MonCri
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
The Japanese animated version of the novel is perhaps the most interesting of all the adaptations. Using a blend of computer animation and standard (2D) cel animation, it gives the story a whole new and radical look. Directed by Mahiro Maeda and developed by the talented gruop behind animation studio Gonzo, together they provide a new spin on a classic literature. Gankutsuou is actually the name given to the novel when it was translated into Japanese, it literally translates to as "King of the Cavern," reflecting the count's outter appearance as a vampiric monster and cold-hearted nature. The anime is currently being released by Geneon, with the last DVD volume (of six) scheduled for a Fall 2006 release.
Gankutsuou had some massive changes done to the settings, but it still maintains the overall spirit of the original story. Instead of being set in 19th century France, it's set in four thousand years into the future. This is a world that is technologicaly advanced and inter-stellar travel is as common as traveling by the sea was in the original novel. Instead of Rome we have "Luna", a city on the moon where the Count meets up with Albert de Morcerf. Instead of ships we have spaceships, instead of the east being Greece or China, it's the further most part of the galaxy, and so on.
But like I mentioned before, even with these changes to give the tale into "Sci-Fi" and/or "anime" look and feel, it still maintains the overall atmosphere and spirit of the original novel. Though it's in the future, monarchy rules, there is a heirarchy of political power disbursed through nobility, and of course, the are commoners and bandits abound. What is more surprising about the animated version is that even though it's the one with the most dramatic changes, it's the one where the characters' personalities are closest to the book. The count is not the charismatic or obsessive person we often see in the live-action adaptations, but instead is very cool to the point of being heartless, he literally looks like a vampire, among other features (please refer to the Character Digest page for more comparisons).
However, just like the rest of the adaptations, this version is not 100% faithful either. While it's the closest version to the atmosphere of the novel, they do change a few elements of the story. For example, Franz, Albert's best friend, is given a homosexual orientation, Eugienie, Albert's fiancee is more tolerant towards men and has geniune feelings for Albert, and while at the point of this writing the ending is not available on video yet, I can verify with certainty that it doesn't end just like the book. Even so, it provides for some good entertainment. If you're at all interested in seeing the most interesting version of The Count of Monte Cristo or are looking for a good place to start, the anime version is not a bad suggestion. I admit this is the version that re-kindled my love for this story.
Gankutsuou Facts
Episode Count: 24 x 22min
DVD Count: 6
Year of Production: 2004-05
Country of Origin: Japan
Coming Soon!
DVD's 5 and 6 of Gankutsuou are not out yet, but here's a fun little countdown so you can mark your calendars. This is a JavaScript code that counts down the days left until the next volume, so if your browsers blocks the JavaScript, you'll need to allow it to dispay the information.
DVD #5 comes out on July 11th 2006, and DVD #6 comes out on September 12th 2006.
Would you like to know more?
If you're interested in reading more about this animated series, look no further than the links provided below. Among them is the official English site with a minute long trailer. Check it out.
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