Just got a video of the silver card samples from a friend. It’s a bit different from what I had in mind, so I still need to tweak the printing files, but I'm blown away by how shiny it is😂

Finally finished these 2 pages with the weirdest reading flow! My only concern is whether the text will still fit after English localization...

💕💕💕

no129art.etsy.com/listing/4488... (Annette Only)

no129art.etsy.com/listing/4488... (Annette and Mercedes are printed on opposite sides of the handle! )

Links for print-on-demand mugs!
no129art.etsy.com/listing/4488... (Mercedes Only)

no129art.etsy.com/listing/4488...

Just a heads-up: Annette and Mercedes are printed on opposite sides of the handle! (If you’d prefer a single-character version or any other variations, let me know in the comments!)

no129art.etsy.com/listing/4488...

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share that I’ve made a Mercedes & Annette print-on-demand mug because I really wanted one for myself. If you’re interested, you can grab it at the link below!

Thank you!! I've been doing a lot of color experiments lately, so it really means a lot to hear that!

The Gift

Thank you for your kind words!!🥹🥹🥹

🥹💙💙💙

Thank you!! 💙💙💙

It took forever, but I'm finally at the battlefield part!🥲

Trying to capture the presence of the old Duke

No matter which voice track I choose, I can’t get a consistent experience. If I choose Japanese voices, the lip-sync is completely off. If I choose English, the subtitles and the actual spoken lines don't even mean the same thing.スクエニさん、さすがかよ👍

I know FF16’s localization is highly praised because the English script was essentially a total rewrite... I personally think it's even a better script than the originial. But I ended up get Chinese subtitles translated from the Japanese script, lip-syncing designed for English.🙃

Another possibility is that the translators simply didn't grasp the original meaning due to cultural differences. Instead, they just relied on their own local culture and habits to guess the intent and replaced the original meaning accordingly.

However, during the localization process, translators may not always be able to verify the actual in-game performance or the full context.

At least in my comparison of Chinese, English, and Japanese, I’ve noticed that many issues stem from the fact that Japanese often omits subjects, objects, and personal pronouns. You have to infer the meaning from the context or even the tone of voice.

These are details that East-Asian players can understand by "reading between the lines" and cross-referencing with other characters' actions, but the English version just erased that entire layer of subtext. I’m honestly stunned... I feel like there is still so much more I need to write about this.

I’ve been looking into even more content, and through these comparisons, I’ve realized something shocking: the English localization seems to be based strictly on the literal surface level of the Japanese text. They completely missed the nuances and implied meanings.

The fact that the soldiers use the stones immediately after this line makes it feel like a response to his words. Btw, he says that line with a sad expression instead of an angry one.

Also, right before the soldiers transform, Sylvain’s line (in Japanese and Chinese) is: "...This is a golden opportunity for revenge. Even if it means sacrifice... I won't let it go!" (The EN localization removed the part about sacrifice, idk why).

On the surface, it looks like Dedue acted alone.However, Sylvain (who is already on the field) shows zero surprise at the transformation. If you were on a battlefield and your own soldiers suddenly started a suicidal tactic you knew nothing about, would you really stay that composed?

In that battle, Sylvain appears first. When the Kingdom soldiers start using the Crest Stones to transform into Demonic Beasts, Dimitri is shocked. Dedue then explains that he was the one who distributed the stones and that the soldiers did so willingly.

Here’s the theory: During the Battle of Tailtean Plains in the Crimson Flower route, there's a possibility that Sylvain was actually involved in the plan to use Crest Stones on the soldiers.