Many Anime series have fairly lengthy titles. Frequently, they wind up picking up a portmanteau series nickname, with a syllable or two of each word in the series name. Sometimes, the producers explicitly encourage this, and refer to the series using the nickname in the Post-Episode Trailer.
Portmanteau words are the Japanese equivalent of acronyms. The Japanese language is syllabic — instead of single letters, Japanese is built from entire syllables; consonants (except "n") don't occur by themselves. So where a Western term would produce an acronym, the Japanese equivalent produces a pronounceable word. The Japanese use portmanteau terms in much the same way that English speakers use acronyms. Which is to say, frequently. More so recently thanks to the need to create short hashtags on Twitter, some of which have been officially endorsed by the author or publisher.
Probably the most famous is Pocket Monsters becoming Pokémon. The longer name is official for both the games and the show in Japan, but couldn't be used in America because an early-90s toyline/comic/cartoon had secured the trademark on the name "Monster in My Pocket". This is actually slightly common; some of these are so ubiquitous that they get used as the official English titles.
See also Officially Shortened Title
Alphabetical order by official Japanese title, please.
Examples:
- Aggressive Retsuko -> "Aggretsuko"
- Aishiteruze Baby -> "AiBaby"
- Ai Yori Aoshi -> "Ai-Ao" (the creator uses this himself in the omakes)
- Animal Yokocho -> "AniYoko"
- Ano Hi Mita Hana No Namae O Bokutachi Wa Mada Shiranainote -> "AnoHana". It's a necessity.
- Ano Ko ni Kisu to Shirayuri wo -> "AnoKiss"
- Ansatsu Kyoushitsu -> More commonly referred to as Assassination Classroom -> "AssClass"
- Arata Kangatari -> "AraKan"
- Azumanga Daioh -> "AzuDai"
- Azumanga itself meaning something like Azuma's Manga.
- Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu -> "Baka Test"
- Bakuretsu Tenshi ("BurstAngel") -> "Bakuten"
- Bamboo Blade -> "BanBure"
- Berusaiyu no Bara (Rose of Versailles) -> "BeruBara"
- Bessatsu Friend -> "BetsuFure"note
- Bessatsu Margaretnote -> "BetsuMa"
- Black Lagoon -> "BurakuRa"
- Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo -> "Bo7" (Also written "Bo-7" and "Bo^7")
- Bokura Wa Minna Kawaisou -> "BokuKawa"
- Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai -> "Haganai" (wa is spelt with the hiragana for ha when it is used as a particle)
- Cowboy Bebop -> "CowBe"
- Chunibyo Demo Koi ga Shitai! ("Even with Eighth Grader Syndrome, I Want to Be in Love"; a.k.a, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions) -> "ChuniKoi", as well as "ChuKoi"
- Crayon Shin-chan -> "KureShin"
- Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou (Daily Lives of High School Boys) -> "DanNichi"
- Death Note -> "DesuNo"
- Descendants of Darkness -> "YamiMatsu", from the Japanese title Yami no Matsuei.
- Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu (The Legend of the Legendary Heroes) -> "DenYuuDen"
- D.Gray-Man -> "D.Gure"
- Fruits Basket -> "FuruBa"
- Fushigi Yuugi -> "FushiYuu"
- Futari wa Pretty Cure (and such) -> "Precure" (starting with Heartcatch Pretty Cure, "Precure" is used on the title image instead of "Pretty Cure")
- It's also a pun (try pronouncing "Precure" in an Engrish accent) on purikura (lit., "Print Club"), those trendy photobooths popular in Japan. Just why is a mystery; its relevance is never alluded to within the series.
- Garasu (Glass) no Hana to Kowasu Sekai - > GaraKowa
- Garasu no Kamen (Glass Mask) -> "GaraKame"
- Gendai Shikaku Bunka Kenkyuukai -> "Genshiken" (A special case; the official title is Genshiken; the long form is used only in-series for the actual club.)
