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forever

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16 years ago
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forever

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16 years ago
It's fun to check out everyone's cast lists to see what everyone imagines the Ober characters look like, but personally I hope the Ober Chrons never become movies. This is mostly because so much of the story revolves around abstract images that I just don't think would translate well to film. I mean, what would the audience be looking at when Elspeth's having a mental dialogue with Maruman? Close-ups of a cat's face with a voice over? Or what about all the probes and shields and stuff, what do they look like? I just don't think these kinds of images, or even the convoluted story line, really suit the film genre.
But I reckon an Obernewtyn anime could work. And I mean anime, not just a cartoon series, which would mean all of the dialogue would have to be in Japanese, which I know would be weird for a series set in Europe, but it wouldn't be the first time a TV series' language hasn't matched its setting. I just think that the complexity of the storyline deserves a complementary complexity of character design and production that western animation companies just don't produce. All of the features of Obernewtyn that would work to the detriment of a live-action film would be perfectly at home in an anime series -- mental dialogues, dream sequences, epic storyline. Nothing would need to be edited out, there'd be no reason to cringe while watching a close-up of a cat's face with a voice over, shields and probes and things could be creatively animated. It'd be great. Someone should put in a proposal to CLAMP.
My only concern would be that a Japanese production company might make some of the female characters (especially Elspeth) too cute. Not in terms of appearence, because everyone's pretty in anime, even the boys, but in terms of voice and behavior. There a tendency for lead female characters to be kawaii and genki in anime, so that they appeal more to the audience, but Elspeth isn't either of those things.
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16 years ago
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liefde

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16 years ago
This isn't the first time I've heard a suggestion for anime, my best friend and I have said it multiple times. I can see where you're coming from with the kawaii female characters, but usually it depends on the genre. I don't see Obernewtyn being made into a moe or mahÅ shÅjo series...I picture something a lot more stylised, like Howl's Moving Castle.

I can also see Elspeth being represented like Major Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell: SAC
Min

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16 years ago
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Min

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16 years ago
I've always thought the same as well :P that it'd make a much better anime series than movie.

I see what you're saying about the dangers of making Elspeth too cute with a lot of anime mobs...imagine if anyone at Studio Ghibli gave it a shot, though? Their female characters aren't cute, unless it's actually part of the character's nature to be cute. Their characters are always so real and interesting, and I'd love to see what sort of mind-power animations could be worked into it.
forever

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16 years ago

Wed Aug 27 2008, 11:31pm
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forever

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16 years ago
Oh god forbid anyone at Ghibli should get their claws into Obernewtyn, especially Miyazaki! Don't get me wrong, I love Ghibli films, but the thing I love most about Obernewtyn is the complicated storyline, and Ghibli, and Miyazaki in particular, has a reputation for putting theme and style before plot. Case in point: Howl's Moving Castle has very little to do with the Dianna Wynn Jones book it was based on. I'd HATE to see that happen to Obernewtyn!
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16 years ago
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mornirkirara

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16 years ago
Omg - why hadn't this thread been started any sooner...

*tries to restrain herself from anime spiel*

I'll say this - I'd like it to be done as one of those more serious animes - like ghost in the shell - where each character has their own 'strength' in design rather than shows like SMoon where everyone looks the same but with different hairstyles.

I feel that anime could achieve a lot with the visual concepts - like the mind link and farseeking - I can see that being done very artistical.

Apparently some anime studio has taken up Les Miserables as an anime - you know the one by Victor Hugo about the French Revolution kind of a depressing time. Well from what I can tell they've taken the story based on Cosette and turned her into a little cutesy -wutsey thing.

Now I shouldn't judge before I've actually seen the show but - yeah no wouldn't that just totally ruin the story?!

I may get some pictures up to show you what I mean later.

They just can't do that to Obernewtyn.
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16 years ago
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snowy

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16 years ago
Interesting thread....

I have to say im not a huge anime fan, and i dont know that much about it, but thats purely because i havent seen much. I am however, a huge fan of NGE. I think Anime Ober would be quite interesting actually... * pondersquietly*
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kaylanr

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16 years ago
I think it would be good. Even as a mini series.
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16 years ago
Oh, wow, if the production company could do it justice, a proper Ober Anime would be wonderful. I don't know much about Anime, though I like it, but I imagine something sort of Art House and dreamy, with a strong Elspeth like the aforementioned Ghost in the Shell characters. I'd actually prefer to see a lot of the characters drawn: live actors can never quite live up to mental images, and even if drawn ones can't either, at least they stand a better chance of staying true to appearances. A non-cute, very real-looking but stylised Elspeth would be great to see. Plus, as you said, Anime would get away with things like mindspeak in a way live action probably couldn't.

