A Comparative Analysis of One Piece Dubbing: Arabic and English Localization, Cultural Adaptation, and Ideological Mediation

The present study is a case study that explores the Arabic and English dubbing of the Japanese anime ‘One Piece’ from a translation studies perspective. It examines the linguistic, cultural, and ideological shifts that take place in the dubbing of One Piece for two target languages, drawing on Venuti’s (1995) concepts of domestication and foreignization, Nida and Taber’s (1969) functional or dynamic equivalence, Toury’s (1995) descriptive approach to translation norms, and Even-Zohar’s (1990) polysystem theory. Based on a qualitative contrastive analysis of selected episodes as well as character dialogues and cultural references, this study concludes that Arabic and English dubbing are very different in translation policies. The findings reveal that the original 4Kids English version depends heavily on domestication, while the later Funimation version is more source-oriented. The Venus Centre/Space Power Arabic dubbing indicates a special adaptation in terms of ideas, ideology, and culture, such as the depiction of alcohol, violence, and visuals. The article argues that these differences should be interpreted in relation to the target audiences, broadcasting institutions, and translation norms governing each version rather than through an absolute notion of fidelity.