Hello there friends.
Many of you will know that I am an avid fan of Japanese manga and anime.
One aspect of this form of animation that I really appreciate is the diverse stories and highly original content. While most Western animation seems to be ruled by the mundane and simple repetitive plots, it always seems that the Japanese are moving forward and evolving their style and storylines.
Gankutsuou, a new anime that I have been watching lately, has taken elements of an old classic and transformed them into a universe spanning sci-fi space opera that really captivated me. Which classic you may ask…well, The Count of Monte Cristo, if you can believe it!
The Count of Monte Cristo is a well known French novel by Alexandre Dumas pere, which was created way back in 1844. The anime itself is not extremely new in our own modern sense. It was produced by Gonzo and aired between 2004 and 2005.
Do you think Alexandre could have ever imagined that his story would still be so popular even till now? Can you fathom a story that has endured so long, has been recreated into a sci-fi, by a culture that at that time was still shrouded in mystery…the Japanese that is. While the original story is set in 1815, Gankutsuou is set in the distant future of 5053….which is obviously quite a difference.
While the basic premise is the same as the original and many of the well known character names are used, that is pretty much where the similarities end. In this version the Count of Monte Cristo dies in prison in deep space and is taken over by, what seems to be, some kind of psychic entity called Gankutsuou, which uses his body as a shell. I’m not quite finished the series so I’m not sure if the count regains his “humanity”, but right now things are really heating up in this series. I would recommend this anime series to anybody who likes a story out of the ordinary and which rekindles the fond memories of classic stories like The Count of Monte. For me personally I had a brilliant trip down memory lane…very nostalgic, albeit with a sci-fi twist hehe.
Probably the most intriguing design aspect of this anime is the use of still textured Photoshop patterns that are used in overlay with the characters and scenery. It’s difficult to explain if you haven’t seen it, but basically the textures are instead not “realistically” coloured according to normal traditions, but instead a solid pattern that is given depth by the body contours and outlines of figures/objects. It is a really different and refreshing approach to the more accepted styles we are used to….kind of an exception to popular design methods.
Perhaps my only negative point against Gankutsuou’s design style is the excessive use of CG, which I feel cheapens the effort in the rest of the design….also prepare for one of the worst mech fights of all time…so badly done. Ouch! Anyway, besides that small little glitch this anime is really something special. I believe that it is also on Animax, so those of you with satellite will at least be able to watch it easily….for the rest, you will have to dig up somebody with the DVD’s.
Duncs.
yip, seriously awesome art!!