- Ginga Eiyū Densetsu (Legend of Galactic Heroes) -> "GinEiDen"
- Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka? (Is the Order a Rabbit?) -> "GochiUsa"
- Gokudo no Sensei -> "Gokusen"
- Girls und Panzer -> "Garupan"
- Hachimitsu to Kurobaa ("Honey and Clover") -> "Hachikuro"
- .hack//tasogare no udewa densetsu -> "Udeden"
- Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) -> "HagaRen"
- Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers) -> HanaDan
- Hanazakari no Kimi-tachi e -> "HanaKimi"
- Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora -> "Hantsuki"
- Hidamari Sketch -> "HidaSketch"
- Hikaru no Go -> "HikaGo"
- Hime Chen Otogi Chikku Idol Lilpri -> "LilPri", short for the characters' group name "Little Princesses."
- Ichigo Mashimaro -> "IchiMashi"
- Initial D -> "IniD"
- Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita ("Humanity Has Declined") -> "Jintai"
- Jungle wa Itsumo Hale nochi Guu -> Haré+Guu
- Kagerou Project ->"KagePro"
- Kaleido Star -> "KareSuta"
- Kamichama Karin -> "KamiKarin"
- Some fans also try to shorten the sequel's title (Kamichama Karin Chu) to "KamiChu", unaware that's it's already the name of another series (or more accurately, the Portmanteau Series Nickname of another series).
- Kamichu! -> already a portmanteau of "Kamisama de Chuugakusei" (Middle-school student god)
- Kami Nomi Zo Shiru Sekai ("The World God Only Knows") -> "Kaminomi"
- Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi -> "Kaminai"
- Kanojo ha kawaii "kon" to suru ("she gives a cute "kon" yelp") -> "Kanokon", which, similarly to Genshiken is actually the only title ever used, but refers to the title of the first chapter.
- Kareshi Kanojo no Jijyou ("His and Her Circumstances") -> "Kare Kano"
- Kaze to Ki no Uta -> "KazeKi"
- Kimi ni Todoke -> "KimiTodo"
- Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo -> "Kochikame"
- Kodomo no Jikan -> "Kojika"
- Kodomo no Omocha ("Child's Toy") -> "Kodocha"
- Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai (This Ugly Yet Beautiful World) -> "KonoMini"
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! ("Gifting the Wonderful World with Blessings") -> "KonoSuba"
- Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka? -> "Korezon"
- Kotonoha no Miko to Kotodama no Majyo to (The Miko's Words and the Witch's Incantations) -> "MikoMajyo"
- Kujibiki Unbalance (from Genshiken) -> "Kujiun". (Another special case as the name "Kujiun" was introduced in-series in the first ep of Genshiken.)
- Kyoto Animation (the studio) -> KyoAni (and also "KeyAni" for adapting so many Key games)
- Kyo Kara Maoh! -> "MaruMa" (Actually not technically portmanteau as it was named after the symbol - the character 'ma' from 'maou' in a circle 'maru'.)
- Ladies Versus Butlers! -> "LadiBato"
- Lovely Complex -> "Love* Com"
- Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai! -> "MajiKoi"
- Maria-sama ga Miteru (The Virgin Mary is Watching) -> "Marimite"
- Matantei Loki Ragnarok -> "MaLoki"
- Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch -> "P3"
- Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou (Daily Life with Monster Girl) -> "MonMusu"
- Mugen no Ryvius (Infinite Ryvius) -> "MugeRiva"
- Mukuro Naru Hoshi - Tama Taru Ko (Shadow Star) -> "Narutaru"
- Okusama wa Joshikousei (My Wife Is a High School Girl ) -> "OkuKousei"
- One-Punch Man -> "WanPan"
- Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne! -> "OniAi"
- Oniichan No Koto Nanka Zenzen Suki Ja Nai N Dakara Ne -> "OniiKoto"
- Ookiku Furikabutte (Big Windup) -> "Oofuri"
- Ore No Imouto Ga Konna Ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai (My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute) -> "Oreimo"
- Ore no Nounai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru (My Mental Choices are Completely Interfering with my School Romantic Comedy) -> "NouCome".
- Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru -> "Oreshura
- Osomatsu-san -> "OsoSan"
- And its predecessor Osomatsu-kun -> "OsoKun"
- Otaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Love is Hard for Otaku) -> "Wotakoi"
- Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru -> "Otoboku"
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt -> "Pansuto"
- Paradise Kiss -> "ParaKiss"
- Pita-Ten - special case, as the official title is already a shortening of Pitari Tenshi (clinging angel)
- Pocket Monsters Special -> Pokémon Special -> "PokeSpe"/"Pokesupe"
- Pokémon Card Ni Natta Wake -> ''PokéWake'
- Princess Princess -> "PuriPuri" (Unfortunately the actual name of a very different manga series.)
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica: -> "MadoMagi"
- Renkin San Kyuu Magical Pokaan -> "MagiPoka"
- Romeo X Juliet -> "RomeJuli"
- Rosario + Vampire -> "Rosa-Vam" (which is also used by the author)
- Rurouni Kenshin -> "Ruroken"
- Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata -> "SaeKano"
- Saikin Imouto No Yousu Ga Chotto Okashiin Da Ga (Recently, My Sister is Unusual) -> "ImōCho"
- Saishuu Heiki Kanojo -> "Saikano"
- Saiunkoku Monogatari -> "SaiMono" and "KokoMono"
- Samurai 7 -> "Sam7"
- Samurai Flamenco -> "SamuMenco" Used in universe when Mari talks to Masayoshi when both are in hero getup.
- A lesser used abbreviation is "SamFlam".
- School Rumble -> "SukuRan"
- Scrapped Princess -> "Sutepri" (shortened to "Scra-Prin" in English)
- An interesting case; it's something of a back-translation on the Japanese side. The original title had the English "Scrapped" [Sukurappudo] rather than the Japanese equivalent "Suterareta."
- Shaman King -> "ManKin"
- Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April) -> "KimiUso"
- Shinshi Doumei Cross -> "ShinKuro"
- Shojo Comic -> "ShoComi" (it's most commonly used name)
- Shonen Magazine -> "ShoMaga"
- Shonen Jump -> "ShoJump"
- Shonen Sunday -> "ShoSun"
- Shuuen No Shiori Project -> "ShuuenPro"
- Sister Princess -> "SisPri"
- Slam Dunk -> "SuraDan"
- Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru -> "SoreMachi"
- Soukou No Strain -> "S-Strain"
- Star Driver -> "SutaDora"
- Strawberry Panic! -> "SutoPani" (just StoPani on English boards)
- Sugar Sugar Rune -> "S2R" or "Sugar2 Rune"
- In the anime, "S2R" is engraved on Chocolat's heart holder.
- Suki na Mono wa Suki Dakara Shouganai!! -> "Sukisho" (or "Sukisyo")
- Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuuutsu -> "Suzuharu"
- Tanaka-kun is Always Listless (Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge) -> "TanaKeda"
- Tiger & Bunny -> "TaiBani"
- Tennis no Oujisama (The Prince of Tennis) -> TeniPuri or PoT
- Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo -> TokiKake
- Triangle Heart -> "ToraHa" or "Toraha"
- Trinity Blood -> "Toribla"
- Ultra Jump -> "UruJan" (seinen manga magazine by Shueisha)
- Ultra Maniac -> "UruMani"
- Cardfight!! Vanguard has three in-universe examples: United Sanctuary (both the country on the planet Cray, and the Vanguard branch in G) is commonly called "UniSan" for short, while "Dragon Empire" is sometimes called "DoraEn". There's also the Trinity Dragon team, also from G, who are sometimes called "ToriDora" for short.
- Another example is the idol group Rummy Labyrinth, who is sometimes called "RummyLaby" for short.
- Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru (Betrayal Knows My Name) -> "UraBoku"
- Uta No Prince Sama -> "UtaPri"
- Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaete mo Omaera ga Warui (No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!) -> "WataMote"
- World Trigger -> "WorTri"
- Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru ("My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong as Expected", AKA, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU) -> "HaMachi", as well as "OreGairu"
- Yami To Boushi To Hon No Tabibito -> "Yamibou"
- Young Jump (another seinen manga magazine by Shueisha) -> YanJan
- Yumeiro Pâtissière: "YumePati"
- It's anime-only sequel series Yumeiro Patissiere Professional: "YumePati Pro"
- Yuuki Yuuna Wa Yuusha De Aru -> "YuYuYu"
- YuYu Hakusho -> "YuuHaku," "YuYu"
- Yuyushiki, "YuYu Formula," is basically in this format already; it's based on the Alphabetical Theme Naming (the heroines' names all start with Yu).
- Battle Spirits -> BatoSupi
- Magic: The Gathering -> MajiGyaza note
- Duel Mastersnote -> DueMa
- Monster Collection -> MonCollenote
- Pokémon Card Game -> PokéCardnote
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game: Duel Monsters -> DueMon
- The Ghostbusters franchise in Japan -> "GhosBus"
- Imouto Sae Ireba Ii (A Sister's All You Need) -> "ImoSae"
- Inou Battle wa Nichijoukei no Naka de (When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace) -> "InoBato"
- Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni (In Another World with My Smartphone) -> "IseSuma"
- Kara no Kyoukai -> "Rakkyo"
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! ->KonoSuba
- Log Horizon -> "RoguHora"
- Shūmatsu Nani Shitemasu ka? Isogashii Desu ka? Sukutte Moratte Ii Desu ka? -> "Sukasuka"
- Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime) -> "TenSura", although "Tensei Slime" has also been used.
- Absolutely Fabulous -> "AbFab"
- Kato-chan Ken-chan Gokigen Terebi -> "KatoKen"
- Power Rangers -> "PawaRen"
- Star Trek -> StaTre
- Ultraman -> UruMa
- Ultraseven -> Uru7
- Ultraman Ace -> UruAce
- Really, anynote of the series can be subject to this.
- All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (Zen Nihon Joshi Puroresu) -> "Zenjo"
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Musicals -> "Sera Myu" ("Sera" is a shortened Japanese rendition of "Sailor (Moon)", while "Myu" stands for "musical")
- Hamster's "Arcade Archives" series -> "AkeAca"
- Assassin's Creed (a rare Western example) -> the somewhat unfortunate "AssCreed"
- Brotherhood -> "AssBro"
- Revelations -> "AssRev"
- Banjo to Kazooie no Daibouken (Banjo-Kazooie) -> "BanKaz"
- beatmania -> "Bemani" (no longer used for this purpose; in recent years, "Bemani" is used to refer to Konami's Rhythm Games as a whole.)
- Bokujo Monogatari (Harvest Moon) -> "Bokumono"
- Bokura no Taiyou -> "Boktai"
- Bubble Bobble -> "BubBob"note
- Puzzle Bobble (AKA: Bust-a-Move) -> "PuzBob"
- In-universe example: in Mighty No. 9, Cherry Dynamics is also called "CherryDyn" for short.
- Crash Bandicoot -> "KuraBan"
- Dance Evolution -> "DanEvo"
- DanceDanceRevolution -> "DanceRevo"
- Dark Souls -> "DaSo"
- Demon Souls + Dark Souls and sequels + Bloodborne -> "Soulsborne"
- Double Dragon -> "DabuDora" (also applies to Billy and Jimmy's expies, Ryuichi and Ryuji, from the Kunio-kun series)
- Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing) -> "DouMori"
- Oide yo! ("Come on over!") Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: Wild World) -> "OiMori"
- Machi e Ikou yo! ("Let's Go to the City!"note ) Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: City Folk) -> "MachiMori"
- Tobidase! ("Jump out!") Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) -> "TobiMori"
- Dragon Quest -> "DraQue" (incidentally, the name "Duracuets" in La-Mulana is an alternate spelling of "DraQue 2")
- Dragon Slayer -> "Drasle", though this only really shows up in the Japanese title of Legacy of the Wizard, which is Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family.
- Eiyuu Densetsu (The Legend Of Heroes) -> "EiDen"
- Emerald Dragon, an RPG for various Japanese home computersnote , is sometimes called EmeDora for short.
