Localization Tropes - TV Tropes

Localization is when things are changed in a work in order to help other cultures be able to better understand and enjoy a work. Names may change, genders can shift, and themes that are "too foreign" may be altered wildly to be more acceptable and enjoyable to their new audience. Some people see this as a creative workaround, while others see it as a creative excuse to justify cultural appropriation.

This index holds tropes and pages that have something to do with localization.

For tropes that have to do just with translation itself, see the Translation Tropes Index.

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Tropes:

• Adaptation First: The adaptation is localized before the work it is based on.
• Alternative Foreign Theme Song: The foreign dub of a work has a completely different theme song rather than a translated version of the original theme song.
• American Kirby Is Hardcore: A work with a cutesy cover has a more badass-looking cover in overseas releases.
• Bad Export for You: The version released in other countries is inferior to the native release.
• Banned in China: A work for some reason is banned from ever being released in a specific country.
• Barely Changed Dub Name: A character's name is localized by making it barely different from the original.
• Better Export for You: The version released in other countries is superior to the native release.
• Canada Does Not Exist: Works shot in Canada deliberately obscure the setting's location.
• Completely Different Title: The work's name is changed for its localization.
• Country Switch: A video game's setup is programmed to be different depending on the country it's being played.
• Cultural Translation: Aspects of a work are modified to accommodate for cultural differences in the target audience.
• Denial of Digital Distribution: Can apply if the digital release is region-specific.
• Difficulty by Region: The video game has harder difficulty in foreign releases.
• Dub-Induced Plot Hole: An inconsistency in the plot happens because of a translation error.
• Dub Name Change: The translation changes a character's name.
• Dub Personality Change: A localization changes how a character acts.
• Dub Pronunciation Change: A localization changes how a name is pronounced.
• Dub Species Change: A localization changes the species of some character.
• Dueling Dubs: A work is dubbed multiple times into the same language. Occasionally overlaps with Same Language Dub.
• Foreign Dub as Basis: A work is based on a dub that has cultural similarities.
• Foreign Remake: A work is entirely remade for its localization.
• Foreign Re-Score: A work is given a new soundtrack for its localization.
• Importation Expansion: New scenes are added to a work when it is localized.
• Inconsistent Spelling: A name or term does not have a consistent official spelling.
• Keep Circulating the Tapes: A work is no longer in print; can occur when a localization team loses its license.
• Late Export for You: A work isn't localized until well after its native release.
• Localized Name in a Non-Localized Setting: Characters are given names appropriate to the localized language, even though the setting remains the same as the original.
• Macekre: Shoddy localizations.
• Market-Based Title: The work's name is changed, even though it's already in the language it's being localized for.
• Marth Debuted in "Smash Bros.": A character from a work that was never exported makes their first appearance in another work that got localized.
• Mascot's Name Goes Unchanged: The most important character in a work keeps the same name in localization.
• Multi-National Shows: A TV show has unique editions in different countries.
• Multiple Languages, Same Voice Actor: An actor voices the same role in multiple different languages, or dubs over their own live work.
• Named by the Dub: The translation of a work names a previously unnamed character.
• No Dub for You: A work is released in another country, but does not get a proper dub.
• No Export for You: A work never gets released in a specific region for some reason.
• The Pond: An American and British term for the Atlantic Ocean, commonly referred to when localizing for these regions.
• Recursive Import: A work that was changed for localization is imported back into the region it originated form.
• Region Coding: Certain works are locked out of being played on foreign media players.
• Regional Bonus: A video game receives additional content when being localized.
• Remade for the Export: A video game that was never released overseas gets a remake that does see release outside of its native country.
• Same Language Dub: A work is dubbed into the same language it was already in to begin with. Usually occurs due to Separated by a Common Language.
• Separated by a Common Language: Varying dialects of the same language, for example American English versus British English, may require separate localizations.
• Sequel First: A sequel is localized before the work it was originally based on.
• She's a Man in Japan: The localization changes a character's gender.
• Subbing Versus Dubbing: The debate on whether it's better to localize a work by adding subtitles to translate the dialogue or by dubbing over the dialogue with actors speaking the language of the country the work is being localized for.
• Thinly-Veiled Dub Country Change: A localization attempts to change the setting of the work despite obvious signs of its original location.
• Transatlantic Equivalent: Works are remade when they cross either side of The Pond.
• Translation Nod: A work references one of its translations.
• Version-Exclusive Boss: A boss and/or Superboss fight is added in, removed, or altered in different versions of the same game, or new bosses are added in.
• Version-Exclusive Final Boss: Different versions of the same game might either have an altered version of the final boss or a completely new final boss exclusive to certain versions of the game.
• Woolseyism: The translation alters dialogue to make it work better in the new language.
• What Song Was This Again?: A song has completely different, or occasionally removed, lyrics in its localization.

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