Count of Monte Cristo

[ryamano]

Has anyone seem this anime? Is it good (worth paying for I mean)? And how is it similar to the book (exactly like it, with some modifications or similar in anme only?)?. And, most important of all, what's it's name in japanese (I don't remember)?

[DarkKanti]

Gankutsuou. I've seen the first two episodes so far. It's not bad, but it hasn't really drawn me in yet. The animation is beautiful though.

[Tremolo]

Has anyone seem this anime?

Yes.

Is it good (worth paying for I mean)?

It's bloody incredible. Worth everything you spend on it.

And how is it similar to the book (exactly like it, with some modifications or similar in anme only?)?.

It's the second half of the book, set in the future with a few changes here and there.

And, most important of all, what's it's name in japanese (I don't remember)?

Gankutsuou.

EDIT:

Gankutsuou. I've seen the first two episodes so far. It's not bad, but it hasn't really drawn me in yet. The animation is beautiful though.

Make every effort to watch the rest, otherwise you're missing out on not only one of the best anime series of the decade but of all time.

[Sorrow-kun]

Trem is AA's biggest Gankutsuou fanboy. Admit it. :p Not that that's a bad thing, this series desperately deserves more love than it gets.

I watched it recently. It's a wonderful series with a great dramatic storyline. Definitely plan on buying it when it comes out here (first volume isn't released til March).

[Rove]

If you want more information on Gankutsuou from the AA forums here are the links to previous threads related to this amazing anime:

http://www.animeacademy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16594&highlight=gankutsuou

http://www.animeacademy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20394&highlight=gankutsuou

http://www.animeacademy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20588&highlight=gankutsuou

And asuming you haven't checked outside from here:

ANN link:http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4194

Hope that helps to convince you, it's worth every cent.

EDIT: Chances are, you will not like the visuals at first, give them time to settle down on you. If you didn't like the first episode, watch it again until you get used to the visuals, don't dismiss this because of it.

[Pachinko]

I was so impressed; Just the anime I've been waiting for. I'm going to enjoy where it's headed, though. I heard it gets better.

[Shadowmage]

Simply put...

Gankutsuou > Last Exile

Albeit, only by 1% in my book, but a great anime.

[silan]

When I heard they were making Count of Monte Cristo into an anime, I foresaw a horrible remake that would be poorly animated and that would twist the storyline beyond recognition.

So far, two dvds into it, I've been completely wrong, and no one can be happier than I am that this is turning out to be so good (not even Tremolo :P ). The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite books, and one that's been ill-treated by the movie industry, which has churned out bad adaptations of it.

Finally, though, this anime is getting it right, capturing just the feeling you're supposed to get about the Count, who is the coolest character in classical literature. I can't say anything bad about this anime, except that I can't stand the opening theme... but even that's growing on me against my will. (I can't help listening to it! I want to see the pretty opening animations...)

Other than that, they've got everything right. As someone who's read the book too many times to count, I love seeing each witty plot point from the novel emerge in the anime. This is currently the only anime I'm ecstatic about. I can't wait to get the next volume. I'm just mad that I missed it on the fansub circuit, because I literally can't wait to see more.

The only way this could go wrong is if the Count and Haydee don't end up together. Do not tell me they change the end of the book!

One comment about the release, though.... "Haidee," when it should be "Haydee"? Minor quibble, but.........

[Tremolo]

The only way this could go wrong is if the Count and Haydee don't end up together. Do not tell me they change the end of the book!

* Tremolo shifts uncomfortably in his seat and grins unconvincingly

The ending IS great though!

* Tremolo flees

Gankutsuou > Last Exile

Albeit, only by 1% in my book, but a great anime.

Nah, Gank is far, far better. The ending, script, music and character develop all exclipse Last Exile.

[Shadowmage]

Nah, Gank is far, far better. The ending, script, music and character develop all exclipse Last Exile.
The thing is that Klaus is more likeable than Albert. Yes, Albert is supposed to be shallow, but there are times where he makes me want to rip out my hair in frustration. To me, his last few encounters with the Count seems forced... especially with what happened between the two just a little while before.

[Tremolo]

The thing is that Klaus is more likeable than Albert. Yes, Albert is supposed to be shallow, but there are times where he makes me want to rip out my hair in frustration. To me, his last few encounters with the Count seems forced... especially with what happened between the two just a little while before.

I actually really liked Albert - I know he's definitely an opinion-dividing character and all and I don't mind that, but he never particularly bothered me.

Klaus didn't really do all that much for me. He was a relatively bland yet likeable main character, whereas with Gankutsuou it was really more about the Count, who is one of the greatest anime characters ever, in my opinion. It's been a while since I saw Last Exile, but I remember it not having quite the same profound effect on me that Gank did.

[silan]

* Tremolo shifts uncomfortably in his seat and grins unconvincingly

The ending IS great though!

* Tremolo flees
No. No. No.

No.

Tremolo, I'm sorry, I know we didn't really have much conflict before, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to hate you now. I would hate the people who created Gankutsuou, but you're an easier target.

* silan throws spears after Tremolo before collapsing into a ball and weeping

Do NOT tell me he ends up with Mercedes again!!

[Sorrow-kun]

Oh, of course not. That's a cop out ending that a series of this quality is well and truly above.

