Re: Manga vs. Anime [SPOILER]
xerxes@hkstar.com
Tue, 23 Feb 1999 15:15:11
At 01:58 PM 2/20/99 +0900, Karirin wrote:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
>I agree the opinion that the anime is more representative than the manga
>in general.
>But I think there is a great difference between the anime and the original
>only for that episode.
>In the anime, when Oberstein gave the information about the atrocious
>plan for nuclear boumb attack, Reinhardt refused Oberstein’s proposal
>(and Oberstein proceeded in secret under pretence of his mistake). But
>in the original novel, Reingardt refused the cruel proposal once, however,
>he ORDERD to let the attack pass at last. I can not understand why
>the staff made such radical change in the anime. The argument
>between Reinhardt and Kircheis does not mean anything if Reinhardt
>does not have any guilty conscience about that he leave the attack ON
>PURPOSE. And it is natural for Kircheis to get angry(but his expression
>in the manga is overemphasis).
>I rather suppose the manga represents the original as to that episode.
>It is true that Ms. Michihara sometimes changes or modifies the stories,
>but it does not mean that she does not understand the characters and
>why the things happened, I think.
I have not read vol. 10 of the manga since the Chinese edition is not
out yet. But if your statement and Z107M's accurately represent
MICHIHARA's rendition of that scene, I'm afraid you have just afforded
an example of how poorly she understand two of the chief characters and
the situation.
It is wrong to suppose Reinhardt did not feel sorry for the for the
part he played in the Westland Massacre. If the the translation in
the Chinese edition is correct, the author actually said (Chapter 8
of Book 2 of Japanese edition or vol. 4 of Chinese edition) Reinhardt
could not think of the victims without feeling a deep sense of guilty
and remorse. Even if MICHIHARA missed this part, she should be able
to sense how bad Reinhardt felt when he saw the stunning footage of
the massacre when she read chapter 6 of the same volume.
As for making that decision, I think Reinhardt also regretted it very
much. Otherwise, he would have lectured Kircheis on the merits and
sagacity of the strategy, since he always wanted Kircheis to agree
with him, and added as a parting shoot that such sacrifice was
inevitable. At that stage of the civil war, he should even be able
to quote some statistics of how many more lives had been saved as a
result of his strategy in order to justify his claims. But he did
nothing of that kind. He made no apology for his decision. Instead,
he tried everything to stop Kircheis talking about it, a good
indication of how much he(R) regarded it a shame. It must be due to
this sense of unworthiness that Reinhardt could not bear the man he
loved perhaps more than his own life to notice his big mistake and
point it out in his face. Should Kircheis notice it, he(R) hoped
Kircheis would understand how much he regret this decision without
being told first. It was Reinhardt, not Kircheis, who became very
much enraged by the end of the reception because Kircheis insisted
on Reinhardt's admitting the decision was wrong and unworthy of
him(R).
To portray Kircheis as very angry and having a fierce look is also
wrong. Kircheis brought up the discussion because he loved and
trusted Reinhardt, and believed in Reinhardt's capability to repent
and reform. Reinhardt's conduct unfortunately gave him no assurance.
Kircheis was disappointed (because Reinhardt admitted giving those
orders), frustrated (Reinhardt did not seem to listen to him),
confused (he could not make out what Reinhardt was thinking about the
massacre) and sad (to avoid the subject, Reinhardt went to the length
to deny they were very specail friends). I would not be surprised if
Kircheis should be even a bit angry feeling so much disappointment,
frustration and confusion, but it is the feeling of disappointment,
frustration and confustion that should be emphasised. The anger is
trivial.
One factor that determine how angry should Kircheis feel is whether
he had lost his faith in Reinhardt. If at that reception Kircheis
found Reinhardt had become cruel, tyranical, stubbornly refused to
repent the crime he(R) committed, he should indeed be very angry.
But it was not the case. Kircheis still believed in Reinhardt's
goodness and relied on his(R) ultimate repentance. That's why he
would tell Reinhardt to "grasp the Universe" but not "please be a
good ruler" nor "do not make the same mistake again" just before
his(K) death. It is due to this faith in Reinhardt that Reinhardt's
conduct at the reception gave him(K) so much confusion. As Kircheis
was not such a bull that would be readily enraged before he found
out what he was dealing with, it is unthinkable that Kircheis should
be very angry.
Of course Kircheis could feel very angry for the victims of the
massacre, but this was not on his mind when he had that dispute with
Reinhardt. All that time he was pushing his argument on Reinhardt
he had Reinhardt alone on his mind. Everything he said focused on
Reinhardt. No reference was ever made to the suffering of the
victims. If Kircheis should become very angry during the reception,
it is indeed a mystery as with whom/what he was feeling very angry.
I really hope either I have over-reacted to your statement or you are
not accurate about MICHIHARA's rendition of that scene. If the magna
really gives an impression that Reinhardt had no shame about his part
in the massacre and Kircheis got very angry, MICHIHARA's lack of
understanding of two of the leading characters and her failure to
read the novel more carefully as a work to be adapted deserves cannot
be more clearly demonstrated.
I do notice that MICHIHARA sometime change and modify the story. But
her changes and modifications never improve the story. In fact, I
should think by her manga MICHIHARA is guilty of turning a masterpiece
into a commonplace shonen manga with a slightly-better-than-average
plot.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Xerxes J.
