Jenn Odd
@jentranslations.bsky.social
Bookworm. Linguist. Japanese-English Translator. Video game Localization Director. Former manga/anime translator. DFTBA 💖💜💙 日本語OK!
https://j-entranslations.com
#AmReading: Rhythm of War, 東京バンドワゴン
https://j-entranslations.com
#AmReading: Rhythm of War, 東京バンドワゴン
Pinned
Jenn Odd
@jentranslations.bsky.social
· Jun 23
Game Localization for Devs
Are you a game developer interested in learning more about how localization works? Check out these articles on game localization for devs.
j-entranslations.com
Indie devs and curious nerds!
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
I've written a few articles for IGDA on localization for games, including scheduling, how to ensure good quality localization, and a guide on LQA.
j-entranslations.com/game-localiz...
Dropped italki (because they've ruined their platform) and tried out a local Korean school today. It was really good! Going to have lessons with them every Saturday.
December 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Dropped italki (because they've ruined their platform) and tried out a local Korean school today. It was really good! Going to have lessons with them every Saturday.
This is messed up on so many levels. As a writer and reader the thought that bots will scrape your book and make up stuff about it, influencing a reader's enjoyment and understanding of a story is just insulting. More people need to quit Amazon.
December 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
This is messed up on so many levels. As a writer and reader the thought that bots will scrape your book and make up stuff about it, influencing a reader's enjoyment and understanding of a story is just insulting. More people need to quit Amazon.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
When the AI boom began, copywriters were singled out as one of the jobs most vulnerable to AI. Now, three years later, I wanted to hear from workers on the frontlines of the industry, to hear what had actually taken place on the ground.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
"I was forced to use AI until the day I was laid off." Copywriters reveal how AI has decimated their industry
Copywriters were one of the first to have their jobs targeted by AI firms. These are their stories, three years into the AI era.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:47 PM
When the AI boom began, copywriters were singled out as one of the jobs most vulnerable to AI. Now, three years later, I wanted to hear from workers on the frontlines of the industry, to hear what had actually taken place on the ground.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
For many, it was even worse than they'd feared.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
So thankful for the shout-out to the localization teams by the E33 Director at the game awards.
Localization teams bring your art to a bigger audience—and for many studios, bring in the lion’s share of profit for your game.
Invest in quality human loc, and give them credit.
Localization teams bring your art to a bigger audience—and for many studios, bring in the lion’s share of profit for your game.
Invest in quality human loc, and give them credit.
December 12, 2025 at 4:35 AM
So thankful for the shout-out to the localization teams by the E33 Director at the game awards.
Localization teams bring your art to a bigger audience—and for many studios, bring in the lion’s share of profit for your game.
Invest in quality human loc, and give them credit.
Localization teams bring your art to a bigger audience—and for many studios, bring in the lion’s share of profit for your game.
Invest in quality human loc, and give them credit.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
OH GOD WHO GAVE HIM THAT
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
OH GOD WHO GAVE HIM THAT
Reposted by Jenn Odd
🚨 The UK Video Games Industry Census closes 19 Dec.
Run by Ukie & Dr Mark Taylor, it’s the most comprehensive survey of the UK games workforce, exploring:
🔹 Industry mood & outlook
🔹 Layoffs, visas & training
🔹 Careers of women in games
Open to all UK games workers. Take part: zurl.co/yfMwu
Run by Ukie & Dr Mark Taylor, it’s the most comprehensive survey of the UK games workforce, exploring:
🔹 Industry mood & outlook
🔹 Layoffs, visas & training
🔹 Careers of women in games
Open to all UK games workers. Take part: zurl.co/yfMwu
December 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
🚨 The UK Video Games Industry Census closes 19 Dec.
Run by Ukie & Dr Mark Taylor, it’s the most comprehensive survey of the UK games workforce, exploring:
🔹 Industry mood & outlook
🔹 Layoffs, visas & training
🔹 Careers of women in games
Open to all UK games workers. Take part: zurl.co/yfMwu
Run by Ukie & Dr Mark Taylor, it’s the most comprehensive survey of the UK games workforce, exploring:
🔹 Industry mood & outlook
🔹 Layoffs, visas & training
🔹 Careers of women in games
Open to all UK games workers. Take part: zurl.co/yfMwu
We're back online!!!
j-entranslations.com
BIG big big thank you to
@hand-designed.com for taking over hosting and getting me set back up again.
j-entranslations.com
BIG big big thank you to
@hand-designed.com for taking over hosting and getting me set back up again.
