楽しい英語
Fun with English

    Episode 3 was a small nightmare to translate, not only for the sheer volume of dialog, technical jargon, and the numerous graphical charts, but also because of the wonderful overlap of Japanese and English featured at the beginning of the episode.  I talked briefly about the problem of English spoken by Japanese in the main page here, but it is interesting to note that the dialogue between the two languages do not match at spots.  The emergency phone call is revealed to be relayed via the White House in the spoken script, but this is completely left out in the Japanese subtitles.
 

軍事用語
Milteck Speak

    For those of you interested, the SCRAM aircraft that they refer to in this episode stands for Supersonic Combustion RAMjet, a technology that exists today for extreme high altitude air travel.  The system is too complex to be put to everyday use, but when this does become practical, travel between Japan and the US will be cut to at least by two thirds.
 

ナデシコ縁者贔屓
Nepotism in Nadesico

    When Gai describes the Operation Gangar Cross, the accompanying illustrated artwork was rendered in a wonderfully simple and dynamic style.  Actually the illustration was drawn by Nobuyoshi Habara's then five years old son, Shun.  Shun Habara was listed in the end credits for this episode.  Habara is a veteran animator and producer who has been in this business for longer than he probably cares to remember.  Habara himself participated as both an animator, production supervisor, and as continuity sheets artist in Nadesico.  One wonders what occupation the child eventually will assume later in his life.