[Kiba]

The thing is that Klaus is more likeable than Albert. Yes, Albert is supposed to be shallow, but there are times where he makes me want to rip out my hair in frustration. To me, his last few encounters with the Count seems forced... especially with what happened between the two just a little while before.
Claus is as dry as a bone.

Anways Gankutsou is certainly an excellent series and possiblily one of the best ever made. But it is a mature story told in a mature way, which is what makes it so great, but I find that this leaves it appealing to a certain few.

[silan]

Oh, of course not. That's a cop out ending that a series of this quality is well and truly above.
Phew. Thank God for that.

[Ghostmaster]

I heard this is a really good anime and I've been meaning to check it out? Is it complete and how many episodes is it? I saw the remake of the Count of Monte Cristo with Guy Pierce and some other people and liked it I remember a few years ago. Never read the book, is it highly based on it?

[Tremolo]

I heard this is a really good anime and I've been meaning to check it out? Is it complete and how many episodes is it? I saw the remake of the Count of Monte Cristo with Guy Pierce and some other people and liked it I remember a few years ago. Never read the book, is it highly based on it?

You heard? There's been a whole page of people saying how good it is! Blimey Ghostmaster, you and your leaping on anime bandwagons.

No, it's rubbish. Don't bother. 100+ episodes. Not complete. The book was crap, too.

[Ghostmaster]

You heard? There's been a whole page of people saying how good it is! Blimey Ghostmaster, you and your leaping on anime bandwagons.

No, it's rubbish. Don't bother. 100+ episodes. Not complete. The book was crap, too.
Again with you Tremolo and your hostile responses. :no:

[Tremolo]

Again with you Tremolo and your hostile responses. :no:

You bring them on yourself. Read the actual thread next time before coming in with your trademark "I heard..." line.

[Elric]

Ive seen this series quite a while ago (dragged to watch it by a certain individual here), but it was one of the much better anime ive seen recently.

It was interesting in the begining, but feels slow and sometimes feel a little bored here and there as I watch it, but it took patience and felt very rewarding by the time I finished it. By episode 18, thats when I really really start loving the series more and honestly, there isnt much to complain about. I never read the book so not much I can say about the comparison.

Its worth the time and money. Go watch :)

[tsiki]

I hear there are rumors on the internets that it's good. There's also an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, Gankutsuou is so good, it's... it's worth buying... I mean if you can get it it's... it's worth buying if you can find it. And don't get fooled.

[Ghostmaster]

You bring them on yourself. Read the actual thread next time before coming in with your trademark "I heard..." line.
Oh just stop this already I don't want to start fights with you.

[Eek]

You heard? There's been a whole page of people saying how good it is! Blimey Ghostmaster, you and your leaping on anime bandwagons.

No, it's rubbish. Don't bother. 100+ episodes. Not complete. The book was crap, too.
Cut the flaming, please.

[Tremolo]

Cut the flaming, please.

I did, hence the not replying to his most recent post.

And you Eek, being the anti-GONZO mang (like I once was) should give this a watch. You'll be pleasantly surprised, I reckon.

[Eek]

And you Eek, being the anti-GONZO mang (like I once was) should give this a watch. You'll be pleasantly surprised, I reckon.
All in due time. There's plenty of other anime out there that I should be watching and reviewing, but I'll get to them sooner or later. Like Kjeldoran once said, when I'm done reviewing every anime ever made, I'll start taking requests.

[Dirty Harry]

All in due time. There's plenty of other anime out there that I should be watching and reviewing, but I'll get to them sooner or later. Like Kjeldoran once said, when I'm done reviewing every anime ever made, I'll start taking requests.

Must suck balls not being able to just watch an anime for entertainment.

BTW:
About Gank, I made it a couple minutes into the second episode I think. It looks awesome, some of the CGI is a little "ick", but I can't wait to pick the series up again. I just need something a bit happier at the moment. ^^'

[Tremolo]

All in due time. There's plenty of other anime out there that I should be watching and reviewing, but I'll get to them sooner or later. Like Kjeldoran once said, when I'm done reviewing every anime ever made, I'll start taking requests.

Yeah, I know how it is, too much anime, so little time and all. But yeah, keep this one on the radar. Unlike a lot of other GONZO stuff it's actually well-directed, well-written and beautifully paced and...I dunno it's just classy.

[Eek]

Must suck balls not being able to just watch an anime for entertainment.
I never said nor implied that I don't watch anime for entertainment. Hell, I enjoy most anime even if I end up completely trashing them. However, there were some rare anime that I watched solely for reviewing purposes (ex. ONE, Avenger, Kokoro Library); I take one for the team and keep on chugging.
Yeah, I know how it is, too much anime, so little time and all. But yeah, keep this one on the radar. Unlike a lot of other GONZO stuff it's actually well-directed, well-written and beautifully paced and...I dunno it's just classy.
They made the same comments about Kiddy Grade, Saikano, Vandread, etc. Like I said already, I'll get to Gankutsuou in due time.

[Ghostmaster]

Well anyway, how many episodes is Count of Monte Cristo and is it complete yet?

[Eek]

Well anyway, how many episodes is Count of Monte Cristo and is it complete yet?
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4194

24 episodes. It ran from 10/5/2004 to 3/29/2005, so it's been complete for a little while now.

