When cartoons get dubbed they normally change the lyrics to the opening songs as well. Today sounds like a good day to take a look at three different cartoons and their respective french intros that they had. You’ll also find the lyrics below each video as well as a translation to the lyrics in case you want to follow along and practice your French.
Tortues Ninja (Générique TV – FR 1987)
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cartoon opening
is really quite something, while using the same beat of the original and animation the lyrics take a whole different spin that tells a slightly different take on them and finding more similarities with the Mirage comics version of the TMNT than the more kid friendly cartoon would have. They’re avenging Splinter against their fatal enemy the Shredder, they are authoritarian and make the law, the turtles are “hellish” and Kowabunga is not a catchphrase but their battle cry. Jeeze, the opening makes me want to check this interpretation of the show instead of just the regular old cartoon.
French
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
KOWABUNGA le cri des ninjasQuatre tortues d’enfer dans la ville
Chevaliers d’écailles et de vinyle
Ce sont des guerriers fantastiques
Ils sortent les nunchakus, c’est la paniqueTortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues NinjasPour venger Splinter, ils sortent les katanas
Ils sont les meilleurs et font la loi
Mais quand il s’agit d’s’amuser
Finie la terreur, on est là pour rigolerx2
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues NinjasKOWABUNGA le cri des ninjas
Splinter est leur maître leur chef leur professeur
C’est l’ennemi fatal du sinistre Schreider
C’est grâce aux chevaliers d’écailles
Qu’un jour il vaincra dans la dernière bataillex2
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
KOWABUNGA le cri des ninjasQuatre tortues d’enfer dans la ville
Chevaliers d’écailles et de vinyle
Ce sont des guerriers fantastiques
Ils sortent les nunchakus, c’est la paniqueTortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
Tortues Ninjas, Tortues Ninjas
KOWABUNGA le cri des ninjasEnglish
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
KOWABUNGA the cry of the ninjasFour Hell Turtles in the City
Knights of Scales and Vinyl
These are fantastic warriors
They go out nunchakus, it’s panicNinjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas TurtlesTo avenge Splinter, they release the katanas
They are the best and make the law
But when it comes to having fun
Finished terror, we are there to laugh(X2)
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas TurtlesKOWABUNGA the cry of the ninjas
Splinter is their master their leader their teacher
It is the fatal enemy of the sinister Schreider
It is thanks to the Scale Knights
That one day he will conquer in the last battle(X2)
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
KOWABUNGA the cry of the ninjasFour Hell Turtles in the City
Knights of Scales and Vinyl
These are fantastic warriors
They go out nunchakus, it’s panicNinjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
Ninjas Turtles, Ninjas Turtles
KOWABUNGA the cry of the ninjas
Ranma French Opening/Générique (remastered version)
I’m a big fan of Ranma 1/2 so it was only fair to feature it, especially since anime has always been popular in Europe even before it hit it big in the US. This time the song, lyrics and video is all different from the one the original show had. Unlike the TMNT lyrics, this ones are nowhere near as different, they’re rather generic though I guess if you really ponder you can justify that it does relate to the show. Much worse than the excellent Ranma 1/2 japanese openings but those were usually excellent, I could see the french version growing on me if I had watched it with every episode.
French
Ranma 1/2
Moitié soleil et moitié pluie
Ranma 1/2
Moitié lumière et moitié nuit
Tu vas dans la vie
En t’amusant de tes ennuis
Et tu éblouis
Tes amis de tous les paysQui es-tu Ranma ?
Qui es-tu vraiment ?
C’est le plus grand des secrets [secrets]
Mais ça n’empêche pas, n’empêche pas pourtant
Tous tes amis de t’aimerRanma 1/2
Tu resteras dans notre coeur
De tous nos amis
Le plus sincère et le meilleurRanma1/2
Moitié sourire et moitié larmes
Ranma 1/2
Moitié fous rires et moitié drame
Tu nous fais rêver
D’un monde fou qui nous ravit
Tu nous fais chanter
Les plus jolies des mélodiesQui es-tu Ranma ?
Qui es-tu vraiment ?
Personne au fond ne le sait [le sait]
Mais ça n’empêche pas, n’empêche pas pourtant
Tous tes amis de t’aimer [t’aimer]Ranma 1/2
Moitié soleil et moitié pluie
Ranma 1/2
Moitié lumière et moitié nuit
Tu vas dans la vie
En t’amusant de tes ennuis
Et tu éblouis
Tes amis de tous les paysRanma 1/2
Moitié soleil et moitié pluie
Ranma 1/2
Moitié lumière et moitié nuit
Ranma 1/2
Tu resteras dans notre coeur
De tous nos amis
Le plus sincère et le meilleurEnglish
Ranma 1/2
Half sun and half rain
Ranma 1/2
Half light and half night
You go into life
Enjoying your troubles
And you dazzle
Your friends from all countriesWho are you Ranma?
Who are you?
It is the greatest of secrets [secrets]
But that does not prevent, nevertheless does not prevent
All your friends to love youRanma 1/2
You will stay in our heart
Of all our friends
The most sincere and the bestRanma1 / 2
Half smile and half tears
Ranma 1/2
Half funny laughs and half drama
You make us dream
From a crazy world that delights us
You make us sing
The prettiest of melodiesWho are you Ranma?
Who are you?
No one at the bottom knows [knows]
But that does not prevent, nevertheless does not prevent
All your friends to love you [love you]Ranma 1/2
Half sun and half rain
Ranma 1/2
Half light and half night
You go into life
Enjoying your troubles
And you dazzle
Your friends from all countriesRanma 1/2
Half sun and half rain
Ranma 1/2
Half light and half night
Ranma 1/2
You will stay in our heart
Of all our friends
The most sincere and the best
Wakfu Opening
For the third song I thought I would use the French animated show Wakfu which I am a fan of. This being a french cartoon everything here is the “original” version, the song is fantastic and full of energy, the animation is beautiful and lyrics get you pumped for an adventure. The actual English dub of the song is horrible, so here I feature a more accurate translation of it even if it wouldn’t flow with the beat.
Sois!
Le feu et la terre,
L’eau et la poussière,
Héros malgré toi,
Vois!
La légende s’écrire,
L’histoire se construire,
L’avenir est notre aventure
Fais!
Vivre la lumière,
Parler les éclairs,
La magie entre tes mains
Pars!
Suivre ton chemin
Et regardeTon futur,
L’aventure, Ta lumière guider ton destin!English
Be!
Fire and earth,
Water and dust,
Hero in spite of you,
Look!
The legend is written,
The story is built,
The future is our adventure
Do!
Living light,
Talk about lightning,
The magic in your hands
Pars!
Follow your path
And lookYour future,
Adventure, Your light guide your destiny!
If you enjoyed the article or have any thoughts let me know by commenting below or by tweeting at me. You can also share the article or hit me up an email with your thoughts, it’s nice to hear from other fans.