- Famicom BASIC -> "FamiBe"note
- Famicom Tantei Club -> "FamiTan"
- Final Fantasy -> "FiFan"
- Gensou Suikoden -> "GenSui" (Though Konami simply uses "Gensou" as the abbreviation for the game series.)
- Golden Axe -> GoruAku
- Groove Coaster -> "GuruKosu"
- Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania (collectively) -> "GitaDora". Notably, three games share this exact title: a port of GuitarFreaks 4th Mix and drummania 3rd Mix, the 2013 arcade game simply called GITADORA, and said arcade game's accompanying iOS spinoff.
- Gyakuten Saiban -> "Gyakusai"
- Harukanaru Toki no Naka de -> "HaruToki" (Although the "official" short version used in Japanese media is "Haruka" — it even made its way into the title of the English-language release of the manga adaptation.)
- By extension, the TV series based on the franchise, Harukanaru Toki no Naka de - Hachiyou Shou -> "HaruHachi" (or, going from the Japanese version, "Haruka8")
- Ice Climber -> "AiKura"
- Idol Katsudou -> Aikatsu!
- The iDOLM@STER -> iM@S (used officially by Namco Bandai, especially when referring to the franchise as a whole ["Project iM@S"])
- It's spinoff manga Petit iDOLM@STER -> Puchimas
- Inazuma Eleven -> "InaIre"
- Jak and Daxter -> "JakuDaku"
- Kantai Collection -> "KanColle"
- The King Of Fighters -> "KinFai"
- Kingdom Hearts -> "KinHa"
- Live Powerful Pro Baseball -> "PawaPuro"
- Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono (Class Of Heroes) -> "totomono"
- Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi -> "Totono"
- Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's Portable -> "NanoPo"
- Marble Madness -> MabuMado
- Mario & Luigi RPG series ("Superstar Saga", etc.) -> "MariLui"
- Mario Kart series -> "MariKa"
- Master of Monsters -> "MasuMon"
- Metal Gear -> "MeGi"
- Metal Gear Solid -> "MeSo"; also "MeGiSo"
- Metal Slug -> "MetaSura"
- Metroid Prime -> "MetoPura"
- Minecraft -> "MaiKura"
- Momotarou Dentetsu -> "MomoTetsu"
- Monster Hunter -> "MonHun"
- Mortal Kombat -> "MorKom"
- Western example: In fandoms for games which feature the Chinese Civil War (such as Hearts of Iron or Steel Panthers), it's not unusual to sometimes see NatChi and ComChi used for the Nationalist / Kuomintang and Communist forces, at least when they aren't using the KMT and CCP acronyms.
- Mega Man Battle Network has an in-universe example: "Network Navigator" -> "NetNavi" (which is what they are most commonly known by)
- Operation Wolf -> "OpeUru" note
- Operation Thunderbolt -> "OpeThun"
- Panel de Pon -> "Panepon", which shows up in the Japanese titles of Tetris Attack (Yoshi no Panepon) and Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (Pokemon de Panepon).
- The Paper Mario games -> "PepaMari"
- Super Paper Mario -> "SuPeMari"
- Pocket Monsters -> Pokemon/Pokémon (the official international name)
- Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon -> "PokéDun"
- Poitters' Point -> Poy Poy (the official international name)
- pop'n music -> "PoMu"
- Princess Maker -> "PuriMe"
- Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium -> "FamiSta" (which soon became an Officially Shortened Title)
- Puzzle & Dragons -> PazuDora
- Ratchet & Clank -> "RacheKura"
- Robot Ponkotto -> Robopon
- Romancing SaGa -> "RomaSaGa"
- Rhythm Tengoku (AKA Rhythm Heavennote ) -> "RizuTen"
- Sengoku Basara -> "SenBasa"
- Shin Megami Tensei -> "MegaTen"
- One of its more obscure spinoffs, Giten Megami Tensei, is commonly abbreviated as "GigaTen".
