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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adopt a rather simplistic method using the existing storyline and characters (and nothing more than that to be honest), there are a few that take a more revisionist approach and attempt to reconcile various elements of the game's storyline (tightening up the plot, adding new themes and improving existing characters amongst other things - Tears to Tiara is a good example of the revisionist approach at work).
On the other side of the coin there are anime adaptations that simply use the game's existing characters and the world in which they live to create a totally new story. Titles like Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike have proven how this method can enhance the game in a way a straightforward adaptation cannot, however this method also has its own inherent issues (for example ensuring the plot actually works within the framework of the game's world).
Layton Kyouju to Eien no Uta Hime (Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva), falls into the latter category of adaptations, and while it may look like a show aimed at kids and fans of the games, there's surprisingly more depth to it than one might expect.
The story begins with Professor of Archaeology and puzzle enthusiast Hershel Layton and his self styled "number one apprentice" Luke investigating the theft of Big Ben (to those of you who don't know, Big Ben is actually the nickname of the bell, although most people use it for the tower). Following the successful completion of this investigation the pair continue with their normal affairs until Layton receives a letter from an old acquaintance, the opera singer Jenis Quatlane.
And so another adventure begins.
One of the things that stands out right from the start is the acknowledgement that not all viewers may be familiar with the games. The opening five minutes offer a concise introduction to the characters and the world in both a visual and descriptive sense. By necessity only the important facts are imparted, however there is enough information given during the first few scenes to allow all but the most pedantic viewers to enjoy the movie.
Given that this is ostensibly a movie for children, the story proper is well formed and proceeds at a nice pace, but there is an inherent predictability about certain characters and events. The plot is somewhat simplistic for the most part, however there are flashes of ingenuity that can keep the viewer guessing - no matter their age. What is probably the most surprising aspect of The Eternal Diva though, is that it's actually a rather interesting movie to watch.
The movie incorporates several aspects of the game's mechanics into itself in a rather interesting manner. Given that this is based on the world of Professor Layton there are the obvious puzzles to solve, but in addition to this there are scattered references linking the movie to the games in some very subtle ways. One example of this is the numerical notation for the first puzzle Layton and Luke have to solve a short way into the story, as the font is exactly the same as that used for the puzzles in the games. This attention to detail may cater specifically to those who have played the games, but the immersive quality it allows may also be tangible to those who've never heard of Professor Layton.
In terms of visuals The Eternal Diva is everything fans of the game would want to see. Layton and Luke appear exactly as they do in the games, while the rest of the characters have been designed to look as individual as possible. Everyone in the movie has a different look and feel, right down to their clothing, and one can only applaud the effort that has gone into their design. Granted they are on the simplistic side, but the sheer number of individual characteristics on show really does set this movie apart from many others. This attention to detail also applies to the scenery, which is as quaint and expressive as fans could wish for, and while the usage of CG does stand out a little from the backgrounds, the discrepancy is very minor, and not enough to upset the balance of the scenes.
The movie also features some very good animation, much of which is very fluid and well choreographed, however there are certain character actions and movements which are a bit on the ludicrous side. That said, this is a kids movie, and the stranger aspects of the animation may appeal to the movie's target audience more than it would to someone older.
Besides, I liked the fact that I got to watch Layton fight whilst holding onto his hat.
The Eternal Diva is a little bit unusual when it comes to the acting as the lead roles of Layton and Luke are played by Oizumi Yo and Horikita Maki, who also voice the characters in all three of the games. The rest of the cast is made up of some rather well known names, including Mizuki Nana as Jenis Quatlane and Orikasa Fumiko as Melina Whistler, and the experience they all bring to the movie really is telling.
There are a wealth of effects on display here too, each very clear and well synchronised, but one of the stars of the show is actually the music. As the title suggests music plays a key role in The Eternal Diva, and the movie makes great use of the pieces on offer. In addition to this the vocal tracks are just as absorbing as the instrumental ones, all of which add an air of authenticity to proceedings.
