Why We Don't Want "The Other Name"
There is another name that people want to be used in the place of Serena. The other name is not "Usagi." This is merely what it has been transliterated as using. The true name is listed to the left, under the circle and slash. However, since the true name is incapable of being translated to a Latin alphabet, we have decided to refer to it with the nickname "The Other Name." As we make it clear, we do not want this name. Below we will examine why the common arguments for using "The Other Name" are wrong.
Argument #1: "The Other Name" is what Naoko named her!
Of the arguments listed, authorial intent is the most common but clearly the weakest. This argument could apply to the Sailor Moon manga, since Naoko Takeuchi created it. It could also apply to a production such as the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, in which she had an active role in its development.
The problem is that while the Sailor Moon animated series uses Naoko Takeuchi's characters, it is almost entirely different from the Sailor Moon manga in both terms of characterization and plot development. The author was not in creative control of the development of the series, and the main characters differed in personality from the manga counterparts in both subtle and obvious ways. While Takeuchi is more than entitled to money from the series as her work serve as a base, the animated series is not her sole creation. It is a spinoff with its own vision and its own development. Tying it eternally to Takeuchi's approval is stifling from a creative standpoint, as well as disingenuous since the animated series is clearly an independent creation.
TOEI, the animation studio responsible for creating the Sailor Moon anime, did not insist on keeping "The Other Name" when exporting the series to North America. They were more than willing to allow the character known as Sailor Moon to have a different civilian name in the North American language version of Sailor Moon. TOEI's previous decision -- not Naoko Takeuchi's wishes -- should be respected concerning the old anime. Since their endorsed vision of Sailor Moon was reflected in supplemental material and there was deliberate process to reach the name after prototypical names such as "Victoria" failed, it is clear that "Serena" was intended to be Sailor Moon.
Argument #2: "The Other Name" is meaningful.
Aside from mere authorial intent, this is the biggest reason why people do not want "Serena." In their minds, "Serena" is just a name while "The Other Name" is a complex appellation that goes beyond an identifier. Even those who acknowledge Serena does have a meaning counter that it is not true to what her name was in the Japanese version.
The problem is that the meaning in Japanese is not what many Sailor Moon fans think it is.
In the Japanese version, "The Other Name" does not mean "rabbit," "bunny," "hare" or any other member of the order Lagomorpha. Her name can be best descried a pun on the phrase "rabbit of the moon" but her name is written with completely different characters. This pun is not directly translatable in English because it is dependent upon Japanese grammar and other rules of the language.
If "The Other Name" were said aloud in a production aimed at a North American audience, unlike "Serena," it would be a meaningless name to the target audience. While they may grow to like the name, it is not as immediately culturally accessible as Serena, so it does not serve a similar role. Instead, it is exotic and different for the sake of being different. At best, more people would think the main character's name in Sailor Moon means rabbit, which would promote more misinformation. Using "The Other Name" would impart a cursory knowledge of Japanese culture, without the examination necessary to allow for understanding. In short, it would be cultural appropriation.
Argument #3: Sailor Moon retains a distinct Japanese identity through "The Other Name."
Although often cited in tandem with the above, this point is actually separate. There are numerous Sailor Moon fans who do have a problem with Serena but would accept an alternative to "The Other Name" in an attempt to retain the meaning. However, other fans insist names should never be translated or represented in any other manner than they are in the original source. In their minds, the act of deviating from the source material to impose the target audience's linguistic tendencies is tarnishing or censoring the original work.
In every single translated piece of literature, name changes and corruptions are almost always an inherent result of the translation. Different languages have different sounds, and different cultures have different values. With a language as different as Japanese is from English, and with a culture that it is as different in terms of values as Eastern culture and Western culture, it would be impossible to keep every detail that is present in the original language. For instance, the title "Sailor Moon" is made up of the actual English words "Sailor" and "Moon" pronounced in Japanese, in Japan those words are not pronounced exactly the way they are pronounced by most Native English speakers, so a "faithful" pronunciation of that name would be closer to "Sera Munuh" than the actual words. This brings us to the next point...