J-EN Translations - Japanese to English Translation Services
Japanese to English translation services from J-EN Translations. Based in Seattle, USA but experience living in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and London, UK.
j-entranslations.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:24 AM
We're back online!!!
j-entranslations.com
BIG big big thank you to
@hand-designed.com for taking over hosting and getting me set back up again.
j-entranslations.com
BIG big big thank you to
@hand-designed.com for taking over hosting and getting me set back up again.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
The Game Awards is bigger and more expensive than ever. Even some nominated developers are getting priced out. Our report: https://kotaku.com/game-awards-geoff-keighley-tickets-trailers-clair-obscur-2000652243
The Game Awards Is Bigger Than Ever But Doesn't Come Cheap
The annual awards ceremony tries to celebrate game developers and hype up fans, to varying degrees of success
kotaku.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The Game Awards is bigger and more expensive than ever. Even some nominated developers are getting priced out. Our report: https://kotaku.com/game-awards-geoff-keighley-tickets-trailers-clair-obscur-2000652243
Reposted by Jenn Odd
“You know what’s faster than mopping? Not spilling in the first place.” 👏
"Machine translation would handle the heavy lifting, and we’d add the expert polish. Except the machine made a mess. And we’re doing expert-level cognitive labour to clean it up for cleaning wages.
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
We’re not mops. We’re translators."
#translation #xl8
www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-l...
An open letter to colleagues: we are not mops
After more than two decades working in legal translation across four languages and multiple jurisdictions, I’ve watched our profession reshaped by forces that claim efficiency as a path to our expenda...
www.linkedin.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
“You know what’s faster than mopping? Not spilling in the first place.” 👏
Reposted by Jenn Odd
calling all literary translators - does anyone want to talk to me (on the record) about their gendered experience of **working as a translator** including e.g. the pay gap and the motherhood penalty?
December 10, 2025 at 12:01 PM
calling all literary translators - does anyone want to talk to me (on the record) about their gendered experience of **working as a translator** including e.g. the pay gap and the motherhood penalty?
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Every facet of generative AI has made my professional life worse, without question, but THIS specific aspect has been driving me NUTS.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
I feel the clients now using GenAI to do stuff and going "good enough" when they used to nitpick at every last detail is due to them finding out all those nit picky changes take time and work they cant be bothered to put in.
December 8, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Every facet of generative AI has made my professional life worse, without question, but THIS specific aspect has been driving me NUTS.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Clients, who have made me toil for weeks over indescribably small details, are now approving & producing in-house commercial artwork that looks like a fever dream.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
......I'm back?
Just a quick one summarizing the anime enshiffitifaction we've been experiencing the past 6 months (AI-subs, shitty typesetting, AI-cc, and AI dubs.)
I'll be back to my deep-dives on animanga localization next year, TBD.
Just a quick one summarizing the anime enshiffitifaction we've been experiencing the past 6 months (AI-subs, shitty typesetting, AI-cc, and AI dubs.)
I'll be back to my deep-dives on animanga localization next year, TBD.
thanks, AI hate it
YouTube video by Sarah Moon
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
......I'm back?
Just a quick one summarizing the anime enshiffitifaction we've been experiencing the past 6 months (AI-subs, shitty typesetting, AI-cc, and AI dubs.)
I'll be back to my deep-dives on animanga localization next year, TBD.
Just a quick one summarizing the anime enshiffitifaction we've been experiencing the past 6 months (AI-subs, shitty typesetting, AI-cc, and AI dubs.)
I'll be back to my deep-dives on animanga localization next year, TBD.
My phone won't let me sign into my Sony PS account unless I use their Samsung password service. It hides the keyboard when I try to type my email in. Love this manipulative technoscape we find ourselves in.
December 10, 2025 at 3:28 AM
My phone won't let me sign into my Sony PS account unless I use their Samsung password service. It hides the keyboard when I try to type my email in. Love this manipulative technoscape we find ourselves in.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
pals you gotta quit spotify
December 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
pals you gotta quit spotify
Can I finish this by the end of the year? Probably not, but I'm going to try my hardest!
December 8, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Can I finish this by the end of the year? Probably not, but I'm going to try my hardest!
Reposted by Jenn Odd
The next semester of our Japanese-to-English Media Translation Course starts in April 2026! You can sign up for a free consultation at any time to learn more about our fun, informative course :)
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
December 8, 2025 at 6:44 AM
The next semester of our Japanese-to-English Media Translation Course starts in April 2026! You can sign up for a free consultation at any time to learn more about our fun, informative course :)
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Sign up here (scroll down to リモート個別相談): jvta.net/tyo/kobetsu/
Reposted by Jenn Odd
If you're interested in the craft of storytelling, Scriptnotes by John August and Craig Mazin is perfect for you.
They've condensed their podcast into an easy-to-digest text on the craft of screenwriting, but I think much of it also applies to comics.
bookshop.org/p/books/scri...
They've condensed their podcast into an easy-to-digest text on the craft of screenwriting, but I think much of it also applies to comics.
bookshop.org/p/books/scri...
