Quote Originally Posted by Illya View Post
When localization changes the meaning of the original script or leaves out details entirely, it's no longer a localization. It's a butchery. The point of localization is to modify translated scripts to match local culture and language. It's not to completely change the meaning of statements or events, or even leave things entirely out.
This...isn't always true.
Since localization often happens after a work is finished, those in charge of the process often have the whole work to work with rather than numerous in-progress scripts and the like.
Thus, often plotholes can actually be FIXED by a localization rather than broken.
An interesting example is in GoLion/Voltron. In an early episode, the character Sven is killed off, only to have his identical twin brother show up later and save the day.
This was, obviously, quite a groaner plot twist.
In the American localization? He didn't die, and rather than his inexplicable twin brother showing up, his injuries just healed.
And that's before you get into issues where the original plot is just plain wrong about something, such a character who grew up in New York City inexplicably being a cowboy with a ranch.
In New York city.
It happens!