2006-12-18, 18:26 | Link #1 | |
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
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Deltora Quest
Based on the best selling fantasy books by Aussie novelist Emily Rodda, the Deltora Quest anime airs on 1/6/2007. Emily Rodda agreed to the anime on the condition the studio did not change the story. I haven't read the books but I find that encouraging nonetheless. Check out the trailer here (horrible Flash thing so be warned). There's no synosis on the website's yet, but here's blurb from Book 1: Quote:
Spoiler for staff/cast:
If you want to check out the designs of the three main characters, click below: Spoiler for characters:
So it's a 'traditional' fantasy epic i.e. swords, magic, wizards, dragons and taverns (and ale no doubt). Instead of the One Ring, we have the One Belt, the Deltora Belt to be precise. Deltora stands for Diamond Emerald Lapis-lazuli Topaz Opal Ruby Amethyst (which I think is rather neat). The novels are numerous (well eight) and the plot labyrinthine (well as labyrinthine as it gets for 8 year olds); which means there's plenty of material for the series and that's no bad thing. On a serious note I kind of like this stuff (when it's done well) and thankfully this show seems to have MONEY behind it, so I'm keen to see how this turns out. The trailer doesn't really give much away except they're using CG, which I'm a little nervous about as it looks a bit clunky but promos are often not the best thing to bet on. I like the character designs, they seem quite 'old school', if that's the right phrase to use? I'm not expecting it to be Record of Lodoss War or Scrapped Princess (the only two 'medieval' type fantasy anime I've watched) but I'm hoping it'll be FUN. Last edited by Sonhex; 2006-12-19 at 06:50. |
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2006-12-18, 21:43 | Link #3 |
Sexy Tornado
Artist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The European Bunion
Age: 45
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Apart from my initial misgivings regarding the usual collect-the-rings plot device there, it sounds like it could turn out to be pretty durned tasty, so I shall certainly look forward to checking it out. Oh, and the Shadow/ Dark/ Sith/ -Lord thing has been done to death, can't we get something a bit different for a change? A psycho clown like Kefka in FF6 or something, I don't care as long as it's not another Dark Lord.
Side note: Has anyone ever wondered what these evil dark lords actually plan to do after they win? I mean, their entire existence seems to revolve around world domination, so what happens next? He'll be sat twiddling his thumbs wondering why he's all of a sudden no longer having any fun Well, even if it has been done before, it can still be done in an interesting and thoughtful fasion, so that's what I'll be hoping for |
2006-12-18, 22:08 | Link #4 |
~Night of Gales~
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
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My only apparent beef is how the apparently children-oriented Del.Quest will be as an anime adaption. I've never got the opportunity to read the books...seeing as I stopped visiting the children's section of bookstores a while back, but my ancient experience with children fantasy ranges from unchildrenly good to being merely-so-so.
This seems like something that is churned a little bit more money than the usual OLM stuff... The cell animation seems solid and the colours look vibrant. Only if the CG used wasn't so bad that it looked better in a live-action compared to an anime. Well, my gut instinct tells me that it's hardly going to be anything superbly great. So long as it fixes the mindless fun of fantasical RPG anime lore that hasn't been seen for a while now, I suppose I'll be satisfied.
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2006-12-19, 07:01 | Link #5 | |
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
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Deltora seems pretty well received amongst its target audience, which is the best way to assess it I guess. Children's fiction is pretty expansive and there's some real gems in amongst the Harry Potter and Narnia clones. I've read Garth Nix, Philip Reeve and William Nicholson's fantasy books which I found surprisingly sophisticated. Deltora is aimed at a younger audience though, so we shouldn't expect anything too profound but it carries some wholesome messages such as honour, loyalty and courage, which is all very commendable.
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2006-12-28, 08:09 | Link #8 |
Not dead. Yet.
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: UK
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Well I read a lot of Garth Nix myself, the Abhorsen books in particular. I'd love to see Sabriel animated, it would make an incredible anime.
Anyway, on topic, there's another movie on the official site featuring an interview with Emily Rodda, in which she appears very excited and enthusiastic about the anime. Her comments about the characters are quite interesting, if you can strain to hear her over the translator. There's plenty of new footage of the characters and the CG in particular is much more convincing this time round. The monster designs remind me of some of Studio 4c's ones from Tweeny Witches... |
2006-12-28, 10:18 | Link #9 | |
Sexy Tornado
Artist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The European Bunion
Age: 45
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2006-12-28, 11:06 | Link #11 |
Sexy Tornado
Artist
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The European Bunion
Age: 45
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It's still a dumb name regardless of who thought it up. Is it that hard to say Magical Girl Alice? Failing that, Chibi Majokko would have worked for me though, since they 'are' witches rather than classical magical girls. It's mostly the usage of the word tweeny that bugs me I think.
Oh well, not like it's going to change either way, so no point moaning about it any more |
2007-01-06, 16:02 | Link #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Didn't like the first episode. The plot is practically nonexistant - it's classical fantazy RPG one, something you've probably met dozens of times in numerous american cartoons(i.e. Conan). Seven minutes of introduction is not something I enjoyed, plus the characters were also dull and uninteresting.
The only redeeming quality of this anime is it's high production level. Well, if you're a teenage boy you'd probably enjoy this one, but I already saw far too many such flicks to keep watching this anime. |
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fantasy |
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