Gankutsuōu - The Count of Monte Cristo
巌窟王 (Gankutsuou)
Genre	Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Romance,
TV anime
Directed by	Mahiro Maeda
Studio	GONZO
Network	TV Asahi
Original run	5 October 2004 – 29 March 2005
No. of episodes	24

Gankutsuou (Japanese: 巌窟王 Gankutsuō) is an anime series loosely based on Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It ran for 24 episodes and was produced by Studio GONZO. "Gankutsuou" (literally meaning "The Ruler of the Cave") is taken from the Japanese title of the novel. Image File history File links Gankutsuou File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Look up adventure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into theatre. ... Look up romance in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. ... Anime ) is a medium of animated cartoons originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation. ... Mahiro Maeda Mahiro Maeda is one of the preeminent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japans top series. ... Gonzo is a style of reportage, film making, or any form of multimedia production in which the reporter, filmmaker or creator is intrinsically enmeshed with the subject action (rather than being a passive observer). ... TV Asahi building in Roppongi Hills TV Asahi Corporation (EX, 株式会社 テレビ朝日, Kabushiki Gaisha Terebi Asahi) TYO: 9409 is a television network operating in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alexandre Dumas redirects here. ... The Count of Monte Cristo (Le comte de Monte Cristo) is a classic adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. ... Gonzo is a style of reportage, film making, or any form of multimedia production in which the reporter, filmmaker or creator is intrinsically enmeshed with the subject action (rather than being a passive observer). ...

A manga serialization also written by Mahiro Maeda, one of the animation directors for the Animatrix, began running in Kodansha's Afternoon Magazine in May of 2005. Mahiro Maeda Mahiro Maeda is one of the preeminent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japans top series. ... Animatrix The Animatrix is a major part of the Matrix series, a collection of nine animated short films set in that fictional universe. ...

Story

While visiting the festival on Luna, Viscount Albert de Morcerf and Baron Franz d' Epinay make the acquaintance of the Count of Monte Cristo, a self-made nobleman. When they part, the Count promises to visit Albert in Paris. After he arrives, he insinuates himself into the most powerful families in France (the Morcerfs, the Danglars, and the Villeforts).

While Gankutsuou follows the main story of the "The Count of Monte Cristo," many of the side plots are discarded. In addition, the story is told starting from the time Albert and Franz meet the Count, leaving most of the exposition to be recounted in the "present time" of the series.

Style

While the novel takes place during the 1800s, Gankutsuou is set in the far future, in the year 5053. Though it incorporates elements of science-fiction and fantasy, it also retains many aesthetics of France in the 1800s, particularly in regard to social classes and wealth. In addition, the episodes begin with a summary spoken in French.

Gankutsuou was one of the first anime to take advantage of the potential of Photoshop textures and layering in digital animation. The backgrounds are frequently rendered in 3D, a stylistic trademark of Studio Gonzo.
Adobe Photoshop is a bitmap graphics editor (with some text and vector graphics capabilities) published by Adobe Systems. ... ... A digital system is one that uses numbers, especially binary numbers, for input, processing, transmission, storage, or display, rather than a continuous spectrum of values (an analog system) or non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons. ... 12 frames per second is the typical rate for an animated cartoon. ...

Characters

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo is a mysterious nobleman living in luxury. He approaches and befriends Albert in Luna as the first step in his plan of revenge against the people who once betrayed him. The term Luna can refer to the Earths Moon. ...

The Count's previous identity was Edmond Dantès, a sailor who worked for the Morrel family's shipping company. Edmond was imprisoned in the Chateau d'If on false charges, and there it was that he met Gankutsuou. In exchange for the strength and means to gain revenge, he allowed the cold-blooded demon to possess him.

The Morcerf family

General Fernand de Morcerf

The husband of Mercédès and the father of Albert, Fernand is general of the Parisian army and the leading candidate in France's presidential race. While touted as a hero, Fernand is actually a cowardly character, guilty of unethical practices including the murder of the King of Janina and a purchased nobility. In the past, he worked with Edmond Dantès and Danglars under his real name of Fernand Mondego. Though Edmond considered him a friend, Fernand was his rival for the affection of Mercédès.

