Fire Emblem Factory Canon

Since Fire Emblem is a Japanese game, translation is necessary. As is to be expected, the fan community is not always going to agree on how something should be imported to English. Thus, for the purposes of this project, a protocol has been established to determine what will be considered "canon." All game and engine terms and vocabulary will conform to this standard.

 

 

Levels of Canon

FIRST LEVEL: NoA TRANSLATIONS

The highest level of canon is the official Nintendo of America translations. For example, the half-human/half-dragon unit is a "manakete," instead of the common fan translation "mamkute." In all cases, the NoA translation riegns supreme. All levels of canon below this are obviously used for games and terms that have yet to officially make it to North America.

 

SECOND LEVEL: MYTHOLOGY AND HISTORY

If a translation has not yet been given by Nintendo of America, and the term or name clearly comes from either history or mythology, then the most widely accepted translation will be used. Therefor, the hero of "Genealogy of the Holy War" is Sigurd, not Siglud or Zigludo.

 

THIRD LEVEL: COMMON NAME

If the name does not clearly come from mythology, and the official "Japanese English" version of the name (explained below) is close to a common name, then the common name is chosen. For example, the archer that travels with Marth is "Gordon" not "Gohdon." This does not neccisarily apply to less used names or names not commonly found in the United States, Canada, or Britian.

 

FOURTH LEVEL: JAPANESE TRANSLATION

There is an English "translation" for many names and terms that the original Japanese version gives, sometimes in the games themselves, but usually in the Fire Emblem art book collections. This version is to be used if there is no NoA translation and the name is not clearly based on Mythology. The only exception to this rule is when the Japanese version is overly confusing.

 

ABOUT UNOFFICIAL NoA TRANSLATIONS

Nintendo Power and the official Nintendo of America Fire Emblem website feature some names and terms that have not yet made it outside of Japan in the games. These are generally not official translations, however they are generally recommended for use. Sigurd's son, for example, is Serlis, instead of Celice. Third party translations (such as the two-episode Fire Emblem anime that was dubbed in the US) are non-canon.

 

WHEN THE CANON FAILS

If a name or term cannot be determained by using the levels of canon, then it will be determained on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

Game Titles

For the purposes of this project, Fire Emblem Factory projects and the Fire Emblem Factory website will use these naming conventions for the individual game titles. In accordance with the levels of canon, NoA translations reign supreme. The sole exception to this rule is Fire Emblem: The Blazing Sword, which was never given a subtitle in North America.