Overview of Shogakukan’s Novelous App
- Shogakukan has introduced the Novelous app, offering manga titles for users in the US and Canada.
- The app employs AI-assisted translation technology, aiming to reduce costs by 50%.
- Reception among fans is mixed, with notable concerns about the quality of translations.
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Shogakukan, a prominent publisher in Japan, has recently launched the Novelous app, making a selection of novels and manga available to fans in the US and Canada. The app is compatible with both Android and iOS platforms.
Renowned for publishing popular magazines such as CoroCoro Comic (home to numerous Pokémon manga) and Shonen Sunday (which features titles like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Detective Conan), Shogakukan operates closely with Shueisha, a company it founded, while maintaining its unique identity.
With over 80 titles currently available, including popular selections like Kengan Ashura and Witch and Hound, Novelous is shaping up to be a significant platform for manga enthusiasts. Users can purchase coins or earn complimentary coins to unlock chapters, and light novels are expected to be added in future updates.
Controversy Surrounding AI-Assisted Translations
A report by Nikkei revealed that Novelous incorporates AI-assisted translations through a partnership with Mantra, a startup in which Shogakukan has invested. This technology claims to significantly reduce translation expenditures while promising a diverse catalog of titles.
Mantra is already recognized for its AI-assisted translations in the English version of the The Ancient Magus’ Bride manga. Notably, they are currently looking to fill roles as “Translation Post-Editors, ”suggesting that human oversight remains a crucial part of their process.
Nevertheless, some professional translators have voiced concerns, arguing that editing AI-generated translations can be more time-consuming than creating original translations due to potential inaccuracies in the automated results.
Fans’ Reception of the Novelous App
The launch of the Novelous app has sparked a complex mix of responses from fans. Discussions on platforms like Reddit highlight concerns over the potential quality of translations. Users are apprehensive that this move could limit access to titles that might otherwise be available through other publishers, considering Shogakukan’s history of hesitancy towards digital licensing for overseas audiences.
Conversely, a segment of the fanbase believes that AI translations can offer “neutral”perspectives, suggesting that traditional translators might inject personal biases into their work.
As it stands, Novelous is currently accessible exclusively in the US and Canada, leaving many eager fans anticipating the further development of this new platform.
Source: ANN
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