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sutepriUpon finishing the anime, I decided to re-read novels 1 and 2, just to see and compare the major and minor differences between the two.
Volume One: A Tale of Destiny versus Episodes One and Two
I always thought that a good story requires a good beginning. This one has it. Not only does it explain what happened (mostly) in detail when the prophecy was given, but it also describes what happens AFTER (specifically, Pacifica being handed over to Carol). I know we see this scene near the end of the anime, but to me, it wasn't enough.
Another big thing that they left out of the anime and that got most of the complaints was the lack of explanation as to why the Casulls had to leave their hometown in the first place (and how they came upon being so skilled in magic and swordsmanship). In the novel, not only do you get an explanation, but you also get a glimpse into what life was like when Yuma was still alive. It, for me, rounded the Casulls and allowed me to look into their lives and understand why they did the things they did.
The whole thing with Diana never occurred in the novels. The only thing similar to it was the Mayor of Manurhin being a little two-faced.
Another major difference? Leo. So far (we're only up to novel 3 here in Canada), Leo hasn't even made an appearance yet. So you can imagine that the entire scene with Leo and the reformed Amber Knight never happened. It's kind of a shame, because Leo is such a kick. I hope he shows up in the novels soon.
You can also imagine that Gloria never made her appearance, and the whole "spirit" thing never occurred. In fact, Zephiris doesn't even appear to Shannon, or anyone, until the second novel.
Basically, the first novel gives out all of the answers of the Casulls' lives before Yuma is murdered and they're driven out of Mahurin. It got me hooked to the series, if that makes a good defence for it.
Volume Two: Song of the Forgiven versus Episode Three & Four
Ah, Winia. How could we understand your sadness and melancholy if we fail to understand why you're that way to begin with?
Apparently, Winia was not only the child of Gypsies (who were seen as low in society at the time of her conception and birth), but her father was considerably younger than her mother. In fact, she even had a friend as a child, but when she overheard him saying bad things about her, she decided to ignore him. Unfortunately, he was sickly and died before they could patch it up, which explains a great deal as to why Winia appears so cold and standoff-ish. In the anime, Winia only gives a mere hint as to her past and her friendship, and says nothing of her parents at all, except that they died and she missed them.
Another thing about Winia was that her "uncle" in the anime was actually the rival innkeeper in the novel, and that in the novel, her grandmother ran Big Bear Inn and took care of Winia (and vice versa).
Major descrepencies occur in this batch of episodes that leave me a little irked. For one thing, as I already mentioned, Zephiris doesn't appear until this novel. She does appear to Shannon in the bath, and she does declare that he would make a fine wife and that assassins were coming, but the major, glaring difference is her name. She actually tells Shannon to call her "Arfi.[...]It's short for something. Don't forget it." When I watched the anime, I did discover that "Arfi" was part of her serial number, but it was never explained why they changed it all around.
The Casulls, in the novel, actually start to leave Taurus twice. The first time, Purgers attack Big Bear Inn and take out a wall. They start to leave, but Winia demands payment for the wall (and the fact that she wants them to stay) before they go. Because of this, they stay, and get those part-time jobs in order to pay their debts. In the novels, Pacifica and Raquel actually work for opposite bakeries, and there is even this little competition between them (one that includes Raquel bending over and being told to get naked).
One thing that saddened me the most was when I discovered Shannon's love for music. There is not one iota of inkling to this in the anime, but in the novels, it's all there, in black and white. Shannon not only has a love for music, but it's something he's rather good at. It's a nice side to his character (even if he is dressed up in drag and has to fight off would-be suiters, including a WOMAN, while he's DRESSED as a woman, lol).
Chris, it appears, seems to have more of a personality in the novels than he does in the anime. Granted, he doesn't get as much air time as one (me) would like in order to delve into his layers, but the novels do that for you, and upon reading them, it's easy to discover that Chris, although cloaked in a facade of uncaring, is really quite an intricate guy.
The second time the Casulls are attacked is when it is through Winia, by Chris. Everything in the anime is the same as it was in the novels, up to the end, except that the proxy is far more graphic and disturbing, and Galil is one messed up son of a bitch. That, and Forcis isn't mentioned at all.
I know it sounds like I'm totally hating the anime, but that's not it at all. I actually really loved the anime. I just wished that they had gotten into more details, especially with the key first episode (although Sinner dragging around his dead daughter doesn't seem like it would be much fun animated...).
If you haven't read them yet, READ THEM!
Volume One: A Tale of Destiny versus Episodes One and Two
I always thought that a good story requires a good beginning. This one has it. Not only does it explain what happened (mostly) in detail when the prophecy was given, but it also describes what happens AFTER (specifically, Pacifica being handed over to Carol). I know we see this scene near the end of the anime, but to me, it wasn't enough.