[JOJO]

I bought the first DVD a while ago because certain people recommended it, at first i found some of the effect a little weird(like the clothes) but i started liking all of the unique effects by the 2nd episode. So after watching the first 4 episodes i still wanna see more, so i'll be sure to get the other DVDs soon(but after the revelations of Pepo in the 2nd episode i dont think nothing will surprise me anymore :D).
The series also has a pretty cool loking box set, better quality than the usual box sets.

[Tremolo]

They made the same comments about Kiddy Grade, Saikano, Vandread, etc. Like I said already, I'll get to Gankutsuou in due time.

Yeah, and do you see pages of hugely enthusiastic acolades about those series on AA? No. What I'm saying is, this is a masterpiece and heads and shoulders above your average GONZO dross like those. I'm not demanding a review or anything, I'm just giving a friendly recommendation.

And Ghostmaster, AnimeNewsNetwork (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/) is your friend. Go there for all your "how many episodes is this anime?" needs, among other things.

[Ghostmaster]

Yeah, and do you see pages of hugely enthusiastic acolades about those series on AA? No. What I'm saying is, this is a masterpiece and heads and shoulders above your average GONZO dross like those. I'm not demanding a review or anything, I'm just giving a friendly recommendation.

And Ghostmaster, AnimeNewsNetwork (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/) is your friend. Go there for all your "how many episodes is this anime?" needs, among other things.
I do go to animenewsnetwork alll the time, its on my favorites.

[Itachi Uchiha]

I just want to throw out my 2 cents -

Gankutsuou was a good anime, but the book was much beter!

Why is it that books are always turned into scifi's when made into an anime? Lord of the Flies, Count of Monte Cristo, and there was one other but I can't remember its name.

Gankutsuou being reviewed by AA is way overdue. The staff here should have done it a while ago.

[Eek]

Why is it that books are always turned into scifi's when made into an anime? Lord of the Flies, Count of Monte Cristo, and there was one other but I can't remember its name.
While it wasn't a book, Samurai 7 is a sci-fi remake the of 1954 film The Seven Samurai by Kurosawa Akira.

As far as directly answering your question, it makes the material more interesting elements and allows for a degree of creative liberty. Try making an anime from Lord of the Flies set in modern times and it'd pretty much be nothing more than just the book.
Gankutsuou being reviewed by AA is way overdue. The staff here should have done it a while ago.
The staff should've reviewed Akage no Anne, Koi Kaze, Ancient Book of Ys, Apocalypse Zero, Twin Spica, 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, Hungry Heart Wild Striker, etc. a while ago, but we'll get to them eventually.

[kLaUS]

ok,, i agree,, Gankutsuou is a great anime,, not the best,, but is quite good,,, i havent read the book but i heard that the anime doesnt do it any good...but i wanna say something,, i dont think is better that last exile,, yeah,, im a big die -hard fan of the series,, but i just think that has so much more history than Gankutsuou. well, maybe it needs a lot more from klaus...

[silan]

Resurrecting a dead thread... but, dammit, it's better than making a new one, right? It's aliiiiiiiiive!

Now, on to the topic:

Good God.

And the search for the perfect adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo goes on, apparently.

Finally, I've finished Gankutsuou, after starting it way too long ago when it was on the fansub circuit. And it was such a damn good series, too, with such beautiful animation and brilliant directing, capturing the essence of the novel perfectly. This is still an outstanding anime, in my opinion. But...

Damn it all to hell. I'm seriously pissed off by the ending. I absolutely love the ending to the novel, and I was crossing my fingers that they'd follow it in the anime too.

Too bad.

Just why did the Count have to die?! That's just so bloody annoying, a neatly tied-up ending in which all that's left is the "hope of the future generations," and everyone is happy, or close enough to it. How convenient that the Count kicked the bucket, because now he doesn't have to deal with the emptiness of his victory over his enemies, or understand the pointlessness of it all.

But it's also so miserable, too, because after everything he went through, he wasn't able to live a life for himself. Haidee's role was completely ruined; in the novel, she's the one who brings new life and meaning to the Count's post-revenge life. But instead, she's shunted off to the back burner. Her whole character is weakened by that. And her reaction to the Count's death was even more frustrating. Despite her "I can't live without you" attitude, she runs off at the first urging from Albert, completely negating every statement and action she'd made up until that point.

I suppose they meant to make a happy ending, in which all the young children live happily (minus Franz) and prosper while moving on from the destruction caused by their parents..... But honestly, it would have been a happier ending if they had followed the novel more closely during that last critical section. The Count's post-vengeance depression would have been so much more realistic, and Haidee's intervention to save him.... That's a much more hopeful ending, isn't it? To think that after all he experienced, after being destroyed by Mercede's love, he was able to recover due to Haidee's love. That even going to hell and back, he was able to be saved from himself due to love.

That would have been so much more cool.

Too bloody bad.

I wanted him to live happily after his vengeful escapades, dammit all.

[KiraraKim]

And the search for the perfect adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo goes on, apparently.

I suppose I shouldn't judge from the first episode but I could tell right from the start it wasn't going to be a perfect adaptation. And before any Gankutsuou fans get upset I am not putting down the anime I liked it judging it on its own merit. But if I am going to enjoy this anime at all I am not going to compare it to the book (which everyone should read btw).

[silan]

I suppose I shouldn't judge from the first episode but I could tell right from the start it wasn't going to be a perfect adaptation. And before any Gankutsuou fans get upset I am not putting down the anime I liked it judging it on its own merit. But if I am going to enjoy this anime at all I am not going to compare it to the book (which everyone should read btw).
:suspiciou

Well, obviously it wasn't going to be a perfect (i.e. exactly like the book) adaptation. The sci-fi elements are kind of a dead giveaway.

