(L) Arslan Senki (The Heroic Legend of Arslan) [Anticipation]

[Stark700]

Spoiler:

A domain name has been registered for the series so expecting an anime adaptation soon. The series has gotten an OVA adaptation in the past before. From the author of Full Metal Alchemist, this should be interesting if done right.

Staff:

Director: Noriyuki Abe
Series composition: Makoto Uezu
Character Designs: Shingo Ogiso

Official site:
http://www.arslan.jp/

CM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nwvNHW8VY
Source: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...s-anime/.80574

Confirmed for anime adaptation. It will adapt Hiromu Arakawa's manga version for the series.

[Flower]

Actually two mini movies and four ovas according to the wiki page:

The Heroic Legend of Arslan(アルスラーン戦記 Arusurān Senki?) is a Japanese fantasy novel series. The author, Yoshiki Tanaka, started writing Arslan in 1986 and is still writing it as of 2008, with the current number of books at 13 novels and one side story in the official guidebook Arslan senki tokuhon.

It was made into a manga (which went ahead and came up with an ending on its own), two anime films, and a four-part, unfinished anime OVA.

In 2013, a second manga adaptation started serializing at Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine with illustrations by Hiromu Arakawa.

I wonder if the basis for the adaptation will be the second adaptation only or if it will draw from the novels or even the previous anime adaptations as well? The second manga adaptation was done by Arakawa Hiromu, who also did Fullmetal Alchemist and Silver Spoon.

Furthermore, this second manga was picked up by crunchyroll manga back in March: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...i-arslan-manga

Color me curious....

[Sheba]

Woah, if its done well and is well received, it could pave a way for a Lodoss revival.

[Stark700]

Ah thanks for the correction there. I plan to watch those soon as well!

[kuromitsu]

On the one hand: MORE ARSLAN, SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

On the other hand: Please don't base it on the Arakawa manga, please please please.

The first anime adaptation had obvious issues of time constraints (and later on money), but it was gorgeous and really brought the setting and the characters to life. Maybe the Arakawa manga is good (I was discouraged after the first chapter and couldn't bring myself to read much further), but the style of the art is so drab and same-y and uninspired, and the storytelling just don't fit the story as far as I'm concerned, and I'd rather not see it adapted even further.

Just please do an independent adaptation and everyone will be happy... (mostly me )

Also, just because there's that big manga art up there, here's some more Arslan art.
Novel (first illustrations by Amano Yoshitaka, there's even a beautiful artbook out):

Images

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First anime (Kamimura Sachiko):

Images

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(There's also a previous manga but that was kind of whatever.)

[Guardian Enzo]

Given that to the general public and certainly to anime audiences alike Arakawa is probably the most famous name associated with this series, it's hard to imagine any new anime won't trade on her involvement as much as it can.

[RollingPenguin]

They are totally going to base this on Arakawa's manga, it's a hot new property so they want to promote it as much as possible. Even so, manga only has 2 volumes out which would mean that a lot visuals will not originate from her manga.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Given that to the general public and certainly to anime audiences alike Arakawa is probably the most famous name associated with this series, it's hard to imagine any new anime won't trade on her involvement as much as it can.

Maybe, maybe not. They can give the character designs to someone equally famous, they can get a famous writer to do the adaptation, etc. It's not very often that you see an anime adaptation of a manga that is already an adaptation of a novel, instead of just adapting the source novel independently. It's certainly not something that ever happened to any Tanaka Yoshiki novel (at least to my knowledge).

Besides, it's not like they can just follow the Arakawa manga, anyway - I just checked the summary for the latest volume and it's nowhere even near even a halfway point, let alone a closing point (as much as Arslan has a closing point). Unless this is a one-off OVA or something they'd have to go their own way eventually, and in that case there's no point in not using the novel from day one.

Anyway, we'll see.

[Guardian Enzo]

They may not be able to follow it in terms of where it's at with the story, but they certainly can trumpet her character designs and backgrounds from here till next week. It may be unfortunate, but most people who don't read the manga or know the novel have no idea she's not the author as well as the artist. I can't count the times I've seen it referred to as "Arakawa's other manga", and I've even seen bookstore displays where her name is the only one on the handwritten signage.

