Pandora Hearts

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La siguiente reseña está en Español e Inglés (traducida con el apoyo de DeepL)
La versión leída es la traducción al español por Gilbert, Lacie, Lotty & Oz perteneciente a "Pandora Hearts (Latino)"

La base del universo en el que se desarrolla la historia es un ambiente victoriano con cuentos clásicos, habiendo numerosos personajes que reconocemos de historias infantiles europeas conocidas mundialmente sean Alicia, Humpty Dumpty o March Hare, construyendo una atmósfera de cuento. Y es extendido a través del simbolismo particular de la obra, cadenas, invocaciones y una tragedia prolongada a través del tiempo, adquiriendo una propia y marcada personalidad.

Por supuesto, para expresarla también necesita personajes ... igual de consistentes. La obra cuenta con un amplio elenco, cada quién teniendo sus motivaciones, planes y emociones, consiguiendo que tanto al comienzo se presente de forma natural los objetivos e ideas para trazar una narrativa, como que hacia el final mientras se revelan los numerosos giros y secretos, crezca en complejidad sin parecer impuesta o inesperada.

Lo anterior también es favorecido de la amplia variedad de los personajes representado en los diferentes arquetipos utilizados, es decir, hay quienes son simples de entender y comprender porque así han sido presentados, otros resguardan varias capas de intenciones notables desde la primera vez y un puñado son diferente a lo que parecen ser. Tampoco quiere implicar una narrativa pesada o densa, si bien hubo segmentos donde “debía seguir con el ritmo”, el resto es entretenido de ser leído por la química que tienen unos con otros afianzado por los arquetipos mencionados.

Cuando la dureza de la situación lo exige, la mangaka Jun Mochizuki demuestra su habilidad como escritora y dibujante para compaginarlo en impactantes paneles, donde lo bello o doloroso de la acción queda elevado con unas pocas palabras acompañantes. Y ese talento se plasma en toda la obra, que puede ir de comedia a drama sin parecer disonante con sus intenciones, nuevamente, por la correcta disposición de los personajes.

Consiguiendo una obra con corazón, es fácil encariñarse con sus personajes o resonar con las diferentes reflexiones temáticas entre las que se encuentra la obsesión, identidad, amistad, amor o destino. Cada quien con sus creencias acerca de la misma y dispuesta a luchar por las mismas para demostrar su compromiso. Sorprende que una vez pasada la presentación del comienzo, la complejidad conseguida sea en su plano narrativo, de varios hilos narrativos haciendo eco unos con otros, o en el temático, con representaciones y simbologías para demostración de ideas; aunque tampoco fue un camino impoluto.

Si le achaco un principal error es que debería tener una mayor duración sea al comienzo o en el final. Durante el inicio, el universo presentado rebosa de atractivo, por la presencia de personajes de cuentos o la ambientación victoriana, de ahí que me hubiera gustado ver más del contexto, de los pequeños lugares para meros momentos que tendrán trascendencia siendo recuerdos cualquiera, porque una vez que comienzan a suceder los puntos clave de la trama se mantiene constantemente de objetivo en objetivo.

En el final los hilos narrativos utilizan a cada personaje, todos tienen algo de interés respecto al particular para subrayar su camino, evolución y entendimiento, pero dada la cantidad es inevitable que no todos hayan tenido la misma definición, terminando con que en un par de capítulos sean presentada la revelación e inmediatamente la resolución, haciéndolo parecer comprimido y para guiar inmediatamente al siguiente gran suceso.

La gran habilidad de Jun como mangaka está constantemente presente sea en el diseño de personajes, la presentación de su universo victoriano y el dibujo para la acción, varios paneles teniendo remarcable fuerza en lo representado, a la vez que en otros donde suceda una revelación igual de impactante, le baste con poco para generar impresión y recuerdo.

Pandora Hearts se presenta como un cuento de oscuros secretos que termina en un relato épico y complejo por sus numerosos personajes, cada cuál con sus propias perspectivas. Donde lo que parece ser el destino es enfrentado y superado porque hay quienes creen en el amor, la amistad, en sí mismos y en los otros.

English

The basis of the universe in which the story unfolds is a Victorian setting with classic fairy tales, having numerous characters that we recognize from European children's stories known worldwide, be it Alice, Humpty Dumpty or March Hare, building a fairy tale atmosphere. And it is extended through the particular symbolism of the work, chains, invocations and a tragedy prolonged through time, acquiring its own marked personality.

Of course, to express it, it also needs equally consistent characters. The Manga has a large cast, each with their own motivations, plans and emotions, at the beginning the goals and ideas for a narrative are presented in a natural way, and towards the end, as the many twists and secrets are revealed, it grows in complexity without seeming imposed or unexpected.

This is also favored by the wide variety of characters represented in the different archetypes used, i.e., there are those who are simple to understand and comprehend because they have been presented as such, others have several layers of remarkable intentions from the first time and a handful are different from what they seem to be. Nor does it imply a heavy or dense narrative, although there were segments where "I had to keep up with the pace", the rest is entertaining to read because of the chemistry they have with each other, strengthened by the archetypes mentioned.

