An Epic Mood

[Click on the title, and listen to one of the most compelling anime soundtrack pieces that exist.]

I have just completed my second viewing of Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo - or rather, finished watching it on Sunday, and have been dabbling in the episodes and music since. Even going as far as to let it influence the mood for the next installment of Blossoms. At this point, even though I have not written much more than 300 words of the next chapter, I have a general story planned out, complete with action and drama. And maybe even a love triangle. You've got to love the effect epic stories have on certain people.

I love Gankutsuou. I don't think I know of any other anime that is more aesthetically pleasing (and trippy, before you get used to the strange multi-layered animation), has more appropriate music (though I wish they had better lyrics for the opening ; it's painful to have to have that stuck in my head for hours at a time), and has a compelling story. I started reading the novel two years ago right after I watched the series for the first time, before a beloved sibling of mine swiped it. I've picked it up once again, printing out a chapter at a time from Project Gutenberg because I'm just a little bit of a cheapskate.

I wonder if anyone has cried as much as I did from Episode 18 ("The Duel") onwards - with the exception of Episode 20 ("Farewell, Eugenie"), which was somewhat satisfying. I'm surprisingly as much of an Albert/Eugenie fan as I am a Franz/Albert fan. At least within the context of the anime; it doesn't quite work with the novel, where I hear that Eugenie is a lesbian, and Franz is not quite so inclined.

And Nakata Jouji as the Count/Edmond Dantes is unbelievably superb, but then again, his voice as Folken in Escaflowne did make me fall in love with him.

All right, enough of this gushing. I shall go on to do more useful things.