Internationalization and Localization are essential post-production steps for global distribution, adapting the animation for different cultural and linguistic markets. This includes creating the dubbed tracks (using the M&E track from the final mix) and the subtitle files in dozens of target languages. Localization ensures that not only the dialogue is translated but also any on-screen text, graphics, or cultural references are adapted to resonate with the local audience.

The creation of dubbed tracks requires precise voice casting in each country, aiming to match the tone and character of the original performance as closely as possible, followed by a careful dialogue edit to align with the original animation’s mouth movements and timing. Subtitling involves creating synchronized text files (often SRT or VTT formats) that are integrated into the final video files or provided as separate distribution assets. Accurate localization is crucial for the film’s global commercial success.

Furthermore, localization sometimes requires minor visual changes, such as replacing on-screen text (e.g., a sign or a newspaper headline) with the translated language in the actual animation frame. This intensive post-production effort ensures that the film maintains its narrative integrity and artistic intent, regardless of the territory it is released in. These localized masters form a significant portion of the final delivery asset list.