Sgt Frog - why do people refuse to use the English name?

[IanC]

This is an honest question...

Not just on here but otrher sites too ive noticed people usually call this series by its Japanese name "Keroro Gunsou".

Is there any reason, or is it just that it sounds "cooler" or more Japanese?

[Neo-Era]

I do it because I don't care for the Tokyopop name. Sgt. Keroro, okay. Sgt. Frog, nah.

[Gokou Ruri]

Is there any reason, or is it just that it sounds "cooler" or more Japanese? That one. They mean the same thing, but since it's in Japanese it sounds "cooler".

[InfinityBlade]

Even in the Tokyopop translation of the manga, his name isn't written as "Frog" in the story, soooo...

[Juu-kuchi]

Keroro Gunsou rolls off my tongue more easier that Sgt. Frog.

[Beat]

He's not a frog.

[Conan-san]

6 and half a douzen, I use em interchageably.

[Classic Speedy]

Keroro Gunsou rolls off my tongue more easier that Sgt. Frog. I'm the opposite. Whenever I say "Keroro Gunsou", I get tongue tied, and it sounds like I have marbles in my mouth. Sergeant Frog is easier (and faster) to say.

[HellCat]

I know it's an accurate translation, but Sgt Frog just sounds goofy too me. Besides, similar to what Neo-Era said, it's not like the other platoon members names are translated (say, Lance Corporal Syrup instead of Lance Corporal Dororo).

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I'm not familiar with the series, but isn't this like asking why people don't call Naruto "Fishcake"?

[RomanMack]

I guess he's asking becuase it has an Englsih name that doesn't sound too farfetched, yet people call it the Japanese name anyways.

Like... everyone know Pocket Monsters is Pokemon's original name (or was it always interchanged?) but most people prefer to call it by it's name here, "Pokemon".

So... why not with this series?

[HellCat]

I guess he's asking becuase it has an Englsih name that doesn't sound too farfetched, yet people call it the Japanese name anyways.

Like... everyone know Pocket Monsters is Pokemon's original name (or was it always interchanged?) but most people prefer to call it by it's name here, "Pokemon".

So... why not with this series?

I'm starting to get the feeling you just want us to accept any and all localisation...

[RomanMack]

I'm starting to get the feeling you just want us to accept any and all localisation...I really don't care. It's really all preference in the end.

Another series is Zatch Bell. Hardly anyone calls it Gash Bell. Though, I soppose that has to do with the name itself. ^_^;

But I'll just say what is the obvious. People call it the Japanese name because it sounds cooler.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I guess he's asking becuase it has an Englsih name that doesn't sound too farfetched, yet people call it the Japanese name anyways.

Like... everyone know Pocket Monsters is Pokemon's original name (or was it always interchanged?) but most people prefer to call it by it's name here, "Pokemon".

So... why not with this series?

I normally say Pocket Monsters when talking about the anime though. :p

[Duke]

I can kinda see how calling the series Sgt. Frog would have worked back when the series was new. The word "frog" is funny to many people, and to have a goofy manga about a frog-like alien who's a seargant trying to conquer the world, Sgt. Frog is a good way to draw people.

Nowadays...I'd rather have Sgt. Keroro. :P Although I'd love to think what Peter Cullen could do with "Sgt. Frog."

[HellCat]

Another reason- 'Afro Gunsou' doesn't quite work when translated.

[TnAdct1]

Another reason- 'Afro Gunsou' doesn't quite work when translated. Afro Gunsnou = One of the best anime ED's ever! :anime:

Anyways, one reason why I refer to the show as Sgt. Keroro instead of Sgt. Frog involves not only sticking to the original Japanese roots (i.e. I prefer to refer to My Days With Midori as Midori no Hibi), but also because of how the main character's name in both the English and Japanese versions is Keroro.

[Tash]

I can kinda see how calling the series Sgt. Frog would have worked back when the series was new. The word "frog" is funny to many people, and to have a goofy manga about a frog-like alien who's a seargant trying to conquer the world, Sgt. Frog is a good way to draw people.

Nowadays...I'd rather have Sgt. Keroro. :P Although I'd love to think what Peter Cullen could do with "Sgt. Frog." This is what I've always assumed to be the case. Japanese people can see it's a humorous title when they see "Keroro Gunso", however "SGT Keroro" sounds like a Japanese war epic. (because the Japanese can make the frog association from "Keroro", Americans can't)

[Ryoutarou]

I know it's an accurate translationI'm pretty sure frog would be a pretty degenerate translation of Keroro in this case. I've ran it by a few teachers and native speakers before and they all more or less say the same thing. Though I've never actually heard what the "true" translation is.

