Translator Notes:

During the Beast Wars series, the Cybertrons and Destrons used Henshin (変身) rather than the traditional Transform command when they changed forms. Henshin literally means metamorphosis, to change one’s outer appearance or to simply transform. Since the Beast Wars II series uses both Henshin and Transform, we wanted to differentiate between them using a different word for the command code. Thus we’re using the term Metamorph for the Cybertron and Insectron transformation sequences. Funny enough though, in the Beast Wars II manga, Henshin (変身) is written, but beside it in katakana characters, they’ve written Transform (トランスフォーム).

When the Destrons are being briefed by Galvatron on why they’re on the planet Gaia, Megastorm repeats what Galvatron has just said and adds dazo (だぞ) at the end of his sentence. The use of this implies as if a military officer was asking his troops if they were clear about what is being asked of them, or to enforce what the commanding officer has just specified to rally the troops.


The word Angolmois comes from a real-world reference of the most frightening prophecy of the 20th century. Nostradamus, who had predicted a significant event would occur in July of 1999, where a great "King of Terror" would appear in the Middle East to start the battle of Armageddon. This was obviously incorrect as nothing happened. Many experts blamed Nostradamus for this error, and re-translated the scripts as follows.


Original
QUATRAIN #10-72
In the year 1999 and seven months,
From the skies shall come a great and terrible King of Terror.
To raise again the great king of the Mongols,
Before and after, War shall reign at will.

Revised
NOSTRADAMUS PROPHECY #10-72
In the year one thousand nine hundred ninety nine, seventh month,
From the sky will come a "grand Roi deffrayeur"
To resurrect the great king of the "Angolmois".
Before and after, war reigns for a good-cause.



Unfortunately, no one was able to successfully translate the French word Angolmois, and who was this "grand Roi deffrayeur" who was going to arrive out of the sky in the month of July? The only word in any known language that is spelled A-N-G-O-L is Angola, a former Portuguese African colony, and the phrase "grand Roi deffrayeur" translates as "great Leader of frightening power."

While Bighorn is working out, he uses a common expression ude ga naru (腕がなる) which means for one to be itching to put one's skills to use.

Scuba makes a metaphor comparing their loss of a Supreme Commander in reference to a game of Shougi which is Japanese chess.

While playing their game of Seibertronian game of chess, Diver says "check!" in Japanese by saying "ōte!" (王手). This is an influence of international chess and is not required in the rules, however, players will say it as a courtesy.

During the Seibertronian game of chess that Tasmanian Kid and Diver play, Tasmanian Kid asks Diver to let him have another chance at winning, but Diver refuses this request by saying that he can’t undo that move.
The way the dialogue is played out is very difficult to translate, since the reference of generosity is related to water that’s fresh vs water that’s old and spoiled.
Tasmanian Kid - Sonna~, mizu kusai (そんなー、水くさい) No way, be more frank with me! / No way, your generosity stinks! / No way, your water stinks!
Diver - Mizu wa kusatte mahen (水は腐ってまへん) Yes, way! / The water hasn't gone spoiled!

Tasmanian Kid uses a common word dasai (ださい) that young kids would use to describe if something was uncool.

When Tasmanian Kid and Diver are on top of Scuba, Tasmanian Kid uses a bad joke Ika nante ika shi teru ze (烏賊なんてイカしてるぜ). This is bad pun using Ika which means squid, and ikasu (いかす) which means for something to be cool or stylish looking.

The term Honbu (本部) in this series refers to HQ or Headquarters. However this term can also be used in the business world as Head Office.


Before the Cybertrons change forms, Tasmanian Kid refers to their robot modes as sentou modo (戦闘モード). In the guidebooks, they have this written in English as battle modes, so we’ve stuck with that since sentou can refer to combat / battle / fight.

Megastorm presents himself as the Prince / Duke koushaku (公爵) of Destruction.

Megastorm mentions to the Cybertrons that they’ve entered into an enemy’s ring thinking they could win. His reference refers to going into a boxing ring to fight an opponent.

Megastorm says iikimida ( いい気味だ) which refers to someone deserving whatever bad happens to them.

Before Starscream and BB retreat, Starscream makes a comment using the term- Taigakusu (退学) which refers to dropping out or quit from something. Sometimes this term is used in expressions when dropping out of school.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEu7zjpuUdI