Emma MMF: The Anime
An extended aside, & since no one else bothered:
A condensed review of the Emma anime adaptation.
The Emma anime is… fine. I enjoyed it but I stop just short of fully recommending it
- The pacing is leisurely. …that is to say, sloooooow. The first 12 ep. season corresponds to just the first 2 manga volumes — and the second 12 only get us up to volume 4, in practical terms, while borrowing bits and pieces of later chapters and side stories (all out of order) to kind of flesh it out, while introducing several new twists (and a substantially different ending) while still not introducing an actual sense of urgency.
- The only character who gains from adaptation is Hans. He has even more interaction with Emma than in the manga, and becomes, in effect, fully William’s rival. It’s not bad, particularly if one is a fan of Hans, but it is… different.
- There is no abduction. There is no fevered correspondence twixt Emma and William over the post. There is a shortening of the distance between E&W in fact (soon, moves back to London, little fuss) and instead of a long-distance longing with all its romantic frission, William ends up looking like a stalker.
- …worse, Emma becomes a blank: unable to decide, unable to commit, motives unknown — heck, one can’t even be sure if Emma loves anyone: Hans, William, or arse else besides.
Of course adaptations are, of course, adaptations. […if you can parse/grok that last statement.] But it’s a bit like the anime company stole the heart from the romance, and all we’re left with is beautiful, colorful depictions of Victorian England with even more attention to detail, with a lovely soundtrack (I almost recorded a podcast review just to feature clips from the soundtrack) and a satisfying but not quite perfect ending. In fact, the false ending of Volume 7 was better than the anime ending, even given the similarities (and I want an Emma OVA with the Volume 10 Ending right now. Chop chop. [*clap, clap*] C’mon Japan, make it happen.)
Let me back it up a half step and restate and re-emphasise at least one point: the anime is a beautiful, colorful depiction of Victorian England with even more attention to historical detail, matched with a lovely soundtrack
Other pros:
- While William’s new ‘quest’ in the second season is different from chasing across continents for Emma (which, as a plot device, always works) it does point out his commitment to family and ‘making things right’ and more fully illustrates the rivalry and conflict between houses Jones and Campbell — & these are valid plot points. [a tad dry, romantically, but certainly valid]
- There are some excellent [exceptionally rare, but excellent] scenes in later episodes where the voice and ghost? of Kelly Stownar advise (and provoke) Emma. (…with an excellent coda twixt Kelly and Al at the very end of episode 24)
- Expanded characterization (if not expanded roles) for the Jones siblings — though there is a nice bit where Arthur, grudgingly, helps his older brother at the last minute that plays not only into the plot-at-hand but also stays true to his established character.
- and lest the point get lost: As stated, the anime includes and in fact revels in historical details above and beyond what was presented in the manga. It’s like history porn.
Perhaps, had I watched the anime before reading the manga, I might be more forgiving: the last five volumes of the manga just blow the Emma anime out of the water. But, since the anime was most assuredly in development before Vol. 7 released (and long before vol. 10 was a twinkle in Mori’s eye) there are some things that had to be done, decisions to be made, to keep to the broadcast schedule.
- If you’re the sort who’d never read the manga anyway, then yes, I recommend the anime.
- If you’re a fan of the manga, and would like to see a slightly different retelling, I’d also recommend the anime.
- If you’re a history nut, buff, and/or trivia freak, then most assuredly believe me when I tell you you need to see the anime. (right down to the advertisements on the side of ‘omnibuses’ — there is detail in every frame)
So, summing up [and let’s link to the local licensee]
Emma, the anime is available in two box sets from Nozomi Entertainment [love those guys] and I’d like recommend it to you.
& Yes, I own these. That should be as much a recommendation as anything else.
If one is a fan of shojo romance [or action of any sort] you’ll find it lacking, but approaching the property from just about any other angle you’ll find it’s not only good, it’s really good.
