"Gankutsuou" (2004) TV series 2004-????

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Mahiro Maeda

Writers:

Alfred Bester (novel) (uncredited story source)
Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 October 2004 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot Keywords:

Space | Paris France | Paris | Japan | Tech Noir

Cast

Jun Fukuyama

...

Albert (unknown episodes)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mahiro Maeda		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Alfred Bester		(unknown episodes)
Alexandre Dumas père		(unknown episodes)
Natsuko Takahashi		(unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Jean-Jacques Burnel		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Kengo Shigemura		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Yusuke Takeda		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Koji Kajita	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Eriko Murata	....	color designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Sean Foye	....	adr engineer / dialogue editor (unknown episodes, 2005-2006)
Pat Rodman	....	supervising sound engineer (unknown episodes, 2005-2006)
Mark A. Rozett	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes, 2005-2006)
Kevin Patzelt	....	adr engineer / dialogue editor (unknown episodes, 2006)
Yoshiki Matsunaga	....	sound effects (unknown episodes)
Soushi Shiihara	....	assistant sound engineer (unknown episodes)
Yoshimi Sugiyama	....	sound manager (unknown episodes)
Yota Tsuruoka	....	sound director (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Shin Inoie	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Masanori Kikuchi	....	background artist (unknown episodes)
Mahiro Maeda	....	character design supervisor (unknown episodes)
Hidenori Matsubara	....	character designer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
David Fleming	....	translator (unknown episodes)
Yuichi Furuichi	....	textile design manager (unknown episodes)
Sayuri Okada	....	textile converter (unknown episodes)
Yasufumi Soejima	....	textile designer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Gonzo Digimation

Distributors

• AXN (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (on AXN Sci-Fi)
• Animax Latin America (2008) (Argentina) (TV)
• TV Asahi (2004) (Japan) (TV)

Also Known As:

"The Count of Monte Cristo" (International: English title)
"Ruler of the Cavern" (literal English title)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:M (some episodes)

Company:

Gonzo Digimation

Quotes:

Albert: It's just a game, right... Count?

By far the best adaptation yet of the classic novel.

If you're a fan of the novel, then you are - by definition - one whom is disgusted by anything that Hollywood has attempted with regards to Dumas' brilliant story.

The 6-hour French Television mini-series starring Gerard Depardieu will also leave you disappointed.

In contrast, this Gonzo Studio's creation will provide some relief. A 24-part series (each 23mins) serves justice, covering the latter half of the novel. With the present return-on-investment hurdles that large movie production studios place on potential projects these days, it is only an anime adaptation that can do justice to the grandeur required to recreate the world of the Count of Monte Cristo - and Gankutsuou does just that.

True fans can only live in the hope that one-day, a big-budget 50-part TV series is created to retell the story the way Dumas intended. Until then, I hope the producers of Gankutsuou release another dazzling 24-part prequel to retell the first half of the novel.