Zero Wing
Zero Wing is an arcade game from Toaplan, noted for poorly translated subtitles that spawned an internet meme.
Introduction
This is a full transcript of the introduction sequence. Original Japanese text and a more accurate translation are provided for reference. The game's introduction sequence is the source of the widespread Internet phenomenon "All your base are belong to us".
The bluntness of the famous mistranslation is in stark contrast to CATS' cool, caustic irony in the original text. The difference is especially vivid in the line corresponding to "All your base are belong to us". In the original line, CATS uses a form of Japanese grammar that is rude to the ship's crew but respectful towards the Federation army, insinuating that the Federation was treacherously co-opted into betraying the bases.
| Original Japanese script (Hepburn romanization) | Broken English translation | More accurate English translation[1] | English localization[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 西暦2101年 (Seireki nisen-hyakuichi-nen) | In A.D. 2101 | In 2101 A.D., | In the year 2101, |
| 戦いは始まった。(Tatakai wa hajimatta.) | War was beginning. | War has begun. | The war has begun. |
| 艦長：一体どうしたと言んだ [sic]？ (Kanchō: Ittai dōshita to yūnda?) | Captain: What happen? | Captain: How could this have happened? | Captain: What the hell's happening?! |
| 機関士：何者かによって、爆発物が仕掛けられたようです。(Kikanshi: Nanimono ka niyotte, bakuhatsu-butsu ga shikakerareta yō desu.) | Mechanic: Somebody set up us the bomb. | Engineer: It seems someone had planted explosives. | Engineer: It seems someone planted explosives aboard! |
| 通信士：艦長！通信が入りました！ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō! Tsūshin ga hairimashita!) | Operator: We get signal. | Communications operator: Captain! We are receiving a signal! | Comms officer: Captain! Incoming transmission! |
| 艦長：なにっ？(Kanchō: Nani?) | Captain: What ! | Captain: What?! | Captain: What?! |
| 通信士：メインスクリーンにビジョンが来ます。(Tsūshinshi: Meinsukurīn ni bijon ga kimasu.) | Operator: Main screen turn on. | Communications operator: Incoming visual on the main screen. | Comms officer: Visual confirmed on the main screen! |
| 艦長：お-お前は！！(Kanchō: O-omae wa!!) | Captain: It's you !! | Captain: Y-you!! | Captain: It...it's YOU! |
| CATS：おいそがしそうだね、諸君。 (CATS: Oisogashi sō da nē, shokun.) | CATS: How are you gentlemen !! | CATS: You seem busy, gentlemen. | CATS: My my, gentlemen. Seems your hands are full at the moment? |
| CATS：連邦政府軍のご協力により、君達の基地は、全てCATSがいただいた。 (CATS: Renpō-seifu-gun no go-kyōryoku niyori, kimitachi no kichi wa, subete CATS ga itadaita.) | CATS: All your base are belong to us. | CATS: With the cooperation of the Federation Government forces, CATS has taken all of your bases. | CATS: With the Federation Forces so gracious to help out, all your bases belong to CATS. |
| CATS：君達の艦も、そろそろ終わりだろう。 (CATS: Kimi tachi no kan mo, sorosoro owari darō.) | CATS: You are on the way to destruction. | CATS: I guess it will soon be the end for your ship, too. | CATS: And soon, I suppose your pathetic vessel will meet its end as well? |
| 艦長：ば-ばかなっ・・・！ (Kanchō: Ba-baka nā...!) | Captain: What you say !! | Captain: Impossible...! | Captain: Im...IMPOSSIBLE! |
| CATS：君達のご協力には感謝する。せいぜい残り少ない命を、大切にしたまえ・・・・ (CATS: Kimitachi no go-kyōryoku ni wa kansha suru. Seizei nokorisukunai inochi o, taisetsu ni shitamae...) | CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time. | CATS: I would like to thank you for your cooperation. Treasure what little remains of your lives... | CATS: Your cooperation is most appreciated, gentlemen. Do try to savor what little precious time you have left. |
| CATS：ハッハッハッハッハッ ・・・ (CATS: Hahhahhahhahha...) | CATS: Ha ha ha ha .... | CATS: Ha ha ha ha ha... | CATS: MWAHAHAHAHA!!! |
| 通信士：艦長・・・・ (Tsūshinshi: Kanchō...) | Operator: Captain !! | Communications operator: Captain... | Comms officer: Your orders, Captain? |
| 艦長：ZIG全機に発進命令！！ (Kanchō: ZIG zenki ni hasshin-meirei!!) | Captain: Take off every 'ZIG'!! | Captain: Issue an immediate takeoff order for all ZIG units!! | Captain: Issue an immediate launch order for all ZIG units! |
| 艦長：もう彼らに託すしかない・・・ (Kanchō: Mō karera ni takusu shika nai...) | Captain: You know what you doing. | Captain: Leaving it to them is all we can do... | Captain (more faithful localization): We are out of options. It is up to them now... Captain (more idiomatic localization): Our hand has been played. This is the ace up our sleeve... |
| 艦長：たのむぞ。ZIG！！ (Kanchō: Tanomu zo. ZIG!!) | Captain: Move 'ZIG'. | Captain: We're counting on you, ZIG fighters!! | Captain: We are all counting on you! ZIG, move out! |
| 艦長：我々の未来に希望を・・・ (Kanchō: Wareware no mirai ni kibō o...) | Captain: For great justice. | Captain: For the hope in our future... | Captain: Give us a reason to hope again. Please... |
Ending
| Broken English translation | More accurate English translation[1] |
|---|---|
| Congratulation !! | Congratulations! |
| A.D.2111 | As of 2111 A.D., |
| All bases of CATS were destroyed. |
CATS has been defeated. |
| It seems to be peaceful. | Peace seems to have been restored, |
| But it is incorrect. | but the war has not ended yet. |
| CATS is still alive. ZIG-01 must fight against CATS again. |
CATS still exists. ZIG-01 must continue to fight the war against CATS, |
| And down with them completely! |
and they must be completely destroyed. |
| Good luck. | Let us hope for ZIG-01's success. Good luck. |
External links
- Jeffrey Benner, "When Gamer Humor Attacks", Wired, 23 February 2001; article about the meme.
Footnotes
- ↑ a b The direct translation from the original Japanese game text has been created by Wikipedia and Wikiquote editors with the help of native speakers.
- ↑ The localization adapts the text to fit the target audience’s language, culture, and expectations, making it sound natural and impactful in context. This localization adds proper military communication between the engineer, the comms officer and the captain, and heightens CATS' villany for the English-speaking audience, including preserving the meme. The direct translation, in comparison, converts the Japanese text word-for-word into English, keeping the original structure and meaning.