Argument #4 "The Other Name" is easy to pronounce.
To be fair, "The Other Name" is not difficult to pronounce from a neutral point of view. Like "Serena," it is a three syllable name. The problem is that it's difficult to pronounce "correctly."
Plenty of Sailor Moon fans only know of "The Other Name" through either fan-subtitled material or through the translated manga. Both formats lead to a disconnect between the representation of a word in letters and and how it sounds. Though fans pronounce the name in a manner they feel is correct, other fans pronounce it differently, and picking one pronunciation risks charges of butchering, even if there is an earnest attempt to mimic the original version. Given that Sailor Moon is the main character of this program, it should be clear how her name should be pronounced by an English speaking actor or actress.
On the other hand, the pronunciation of "Serena" offers no confusion. After all, the audience heard "Serena" before reading it, and that sound is in the collective, pop-culture memory of former youth. Given how much criticism the North American version suffered for the pronunciation once it began to include the names of the Japanese-language version, it would be less trouble not to use those names all.
Argument #5: "The Other Name" what the fans universally want.
Even though the existence of this site disproves the charge, let us assume that this is true. Assume that the fans want "The Other Name" after having Serena released in a product. Since the Internet allows these fans to reach the world with their opinions, according to this mindset, those in charge should listen to the voice and alter the material that has already been released, or do the next best thing, which is retroactively nullify the existing material. That would set a dangerous artistic precedent.
This point is summarized best by David J. Bishop, creator of the webcomic Life on the Fourth Floor. Bishop acknowledges in his blog entry "Cake and Werewolves" that the Internet now not only allows for the disapproving audience to voice their opinions. It now allows for the creators to change their work as a result of the criticism.
We will stress that the opinions of Mr. Bishop are not our own, but in this point we are in agreement. If a company were to incorporate the wishes of a fanbase because of perceived flaws, that does go against what has been released, it does compromise the vision of the creator. The 1990's Sailor Moon anime was released in a fixed format and shown on television in that format, so why should the material be changed to match a version that was not meant for the North American audience to see?
Argument #6: "The Other Name" was used for the re-released manga so it should be used for the anime to be consistent.
To be fair, this argument is a strong argument. If, after an absence, a former product is re-released in a market, it is expected that a standardization occurs with more recent entries. Theoretically, using "The Other Name" would tie the hero of Sailor Moon to her manga counterpart and eliminate confusion. There is only one problem.
The 1990's animated series and the manga are almost completely different from each other.
Many franchises often have multiple iterations of its characters, each with different designs and different personalities that make differentiation difficult. Consequently, many of the fan communities surrounding these franchise will use identifiers in conjunction with the characters' names in order to clear up which version a person is referencing.
Sailor Moon offers a unique opportunity to sidestep this trap. Given that the anime and manga versions of Sailor Moon characters deviate severely, using a different name for each version allows for one to immediately recognize to which continuity is being discussed. For instance, "Serena" would refer to the clumsy, meatball-headed crybaby who puts herself on the line to forgive her enemies, while "The Other Name" would refer to her similar manga counterpart, a slightly less idealistic warrior.
Argument #7: It is necessary for "The Other Name" to be used to avoid censorship and be true to the original product.
We understand that there are differing opinions about the existing, English-language version of the old Sailor Moon anime, as those of us who want Serena hold differing opinions about the actual dub. However, use of "Serena" in a possible redub does not necessarily mean the new dub will follow in the footsteps of the previous dub. It is very possible to have a redub that closely follows the plot of the original version while using "Serena."
This argument also suggests that keeping the names from the original version ensures that what is shown is accurate. This is false. As the manga re-release has shown, keeping the Japanese names while paired with a controversial translation does not make the translation any less controversial or accurate. "The Other Name" is no guarantee of quality, and in of itself, neither is "Serena." We just happen to prefer the latter.
