Awesome news for Rose of Versailles fans!

[Rove]

No, the series is not licensed in the US, nor the manga, however...


8-25-06 - 50 Years Of Toei Animation - New Projects Hinted

Another Asahi article today talks about Toei's 50th Aniversary celebration. It's said the studio has 7 series (the most ever) running on TV in Japan now. Over the last half century they have produced 168 TV anime total and 185 anime movies. For 2007 they plan to release a new film adaptaion of Riyoko Ikeda's manga Versailles No Bara (Rose of Versailles). Additionally an original full CG project based on Shigeru Mizuki's "Gegege no Kitaro" is now progressing.

I know most people think of Toei as greedy business suits set to make the world a worse place making 500+ episode series that should have ended long ago, however I still remember their 60's and 70's Disney-esque films along with their World Masterpiece series, and their more recent dwelvings into supporting independent artists with unique animation projects. Back to the new Rose of Versailles film, all I can say is that I have great expectations for it. Seeing RoV with today's animation seems like a dream come true (much like the two Glass Mask versions). The only thing that leaves me a bit concerned is the 'film' aspect. Those who have seen the Rose of Versailles 87' film can probably agree that it was, for lack of a better word, bland, and that there's no way that the film could take place after the TV series for obvious reasons. (The live-action film was quite amusing, to say the least). I'm guessing that it will be a very condensed story culminating where the series did, but we will have to wait and see. Any thoughts?

PS: I'm also looking forwards to the CG version (though I would prefer an animated version...) of Gegege no Kitaro, one of my favorite series while growing up. ^_^

[soundchazer]

I would rather have them do a new version of the TV series. I'm not a big fan of condensed film versions of TV series.

[Pachinko]

Woooah, I can't wait/dunno what to expect.

My my, it's been so long...

[NausicaaBoy]

that is amazing! im sooo excited!!!

edit: I would rather have them do a new version of the TV series. I'm not a big fan of condensed film versions of TV series.

so long as we dont have to watch 40 eppies Im ok...im just finishing the original series as we speak. I think a more condensed film version would be more interesting to watch. regardless its an awsome story -- and this new adaptation will be exciting to see.

[Rove]

I would rather have them do a new version of the TV series. I'm not a big fan of condensed film versions of TV series.
Like I said, I'm guessing it will be a condensed version, they could well focus on only one arc of the story, or make it all from one character's point of view, there's many ways they could approach a new adaptation. And yes, I would love to see a new TV series, though I find it hard to believe that anything could top Osamu Dezaki's version. But that's my inner-rabid-Dezaki-fangirl speaking.

[soundchazer]

that is amazing! im sooo excited!!!

edit:

so long as we dont have to watch 40 eppies Im ok...im just finishing the original series as we speak. I think a more condensed film version would be more interesting to watch. regardless its an awsome story -- and this new adaptation will be exciting to see.

Huh? More often than not, the longer the series, the better the quality.

Examples: Maison Ikkoku, Kimagure Orange Road, Fullmetal Alchemist, Rose of Versailles, Touch, Monster, etc. etc.

Like I said, I'm guessing it will be a condensed version, they could well focus on only one arc of the story, or make it all from one character's point of view, there's many ways they could approach a new adaptation. And yes, I would love to see a new TV series, though I find it hard to believe that anything could top Osamu Dezaki's version. But that's my inner-rabid-Dezaki-fangirl speaking.

Well... Osamu Dezaki is one of the mose undervalued directors out there. I have yet to see him direct a dud. He would be in my top 5 list of anime directors.

[Emeraldas]

I'm still only on episode 3 or 4 of the original series; from the looks of things, though, it'd be ridiculous to try to cram the storyline into movie-length. I hope that's not what they try to do.

[Roark]

Damn, for a moment I thought it had gotten a U.S. liscense. Hopefully, this will spur reinterest in the series and lead to someone picking it up.

That said, a film verision of LotR length could work. It'd be more straightforward than the TV series, but it could work.

[C0MPL3X]

Huh? More often than not, the longer the series, the better the quality.
Exactly. Just to second that notion,
Inuyasha, Yugioh, DBZ, Naruto, Pokemon, etc etc.

[Flint]

Huh? More often than not, the longer the series, the better the quality.

Maybe, but there's more filler and it gets old eventually. You can only see Sango hit Miroku, Naraku get away, Yugi transform, multiple five-to-ten episode (nearly identical) card battles, yet another evil villian threaten to take over the world (only to be invariably beaten by Goku..eventually), etc., etc. so many times before your eyes glaze over.

Original topic: I don't know what to think. Part of the charm of RoV was the older look of it, so it could turn out looking really strange if they change the animation style. Also, anime movies generally don't turn out very well because it's hard to cram an entire series into the much smaller length of time.

On the other hand, it could turn out to be the best thing since...well, anime.

[Dirty Harry]

I would rather have them do a new version of the TV series. I'm not a big fan of condensed film versions of TV series.

IT'S A GUNDAM.
They could totally Gundam it. SHEER BRILLIANCE. I think you're all feeling me. As long as they don't Zeta it. Rite? Oh yeah, and the whole "omgz fit in 1 movie" but I totally feel it.

Feel it, Feel it.