Mercédès de Morcerf

The former fiancée of Edmond Dantès, Mercédès demurred and married her childhood friend Fernand upon news of Edmond's death in the Chateau d'If. Though she is a devoted wife and caring mother, Mercédès still harbours feelings for Edmond. She suspects the Count's true identity and worries that he has returned to disrupt her family's life.

Viscount Albert de Morcerf

A naïve fifteen-year-old, Albert encounters the Count while vacationing on the moon colony, Luna. Taken in by the Count's poise, sophistication, and mystique, Albert serves as a tool for the Count to immerse himself in Parisian society. His naïveté is his defining flaw, blinding him to others' faults and intentions. Nonetheless, his purity of spirit penetrates the hearts of others.

The Danglars family

Baron Danglars

Danglars is the most powerful banker in France and he seeks wealth above everything else, often disregarding the feelings of those closest to him in the process. By appealing to Danglars' sense of greed, the Count persuades him to create an account allowing an unlimited withdrawal of funds. He sees the marriage of his daughter Eugénie as a way to enhance his family's wealth and prestige. He has been friends with Fernand for several decades, and engaged Eugénie to Albert as a way of tying the families together.

Madame Victoria Danglars

Madame Danglars is known for being outspoken and determined to get her way. Madame Danglars has had several extramarital lovers, most notable among them Gérard de Villefort, with whom she bore a child out of wedlock. In constrast to her husband, Madame Danglars has limits on what she will do in the pursuit of wealth; her most prized possession is her horse Eclipse whom she refuses to sell.

Claire Marie Eugénie de Danglars

Eugénie is the childhood friend of Albert and Franz. Baron Danglars arranged her engagement to Albert many years prior, but she usually appears displeased with the idea. She shows her affections through playing and composing music for the piano, and she hopes to become a professional pianist. Later in the series, her father breaks her engagement to Albert, instead preferring her to marry Andrea Cavalcanti.

The Villefort family

Gérard de Villefort

Gérard is the highest ranking judge in Paris and is considered a member of the social elite. He is known for being harsh in his rulings, a trait that will return to haunt him. He conducts his judicial business with an iron fist, he is in truth a very passive, self-flagellating character. His first wife died years ago, and he remarried to a social-climber named Héloïse. He once had an affair with Madame Danglars which resulted in a child. The wearabouts of this child will not be revealed due to the possibility of "spoiling" part of the story.

Valentine de Villefort

Valentine is Villefort's daughter by his first wife. She is a kind and caring person, but she is also somewhat withdrawn and rather frail. She is very sickly most of the time. While she appears to have a civil relationship with her father, she is more attached to her grandfather Noirtier. Though she is formally engaged to Franz, she does not seem to have feelings for him; instead, she prefers the company of Maximilien Morrel. Unfortunately, due to his position as a soldier, he is not approved of by her father.

Héloïse de Villefort

Héloïse is the second wife of Villefort and Valentine's stepmother. She is bitter towards her stepdaughter because she believes that Valentine will inherit the Villefort's estate, leaving her son Edouard with nothing. Her hobby is gardening in her private greenhouse. She is fascinated by toxicology, and most of the plants she grows are highly poisonous. From her flirtations with the Count and indifference towards her husband, she gives the strong impression that she is a social climber.

Edouard de Villefort

Edouard is Héloïse's only son from her previous marriage. He is a young and spoiled boy whom his mother hopes will one day inherit the Villefort's estate.

Noirtier

Noirtier is Gérard de Villefort's father, though they have an antagonistic relationship. Noirtier was once a high-ranking official within the French government, but was paralyzed due to a stroke. Valentine is devoted to his well-being and he seeks to provide for her as best he can given his condition.

Other characters

Baron Franz d'Epinay

Albert's best friend who accompanied him in the carnival in Luna. He seems to be more mature than Albert, cautioning him against the Count. He holds deep feelings for his best friend and he risks his own life on several occasions to save Albert.

Maximilien Morrel

A military man in love with Valentine. His father owned the shipping company that hired Edmond Dantès. Though he is socially awkward, he is also strong, courageous and honest.

Lucien Debray

Lucien is a friend of Albert and Franz. He works as a secretary within the French government. Charismatic and confident, Lucien is a self-proclaimed ladies' man, and far from shy when it comes to his affair with Madame Danglars.

