Notes: Do let me know if I’ve got these wrong.
Nani – kind of like saying “What the . . .”
Kawaii – cute
Ara – “Oh my”
Anime is a general term for Japanese animation.
Otaku is an obsesive fan. It has a more negative conotation in Japan than the US.
↓ Transcript
"'Nani?' So you're Japanese?" asked Gina?
"I was born in Okinawa," Carly admitted, "but I've lived in the U.S.A. for the last five years."
"Uh-oh," thought Ace.
"So you'd understand . . .," said Gina.
"Understand?" Carly wondered aloud.
"Carly," Ace began to warn, "Mom's an-"
Too late. Gina was clutching Carly to her breasts even closer than before. "Kawaii," she squealed.
". . . anime otaku," Ace finished, rubbing his brow in dismay.
Carly let out an, "Ara?"
"I was born in Okinawa," Carly admitted, "but I've lived in the U.S.A. for the last five years."
"Uh-oh," thought Ace.
"So you'd understand . . .," said Gina.
"Understand?" Carly wondered aloud.
"Carly," Ace began to warn, "Mom's an-"
Too late. Gina was clutching Carly to her breasts even closer than before. "Kawaii," she squealed.
". . . anime otaku," Ace finished, rubbing his brow in dismay.
Carly let out an, "Ara?"
Not bad on the Japanese.
“Ara” isn’t really ‘wrong’ here, but it’s more of a calmer expression of confusion. “Hmm? What do we have here?” sort of thing.
I probably would have gone with “Eeeh?” for something surprising/unexpected.
It’s easy to miss Rocky in the corner of the last panel cracking up, but it really adds to the scene!