But I'll take sci-fi elements thrown in as long as the essence remains the same.

[soundchazer]

pffft... I think the ending fits the story perfectly. It is a good way to show that there is such thing as karma.

For the record... Albert de Morcef + Claire-Marie-Eugénie de Danglars = win.

[KiraraKim]

Well, obviously it wasn't going to be a perfect (i.e. exactly like the book) adaptation. The sci-fi elements are kind of a dead giveaway.


You might want to reword your post then

And the search for the perfect adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo goes on, apparently.

And for the record I wasn't talking about just the sci-fi element.

[C0MPL3X]

*smiles* I was DYING to talk about Monte Cristo after just finishing the novel.

First of all, Gankutusuou is not a faithful adaptation to the novel. It takes a LOT of bold decisions to change the plot. I think this is necessary. My version of the book was approx. 1000 pgs long, no way 26 episodes could capture all the essence of the novel. One main difference I noticed was, that the novel had a remarkably powerful element of suffering that Dantes go through, while Gankutsuou only takes a glimpse of Dantes suffering, but instead puts a focus on Albert, and Dantes 'love' for him. I am hesistant to use the word love, but it's clear that Dantes has that strong feeling towards him from the day he met him. I remember him saying something about 'vengeance is on the way, but his soul is too innocent and too beautiful...'. Albert is Dante's former self' young and about to be happy. In the novel, ruining this proud young man was fine by Dantes. In Gankutsuou, Albert reminds too much of Dantes youthful self, it hurts him. Thus, the ending.

Speaking of ending,

I rather liked Gankutsuou's ending. I actually like it better than the novel. I didn't think Dantes deserved to live so happily with Haydee and his 100 million francs after what he did. Not only was he bring justice to his enemies, he also had to bring down innocent people (like albert, villefort's son, etc) in order to accomplish what he desired. Using innocent people who had nothing to do with him as instrument for his justice is wrong, and playing god to do so is too. In Gankutsuou, Dantes signs the contract to give his heart to Gankutsuou, committing evil deeds (like killing franz) for his vengeance, and thus is punished at the end when the contract expires.

One thing that ticked me off was how his heart was already dead when Franz tried to kill him, yet Albert was able to touch Dantes heart at the end. You can't just bring your heart back alive -.-



And regarding the sci-fi element, I think it was a decision made of win and gold. One of the fascinating element in the novel is how Dantes uses his mysetrious Oriental influence to captivate Parisian people. People of Paris, confined by walls (so cleverly visually decpited in Gankutsuou btw) they're not willing to go over, have no idea of what is in the east, and this makes Dantes look engimatic, almost like a genie, summoning objects parisian people were only able to dream of in Arabian Nights. Not to mention, that the infinite ocean of unknown, the world of pirates, where everything is possible, or at least at that time.

Instead of taking us to the old time of Bonapart, Gankutsuou takes us to futuristic world. Here, we are surrounded by space instead of ocean. When pirates roamed ocean and from there emerges mysterious sailors like Sinbad the Sailor, we have Counte of Monte Cristo mysteriously arriving from some galaxy. We have no idea of what is in space, just like how Parisian society has no idea of what is outside Paris. Mysterious space creature cuisines, floating sculptures, lakes under the streets of Champ-elysee, seems as mysterious to us as it is to Parisians who were captivated by exotic fish brought all the way from italy, or antique vase overwhelmed by mysterious sea plants.
Use of sci-fi setting is to essentially create the same effect on us, as it would have had on Parisian people in the novel. If we were to be shown some turkish carpets, japanese vase, cuisines that we see everyday, it wouldn't have been as nearly as shocking as what Dantes showed to people in his home in Gankutsuou.

I think I had more to say, but I'll stop here. I'm starting to get a headache and running on and on and on and becoming less coherent gahhhhaa...

[Tremolo]

I didn't think Dantes deserved to live so happily with Haydee and his 100 million francs after what he did.

If it had ended like that, I would've been so unimpressed beyond words.

I had a feeling right from the start that the Count would die at the end (especially so when the contract with Gankutsuou was revealed), partly due to how melodramatic the series is. It had always seemed to me that the Count had been given this second chance to get revenge, and that once his mission was completed he'd die - and that's exactly what happened. Despite being wronged so badly, the Count's contract meant that he'd never have a chance at an ordinary life and he'd never be together with Mercedes. He was doomed right from the moment he was arrested, and that feel of doomed romance really helped make the series for me. The anime set it up right from the start that there was no way it was going to end happily for the Count. Honestly, if he'd run off with Haydee at the end, I would've been so disappointed - she was definitely sidelined in the second half for a reason. As far as I'm concerned, I felt the series and the Count's character went full circle perfectly and was incredibly satisfying. The epilogue-like nature of episode 24 really was the icing on the cake.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I think though that redemption is a very big theme at the end of the original novel. Dantes was very willing to destroy the lives of bystanders (Madame Danglars, Villefort's entire extended family, Albert, etc.) in order to pursue his personal revenge. But I think it's Edward's death that genuinely shocks Dantes into realizing that he's commited crimes as great as those he's punishing. It's cliche but revenge is an endless cycle. In the end, Dantes seems to pity Villefort rather than hate him and is merciful in how Danglars ends up (with his life at least). The novel is, in the end, a rejection of revenge no matter how justifiable it may seem. The desire to see people punished is very much a prime motive in seeking revenge. So I'm not sure that the Count "getting what's coming to him" would really be in keeping with that theme of the novel.

