The Heike Story Anticipation

[Stark700]

From studio Science SARU (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!) and director Naoko Yamada, The Heike Story draws inspiration from the original story THE TALE OF THE HEIKE, written by Hideo Furukawa.

But that’s not all. The iconic Reiko Yoshida serves as composer, with music by Kensuke Ushio. The series stars voice actors Aoi Yuki as Biwa and Takahiro Sakurai as Taira no Shigemori.

From Funimation Blog

https://www.funimation.com/blog/2021...ion-this-fall/

[Guardian Enzo]

Well, I just plotzed.

Been saying for years that a comprehensive (I have no idea if this will be) Heiko Monogatari anime was long overdue. The book (actually a collection of spoken stories over a century or more) is my favorite piece of classic Japanese literatrure.

[LG-MAX 2.o]

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...yamada/.176956

The anime will be broadcast in Japan on Streaming FOD on the same day it comes out on Funimation. Are they trying to use half-truths to increase their importance?

Anyway, looking forward to it.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Well, I just plotzed.

Been saying for years that a comprehensive (I have no idea if this will be) Heiko Monogatari anime was long overdue. The book (actually a collection of spoken stories over a century or more) is my favorite piece of classic Japanese literatrure.

I still have no idea whether it was originally a Minamoto propaganda piece wrapped up in Buddhist trappings or not....

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

I still have no idea whether it was originally a Minamoto propaganda piece wrapped up in Buddhist trappings or not....

Have you read a good translation of the original collected material? Because I don’t think it reads that way at all. For me much of the pathos comes from the fact that it comes off as observational, focusing on the tragedy and the lessons (the perils of attachments to impermanent things) without systematically taking sides.

That said, the preview really has me pessimistic about this project, frankly. Looks to be doing all the things I hoped it wouldn’t - contemporizing, slapping on an artificial device to connect the individual tales.

[Nachtwandler]

Good to see Naoko Yamada directing something new after what happened. But why on a different studio? I hope she is still working in KyoAni.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Nachtwandler

Good to see Naoko Yamada direcvting something new after what happened. But why on a different studio? I hope she is still working in KyoAni.

Change of pace? Better pay? Do something new? Company loyalty is overrated.

The trailer for this is excellent:

YouTube

https://youtu.be/ZW40VnNrowY

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[Nachtwandler]

You know, KyoAni always had the best working conditions in the industry, so this is odd. But apparently, she indeed went freelance about half a year ago.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Have you read a good translation of the original collected material? Because I don’t think it reads that way at all. For me much of the pathos comes from the fact that it comes off as observational, focusing on the tragedy and the lessons (the perils of attachments to impermanent things) without systematically taking sides.

You don't really get a balanced view of that emphasis on the Minamoto side though. It's generally portrayed as the Taira having sole responsibility for everything even though the Minamoto did as much politicking and war-making as them

Eiji Yoshikawa's take is more balanced but his is not the original material of course.

[Guardian Enzo]

Interesting, that wasn't how I felt at all. If anything it's "The Tale of the Heike" - the Taira are more prominent both in their nobility and their extremity than the Minamoto. But I don't feel they come off as more evil or sinful, just more prevalent.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Interesting, that wasn't how I felt at all. If anything it's "The Tale of the Heike" - the Taira are more prominent both in their nobility and their extremity than the Minamoto. But I don't feel they come off as more evil or sinful, just more prevalent.

For one, Taira no Kiyomori was marked out uniquely as someone whose deeds sent him down to hell even though the Genji lords weren't much different. He certainly has the main antagonist role in the story.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

For one, Taira no Kiyomori was marked out uniquely as someone whose deeds sent him down to hell even though the Genji lords weren't much different. He certainly has the main antagonist role in the story.

He's the main antagonist in the first part of the story, because he's the main character in the first part of the story. And historically speaking he did many things which led to directly to the Genpei War. That's more or less established at this point.

The thing is, it's "Heike Monogatari", it's not "Minamoto Monogatari". It's not a chronicle of what happened after the Minamoto took power, or their eventual downfall - it's a chronicle of the fall of the Taira. I think it's only natural that the focus of the story is where it is, and in fact many of the Taira are painted quite heroically. And I think what happened after they were driven from Kyoto was treated as the atrocity that it was.

[Dop]

Well, that sure has an aesthetic. Liked it a lot.

[leongsh]

Ooo... I am intrigued. It looks very good. The main blemish is the ending song - a rap song. It's so out of place.

[Haak]

There was some strange choice of music in the episode itself too. And it was quite "jumpy" in places.

Still a good premiere. I was already sold from the trailer anyway.