The only real complaint I'd have with Anime Obernewtyn is a lack of real-world scenery: one of the reasons I want a (GOOD) Obernewtyn movie is that I'd love the see places like the Silent Vale and Agyllian Eyrie as filmed in actual places (like, say, NZ. But that's got nothing to do with my love of the scenery from LOTR. Oh, no).
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16 years ago
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16 years ago
Oohhh anime ober yes yes yes! If that was to happen then the studio that did Fullmetal alchemist should make it. anyone who has seen FMA will know that it is serious but with light funny moments and girls can be serious.
Min

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16 years ago
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Min

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16 years ago
Oh god forbid anyone at Ghibli should get their claws into Obernewtyn, especially Miyazaki! Don't get me wrong, I love Ghibli films, but the thing I love most about Obernewtyn is the complicated storyline, and Ghibli, and Miyazaki in particular, has a reputation for putting theme and style before plot. Case in point: Howl's Moving Castle has very little to do with the Dianna Wynn Jones book it was based on. I'd HATE to see that happen to Obernewtyn!
forever

Awww :( whoops!
I'll have to take your word for it, I haven't read the book |:(
I suppose the thing I love about Ghibli films are the characters...and that's all I was basing an opinion on :P
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liefde

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16 years ago
Yeah, I'd agree with the fact that Howl's Moving Castle was very loosely based on the book, but as Min said, I was thinking more of the characters, representation of magic/powers and the beautiful scenery...If it was an accurate re-telling of Obernewtyn, I think I'd be in love.
forever

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forever

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16 years ago
Yes Ghibli films are beautiful and lovely and if those buggers could be trusted to be faithful to the books it would be perfect. But I wouldn't trust Miyazaki as far as I could throw him :)
HeartoftheDarkness

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16 years ago
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HeartoftheDarkness

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16 years ago
But he didn't truly set out to make a movie that was the same as the book, did he? =/
I think he purposely made it loosely based, so it wasn't for lack of trying...

I like to think he did a pretty good job of slicing out a couple of unnecessary tid bits and plot lines, where a lot of other book based movies have gaping plot holes *coughHarryPottercough*

-_-
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16 years ago
The guy for the job would be Mahiro Maeda.

Obenetters, check out Maeda's Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo, as it's what best qualifies him for the job...

With that anime it was obvious that a lot of care went into not only the design and animation, but also into the script - for all it's futuristic sci-fi trappings, the basic plot structure and character development are far more faithful to Alexandre Dumas' original vision than any of the live action film or TV adaptations of "The Count Of Monte Cristo"... a novel which, like the "Obernewtyn" chronicles, has a very convoluted storyline and is awash with abstract imagery.

What I like most about Maeda - and especially Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo - is that he avoids the "shock for shock's sake" sex n' violence of a lot of anime whilst at the same time not going to the other extreme of making everything cutesy.

personally I hope the Ober Chrons never become movies. This is mostly because so much of the story revolves around abstract images that I just don't think would translate well to film.

Here's where I disagree with a lot of people...

The first novel in the series would make an interesting film - it's a much more intimate, character-focused piece than the sequels... and all the psychic phenomena is not as integral to the plot.

A live action version of the first book, made with the intention of being a standalone entity, would not be very difficult...

It's only with the sequels that you start getting into trouble.
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16 years ago

Mon Aug 06 2007, 11:41pm
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liefde

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16 years ago
I like to think he did a pretty good job of slicing out a couple of unnecessary tid bits and plot lines, where a lot of other book based movies have gaping plot holes *coughHarryPottercough*

lol, a couple of unnecessary tid bits? Have you ever read Howl's Moving Castle by any chance? He pretty much just took the character names and changed everything else. Actually, that was a lie, he left out main characters and changed everyone else's names except for Howl, Sophie and Calcifer. They're pretty much the only things he kept. Except he changed Howl and Calcifer completely.

I mean, it was pretty much screaming with Miyazaki's personal beliefs/obsessions. War, flying machines and cute, non-human things.

