Naruto Uzumaki is a well-known character in the world of anime and manga, and his signature catchphrase “Believe it,” or “dattebayo,” has become an iconic part of his persona. In many anime and manga series, catchphrases are used to make characters stand out and appear cooler than the others. Even within Naruto, other characters have their own unique catchphrases, such as Sakura’s “Cha” or Killer Bee’s “Fools, ya fools.” However, Naruto’s catchphrase has become particularly famous.
When the series first began, Naruto would end every other sentence with “Believe it.” However, this changed early on in the show, around the time of the Chunin exams, when the phrase “ya know” was introduced in its place. The reason for this change has been a topic of discussion among fans for years.
The phrase “Believe it” comes from the Japanese “dattebayo,” which has continued to be used in the original Japanese version of the series. The mangaka, Masashi Kishimoto, intended to give Naruto a youthful catchphrase that would fit his loud and enthusiastic personality. The phrase “dattebayo” seemed like a perfect fit because it encapsulated Naruto’s character and was easy to remember.
Naruto’s verbal tic typically manifests itself when he is experiencing emotional excitement, such as when he is stressed, anxious, joyful, or elated. Moreover, the trait is shown as if it is hereditary because both his mother Kushina and his son Boruto use similar phrases.
The simple explanation for why “Believe it” was removed from the English dub is that fans complained about how frequently it was used. In the English dub, it was used whenever Naruto made a big statement, which some fans found cheesy, lame, and annoying.
Additionally, many fans protested the blatant mistranslation. Since there is no direct translation of “dattebayo” from Japanese to English, the creators of the English dub chose to translate the catchphrase to “Believe it!” They thought it complemented the Japanese anime’s lip motions closely. However, the overwhelming amount of negative responses led Viz Media to find an alternative and refrain from overusing it.
It is essential to note that the mistranslation of iconic Japanese anime catchphrases is not unique to Naruto. Sakura’s catchphrase “Shannaro” was translated as “Hell yeah!,” “Hell no!,” or even “Damn it!” Instead of its actual meaning, “Cha” was rendered as a meaningless catchphrase.
In conclusion, Naruto’s catchphrase “Believe it” has become an iconic part of the series, but its overuse and mistranslation in the English dub led to its eventual removal. The dubbing team must strive to remain faithful to the original material while still making it enjoyable for English-speaking audiences.
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Shikamaru, Konohamaru, Sai, Kakashi, Kabuto
