Small story(s) of the translation of the countless critters that have populated Pokemon Blue et Red in 1996 upon its release from the Gameboy.
A few years ago, Camille Gévaudan, journalist at Liberation, spoke with Julien Bardakoff. Formerly employed by Nintendo, this Spanish translator had notably been responsible for the Pokémon franchise. Thus in 1996, when Pokémon Blue and Red came out on Gameboy, he took care of translating the names of many creatures.
Lots of untranslatable puns
Camille Gévaudan's article is a mine of anecdotes for anyone with the slightest interest in video games. We learn, for example, that originally, Nintendo did not have the idea of translating all of the 151 creatures in the game: "It seemed too complicated for them to register all these words as trademarks in several languages . »
Julien Bardakoff explains, however, that the Spaniards insisted at length on the "indispensable" nature of the company and finally won their case... with one exception. Of course, Pikachu had to stay Pikachu. At Nintendo, we do not touch the name of the mascots which must be internationally recognized.
For all the other critters, from the Squirtle and other Charmander to the Nidoking, Otaria, passing by the Soporifik, Crustabri or Snorlax, it's a different story each time to offer a pun (as is the case in Japanese), but without straying too far from the meaning of the creatures in the original language.
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