- Sonic the Hedgehog -> "SoniHe"
- Sonic Adventure (and by extension, its sequel) -> "SoniAdo"
- Sonic Rush Series -> "SoniRa"
- Space Harrier -> "SupeHari"
- Space Invaders -> "SupeInbe"
- Street Fighter -> "SutoFai"
- Street Fighter II -> "SutoTsuu" (or "St. II", as one prototype for the Genesis port spells it out.)
- Street Fighter ZERO -> "SutoZero"
- Street Fighter EX -> "SutoEX"
- Street Fighter III -> "SutoSurii"
- Street Fighter IV -> "SutoFoo"
- Street Fighter V -> "SutoFaibu"
- Subarashiki Kono Sekai (The World Ends with You) -> "SubaSeka"
- Super Mario Bros. -> "SuMari"
- Super Mario World -> "SuMariWor"
- Super Mario Sunshine -> "SuMariSun"
- Both Super Mario Galaxy games -> "SuMariGala"
- Super Mario Odyssey -> "MariOde"
- There's also "MariBro", which can refer to the brothers themselves, their original 1983 arcade game, or the franchise in general.
- Super Mario Maker -> "MariMe"
- Super Smash Bros. -> "SmaBro" (mostly in Japan), "SSB(M,B,4)"
- The "Smash" ability from Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is "SumaBura" when romanized from the Japanese name.
- Tokimeki Memorial -> "TokiMemo"
- Touken Ranbu -> "Tourabu"
- Undertale -> "AnTe"
- Virtual-ON: Oratorio Tangram -> "OraTan"
- Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune -> "WanganMaxi"
- Yandere Simulator -> "YanSim" (often used in English)
- Yoake mae yori ruriiro na ~Crescent Love~ -> "YoakeNa"
- Zelda no Densetsu (The Legend of Zelda) -> "ZelNoDen"; also "ZelDen" and "ZeruDeru
"
- Kamigami no Triforce ("Triforce of the Gods", AKA: A Link to the Past) -> "KamiTora"
- Toki no Ocarina (Ocarina of Time) ->"TokiOca" and "TokaRina"
- Mujura no Kamen (Majora's Mask'') -> "MujuKa"
- Kaze no Takuto ("Takt of the Wind", AKA: The Wind Waker) -> "KazeTaku"
- Twilight Princess -> "TowaPuri"
- Skyward Sword -> "SukaSo"
- Breath of the Wild -> "BureWai"
- Xenoblade (AKA Xenoblade Chronicles) -> "ZenoBure"
- Dreamcast -> "DriCas"note , "DreCas", "DoriKyasu" or just "Dori"note .
- Family Computer (Nintendo Entertainment System) -> Famicom note
- Game Boy -> "GeBo"
- Game Boy Color -> "GeBoKa"
- Game Boy Advance -> "GeBoAdo"
- Nintendo GameCube -> "GeCu"
- Game Gear -> "GeGi"
- Mega Drive (Genesis) -> "MegaDora" or just "MeDo"
- Neo Geo -> "NeGe" (pronounced like "Neji")
- Nintendo 64 -> "RokuYon" (from the Japanese pronunciation of 64)note
- PlayStation -> "PureSute"note
- Sega Saturn -> "SegaSata" or just "Sata"note
- Super Famicom (Super NES) -> "SuFami"note
- WonderSwan -> "WonSwa"
- Ikemen Sengoku -> "IkeSen"
- Kimi ga Nozomu Eien ("The Eternity You Wish For", aka "Rumbling Hearts") -> "Kiminozo"
- Osananajimi wa Daitouryou (My Girlfriend Is the President) -> "OsaDai"
- Sono Hanabira Ni Kuchizuke Wo -> Sonohana
- Care Bears: Adventures in Care-a-Lot -> AiCAL
- Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot -> W2CAL
- DuckTales (1987) -> "DakkuTe"note
- My Little Pony -> "MaRiPo"
- My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic -> FiM, MLP:FiM
- Strawberry Shortcake -> SSC, SBSC, SutoShonote
- Drinks chain Beverages & More! now calls themselves BevMo! (Yes, with the exclamation point in both versions.)
- Coleco, of Colecovision fame, stands for Connecticut Leather Company.