One small gripe though, is that a movie is nowhere near enough time to develop characters in any meaningful way, and The Eternal Diva is no exception to this. One of the aspects of the anime that may not sit too well with some people is the fact that both Layton and Luke are only fully appreciable if one has played at least the first game, hence the reason for the 5 minute introduction. The problem though, is that even if one has played The Curious Village and Pandora's Box (the only two games released before The Eternal Diva), there is still something lacking. The movie doesn't really try to develop Layton or Luke in any way, and while I do like them as characters, the truth is that they are very one dimensional from start to finish. Granted there is some decent characterisation at work in the film, but unfortunately it's not enough to carry the characters forward, and it's more like they're simply going through the motions of having an adventure rather than actually ... having an adventure.
This "shallowness" is also present in near enough every other character with a speaking role, and while it doesn't really detract from one's overall enjoyment of the movie, it also makes it more difficult to take it seriously. Unfortunately it seems to be a legacy from the movie's video-game origins, and one can only hope that future productions attempt to test the characters instead of simply letting them out for a run in the yard.
Be that as it may, in all honesty I rather enjoyed The Eternal Diva, but then again, I rather enjoyed the games as well. The movie isn't overly complex or taxing in any way, and there are some nice concepts introduced that make the story into something more like a strange cross between Sherlock Holmes, Tomb Raider and The A-Team (you'll understand why when you watch the movie), all wrapped up in some very proper manners and dry British wit.
Granted this is movie is very obviously catering to kids and fans of the games, but there's enough going on to keep most people happy. The Eternal Diva isn't so much an adaptation as an extra chapter in the story of Professor Layton, and because of this it has an appeal that many straight forward conversions just can't seem to match.
That said, I do have to wonder how many more games the franchise will sell as one could also view this as nothing more than a glorified advert.
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
More titlesInformation
Type:
Movie
Episodes:
1
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Dec 19, 2009
Producers:
None found, add some
Licensors:
VIZ Media
Source:
Game
Duration:
1 hr. 39 min.
Rating:
PG - Children
Statistics
Ranked:
#13912
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#4112
Members:
29,248
Favorites:
180
Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 8 / 8
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Your Feelings Categories Oct 21, 2010
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 ... Jul 22, 2010
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 ... Dec 3, 2010
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 ... Sep 30, 2012
Let’s not beat around the bush, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva is one of the good video game movies. I would even dare to say that it’s worth buying! I was scratching my head when I first saw this on my way to Japan one year during the flight. Fortunately, the film had English subtitles so I could understand the plot. When I was done watching it, I was pleasantly surprised.
One of the best factors of this movie is the story. It’s an original story that wasn’t based on any of the video games and it is supposed to be canon with the games’ ... Jan 5, 2014
Okay,I've been a Professor Layton fan for ages and when I heard about the movie,I got curious.I found wonderful reviews about it,even it being given a 10/10 about 900 times or so.I thought "Is is really that good?" as I know Professor Layton never fails in terms of the story so I finally got to watch the movie.Did I like it?Did I hate it?I'm here to tell you...
Story 9/10 The story to this movie is spectacular.It was very well written and had an explination for all the puzzles,unlike in the games. The only flaw I had with it was in the end,I was left with a ... Apr 7, 2021
Very solid installment. More video game movies should be exactly like this. While it is weaker than the usual Layton game, its great as a 1 hour and 30 minute movie. the fact they crammed such a great story in that short time span says a lot. Although, Descole was a weak antagonist, and i kinda wish they did more with Emmy, other than her just kicking peoples asses. Luke and Layton are a amazing duo as usual though, and the story was well presented, alongside with the superb ost. The artstyle also smoothed into anime quite well. I also loved the way they presented
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Apr 16, 2018
I loved every second of this movie!
I think I've watched this movie over 25 times already. I'm a big fan of Professor Layton and this was such a gift. Oh my god. story 9 I actually want to give the story a 10/10 because it's such a good story. The mystery they had to solve was really fascinating and thrilling. The reason I gave it a 9 is because it was so hard to understand the first few times I was watching it. In the games, I usually got the story but the movie was a little hard to understand. Especially when I watched it when I ... Mar 17, 2019
How do you appropriately adapt a game into a film? The UK/US market have been highly unsuccessful, but this adaptation shows the key to making a good video game film- a love of the source.
Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime, aka Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, was my first flirty encounter of films from groups other than Ghibili. Since childhood I have been a passionate fan of the games, and I feel that passion came from the creators. The soundtrack of this film, the key focus, is perfect, inflicting nostalgia within each piece- that includes the original key score! Nostalgia is nurtured inside the heart, ... |