Another big thing that they left out of the anime and that got most of the complaints was the lack of explanation as to why the Casulls had to leave their hometown in the first place (and how they came upon being so skilled in magic and swordsmanship). In the novel, not only do you get an explanation, but you also get a glimpse into what life was like when Yuma was still alive. It, for me, rounded the Casulls and allowed me to look into their lives and understand why they did the things they did.
The whole thing with Diana never occurred in the novels. The only thing similar to it was the Mayor of Manurhin being a little two-faced.
Another major difference? Leo. So far (we're only up to novel 3 here in Canada), Leo hasn't even made an appearance yet. So you can imagine that the entire scene with Leo and the reformed Amber Knight never happened. It's kind of a shame, because Leo is such a kick. I hope he shows up in the novels soon.
You can also imagine that Gloria never made her appearance, and the whole "spirit" thing never occurred. In fact, Zephiris doesn't even appear to Shannon, or anyone, until the second novel.
Basically, the first novel gives out all of the answers of the Casulls' lives before Yuma is murdered and they're driven out of Mahurin. It got me hooked to the series, if that makes a good defence for it.
Volume Two: Song of the Forgiven versus Episode Three & Four
Ah, Winia. How could we understand your sadness and melancholy if we fail to understand why you're that way to begin with?
Apparently, Winia was not only the child of Gypsies (who were seen as low in society at the time of her conception and birth), but her father was considerably younger than her mother. In fact, she even had a friend as a child, but when she overheard him saying bad things about her, she decided to ignore him. Unfortunately, he was sickly and died before they could patch it up, which explains a great deal as to why Winia appears so cold and standoff-ish. In the anime, Winia only gives a mere hint as to her past and her friendship, and says nothing of her parents at all, except that they died and she missed them.
Another thing about Winia was that her "uncle" in the anime was actually the rival innkeeper in the novel, and that in the novel, her grandmother ran Big Bear Inn and took care of Winia (and vice versa).
Major descrepencies occur in this batch of episodes that leave me a little irked. For one thing, as I already mentioned, Zephiris doesn't appear until this novel. She does appear to Shannon in the bath, and she does declare that he would make a fine wife and that assassins were coming, but the major, glaring difference is her name. She actually tells Shannon to call her "Arfi.[...]It's short for something. Don't forget it." When I watched the anime, I did discover that "Arfi" was part of her serial number, but it was never explained why they changed it all around.
The Casulls, in the novel, actually start to leave Taurus twice. The first time, Purgers attack Big Bear Inn and take out a wall. They start to leave, but Winia demands payment for the wall (and the fact that she wants them to stay) before they go. Because of this, they stay, and get those part-time jobs in order to pay their debts. In the novels, Pacifica and Raquel actually work for opposite bakeries, and there is even this little competition between them (one that includes Raquel bending over and being told to get naked).
One thing that saddened me the most was when I discovered Shannon's love for music. There is not one iota of inkling to this in the anime, but in the novels, it's all there, in black and white. Shannon not only has a love for music, but it's something he's rather good at. It's a nice side to his character (even if he is dressed up in drag and has to fight off would-be suiters, including a WOMAN, while he's DRESSED as a woman, lol).
Chris, it appears, seems to have more of a personality in the novels than he does in the anime. Granted, he doesn't get as much air time as one (me) would like in order to delve into his layers, but the novels do that for you, and upon reading them, it's easy to discover that Chris, although cloaked in a facade of uncaring, is really quite an intricate guy.
The second time the Casulls are attacked is when it is through Winia, by Chris. Everything in the anime is the same as it was in the novels, up to the end, except that the proxy is far more graphic and disturbing, and Galil is one messed up son of a bitch. That, and Forcis isn't mentioned at all.
I know it sounds like I'm totally hating the anime, but that's not it at all. I actually really loved the anime. I just wished that they had gotten into more details, especially with the key first episode (although Sinner dragging around his dead daughter doesn't seem like it would be much fun animated...).
If you haven't read them yet, READ THEM!
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-28 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-28 01:47 am (UTC)And don't worry--Leo makes his appearance in volume four iirc. You also get to read about Chris attending a royal ball and meeting Forsyth for the first time. XD
Oh, and a quick question about the translated volumes: I know they changed the covers, but did they at least leave the illos intact? Trying to figure out whether I actually need to scan the rest. <-- LAZY.
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Date: 2007-05-28 05:34 am (UTC)Shannon dressed in DRAG? And attracted a WOMAN? WHUT? XDDDDDDD *must...get...novel...now*
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Date: 2007-05-28 06:36 pm (UTC)The bakery owner who hired Raquel as a mascot, Michelle, apparently had a huge crush on Raquel, herself, and finds more to love about her after "she" sings.
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Date: 2007-05-28 06:39 pm (UTC)I figured that Leo would make his appearance in 4 (the title gave a hint to such), and this makes me happy, as Leo is rockin'.
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Date: 2007-05-29 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-29 02:14 pm (UTC)