When the harshness of the situation demands it, the mangaka Jun Mochizuki demonstrates her skill as a writer and illustrator to combine it in striking panels, where the beauty or pain of the action is elevated with a few accompanying words. And that talent is captured throughout the work, which can go from comedy to drama without seeming dissonant with her intentions, again, because of the correct arrangement of the characters.

By achieving a work with heart, it is easy to become attached to its characters or to resonate with the different thematic reflections among which are obsession, identity, friendship, love or destiny. Everyone with their own beliefs about it and willing to fight for them to prove their commitment. It is surprising the complexity achieved is in its narrative plane once past the opening presentation, with several narrative threads echoing each other, or in the thematic, with representations and symbolism to demonstrate ideas; although it was not a flawless way.

If I blame a main mistake is that it should have a longer duration either at the beginning or at the end. During the beginning, the universe presented is brimming with attractiveness, due to the presence of fairy tale characters or the Victorian setting, hence I would have liked to see more of the context, of the small places for mere moments that will have transcendence being any memories, because once the key points of the plot begin to happen it keeps constantly going from objective to objective.

In the end the narrative threads use each character, all have something of interest regarding the particular to underline their path, evolution and understanding, but given the amount is inevitable that not all have had the same definition, ending with that in a couple of chapters are presented the revelation and immediately the resolution, making it seem compressed and to lead immediately to the next big event.

Jun's great skill as a mangaka is constantly present in the character design, the presentation of his Victorian universe and the drawing for the action, several panels having remarkable strength in what is represented, while in others where an equally shocking revelation happens, it is enough with little to generate impression and memory.

Pandora Hearts is presented as a tale of dark secrets that ends in an epic and complex story for its many characters, each with their own perspectives. Where what seems to be fate is confronted and overcome because there are those who believe in love, friendship, in themselves and in others.

Might be an epic series seeing how high up is ranked out here on MAL, but one thing I also learned from the MAL rankings is that, not ALL top/highly ranked series will grasp my interest.

Main reason why I dropped this is the character design as well as the silly and gag relief moments the author randomly throws at you. I does not suits my taste and I find it very annoying. Which is a bit funny, cause in fact this was my main issue with the anime adaptation of Vanitas, but now that I started reading it, it somehow became more bearable.

Has a sightly ... intriguing mystery surrounding the plot, but nothing too heart racing nor thrilling enough to make me stay and ignore the annoying "comic relief" and bland art.

The art department is very lacking, like a whole lot. Not enough backgrounds and the art style along with the overall character design is just not for me.

I did not enjoy a single thing about it. As I mentioned before, the story might pick up further ahead but too bad I won't be there to witness it.
The 5 chapters of Vanitas I have read so far, have been far more entertaining than the 10 chapters of Pandora. Even though I've finished the 1st cour and have an idea of what lies ahead, I am still very thrilled by every single page I go through.

I have noticed minor similarities in both works so I might get back to this in a distance future for a speed reading just to compare both series, n see how much the author grew.

I do not really have a ton of specifics to say here because I just really could not care about this...there was nothing to hate and nothing to love. The premise was a little interesting, but this manga prefers to bog itself down with poorly written gags, atrocious dialogue, and frivolous declarations of affirmation than actually focus on either action or story.

The basic premise of the story is nice enough - secret mysterious prison like madman world that exists alongside the normal world and represents awful things for pretty much any human being. Okay, nice enough! Except...they never explain pretty much anything about it in ... particular. Even worse, our main hero is straightaway declared to be the key to obtaining that power...and no one really says why. We get some vague exposition along these lines, but never anything interesting or helpful; all the interactions and dialogue are more along dramatic lines.

Similarly, there is an interesting enough idea of needing to get back Alice's memories. Great, so we have an actual mission! Except there is no real rhyme or reason to how she gets them back (she just does), and it never really becomes anywhere near a main focus; again, dramatic character interactions and meetings kind of train wreck all of this.

The characters are all essentially uninteresting - Oz the tragic hero who overcompensates by being excessively friendly and accommodating, Gilbert who exists basically to be his homoerotic friend (they made his character dark for a while, then just totally destroyed that to get him back to being homoerotic), Alice the initially tsundere, then just naive and secretly really nice...(ch. 20 p. 32 - She gets angry easily, and her words are harsh, but...the real Alice is very gentle, and loves to cry, and she is very stupid as well...her appetite is also very huge!) *yawn*. Some of the characters have potential for being interesting, like Break or Vincent, but then never actually get to be interesting. The dialogue, always fractured, and ADD of this work ensure that they cannot have any profound details or interactions. It always comes back to bad gags or bad friendship speeches...

All in all, this is not really a work worth anyone's time. It offers a nice concept and world, but fails to flesh them out, it offers boring characters, boring dialogue, boring character interactions, beyond typical gags, and the banter is always lacking in wit. It throws vague calls to Alice in Wonderland mythos and expects you to think that it makes it instantly awesome (unfortunately...this works on almost everyone...). This is a work that offers frivolities instead of awesomeness.