But I still loved it. Harry Potter stuck pretty damn close to the books in comparison.

Miyazaki has the right technique/ability in my mind, but when I really think about it, I'm not so sure I would trust him with another of my favourite books. I said that he'd be perfect if he could stick to the books, but I doubt that would ever happen.

I've never heard of Mahiro Maeda so I wouldn't know his work, but I'll check it out...
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proudwanderer

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16 years ago
I'm not too sure I'd like to see my favourite series made anime style.

Obernewtyn is quite serious and dark - not light humour. I definitely would not like to see those silly humourse moments that they have in FMA - such as the character getting cut that he is referred to as short all the time, or some characters getting angry and shouting with big mouths - those little things that make up anime - I would not like to see in an Obernewtyn adaptation.

I would much prefer it to be live action - but would like to see a TV series to do the story justice - not 2hr movies that will butcher the story.
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16 years ago
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16 years ago
I can see what you mean but ive seen some anime with little to no ridiculously silly bits, i think Blood+ would be one. Maybe it could be a kind of cgi-like anime, maybe in the thread of final fantasy style? Anyone seen that movie with Cloud? I thought the kind of 3dish background settings were really good. I like the suggestion of the count of monte cristo style alot though, people could check it out and come bac if they think it would/wouldn't be a good representative style for the obernewtyn world+characters.
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16 years ago
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mornirkirara

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16 years ago
I know when I say I want to see Obernewtyn as an anime - it's purely due to the artform.

Lud forbid someone gets their hands into it and turns the Rushton/Elspeth coupling into a sickenly lovey dovey affair, or we have characters like Kella and Domick (say in the Farseekers) at each other's throats purely for comic relief - anime is more than just angry lines on people's heads and big eyes with distorted faces to convey emotion.

Firefall - I'd have to disagree slightly with your notion that anime wouldn't be able to create some lovely real world scenes. Granted - nothing could ever compare to the real thing but I do feel that given the right studio and designer some lovely sets could be produced. Ghibli is one studio I'm very impressed with when it comes to background design. Another is an anime I've just started watching atm called: Le Chevalier D'Eon.

Now, I've only just started watching it - but this seems to be one of the serious animes with no-nonsense drawings and quite frankly so far some gorgeous backgrounds, especially some palace scenes.

Oh and Wanderer - I've been meaning to check out the Count of Monte Cristo - hehe as soon as I do, I'll be back here with comments :P

---
Of course - I'm a big anime fan, so I'm sticking by my guns on this - I think Obernewtyn could come off beautifully animated :D
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16 years ago
Having now seen some Le Chevalier D'Eon, I'm with MK on the art form front. :) I actually now think I would prefer to see Obernewtyn animated, as long as it was done in the same sort of way (that is, more adult and artistic than exaggerated and cute. I think Obernewtyn is actually perfectly suited to the more adult Anime I've seen). Although real-world scenery would make a great backdrop, I think well-drawn backgrounds with a touch of CGI might actually do more jsutice to a fantasy world, albeit a dystopic one. Plus I'd love to see my favourite characters drawn in a style like that of Le Chevalier, Ghost in the Shell (as mentioned a while back), even Saiunkoku Monogatari...if the right studio did it, I think Obernewtyn would be a fantastic Anime. *is converted* ;)
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16 years ago
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mornirkirara

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16 years ago
Le Chevalier has some gorgeous art - I really should put some screen caps up here when I get the chance - and then you can all see what we're talking about :) *hooray for converts*

Perhaps we now how a cause ;)

*cough* Anyways...

Wanderer - I've started watching a bit of "The Count of Monte Cristo". So far so good - but... the art is a little different to my liking - the way their suits are textured for example, puts me off a bit. But the animation is great! I've only seen about 2 eps though so :P I think I need to watch a wee bit more for an informed opinion.
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16 years ago

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16 years ago
This isn't the first time I've heard a suggestion for anime, my best friend and I have said it multiple times. I can see where you're coming from with the kawaii female characters, but usually it depends on the genre. I don't see Obernewtyn being made into a moe or mahÅ shÅjo series...I picture something a lot more stylised, like Howl's Moving Castle.