[HellCat]

I'm pretty sure frog would be a pretty degenerate translation of Keroro in this case. I've ran it by a few teachers and native speakers before and they all more or less say the same thing. Though I've never actually heard what the "true" translation is.

Well, Wiki puts it that Keroro is word play on how the Japanese interpret a frog's croaking. So unless you wanna go with Sgt Croaky, Sgt Frog sounds like a decent translation.

One thing that confuses this all the more for me is the ocassional references to a Keroro series existing in that universe. Maybe it's TOKYOPOP's translation but the series can't seem to stick to one name for it (for example, they initially call it Baron Keroro but later we hear of a 'Lt. Toad' )

[Bubblegum Girl]

Well SGT Frog means Keroro Gunsou in japanese. ;)

[HellCat]

Additional note- Tokyopop themselves say it. Look at the title on the front of the books and you should see the Japanese name in tiny font.

[Andrew T. Hingson]

Well SGT Frog means Keroro Gunsou in japanese. ;)

Not really...

I call it either but when I mention it I often write both names like SGT Frog (aka Keroro Gunsou) or Keroro Gunsou (aka SGT Frog).

If it aired on CN I figure it'd be called SGT Frog but it works either way. SGT Keroro would also be acceptable.

Cullen SGT Frog promo = WIN

This is the show that should be headlining the Toonami line-up, NOT Pokemon.




I also always call Gash Bell... Zatch Bell. As Z is better than G as we say around here.

I call that drek dub of One Piece... Shonen Jump's One Piece as that's what the title says and now I also refer to the Bleach airing on AS as Shonen Jump Bleach (no 's apparently... whatever). I certainly don't bother calling Voltron and Robotech, Go-Lion or Macross very often though I do sometimes call G-Force/BotP Gatachmen. You can bet I don't call Saint Seiya... Knights of the Zodiac unless I'm talking about that dub but I rarely called Ulimate Muscle, Kinikuman Nisei (sp?) while I do call M.U.S.C.L.E., Kinikuman probably because it's easier for people to figure out what I'm talking about. Yeah... it varies. I don't call Prince of Tennis by it's full Japanese name (too troublesome) either. It varies and sometimes I just come up with something else to call a show like Mew Mew Power / Tokyo Mew Mew is just Mew Mew and people know what I'm talking about. But heaven forbid you use anything but the original Japanese title at an anime fandom bored... people need to lighten up about that kind of stuff.

[Duke]

Not really...
Well, you do have to take off the extra "ro," but Gunsou means "Sgt." and Kero means "frog."

[Neo-Era]

kero/kerokero = ribbit
kaeru/kawazu/furoggu = frog

[Tash]

while I do call M.U.S.C.L.E., Kinikuman probably because it's easier for people to figure out what I'm talking about
That's a bit diffrent though, as "M.U.S.C.L.E." only refers to the little rubber toys. (which are called "Kinkeshi" in Japan) It's never correct to call the anime "M.U.S.C.L.E.".

Yeah, you probably know that, but I'm a bit of a nitpicker when it comes to Kinnikuman. >_>

[AstroNerdBoy]

This is an honest question...

Not just on here but otrher sites too ive noticed people usually call this series by its Japanese name "Keroro Gunsou".

Is there any reason, or is it just that it sounds "cooler" or more Japanese?

How about, "Because the name of the manga and anime IS Keroro Gunsou?" ;)

Besides, "Sgt. Keroro" is the most accurate translation seeing how the main alien character IS Sgt. Keroro, so why translate his name? And as others have said, "keroro" is like "ribbit" not "frog." Neo-Era has the accurate Japanese words for "frog" and "ribbit."


One thing that confuses this all the more for me is the ocassional references to a Keroro series existing in that universe. Maybe it's TOKYOPOP's translation but the series can't seem to stick to one name for it (for example, they initially call it Baron Keroro but later we hear of a 'Lt. Toad' )

Can you provide some additional information on what you are talking about? I don't remember anything about what you are refering to, but maybe I just forgot or missed something.

[HellCat]

Can you provide some additional information on what you are talking about? I don't remember anything about what you are refering to, but maybe I just forgot or missed something.

About 3 times so far by my count an in-universe Keroro parody is mentioned, which I think we're supposed to take as being a manga Aki creates based on Keroro. The first time it's mentioned, Keroro is reading a monthly manga collection and happens across a series titled "Baron Keroro" about an alien frog (said series angers him, because Baron Keroro is depicted as a fool who always fails). Later, the evil 'Moa' (seriously, that character just confuses matters beyond her first appearance) is seen stealing a guy's savings. He pleads for her to return them, stating that amongst things he needs the money to buy a manga he calls 'Lt Toad'. Later still, around the time the anime started and the manga was making nods to it, Tamama mentions he's going to watch a new anime called 'Chief Geroro'.