De la hotline Nintendo à Pokémon : le parcours fou de Julien Bardakoff
Julien Tellouck
40,444 views
30 Years of Pokémon! In this special episode of As Long As There's Wi-Fi…, I welcome Julien Bardakoff, the man who created the French names for the first 251 Pokémon.
We delve into the inner workings of Nintendo, his beginnings on the Nintendo SOS hotline, his missions in Japan (including meetings where he met Miyamoto), and above all, the creation of iconic names like Squirtle, Charmander, Charizard, Eevee, Snorlax, Jigglypuff, Psyduck…
Julien Bardakoff explains his adaptation method (puns, mythology, Latin, pop culture references), the imposed choices (e.g., Pikachu), and incredible anecdotes: the "fararticho" and the "unfindable" artichoke, or even his hidden Easter eggs (yes, even Motus in Assassin's Creed 👀).
We also discuss the hot topic in the industry: artificial intelligence and the future of the translator/adapter profession.
🎙️ Subscribe so you don't miss our next guests, and tell me in the comments: which Pokémon name fascinates you the most and why?
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction – 30 years of Pokémon and the story of the creator of the French names
01:50 Julien Bardakoff: from the Nintendo hotline to video game translation
03:10 First translations on Super Nintendo: Terranigma and the beginnings at Nintendo
05:20 The secrets of video game localization and Easter eggs in Assassin’s Creed
06:40 Working with Nintendo Japan: Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and behind the scenes
07:00 Why Pokémon names needed to be adapted into French
10:20 Discovering Pokémon on Game Boy and creating the first complete Pokédex
15:35 Pikachu: why the name was never translated into French
17:40 Squirtle: origin of the French name and adaptation by Zenigame
20:00 Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard: mythology, etymology, and creation of the names
24:10 Farfetch'd: the The Mystery of the Artichoke and the Deliberate Mind Game
30:10 Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur: Understanding the Japanese Names and the French Adaptation
33:45 Pokémon Names He Regrets: Venonat, Nidoran, Lugia
35:10 The Best Creations: Vulpix, Ninetales, and the Logic of IX Equals Nine
37:30 Jigglypuff: Candy, Music, and the Double Meaning of the French Name
40:30 Snorlax, Mewtwo, Eevee: Etymology, Evolution, and Cultural References
45:10 After Pokémon: Totally Spies, Martin Mystery, and the Adaptation of Animated Series
48:30 How Video Game Translation and Adaptation Work Today
51:00 Artificial Intelligence and Localization: Threat or Evolution of the Profession?
55:00 Conclusion: Conventions, Transmission, the Future of Translations, and Upcoming Projects
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20 Comments
Je m attendais tellement pas à cet invité
C’est super
Julien envoi vraiment des masterclass depuis son arrivée sur YouTube, il prend le temps de laisser parler ses invités, il ne leur coupe pas la parole, c’est ultra agréable ! Et il est naturel dans ses réactions ça tue !
Deux Julien qui se croisent, ça donne un excellent échange qu'on apprécie avec grand plaisir.
Merci Mr Bardokoff 🙏🧡
Si jamais vous écrivez un livre sur la traduction de chaque Pokémon de G1 et G2, avec les bâtiments, villes et personnages, je pense que nous serions nombreux à l'acheter.
Merci Julien Tellouck ! 🙏🏾🤍
L’heure est passé trop vite, le podcast aurait duré 8h, je serais resté scotché devant !
Beaucoup connaissent déjà Julien B., et pourtant il ne fais pas parler de lui.
Il a un grande humilité et modestie.
Cet homme est un puis de science mêlée à une immense culture générale et historique !
Rajouté à cela un super sens de l’humour et des passions que nous partageons tous, c’est le mec/pote parfait ! 🤩
Julien Bardakoff a beaucoup de culture un vrai génie !
Et la culture de Julien, c'est fou de connaître autant de choses.
C'était un plaisir à regarder
De la hotline Nintendo à Pokémon : le parcours fou de Julien Bardakoff
Julien Tellouck
40,444 views
30 Years of Pokémon! In this special episode of As Long As There's Wi-Fi…, I welcome Julien Bardakoff, the man who created the French names for the first 251 Pokémon.
We delve into the inner workings of Nintendo, his beginnings on the Nintendo SOS hotline, his missions in Japan (including meetings where he met Miyamoto), and above all, the creation of iconic names like Squirtle, Charmander, Charizard, Eevee, Snorlax, Jigglypuff, Psyduck…
Julien Bardakoff explains his adaptation method (puns, mythology, Latin, pop culture references), the imposed choices (e.g., Pikachu), and incredible anecdotes: the "fararticho" and the "unfindable" artichoke, or even his hidden Easter eggs (yes, even Motus in Assassin's Creed 👀).
We also discuss the hot topic in the industry: artificial intelligence and the future of the translator/adapter profession.
🎙️ Subscribe so you don't miss our next guests, and tell me in the comments: which Pokémon name fascinates you the most and why?
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction – 30 years of Pokémon and the story of the creator of the French names
01:50 Julien Bardakoff: from the Nintendo hotline to video game translation
03:10 First translations on Super Nintendo: Terranigma and the beginnings at Nintendo
05:20 The secrets of video game localization and Easter eggs in Assassin’s Creed
06:40 Working with Nintendo Japan: Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and behind the scenes
07:00 Why Pokémon names needed to be adapted into French
10:20 Discovering Pokémon on Game Boy and creating the first complete Pokédex
15:35 Pikachu: why the name was never translated into French
17:40 Squirtle: origin of the French name and adaptation by Zenigame
20:00 Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard: mythology, etymology, and creation of the names
24:10 Farfetch'd: the The Mystery of the Artichoke and the Deliberate Mind Game
30:10 Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur: Understanding the Japanese Names and the French Adaptation
33:45 Pokémon Names He Regrets: Venonat, Nidoran, Lugia
35:10 The Best Creations: Vulpix, Ninetales, and the Logic of IX Equals Nine
37:30 Jigglypuff: Candy, Music, and the Double Meaning of the French Name
40:30 Snorlax, Mewtwo, Eevee: Etymology, Evolution, and Cultural References
45:10 After Pokémon: Totally Spies, Martin Mystery, and the Adaptation of Animated Series
48:30 How Video Game Translation and Adaptation Work Today
51:00 Artificial Intelligence and Localization: Threat or Evolution of the Profession?
55:00 Conclusion: Conventions, Transmission, the Future of Translations, and Upcoming Projects
=== 🎮 MY GAME MACHINES 🎮 ===
PS5: https://amzn.to/3OH9i5T
PS5 Pro: https://amzn.to/3OH9j9X
Nintendo Switch 2: https://amzn.to/4qFd2SS
Xbox Series X: https://amzn.to/4rbeBsO
PS Portal: https://amzn.to/3ZCnMq4
iPhone 17 Pro: https://amzn.to/4rUmvXG
ASUS ROG Xbox Alliance X: https://amzn.to/4kz91OB
Click here to subscribe 🥰 https://goo.gl/UxXPoz
=== 🔗 FIND ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA 🔗 ===
Instagram: Instagram: julientellouck
TikTok: TikTok: julientellouck
Facebook: Facebook: julientellouck
Twitter/X: Twitter: JulienTellouck
Twitch: Twitch: julientellouck
LinkedIn: LinkedIn: julientellouck
Official Website: http://www.julientellouck.com/
Your support allows the podcast and the channel to continue growing every week 🙏
Thank you for being part of the adventure ❤️