In direct Romanji from the Japanese Katakana, the name is written "Biaresu"
(Bee-ah-reh-soo). The last syllable, "soo", is almost swallowed
completely, so it realy sounds like "Bee-ah-rehz". I prefer Viaresu simply because the "b" and "v" sounds are almost exactly alike in Japanese,
this spelling makes it easier for people to pronounce correctly, and I think the "V" is what Ohkami-sensei would have preferred--plus, it looks cooler!
^_~
Ohkami-sensei purposely made sure none of the DK characters' names are traditional Japanese, and therefore have no Kanji and no real meanings the way most names do. They're simply strings of sounds, meant to be foreign sounding. It makes sense, then, that she would give them foreign names NOT directly taken from the Romanji. Viaresu's name, in this way, is "Vierres". ^^ I like this version,
too; however I favor "Viaresu" because "Vierrez" often leads
English-speakers to pronounce it incorrectly, as "Vee-EH-rehz", not
"Vee-AH-rehz". It's a technicality, but I'm a stickler for the small
things. Strangely enough, Vierres is also both a mecha and a wine...
"Bierrez" is Tokyopop's version, and the version I hate the most. ~_~ Is it just me, or does it seem more Spanish than anything else…?! Not to mention the fact that people
always think I'm saying "beer"...
"Viales" is a version of his name I've seen used on Chinese and Thai sites.
It's rather like "Viaresu", with the silent "u" dropped and
the "r" replaced by an "l" (there is no "l" sound
in Japanese) I rather like it and I'll accept it as far closer to the "real" Romanji version than Tokyopop's.
(Coughcough).
. . . . . .origins. . .
Ohkami's character page on Viaresu tells us that she took the
name from a Japanese anime called "聖戦士ダンバイン",
or "Aura Battler Dunbine". It's a mecha
anime put out by Bandai, and Viaresu (Vierres) is an aura battler, a big mecha
Gundam-ish thing...=O=;; That particular Vierres wields flame launchers, shot cannons, cable talons, tomahawks,
shields, and looks like a big metal flying bug...it just made me want to laugh
and die all at once. He looks like this...somehow,
not quite as sexy as the Viaresu we know...x3;; You can find
Japanese and English pages on the series here
and here. Interesting, no? o_O;
In direct Romanji from the Japanese Katakana, the name is written "Biaresu"
(Bee-ah-reh-soo). The last syllable, "soo", is almost swallowed
completely, so it realy sounds like "Bee-ah-rehz". I prefer Viaresu simply because the "b" and "v" sounds are almost exactly alike in Japanese,
this spelling makes it easier for people to pronounce correctly, and I think the "V" is what Ohkami-sensei would have preferred--plus, it looks cooler!
^_~