I haven't watched all of Gankutusuou yet but that's part of what I took away from the novel

[silan]

I think though that redemption is a very big theme at the end of the original novel. Dantes was very willing to destroy the lives of bystanders (Madame Danglars, Villefort's entire extended family, Albert, etc.) in order to pursue his personal revenge. But I think it's Edward's death that genuinely shocks Dantes into realizing that he's commited crimes as great as those he's punishing. It's cliche but revenge is an endless cycle. In the end, Dantes seems to pity Villefort rather than hate him and is merciful in how Danglars ends up (with his life at least). The novel is, in the end, a rejection of revenge no matter how justifiable it may seem. The desire to see people punished is very much a prime motive in seeking revenge. So I'm not sure that the Count "getting what's coming to him" would really be in keeping with that theme of the novel.

I haven't watched all of Gankutusuou yet but that's part of what I took away from the novel
Thank you! You've put into words what I was trying to express but couldn't. :love:

The Count of Monte Cristo is a revenge story, but the reason why I've always loved it is because it is a story of redemption. It's for precisely that reason that I didn't enjoy the ending of the anime series. In a way, by having the Count die, they were rejecting the possibility that he could be redeemed, and the possibility that humanity can break the cycle of pain and revenge against those who cause that pain. It was just too convenient for him to die, as if that is the only possible way to end the cycle of hate.

I wanted to see the Count redeemed, not to see him go out in a doomed way simply because that would be more "dramatic." Monte Cristo the novel is not a tragedy. It's an affirmation of humanity.

A bunch of events that confirm this were left out of the anime series.

In the novel, he not only punishes those who imprisoned him, he does everything he can to help the innocent as well, and the descendents of the people who were good to him. He saves Maxmilien's family from financial ruin (and his father committing suicide). He rescues Valentine from being poisoned.

But the biggest thing he does in the novel that he doesn't do in the book is that, the night before his duel with Albert, he promises Mercedes that he will not kill Albert. He willingly gives up his vengeful feelings for the sake of the woman he loved and the innocent life he's pledged to duel, deciding to let himself die at the duel instead of Albert.

I guess in the end it's pointless to complain about the novel-to-book transformation; I suppose without those events that showed that the Count was still humane being present in the anime, it would be hard to understand an ending in which he's alive and happy.

But I'm still thoroughly disappointed that he's not.

[NausicaaBoy]

I would suggest this anime to anyone its a decent rendition of a great novel.

[C0MPL3X]

@Strangelove
I have to disagree with you. First you mentioned how revenge is an endless cycle. If it is, then why didn't Dante get punished for what he did against Villefort? I can see that you agree with me, Dante had no right to punish Edward even if it was not his intention. So what gives him right to go unpunished at the end? In addition, I know Danglars didn't get it as bad as Villefort or Morcerf, but that's not because Dante was more merciful. The greater the fall, greater the suffering. Villefort and Morcerf all valued something that Danglars didn't value; family. The moment when Villefort ran to stop his wife from suicide was the most heart-wrenching incident in literature, or perhaps the moment when he found them dead. Danglars didn't give a damn about his wife or daughter. All he cared about was money. That was the extent of his life. And Dante took it all away from him.

The fact that Dante punished Danglars even after what he did against Villefort doesn't show anything about the idea of 'rejection of revenge no matter how justifiable it may seem'. At the end, Dante truimphs after all the vengeance he committed. If vengeance should be rejected, then why doesn't he go unpunished after all those lives he ruined in the name of justifiable vengeance? I have yet to formulate my thought on what the novel is about. What I do see clearly however, is a story of a man who has undergone a terrible suffering, rewarded a fortune for it, then chose to act as god's instrument to punish the evil and reward the good. Consequence of his actions of course shows that his actions were all justifiable. Yes, cycle of pain and revenge is broken. Because there is none in the novel, since Dante has no one else to punish. So Haydees love didn't stop him from any more act of vendetta, it never redeemed him, just rewarded him after finishing his business. Hence, one of the reasons why this one critic I forgot his name, once labelled this novel 'children's book', although I can't quite agree with that for obvious reasons.


And yes, it's pretty pointless complaining about how anime is not faithful to the novel because it never tried to be. It dismisses lot of elements of the novel such as suffering and Dantes more good side and instead tries to tell another part of the story that just weren't in the novel. Dantes is no longer a man trying to act as a providence, he is a man who gave up his soul to be controlled by Gankutsuou for the sake of vegeance only. It is only inevitable that following these very two different entities will tell a very different tale. Of course, one example that has just been brought up before illustrates us that.

In the novel, Dante can not kill Albert because his heart still beat at the voice of Mercedes. In the series, Dante is not hesistant to kill Albert (which is kind of weird, perhaps he knew it wasn't Albert. But then again, why was his heart already frozen, that means he should be able to kill Albert without hesitation. Then again, that means Albert could not have had a chance to drive Gankutsuou away in episode 23. This part of series I think is full of contradiction -.-).

Anyway, my point is they are two very different characters resulting in a two very different endings.

