raw, raws, typeset
- fanworksfanfic, fanfiction, fanart, fanfilm, fanzine
- adaptationsfilm adaptation, film adaptations, movie adaptation, TV adaptation, TV adaptations