Serenity: the Stickers

Ahem ... well, I was using a translation program.

Problem is, a lot of the small text on the signs is too small to read on the DVD, and it looks like it's in Japanese anyway.

I had to pick stuff to fill it in.


-Mike
 
I think the "ball come/ball arrive" one makes sense. Is that not used in front of the lever that release the mule from where it was locked in? It has a arrow pointing in the direction where a possible "trailer ball" type thing would be coming from. If you guys know what I mean.

By the way, welcome aboard kevinericon, it's great to have another Firefly/Serenity fan around here, especially one that knows Chinese and could help us out in our prop building. ;)
 
<div class='quotetop'>(dr_slurpee @ Jun 22 2006, 06:05 AM) [snapback]1265800[/snapback]</div>
I think the "ball come/ball arrive" one makes sense. Is that not used in front of the lever that release the mule from where it was locked in? It has a arrow pointing in the direction where a possible "trailer ball" type thing would be coming from. If you guys know what I mean.
[/b]
Especially if you are stopping for takeout... ;)
 
Humm. I guess it's be cannon to the movie or be correct, I guess its cannon since they screwed it up. Great to have someone that can read Chinese. With the humor the propmakers had on the series (aka train job) they may have ment to be The meatballs have arrived/departed.
 
I just wanted to stop in here for my first post and say those are all great... very nice work to you guys.
 
Is anyone selling any of these on weatherproof material. I am especially interested in the Skulls, Storage Only, Passengers Prohibited, the triangular planet blowing up (I guess), and Lock-Down when in Anti-Gravity.
 
I can make the stickers (see prior posts) but don't want to step on Sith's toes since he did the artwork. The skulls come from a font called medicine.
 
Actually, GB, I give you my blessing to go and cut vinyl :)

Go forth, and multiply :angel :lol

In all seriousness, you all can consider these fair game for ... use.

They were a labor of ... appreciation. Pass them around, stick them on things, do whatever.

Rest assured, I will be selling something in the near future. Mu hu hu wa ha ha ha...


-Mike
 
Mike, you did a great job creating those graphics, especially you haven't use any form of Chinese input system. (Really impressed :eek ) And believe me, you did a BETTER job than the Serenity crew. :p All Chinese in the film is gibberish, and I was informed yesterday that all Japanese in it is also meaningless.

Here's the one I enjoyed the most, the rescue ship on Miranda, with a shot so close and so slow, well, I guess they really didn't expect to release the film in asia. :lol



And dr_slurpee, thanks, I'm really glad I caught the registration window this time.

Kevin
 
<div class='quotetop'>(kevinericon @ Jun 22 2006, 09:25 PM) [snapback]1266313[/snapback]</div>
Here's the one I enjoyed the most, the rescue ship on Miranda, with a shot so close and so slow, well, I guess they really didn't expect to release the film in asia. :lol


[/b]

Er...it's hard to tell how humorous it is without some explanation of what the characters actually say. :p Is it a bunch of nonsense syllables? Some odd-sounding sentence? Completely fake characters?
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Patattack @ Jun 23 2006, 01:16 PM) [snapback]1266435[/snapback]</div>
<div class='quotetop'>(kevinericon @ Jun 22 2006, 09:25 PM) [snapback]1266313[/snapback]
Here's the one I enjoyed the most, the rescue ship on Miranda, with a shot so close and so slow, well, I guess they really didn't expect to release the film in asia. :lol


[/b]

Er...it's hard to tell how humorous it is without some explanation of what the characters actually say. :p Is it a bunch of nonsense syllables? Some odd-sounding sentence? Completely fake characters?
[/b][/quote]

Well I guess you're right. So here it comes.

"Hill Length Third Middle Be String For It Last Horse Sudden Long." :lol

If you read it out real fast in Chinese, I believe people will think A.your universal translator is broken, or B.you're nuts. It's all words with meaning, but they randomly composed it. My guess is they just randomly choose some words with fewer strokes.