I can also see Elspeth being represented like Major Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell: SAC

liefde

Wow freaky! just finished watching and i thought the same thing about major motoko-like character,as elspeth! i also thought of Paprika but the research psychotherapist woman with black hair not her red haired alter-ego dream detective.

i've always wanted my fav fantasy books to be made into anime rather than movies (esp after the dissapointment of the golden compass).
it doesn't necessarily have to be in Japanese, it could be a collabo between various countries with in depth input from the author and a mix of computer animated and various animation styles depeding on concept design etc. definitely no dubbed versions! hate dubbed anime some of it sounds like bad script and or doesn't make sense.
there are so many anime styles some more cartooney then others i think i'd like a bit more realism and gritty with dark overtones if there was an obernewtyn anime.
also that front cover of Sabriel (author Garth Nix) i've though of as elspeth for that matter would love Sabriel and Abhorsen etc to be made into anime also!
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16 years ago
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16 years ago
I think an anime version would have many benefits, not the least because of the complex mental images we all have of the characters, finding real people who fit the roles and who we don't see as being other characters (ie, a big-name actor who is well-known from another movie).
But, i do think that there are some facets of the style that just might not work, especially the cutesy-ness commonly found. These things could possibly be overcome by using more than one animator/studio/company etc. That way the best of say, Studio Ghibli could be teamed up with the makers of Full Metal Alchemist, or other, lesser known groups.
I know it is probably not feasible, but a collaboration would probably make it work...
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16 years ago
I love anime movies, but I just don't think it would be right for the Obernewtyn books.
I agree that most of the animes that I've seen have been either quite cutesy and scenically beautiful or very dark and weird, and it would ruin the feel of obernewtyn.
I think it would be very hard to make movies of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th books, as there is a lot more mind-to-mind communication over long distances. This would be confusing to the audience, and a lot of the plot and the less important characters would have to be cut out. I would hate to see this happen, so I think only the first book should be made into a movie.
Even better would be if they made a mini-series out of the first book.
Perhaps the people who did 'Jekyl' to do it (I loved that series).
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15 years ago
The concept of Obernewtyn as an anime series would be limited due to the slow progression of storyline in terms of 30 minute episodes. The books tend to go for periods of peaceful deep thoughts and backstory to sudden OMG CRAZY WILD DANGEROUS ADVENTURES. While this pace works well in novel format in a tv episode format it would fall flat.

With regards to a few of the things you mentioned -

"Elspeth's having a mental dialogue with Maruman? Close-ups of a cat's face with a voice over?"
How would that really differ from an animated version? You cna't have the animals mouth moving thats stupid its Mental Dialogue. The only real benfit is you can include expressions, which you can do with CG to live action films anyway.

"all of the dialogue would have to be in Japanese, which I know would be weird for a series set in Europe"
who says the dialogue has to be in Japanese to be an anime? I really think if obernewtyn were to go down the track the best bet would be to create something like Avatar, which would appeal to the masses and not just a small clique with an otaku fetish. And with regards to language vs setting - it really makes no difference. Japanese sounded fine against Cheavlier D'eon, Howl's Moving Castle, Full Metal Alchemist and others.

"Someone should put in a proposal to CLAMP"
CLAMP are a group of Mangaka not an animation company.

"My only concern would be that a Japanese production company might make some of the female characters (especially Elspeth) too cute"
Not to be rude, but clearly your exposure to anime is limited. I can name off the top of my head heaps of strong "cold" female characters in anime. Understand that obernewtyn would likely fall under the Seinen Genre - which lends itself to creating those sorts of female characters equally mixed in with the cute ones (you can't tell me you don't want a character like Cameo to look cute?).

All in all while I do like the idea - I think some of the characters would look great in anime style - I think the pace of the writing and such really limits its potential as an animated series. An animated movie perhaps Howvere the likelyhood of getting funding for an non-japanese language book for a decently animated movie is slim, and american animation companies don't seem to do full legnth 2D animated films anymore.
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14 years ago

Tue Aug 18 2009, 02:07pm
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14 years ago
I'd love to see an obernewtyn anime and a movie, but i think elspeth should look like a young girl who never realy shows emotions like in loads of anime's if you get what i mean. but when she's with rushton i think she should look a little .. how do you say... down sized and more cute, if you don't get what i mean cheak this page out.
~Link~
its a good manga picture and it is based on elspeth and rushton but the artist forgot to have black hair on elspeth. if elspeth was like that in the anime the anime would turn out good. because she doesn't look REALY cute but in the middle. i hope i made sense!

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