Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Professor Layton and the Eternal Songstress, Professor Layton: The First Movie

Japanese: レイトン教授と永遠の歌姫

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Information

Type: Movie

Episodes: 1

Status: Finished Airing

Aired: Dec 19, 2009

Producers: None found, add some

Licensors: VIZ Media

Studios: OLM, P.A. Works

Source: Game

Genres: Adventure, Mystery

Duration: 1 hr. 39 min.

Rating: PG - Children

Statistics

Score: 7.64¹ (scored by 16,017 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #1392²

² based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #4110

Members: 29,220

Favorites: 180

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Synopsis

Professor Hershel Layton—renowned archaeologist, puzzle-solver, and extraordinary gentleman—and his young aspiring apprentice Luke Triton receive a mysterious letter from his former student Janice Quatlane containing tickets to an opera at the Crown Petone. They soon discover that it is no ordinary opera, but rather a devious game for the legendary Fountain of Youth—the giver of eternal life. However, this only scratches the surface of an unfolding mystery that the pair must solve together in order to survive.

Despite being faced with complex puzzles and fervent competition, Professor Layton and his trusted assistant Luke never forget to uphold the standards of true gentlemen... And a true gentleman never leaves a puzzle unsolved.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Supporting

Kayumi, Iemasa
Japanese

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Staff

Horikawa, Kenji

Producer

Hino, Akihiro

Producer, Script, Original Creator, Planning

Okuno, Toshiaki

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Oomura, Makoto

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Ending Theme

"Eternal Diva" by Nana Mizuki

Reviews

Oct 21, 2010

Archaeon

Recommended

Game adaptations seem to be a bit of a tricky subject for most anime studios for some reason. There are numerous examples of a perfectly good game being turned into mediocre show for no other reason than to cash in on the game's popularity. Part of the problem stems from the mistaken belief that fans of a particular game will spend their hard earned cash on a sub par representation of it, and while there are people who will buy the anime adaptation, the resulting income barely justifies the cost of making the show in the first place.

Not all adaptations are bad though. While many ...

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Jul 22, 2010

kindergraph

Recommended

There seems to be some great misconception among the general viewership that a work of film needs to be bursting at the seams with blood and sex to be “mature”. More people will see a film that wears an R rating like a badge of honour on a weathered veteran than will see Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva and films like it, and it’s their loss.

‘Eternal Diva’ is the first in a planned series of anime films based on the Professor Layton series of puzzle games. Though the games aren’t for everyone, the movie takes place years before the games’ timeline (with the exception ... of a brief scene at the beginning, but it’s easy to tell what’s going on), so the uninitiated needn’t worry over catching up to a long, pre-existing canon. The plot is simple enough: Layton and Luke find themselves trapped in the middle of a contest, hosted by a strange masked man, in which the winner will gain immortality, and the unfortunate losers will all die. But not all is as it seems (is it ever?), and the professor and his young apprentice make it their mission to get to the bottom of the affair.

The plot is multi-layered, thought-out, and pristinely paced, though it never quite stops itself from being patently ridiculous (Hershel Layton built this helicopter in the jungle with a box of scraps!). As the film builds towards its climax it becomes increasingly bizarre, but by that point it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. That said, it’s fun all the way through, and if the viewer can suspend his disbelief long enough to watch Layton fall hundreds of feet through the air and land with his trademark top hat undisturbed from its place, he shouldn’t have too much trouble with the rest of the plot.

The writing does a remarkable job of fleshing out even the minor characters; they all have their reasons for pursuing the prize of immortality (some more noble than others). Every character has a defined personality and motivation without resorting to “quirkiness” (with the exception of Growski, though he’s not a bad character—bless justice-serving, shark-wrestling, moustache-having hairy bosom). As for the main characters, the titular Professor is an almost paternal character whose patient, distanced and logical approach to even the most outrageous of subjects gives the viewer a sense of respect for the character, rather than seeming elitist or even creepy (as it would were it guided by clumsier writing). Luke Triton, our young Watson, manages to be cute and believably childlike without grating on the viewer’s nerves.

The character designs are unique among anime, and they will further endear some viewers (like myself) and drive others off. The art style is a very simplistic kind of imitation of Western cartoons with an unmistakably Japanese twist, and the film is set in dusty, sunny Edwardian England, unafraid to dabble in steampunk. The art and even the way the characters move is expressive and fluid enough that even a quick glance over a character gives the viewer an idea of their personality. Upon seeing the character designs, one could be forgiven for expecting the same childish cartoon art in the whole picture, but OLM takes care to render the Victorian architecture—and other settings—in loving detail.

Those familiar with the Professor Layton games will recognise a few songs from their soundtracks making cameo appearances here, particularly Layton’s own catchy leitmotif. The film’s original songs aren’t too shabby either, sporting surprisingly entrancing vocal work by Nana Mizuki (let it be said that this is the first time I’ve found her voice to be anything other than grating). There’s not much I can say about the voice acting, simply because it’s very good—though some minor characters have exaggerated, embellished ways of speaking, it works, and it’s not unexpected (this is, after all, a cartoon).

If it sounds like I’m gushing about the movie, it’s probably because I am. It’s hard to remember the last time I enjoyed an anime this much, and although it can probably be attributed to my fannish expectations and love of the games it’s based on, I can’t imagine anyone honestly calling Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva a bad movie. It’s worth a chance; give it one.

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Dec 3, 2010

Hanaji

Recommended

I'd have to tell you one thing, Finishing this anime made me feel like I finished Lupin III and the Castle of Cagliostro all over again, and that actually says much, considering the fact that overall, I consider Lupin III and the Castle of Cagliostro the best anime I've ever seen.

It all starts with Prof. Layton and sidekick Luke being invited to an opera by a very important person who happens to be a former acquaintance of Prof. Layton, Seeing that this is a Layton movie, Things suddenly go awry the moment the whole performance is finished, puzzles ensue.

The score, as heard on all the ...

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Recent Forum Discussion

Should i watch this sub or dub? Budi_wibu_sehat - Apr 27, 2022	5 replies	by BanzaiAlex »» May 8, 2022 12:56 PM
Poll: Layton Kyouju to Eien no Uta Hime Episode 1 Discussion RazorBeamz - Jul 18, 2010	46 replies	by TeamDalaiLana »» Feb 27, 2020 7:55 AM
Poll: :Spoilers!: Double Existence Theory Kuandohan - Aug 23, 2013	3 replies	by BlokeTokes »» Sep 7, 2014 6:32 PM
A few things which confused me Fronzel - Oct 15, 2010	3 replies	by Blackouting »» Aug 31, 2012 4:22 PM
Do I need to play the games before watching? Strife91 - Mar 4, 2011	2 replies	by Nerdo »» Nov 5, 2011 7:40 AM

Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime

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Characters & Voice Actors

Layton, Hershel

Triton, Luke

Descole, Jean

Altava, Remi

Quatlane, Janice

Grosky, Clamp

Paolo, Don

Ruth, Amelia

Whistler, Melina

Whistler, Oswald

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Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime

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