In the series they really want the audience to believe in the 'verse they've created, but they just use other languages as "alien symbols" in the film. It's not a very healthy attitude especially when making a Sci-fi film. B)
 
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In the series they really want the audience to believe in the 'verse they've created, but they just use other languages as "alien symbols" in the film. It's not a very healthy attitude especially when making a Sci-fi film. [/b]

I dunno - It all seems Earth based. My feeling is that they are saying that Chinese became the primary language, hence all the written signs & reverting to Chinese when cursing. My guess is they were just badly advised in translation. Good to have someone around who can put it right, though.
Andy
 
<div class='quotetop'>(kevinericon @ Jun 22 2006, 09:15 AM) [snapback]1265702[/snapback]</div>
Old post, but I've been itching to reply to this topic since I spoke Chinese. Guess now I have the chance.

As you can see, Ball Come really didn't make ANY sense at all. Other stickers at least meant something, though they're not using Chinese right. You can see "drugs" is misused, I'm guessing they were trying to use "toxic".

I guess they used some sort of translation program (which wassn't very accurate) instead of hiring an actual consultant. They did a great job making Firefly series, all the Chinese language and signs were correct, but in the movie Serenity, almost all signs were wrong. I went to the Serenity premiere in Taiwan and there's laughters everytime a Chinese sign shows up. :D

It's still a great film though. :love

Kevin
[/b]

:confused :lol :lol :D Oh ok. Now meatball doesn't really make sense, maybe they intended to make something up like "No step" - PM me about your theater visit ;)
 
<div class='quotetop'>(Kernow @ Jun 23 2006, 05:18 AM) [snapback]1266497[/snapback]</div>
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In the series they really want the audience to believe in the 'verse they've created, but they just use other languages as "alien symbols" in the film. It's not a very healthy attitude especially when making a Sci-fi film. [/b]

I dunno - It all seems Earth based. My feeling is that they are saying that Chinese became the primary language, hence all the written signs & reverting to Chinese when cursing. My guess is they were just badly advised in translation. Good to have someone around who can put it right, though.
Andy
[/b][/quote]

Kernow's right. I remember reading two specific things that Joss Whedon said, relating to the series:
- The United States and China became Earth's superpowers, and continued to have influence once they found a new galaxy. That's why, in some episodes of the series ("The Train Job" is one that jumps to mind), a Chinese flag on top of an American flag is used as the Alliance logo.
- There are no aliens in the series at all. He said he believes that 500 years from now, humans will still be the only intelligent life. Or something along those lines. So, all the other languages they use are theoretically just artifacts from Earth-That-Was.

So, unfortunately, it was just misinformation - or perhaps laziness - that contributed to the bad translations. Thanks for putting us right, though. I wouldn't want to be totin' around some Firefly merchandise, thinking it says one thing when it really says another. :D
 
Wow. I really love these Boards.

GB, what is your pricing structure. Feel free to PM me, I check the boards periodically. Like I stated above, I am especially interested in the Skulls, Storage Only, Passengers Prohibited, the triangular planet blowing up (I guess), and Lock-Down when in Anti-Gravity.

All of these are found on this thread.

Thanks again.

Obi_Don
 
I had the chance to talk to Geoffrey Mandel, the graphic designer for the movie. One of the things that came up was the Chinese in the designs, which he admitted were generally tossed in or Babel Fished. They figured Chinese would probably migrate a bit in 500 years, so...

In-joke on the search and rescue ship, though: "The biggest in-joke is the serial number of the Alliance research & rescue vessel on Miranda: C-57D, which happens to be the serial number of the Earth cruiser in Forbidden Planet."
 
Aw man, you lucky ******* (I think I've said that to Ben, too :lol ).

He has the coolest job in the world.

And actual confirmation that the Bhutan note was used in the series. We were pretty sure, but it is nice to hear.

I love that kind of behind-the-scenes information. Love it.

Thanks for posting that link :)


-Mike
 
Yeah, languages do change over time, even English in Firefly changed. But you still don't see the rescue ship on Miranda labeled: "Srach en ReQ Sip" :lol

That's a informative interview BTW. :)
 
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