[LadyYuina]

Gankutsuou. I've seen the first two episodes so far. It's not bad, but it hasn't really drawn me in yet. The animation is beautiful though.

I think the animation was unique because I've never seen any other anime like it in that style. But I can be wrong...

[soundchazer]

I think the animation was unique because I've never seen any other anime like it in that style. But I can be wrong...

Aspects of the animation have been done in other anime after Gankutsuou. Paradise Kiss, for example, used the "textured clothing" technique, that was groundbreaking in the GONZO anime.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Compl3x

It's a good point that Dantes took away what is a most precious to Danglars but in the end, Morcerf is dead, Villefort is insane, and Danglars is penniless but alive. Only one of those three has a chance at another life after the revenge is complete. It may be a slim chance for Danglars, but it's a chance nonetheless. And really, I think most people will find Danglars the most reprehensible of the three considering that he conceived and initiated the betrayal and did so simply for greed rather than passion (Morcerf) or career/family (Villefort). So to give this character even a slim hope for redemption at the end breaks with Dantes' merciless drive for revenge

And Dantes is quite without pity. He prods and manipulates Madame de Villefort into poisoning an entire family. He doesn't even give a damn when Valentine is poisoned until Maximillian confesses his love for her. For most of the book we are rooting for Dantes to get his revenge only to be confronted by an insane Villefort, screaming at Dantes and pointing to his dead wife and child, and asking him if he's satisified, if he's "well-avenged". It's almost as if he's talking to the readers as well, asking if our blood-lust has been quenched. That is when Dantes is shocked into realizing that maybe he hasn't been dealing out God's justice after all and that his sins are as great as his enemies. He even tries to console Villefort by telling him Valentine is still alive, but he's already too far gone.

The novel has shown us what happens when we desire so strongly to see the "wicked" punished, so that's why I don't think it'd be consistent to turn around and say well now, what's a fitting end to the Count?

[C0MPL3X]

Ah that explains much better, now I know where you're coming from. It's just that at the end, Dante got away with what he did, namely his sin against Villefort, which was hard for me to swallow. So if Dante giving Danglars a chance for another life is an act of redeeming himself, perhaps the novel could've made this scene more dramatic. Then it might have moved me enough to make me realise, 'ah Dante how novel art thou. You've broken the horrible cycle of pain and vendetta' *kekeke*

[Ghostmaster]

This is a superb, brillant anime. Go freakin see it now!

[Tremolo]

I'm halfway through my DVD rewatch of Gankutsuou (even better second time round, and the visuals look even more impressive in pristine DVD quality) and to be honest, regarding the whole Haidee issue, not once does the series ever set any kind of relationship up between her and the Count. The actual framework of such a thing in the anime simply isn't there - Haidee just isn't an important enough character and the Count quite clearly doesn't love her. It always seemed to me that the Count simply doesn't have need for love in quite the same way anymore anyway. He's on borrowed time as it is, and Haidee is there as part of his plan to discredit Morcef.

Redemption may be one of the main themes of the novel, but the anime whilst being inspired by the novel is quite a different beast in many regards. The framework of both is very different, and in the framework of the anime, the Count running off with Haidee at the end quite simply wouldn't work. It'd be implausible, stupid, out of character and not in tune with the storyline the anime presents. You have to remember, the Count is NOT possessed by a supernatural entity in the novel, he IS in the anime. If the anime sets it up that he'll die once his mission is done, so be it. Right from the start we know that the Count is very slowly dying - his henchmen tell him not to exert himself, and we see his decaying hand. Honestly, I can't imagine why anyone would think he would survive at the end - if Gankutsuou had just left him and flown off happily and the Count and Haidee sailed off into the sunset, I would've been aghast. The Count dying is perfectly in tune with what the anime sets up - he WAS doomed and he WAS on borrowed time.

It's fine to want a perfect adaptation of a classic novel, but I think the anime uses the novel as a basis for its own ideas and story elements. As far as I'm concerned the ending we got was perfect and fitted the anime just right. Gankutsuou should be taken on its own merits and not compared to the novel, as tempting as it may be to do so.

[C0MPL3X]

Yea thats what I thought at first too, but the process of writing a review more or less forced me to reconsider my thoughts...

he is doomed in the beginning and there was no way he was going to get out of it. But does that mean his heart, his capacity to feel was dead from the moment he signed his contract with gankutsuou? Does that mean he was incapable of redeeming himself from the opening of this relentless fate? There are moments, although very rare and subtle, when we see glimpses of the Dante's human feelings. For example, when Mercedes visit Dante, or when Dante falls into despair the moment before the mask of vengeance takes over him into a fit of evil laughter.

And at the end of episode 23, we have a scene where Dante tries to kill Albert. Gankutsuou has so far consumed nearly all of his soul, and Dante pulls the trigger but fails. Albert then has this soliloquy on 'oh why must people die, what's the point of killing him, is there a point to this'. Seeing his former innocent self say such things forces Dante to question himself yet again.

And the mask of vengeance finally had enough. He reveals himself to Albert, asks him something along the lines of 'don't you understand his feelings? Can you understand his misery?'.
Now, I thought he was referring to Dante's past, his suffering, the feelings of being betrayed and losing his most precious people, which is still possible. But I came to a different interpretation, maybe there is a bit more subtelty here in Gankutsuou's speech, perhaps he was referring not to Dante's past but Dante's present inner turmoil. This conflict between his desire for revenge and his compassion for the innocent was something Dante was experiencing from the prelude of this tale. Could Albert understand this, the mask asks.