Scriptnotes: A Book About Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
A Book About Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
bookshop.org
December 8, 2025 at 3:54 AM
If you're interested in the craft of storytelling, Scriptnotes by John August and Craig Mazin is perfect for you.
They've condensed their podcast into an easy-to-digest text on the craft of screenwriting, but I think much of it also applies to comics.
bookshop.org/p/books/scri...
They've condensed their podcast into an easy-to-digest text on the craft of screenwriting, but I think much of it also applies to comics.
bookshop.org/p/books/scri...
Reposted by Jenn Odd
The words aren't the book. They're the author's best attempt to capture their intent.
If you're too hung up on the words, you won't be providing the best translation. Take a step back and think like the author did.
Write for the situation, the character, the writing style, the emotions...
If you're too hung up on the words, you won't be providing the best translation. Take a step back and think like the author did.
Write for the situation, the character, the writing style, the emotions...
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The words aren't the book. They're the author's best attempt to capture their intent.
If you're too hung up on the words, you won't be providing the best translation. Take a step back and think like the author did.
Write for the situation, the character, the writing style, the emotions...
If you're too hung up on the words, you won't be providing the best translation. Take a step back and think like the author did.
Write for the situation, the character, the writing style, the emotions...
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Another excellent video about AI and the broader problems beyond just "it sounds bad lol."
youtu.be/tl4mAIBA8jc
youtu.be/tl4mAIBA8jc
The Anime AI Dub Crisis Has Begun
YouTube video by Bonsai Pop
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Another excellent video about AI and the broader problems beyond just "it sounds bad lol."
youtu.be/tl4mAIBA8jc
youtu.be/tl4mAIBA8jc
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Clients' flexibility with regards to scheduling, etc. tends to be directly, not inversely, proportional to how well they pay. Don't expect anyone asking for a death march to make it worth your while; if they meant to pay you like a person, they'd treat you like one.
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Clients' flexibility with regards to scheduling, etc. tends to be directly, not inversely, proportional to how well they pay. Don't expect anyone asking for a death march to make it worth your while; if they meant to pay you like a person, they'd treat you like one.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Translation: Double/triple check numbers/symbols. Those are the only things a monolingual client understands in the source, and you look deeply incompetent if you get them wrong.
Business: Ask the client for more. More money, more time, more resources, whatever you can get.
Business: Ask the client for more. More money, more time, more resources, whatever you can get.
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Translation: Double/triple check numbers/symbols. Those are the only things a monolingual client understands in the source, and you look deeply incompetent if you get them wrong.
Business: Ask the client for more. More money, more time, more resources, whatever you can get.
Business: Ask the client for more. More money, more time, more resources, whatever you can get.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Going back to basics. This is by far the most important thing my profession has taught me, and –I think– the most useful piece of advice I can give.
A lengthy sentence is causing you problems? Back to basics.
You're in doubt as to how to re-contact a client? Back to basics.
And so on.
A lengthy sentence is causing you problems? Back to basics.
You're in doubt as to how to re-contact a client? Back to basics.
And so on.
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Going back to basics. This is by far the most important thing my profession has taught me, and –I think– the most useful piece of advice I can give.
A lengthy sentence is causing you problems? Back to basics.
You're in doubt as to how to re-contact a client? Back to basics.
And so on.
A lengthy sentence is causing you problems? Back to basics.
You're in doubt as to how to re-contact a client? Back to basics.
And so on.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
December 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Respect legacy translations. Even if they're bad. Even if they're wrong. Even if they're stupid (to you). They're important to the audience for a reason.
Respect the work, respect the audience, and you won't make a fool out of yourself.
Respect the work, respect the audience, and you won't make a fool out of yourself.
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Respect legacy translations. Even if they're bad. Even if they're wrong. Even if they're stupid (to you). They're important to the audience for a reason.
Respect the work, respect the audience, and you won't make a fool out of yourself.
Respect the work, respect the audience, and you won't make a fool out of yourself.
Reposted by Jenn Odd
Translation itself: engaging in your target language is great. Also engage in your native language to familiarize yourself with commonly used phrases/terms (ex. game menus)
Freelancing: You don't have to rate yourself like another agency would pay you. You CAN try charging higher for yourself.
Freelancing: You don't have to rate yourself like another agency would pay you. You CAN try charging higher for yourself.
To my fellow translators: what do you wish someone had taught you about translation (whether the act or translation or having a freelance job) that you had to learn by yourself?
December 7, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Translation itself: engaging in your target language is great. Also engage in your native language to familiarize yourself with commonly used phrases/terms (ex. game menus)
Freelancing: You don't have to rate yourself like another agency would pay you. You CAN try charging higher for yourself.
Freelancing: You don't have to rate yourself like another agency would pay you. You CAN try charging higher for yourself.