It is what it is. If Arakawa (who I respect a great deal as both an artist and writer, BTW) being involved is helpful in getting more anime out of the story, rather than worry about the rightness of that I'll just be glad it's happening.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

They may not be able to follow it in terms of where it's at with the story, but they certainly can trumpet her character designs and backgrounds from here till next week.

For a part of the story, anyway - there's still a bunch of characters and places that haven't yet appeared in the manga. (They can get her to design them, of course, but I'm not sure how that would work out, or whether she'd even have time, what with drawing two manga at the same time. Then again, given how uninspired the character designs and the backgrounds look in the manga...)

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

It may be unfortunate, but most people who don't read the manga or know the novel have no idea she's not the author as well as the artist. I can't count the times I've seen it referred to as "Arakawa's other manga", and I've even seen bookstore displays where her name is the only one on the handwritten signage.

That's because it's a manga that she writes and draws herself (it's not like Tanaka is involved in the actual writing process, he "only" wrote the novel series that the manga is based on). But if Arslan gets an anime that is not an OVA to be released with one of the manga volumes or something, I'm fairly sure that Tanaka's agency wouldn't want it to be known as "that Arakawa anime". And as I said they'd have to overtake the manga anyway, so...

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

It is what it is. If Arakawa (who I respect a great deal as both an artist and writer, BTW) being involved is helpful in getting more anime out of the story, rather than worry about the rightness of that I'll just be glad it's happening.

But that's just what my problem is, I'm not fond of the manga. I really don't like the general art style, and I don't think that her writing style is a good fit for this story (from what I've read of it, anyway). I'm happy for more Arslan, but I have a lack of enthusiasm for this manga and so I'd much much prefer a new and independent adaptation.

[AntonKutovoi]

Great! It's always good to have Tanaka's novels to be adapted into the anime, not to mention that Arslan is one of his most famous novels, second only to the LoGH.

While I would prefer them not to use Arakawa's designs, the chances of it is pretty seems pretty slim.

I also wonder about the cast. Please, no Kaji Yuki, Mamoru Miyano or Ryota Ohsaka in the main role. I like their voices, but I would prefer someone, who're not voicing half of the main characters in current anime.

[musouka]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

But that's just what my problem is, I'm not fond of the manga. I really don't like the general art style, and I don't think that her writing style is a good fit for this story (from what I've read of it, anyway). I'm happy for more Arslan, but I have a lack of enthusiasm for this manga and so I'd much much prefer a new and independent adaptation.

The manga does improve as it goes on. I know the first chapter was pretty excruciating if you're an Arslan fan, so that might be damning with faint praise, but there are some bits I think actually did a good job of streamlining awkward parts of the original narrative, and I appreciated a more nuanced portrayal of Arslan's character than the movies/OAVs really had time to go into. (Of course, I feel like that was present in the books as well, but if we're purely comparing adaptation to adaptation...)

On the other hand, I don't think Arakawa's style of visual humor suits the series. There's not a lot of it, but I was rolling my eyes at how over the top she made Narsas's "artistic skills" play out, and I'm not even a huge Narsas fan. I'm also not sure how I feel about how she's handling integrating a character we originally met at a much later part of the narrative--part of me likes what she's done with a character I was originally middling about, but I'm not sure how things will play out in the future in how canon goes.

What it really comes down to is Arslan is probably my favorite Tanaka series, so I was going to buy and read it no matter what, just like I'll watch any hypothetical anime that comes out, Arakawa's designs or not.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by musouka

The manga does improve as it goes on. I know the first chapter was pretty excruciating if you're an Arslan fan, so that might be damning with faint praise, but there are some bits I think actually did a good job of streamlining awkward parts of the original narrative, and I appreciated a more nuanced portrayal of Arslan's character than the movies/OAVs really had time to go into. (Of course, I feel like that was present in the books as well, but if we're purely comparing adaptation to adaptation...)

I tried to read on after chapter 1, but I guess the shock was just too strong for me to be able to enjoy it... And aside of that, I'm really bothered by the overall visual style. Generally I don't mind Arakawa's character designs, but here they seriously lack any kind of individuality, the characters just look like every Arakawa character ever. And the style is just so drab, stark and kind of nondescript, there's just no life in the setting. I could deal with it if Arslan was an actual historical novel, but come on, this is a fantasy set in pseudo early medieval Persia (and India and whatnot). I find the visuals a huge turn-off, especially after Yoshitaka Amano's lush illustrations or the old anime's gorgeous designs. :/ And on the story and characterization side, I'm sure that as a manga it has more time to go into details and characterization than the old anime, but... yeah. for that I already have the books.