After this, Dante turns away and refrains from giving Albert death, thus not delivering the final blow to Fernand. Was it the mask who was controlling Dante against his will, or Dante who has just willingly broken the chain of hate and suffering? I'd like to think it was the mask. I think the mask felt Dante was tortured enough and decided to give him the peace by making that decision for Dante.

Then we have Albert, who finally understood Dante (I think, of course this is not clear btw, but I think it's possible when looking at episode 24), hugs Dante. He feels for Dante and loves him for it. O poor creatures, you and I. This human contact wakes up Dante and makes his heart beat; it was merely numb. Could Albert's love redeem Dante at this moment (this is where I thought to myself, ah I think it wasn't Haydee's love that redeemed Dante in the novel, but it was Mercedes' love for Dante, who prevented Albert from dueling Dante. That's when Dante looked upto the heavens and felt grateful and possibly redeemed). But he still dies it for it because he deserved it *bwahahaha*

The only thing I didn't like was how he was STILL trying to kill Albert. God, if you are finally redeemed, just die peacefully and say some corny lines like 'O Albert, isn't life beautiful?', what's with all this struggle. O well, maybe Dante's mind was really taken over :/

[bigal60]

isn't the count of monte cristo old live action movie

[soundchazer]

isn't the count of monte cristo old live action movie

Actually it is an old book by Alexandre Dumas.

[Perrin]

I just recently started watching this Series after Soundchazer brought it up in the Rightstuf sale thread. I have to admit that while I really like the story and characters I am still having a lot of trouble getting used to the animation. Staring at the clothes is like staring at one of those pictures in the mall that you are supposed to see a picture in. I never see the picture, and am still finding the texturized clothing in this series distracting. The Adaptation of Dumas story has kept me interested though and I will no doubt finish the show.

[laborpilot86]

Gankatsou is defenitly a series I want to aid to my rapidly growing collection. I'm a sucker for great character design

[xxholic]

hmm..
I must say this anime is worth watching.. Story about friendship betrayal..
I would recommend to anyone to watch it too..
Some of my friends said that the graphics are lame but I think it's just
right I like how the graphics are drawn and besides it's not only the graphics
that you should observe, the way the story goes is the most important thing..
And I must say it's really worth my time watching it..

[laborpilot86]

Now that I have a job, the first check is going towards the whole series:hyper:

[lucky]

Gankutsuou was such an amazing anime visually. Story wise, you get what you paid for. I got it free. ;3

[KiraraKim]

Bumping this thread since I finally finished the series

And I know I said I wasn't going to compare it to the book but once you read a book comparisons become inevitable.

Anyways I really did enjoy the series a lot. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the story being told through Albert's perspective but it actually worked really well. Albert was a much more interesting character in the anime then he was in the novel. However that being said I found the Count to be a much more compelling character in the novel.

Revenge and hate are themes that are in both the anime and novel. However in the anime it is really Albert who learns about these things. Albert first seeks revenge on the count for tricking him and using him but after Franz death and Franz words to not hate anyone Albert wants to save the Count who he really did love. In the novel the Count seeks revenge on those who wronged him but he also seeks to help those who were good to him (this second part is not in the anime). However the count's revenge ends up hurting the people who helped him. As in the case with Maximillian, Valentine, and Villefort. Basically Albert does not save the Count in the novel, the Count more or less saves himself.

Minor things I disliked were the CG battles and some of sci-fi in the series to explain things seemed a little to convenient. I have to admit I didn't really care for the Gankutsuou thing. Though I suppose I did like that the Count's power came at a great cost.

What I really enjoyed were how the minor characters in the book were almost all accounted for. In most movie adaptations this is not the case. Some of these characters had personality changes or bigger roles but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I especially loved what the anime did with Eugenie and Franz and their relationship with Albert. I was also really happy that most of the subplots like Maximillian/Valentine, and the affair of Villefort and Madame Danglers were included in the series. Fiinally the art and music were lovely.

[veela16]

I saw this anime on Animax and i say this anime totally rock! The clothes are really stylish with unique patterns. But besides that, i like Animax's dubbing especially Albert's seiyuu. Dunno why some people hate Animax's dubbers. But it's a bit annoying hearing them over and over again.

[D.A.]

I didn't like the book much when I read it. And I doubt I'll ever wanna watch this anime.

[Sorrow-kun]

You probably wouldn't get it anyway.

[Ghostmaster]

Yeah this is definately one of my the most well organized and presented shows I have ever seen. It's a definite watch.

[Kaikyaku]

Sorry for the bump, but I just finished this and have the need to share some thoughts. *spoilers below - highlight*

I started tonight about 12 episodes in. And tonight I finished the whole thing. Normally I do that if a series is really good. However, in this case, it was not.

The first few episodes didn't capture me. The characters were not interesting, and it took a while to get a feel for the world they were inhabiting. Nevertheless, I kept watching because of the great things I had heard about this series.

The middle of the series picked up a lot. We finally got some background info and I started liking a few of the characters, namely Franz and Eugenie (and Albert to some extent). The plot became more complex and I was drawn in. I wanted to know how all these characters were connected together.

But then, it went over the top. The end was soooo melodramatic.....