- American shipping company Federal Express rebranded to FedEx, a popular nickname, and used both till 2000. [1]
◊
- National Biscuit Company -> Nabisco
, they changed their name so long ago, most people don't even know of the full name.
- The British bank National Westminster Bank rebranded to NatWest in the mid 90s.
- As did now-defunct American bank Washington Mutual ("WaMu").
- Service Games was originally founded as an American company, but after it opened its Japanese offices in the early 1950's, they would eventually be referred to as Sega.
- Japan Capsule Computer Co. was only in the business of making video game arcade cabinets, which they thoughtfully named "Capsule Computers." Now that they're in the business of making games themselves, we have since known them as Capcom. This was then inverted with their first would-be mascot, Captain Commando.
- Although Bandai Namco is generally known in the West as "Bamco" (which was used by the Japanese company at one point), the company in Japanese materials is often referred to as "BanNam"note .
- "Namco" itself is one, standing for either "Nakamura Manufacturing Company" or "Nakamura Manufacturing Company" (it's unclear which).
- Jagex's name originally stood for "Java Gaming Experts", though they have redefined it as "Just About the Game Experience".
- Bluesman Keb' Mo', originally Kevin Moore (not that one).
- Jennifer Lopez -> JLo.
- Jennifer Lawrence -> J.Law (also spelled "J-Law")
- Amy Schumer -> A.Schu
- The Color Computer was known to many of its users as the CoCo.
- National Geographic -> NatGeo
- Hassenfeld Brothers -> Hasbro
- (T. E. S)tockwell + Jack (Co)hen -> Tesco stores, world's second biggest supermarket
- Japan Leisure Company -> Jaleconote
- American Football (in Japan) -> AmeFuto
- American comic books (Superman, Spider-Man, etc.; also in Japan) -> AmeComi
- Japanese convenience store chain Family Mart -> FamiMa, which was the name they used for its short lived attempt at expanding to North America
- 7-Eleven in Japan -> "SeEle" (Some even call it "VenVen")
- Circle K in Japan -> "CirK" (pronounced like "Sir Kay")
- McDonald's in Japan -> "MakuDo"
- Burger King in Japan -> "BurKin"
- The video game magazine Famitsu takes its name from Famicom Tsūshin (or the "Famicom Journal"), its original name back when it mainly covered the aforementioned Famicom console.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan -> "KenChiki"
- Personal Computers (i.e., PCs) -> "PersoCom" (has nothing to do with the other kind)
- Tokyo Daigaku (Tokyo University) -> "ToDai"
- Remote control devices are typically referred to as "remocon" in Japan.note
- Smartphone -> "SumaHo"
- Southern California is often called "SoCal" for short.
- Similarly, Northern California is sometimes called "NorCal"
- Arcades in Japan are also known as "game centers" or "GeCen" for short.
- The late Olympic track star Florence Griffith-Joyner -> "FloJo"
- Dungeons & Dragons -> DunDra
- Electromechanical arcade games are sometimes called "EleMecha" in Japan.
- One of AKB48's songs, Heavy Rotation is sometimes called "HebiRote" for short.
- Square Enix -> SukuEni, along with "Squeenix".
- Koei Tecmo Games -> KoTec
- Spike Chunsoft -> SpiChun
- TV Tokyo -> TeleTo
- Nippon TV -> NitTele
- TV Asahi -> TeleAsa
- The Japanese airline Zen Nippon Kuuyu (All Nippon Airways) -> ZenNikKuu
- Subverted with Tokyo Movie Shinsha (AKA: TMS Entertainment). The official shortened name for the company is "To-Mu-Su", which instead of being short for the Japanese name, is simply the three English letters T, M, and S being pronounced in Japanese.
- Slot machines in Japan -> "Pachislot", or "Pachisuro"note
- Credit card company American Express -> AmExnote
- Japanese satellite TV provider Sky PerfecTV! -> SukaPa!
- Union Oil Company of California (original owners of the Union 76note chain of gas stations) -> Unocal (used as a trade name, which also makes this an Officially Shortened Title)