But if you say it improves I'll try to read on (especially if this hopefully planned new anime will draw on the manga :/ ) to know what I should expect...

Originally Posted by musouka

On the other hand, I don't think Arakawa's style of visual humor suits the series. There's not a lot of it, but I was rolling my eyes at how over the top she made Narsas's "artistic skills" play out, and I'm not even a huge Narsas fan. I'm also not sure how I feel about how she's handling integrating a character we originally met at a much later part of the narrative--part of me likes what she's done with a character I was originally middling about, but I'm not sure how things will play out in the future in how canon goes.

Yes, that's one of the things I meant when I said that Arakawa's writing style doesn't really suit this particular story. I'm already not a huge fan of her humor, and from what I've read there wasn't much power in the emotional scenes either. I'm not saying Arakawa is not a good writer, but she's really not the one I would've chosen to adapt Arslan.

By the way, who is the character you mentioned?

Originally Posted by AntonKutovoi

I also wonder about the cast. Please, no Kaji Yuki, Mamoru Miyano or Ryota Ohsaka in the main role. I like their voices, but I would prefer someone, who're not voicing half of the main characters in current anime.

Oosaka's voice is inconspicious enough that it wouldn't stand out too much... but I can't see him as Arslan, nor Kaji or Miyano for that matter. (Kaji maybe, but then he'd have to play yet another relatively young boy and I wish they'd stop with that already.) I think they'd want to give the role to an up-and-coming new face. As for the rest of the main cast, though, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get an big-name cast.

[AntonKutovoi]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

Oosaka's voice is inconspicious enough that it wouldn't stand out too much... but I can't see him as Arslan, nor Kaji or Miyano for that matter. (Kaji maybe, but then he'd have to play yet another relatively young boy and I wish they'd stop with that already.) I think they'd want to give the role to an up-and-coming new face. As for the rest of the main cast, though, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get an big-name cast.

I'd say if they'll keep Arakawa's style, the ones who'd fit the Arslan are Souma Saito (got only two really big roles so far) or Hisayoshi Suganuma (have a few main roles, but mostly working at supporting roles).

[Guardian Enzo]

Saito Souma would be an excellent pick.

[mweloo]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Saito Souma would be an excellent pick.

He would. I also think Irino Miyu or Murase Ayumu (if he lowers the pitch of his voice a little) could pull it off.

I saw Arakawa's art for Arslan before I read the manga, so I wasn't expecting him to be so... outwardly meek, I guess. For some reason I'd initially imagined Arslan to be voiced by Uchiyama Kouki or Ishikawa Kaito (they're two of my favourites, so I guess I was a bit biased ). Then I read the manga and figured I'd have to rethink a few things.

Regardless, I quite enjoy the most recent manga (it's the only one I've read, ha), and I look forward to any anime adaptation that might come our way.

[kuromitsu]

I'm also leaning toward someone like Irino Miyu, although Murase would be definitely interesting to hear. Yamaguchi Kappei voiced him in the old anime (way back in 1991) and the following audio adaptations, and I think the kind of voice Yamaguchi used for Arslan was just right. Irino can do the kind of "pure" voice that fits Arslan well, along with his more regal tone, and his tough side as well; also he can follow his eventual maturing. (I can imagine him doing the scene where Arslan threatens whatshisname the other prince Rajendra during Daryun's duel, by the way this is yet another scene I can't imagine coming out right in the Arakawa manga...)

In any case, it would be pretty interesting to see who gets cast as whom, and compare it with the old casting. The old anime had Inoue Kazuhiko, Shiozawa Kaneto (who was the main reason I couldn't really appreciate Narsas until I read the novel - gahh, the Oberstein flashbacks Oberstein really ruined Shiozawa for me), Ikeda Shuuichi, Koyasu Takehito, etc.

[Maxulous]

I'm none too impressed with Awakawa's flippant use of tone in her fantasy epics (well, that fullmetal alchemist thing). I have the original films stored somewhere so will be content with that.

[Stark700]

It has been confirmed!


http://yaraon.blog109.fc2.com/blog-entry-27960.html

Announcement CM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nwvNHW8VY

[Guardian Enzo]

And based off Arakawa's manga confirmed. Let the floodgates of complaint open.