Haydée

A delicate beauty and skilled harp player, Haydée is one of the members of the Count of Monte Cristo's estate. The former princess of Janina, Haydée was sold into slavery when her father was betrayed and killed by a political ally. She was eventually rescued by the Count, and grew deep feelings for him over time. She wishes to save him from the revenge that consumes his life.

Bertuccio and Baptistin

The Count's right hand men, Bertuccio and Baptistin act as servants, bodyguards, and occasionally as chauffeurs for the Count of Monte Cristo. Baptistin is the more eccentric of the duo, and is skilled in the art of fencing. Both are extremely loyal to the Count.

Ali

Ali is the Count's mute alien servant. He has unusual powers, such as telekinesis and controlling animals. Saves the Count's life on one occasion.

Luigi Vampa

Vampa is the well-known leader of a group of bandits on Luna. He is responsible for kidnapping Albert at the beginning of the story.

Peppo

Peppo meets Albert during the festival on Luna, and she seduces him per Vampa's orders to kidnap him. When Albert returns to Paris, Peppo becomes a servant in the Morcerf household. Much to Albert's surprise, though Peppo has the persona of a somewhat flighty girl, she's really a boy in disguise.

Andrea Cavalcanti

Calvacanti is an Italian nobleman known to the Count, who introduces him to Parisian society. Cunning and crude, he flamboyantly displays his wealth to make himself known throughout Paris. After meeting Danglars, he replaces Albert as Eugénie's fiancé.

Caderousse

Caderousse is a drunk who was once a member of the same crew as Edmond, Fernand, and the others. He indirectly participated in the plot to send Edmond to the Chateau d'If.

Licensing

Geneon acquired the North American release rights for Gankutsuou, and it has been released under the title Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. As of April 2006, volumes 1-3 (episodes 1-12) have been released on DVD in the USA. Geneon, formerly known as Pioneer Entertainment (or Pioneer LDC) and also a former subsidiary of Pioneer Corporation, is a home entertainment production and distribution company. ...

Trivia

• The textures and patterns for the characters' clothing in the final episode were created by fashion designer Anna Sui.
• The theme songs for the series, "We Were Lovers" and "You Won't See Me Coming", as well as much of the incidental music for the series, was written and performed by Jean-Jacques Burnel of the English rock group, The Stranglers.
• One of the trailers uses the theme from Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony.
• The opera featured in episode one is Lucia di Lammermoor, a story about feuding families and unfaithful lovers.

Anna Sui (隋安娜) (born 1964 in Detroit, Michigan USA) is one of the world’s leading fashion designers. ... Jean Jacques Burnel (J J Burnel) is the bass player with the British rock band The Stranglers. ... The Stranglers - (L to R) - Dave Greenfield, Jet Black, Jean-Jacques Burnel and Hugh Cornwell. ... Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский, sometimes transliterated as Piotr, Anglicised as Peter Ilich), (May 7, 1840 – November 6, 1893 (N.S.); April 25, 1840 – October 25, 1893 (O.S.)) was a Russian composer of the Romantic era. ... Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. ... Lucia di Lammermoor is an opera in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. ...

Episode list

1. At the End of Our Travels, We Meet
2. Until the Sun Rises on the Moon
3. 5/22, Tempest
4. Mother's Secret
5. Do You Love Your Betrothed?
6. Her Gloom, My Gloom
7. The Secret Nectar of the Flower Garden
8. A Night in Boulogne
9. I Had a Dream of the Color of Darkness
10. A Letter from Edmond
11. Engagement, Broken
12. Encore
13. Haydee
14. Wandering Heart
15. The End of Happiness, the Beginning of Truth
16. Scandal
17. Confession
18. Duel
19. If I Had Become Unlike Myself
20. Farewell, Eugénie
21. The True Identity of the Nobleman
22. Counterattack
23. Edmond Dantès
24. By the Seashore

Theme songs

Opening

• "We Were Lovers" by Jean-Jacques Burnel

Ending Jean Jacques Burnel (J J Burnel) is the bass player with the British rock band The Stranglers. ...

• "You Won't See Me Coming" by Jean-Jacques Burnel

Jean Jacques Burnel (J J Burnel) is the bass player with the British rock band The Stranglers. ...

External links

• Official Japanese website
• Official English website
• AniDB entry