In short, the arguments used to favor "The Other Name" over Serena are not ironclad, and in some cases are weak. Even if "Serena" is not to be used again, "The Other Name" is a poor alternative that should not be seriously considered.
Argument #1: "The Other Name" is what Naoko named her!
Of the arguments listed, authorial intent is the most common but clearly the weakest. This argument could apply to the Sailor Moon manga, since Naoko Takeuchi created it. It could also apply to a production such as the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, in which she had an active role in its development.
The problem is that while the Sailor Moon animated series uses Naoko Takeuchi's characters, it is almost entirely different from the Sailor Moon manga in both terms of characterization and plot development. The author was not in creative control of the development of the series, and the main characters differed in personality from the manga counterparts in both subtle and obvious ways. While Takeuchi is more than entitled to money from the series as her work serve as a base, the animated series is not her sole creation. It is a spinoff with its own vision and its own development. Tying it eternally to Takeuchi's approval is stifling from a creative standpoint, as well as disingenuous since the animated series is clearly an independent creation.
TOEI, the animation studio responsible for creating the Sailor Moon anime, did not insist on keeping "The Other Name" when exporting the series to North America. They were more than willing to allow the character known as Sailor Moon to have a different civilian name in the North American language version of Sailor Moon. TOEI's previous decision -- not Naoko Takeuchi's wishes -- should be respected concerning the old anime. Since their endorsed vision of Sailor Moon was reflected in supplemental material and there was deliberate process to reach the name after prototypical names such as "Victoria" failed, it is clear that "Serena" was intended to be Sailor Moon.
Argument #2: "The Other Name" is meaningful.
Aside from mere authorial intent, this is the biggest reason why people do not want "Serena." In their minds, "Serena" is just a name while "The Other Name" is a complex appellation that goes beyond an identifier. Even those who acknowledge Serena does have a meaning counter that it is not true to what her name was in the Japanese version.
The problem is that the meaning in Japanese is not what many Sailor Moon fans think it is.
In the Japanese version, "The Other Name" does not mean "rabbit," "bunny," "hare" or any other member of the order Lagomorpha. Her name can be best descried a pun on the phrase "rabbit of the moon" but her name is written with completely different characters. This pun is not directly translatable in English because it is dependent upon Japanese grammar and other rules of the language.
If "The Other Name" were said aloud in a production aimed at a North American audience, unlike "Serena," it would be a meaningless name to the target audience. While they may grow to like the name, it is not as immediately culturally accessible as Serena, so it does not serve a similar role. Instead, it is exotic and different for the sake of being different. At best, more people would think the main character's name in Sailor Moon means rabbit, which would promote more misinformation. Using "The Other Name" would impart a cursory knowledge of Japanese culture, without the examination necessary to allow for understanding. In short, it would be cultural appropriation.
Argument #3: Sailor Moon retains a distinct Japanese identity through "The Other Name."
Although often cited in tandem with the above, this point is actually separate. There are numerous Sailor Moon fans who do have a problem with Serena but would accept an alternative to "The Other Name" in an attempt to retain the meaning. However, other fans insist names should never be translated or represented in any other manner than they are in the original source. In their minds, the act of deviating from the source material to impose the target audience's linguistic tendencies is tarnishing or censoring the original work.
In every single translated piece of literature, name changes and corruptions are almost always an inherent result of the translation. Different languages have different sounds, and different cultures have different values. With a language as different as Japanese is from English, and with a culture that it is as different in terms of values as Eastern culture and Western culture, it would be impossible to keep every detail that is present in the original language. For instance, the title "Sailor Moon" is made up of the actual English words "Sailor" and "Moon" pronounced in Japanese, in Japan those words are not pronounced exactly the way they are pronounced by most Native English speakers, so a "faithful" pronunciation of that name would be closer to "Sera Munuh" than the actual words. This brings us to the next point...
Argument #4 "The Other Name" is easy to pronounce.