The characters never became much more than standard stereotypes. Greedy banker who only thinks of money. Daughter of wealthy man who is forced to marry against her will but the future of the family rests on her shoulders. Women who longs for the man she truly loves while she suffers through a loveless marriage. Were they more than just that?

I didn't like the "mecha" fights at all. The CG looked out of place and it just didn't seem to fit. Overall I liked the art, but the "mecha" was no good.

Plot items became very predictable. Once you saw how everyone was connected together, I could predict a lot of what was going to happen. I knew Franz was in the "mecha". I knew that Maximillian and Valentine would get together. I knew the count's henchman would save Albert. And of course you knew the count would have his revenge. Even the revenge itself was not very satisfying.

By the end I couldn't stand another of Alberts speeches or another love confession. It was just too over the top and unbelieveable. Too long and dragged out. Plus an overdose of "Gasp!" and "Uggghhhhhh!!!!" And the super happy epilogue was also too long.

I liked it about to the point where Franz died. When that happened I actually felt sad. But after that point it went down hill.

And a couple things I don't think they ever made clear:

- Was Peppo a guy or a girl?
- Who was Franz's secret love?



P.S. What happened to the spoiler tags?

[animanic_critic]

Sorry for the bump, but I just finished this and have the need to share some thoughts. *spoilers below - highlight*

I started tonight about 12 episodes in. And tonight I finished the whole thing. Normally I do that if a series is really good. However, in this case, it was not.

The first few episodes didn't capture me. The characters were not interesting, and it took a while to get a feel for the world they were inhabiting. Nevertheless, I kept watching because of the great things I had heard about this series.

The middle of the series picked up a lot. We finally got some background info and I started liking a few of the characters, namely Franz and Eugenie (and Albert to some extent). The plot became more complex and I was drawn in. I wanted to know how all these characters were connected together.

But then, it went over the top. The end was soooo melodramatic.....

The characters never became much more than standard stereotypes. Greedy banker who only thinks of money. Daughter of wealthy man who is forced to marry against her will but the future of the family rests on her shoulders. Women who longs for the man she truly loves while she suffers through a loveless marriage. Were they more than just that?

I didn't like the "mecha" fights at all. The CG looked out of place and it just didn't seem to fit. Overall I liked the art, but the "mecha" was no good.

Plot items became very predictable. Once you saw how everyone was connected together, I could predict a lot of what was going to happen. I knew Franz was in the "mecha". I knew that Maximillian and Valentine would get together. I knew the count's henchman would save Albert. And of course you knew the count would have his revenge. Even the revenge itself was not very satisfying.

By the end I couldn't stand another of Alberts speeches or another love confession. It was just too over the top and unbelieveable. Too long and dragged out. Plus an overdose of "Gasp!" and "Uggghhhhhh!!!!" And the super happy epilogue was also too long.

I liked it about to the point where Franz died. When that happened I actually felt sad. But after that point it went down hill.

And a couple things I don't think they ever made clear:

- Was Peppo a guy or a girl?
- Who was Franz's secret love?



P.S. What happened to the spoiler tags?
That is because you may have expected Gankutsuou to be something like Death Note - a series where you can never predict the plot or what's going to happen next. It is based on a novel, and the series is also told like a novel and like many novels, it can get stereotypical occasionally.

To me, the reason why Gankutsuou is such a hit among the masses is not because of the intricate storyline or the complexity of the cast, but more of how the series balances characters, plot, story, art and voice acting in perfect harmony.

Gankutsuou still remains as one of the technically brilliant anime out there, but like all series, it has its flaws. What;s most important is how its keeps the flaws to a minimum.

[C0MPL3X]

Peppo is a boy. It is strongly implied in anime, and stated in the novel. I didn't know Franz had a secret lover :?
And to use a spoiler tag, I think you have to type spoiler inside and end it with another spoiler mark
As for the stereotypical/predictable part, I guess that's only to be expected from a literary classic that so many other literature and other media has borrowed from. I think many people had a fairly good idea what was going to happen to the count (one who abandons his soul to crave vengeance) and Albert (naive one hunted by that very vengeance), but the way the anime delivered the blows with such brilliance makes even the most expected things powerfully dramatic.

As for albert being too over the top and unbelievable, I don't know. He may appear to be too stupid and naive because, well, he is supposed to be innocent and naive little boy who's being played like a puppet by the count. The end can be a bit melodramatic I suppose, but I think that depends largely on how much the viewer cared for and was interested in the characters so far.

I'm glad to hear that you at least appreciate the art style, since I think it's one of the highest point of this series. I can understand people getting turned off by the mechas I suppose, I took it as another part of the sci-fi setting that paralleled the same purpose and aspect of the fencing duel in the times of french revolution, only in a sci-fi context.

[Sorrow-kun]

I think that's the first time I've ever seen someone have something negative to say about Gankutsuou.

Edit:Franz was gay for Albert

[silan]

I think many people had a fairly good idea what was going to happen to the count (one who abandons his soul to crave vengeance) and Albert (naive one hunted by that very vengeance)
Actually, I didn't. Or rather, I knew from past disappointments what would probably happen, but I hoped it would follow the book more closely.

Face it. The reason this feels so predictable is because it comes from a popular novel that has been borrowed from at many different times to create a lot of more recent series.

I agree with what you said about the ending. It did become very melodramatic at the end, which wasn't helped by the changes made to the ending. (I know, I know, I've griped about it before, and I'm going to keep griping, because the ending could have been so much better than it was!)