To be fair, "The Other Name" is not difficult to pronounce from a neutral point of view. Like "Serena," it is a three syllable name. The problem is that it's difficult to pronounce "correctly."
Plenty of Sailor Moon fans only know of "The Other Name" through either fan-subtitled material or through the translated manga. Both formats lead to a disconnect between the representation of a word in letters and and how it sounds. Though fans pronounce the name in a manner they feel is correct, other fans pronounce it differently, and picking one pronunciation risks charges of butchering, even if there is an earnest attempt to mimic the original version. Given that Sailor Moon is the main character of this program, it should be clear how her name should be pronounced by an English speaking actor or actress.
On the other hand, the pronunciation of "Serena" offers no confusion. After all, the audience heard "Serena" before reading it, and that sound is in the collective, pop-culture memory of former youth. Given how much criticism the North American version suffered for the pronunciation once it began to include the names of the Japanese-language version, it would be less trouble not to use those names all.
Argument #5: "The Other Name" what the fans universally want.
Even though the existence of this site disproves the charge, let us assume that this is true. Assume that the fans want "The Other Name" after having Serena released in a product. Since the Internet allows these fans to reach the world with their opinions, according to this mindset, those in charge should listen to the voice and alter the material that has already been released, or do the next best thing, which is retroactively nullify the existing material. That would set a dangerous artistic precedent.
This point is summarized best by David J. Bishop, creator of the webcomic Life on the Fourth Floor. Bishop acknowledges in his blog entry "Cake and Werewolves" that the Internet now not only allows for the disapproving audience to voice their opinions. It now allows for the creators to change their work as a result of the criticism.
We will stress that the opinions of Mr. Bishop are not our own, but in this point we are in agreement. If a company were to incorporate the wishes of a fanbase because of perceived flaws, that does go against what has been released, it does compromise the vision of the creator. The 1990's Sailor Moon anime was released in a fixed format and shown on television in that format, so why should the material be changed to match a version that was not meant for the North American audience to see?
Argument #6: "The Other Name" was used for the re-released manga so it should be used for the anime to be consistent.
To be fair, this argument is a strong argument. If, after an absence, a former product is re-released in a market, it is expected that a standardization occurs with more recent entries. Theoretically, using "The Other Name" would tie the hero of Sailor Moon to her manga counterpart and eliminate confusion. There is only one problem.
The 1990's animated series and the manga are almost completely different from each other.
Many franchises often have multiple iterations of its characters, each with different designs and different personalities that make differentiation difficult. Consequently, many of the fan communities surrounding these franchise will use identifiers in conjunction with the characters' names in order to clear up which version a person is referencing.
Sailor Moon offers a unique opportunity to sidestep this trap. Given that the anime and manga versions of Sailor Moon characters deviate severely, using a different name for each version allows for one to immediately recognize to which continuity is being discussed. For instance, "Serena" would refer to the clumsy, meatball-headed crybaby who puts herself on the line to forgive her enemies, while "The Other Name" would refer to her similar manga counterpart, a slightly less idealistic warrior.
Argument #7: It is necessary for "The Other Name" to be used to avoid censorship and be true to the original product.
We understand that there are differing opinions about the existing, English-language version of the old Sailor Moon anime, as those of us who want Serena hold differing opinions about the actual dub. However, use of "Serena" in a possible redub does not necessarily mean the new dub will follow in the footsteps of the previous dub. It is very possible to have a redub that closely follows the plot of the original version while using "Serena."
This argument also suggests that keeping the names from the original version ensures that what is shown is accurate. This is false. As the manga re-release has shown, keeping the Japanese names while paired with a controversial translation does not make the translation any less controversial or accurate. "The Other Name" is no guarantee of quality, and in of itself, neither is "Serena." We just happen to prefer the latter.
In short, the arguments used to favor "The Other Name" over Serena are not ironclad, and in some cases are weak. Even if "Serena" is not to be used again, "The Other Name" is a poor alternative that should not be seriously considered.