[POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW: I have refrained from spoilers as much as possible. Read at your own risk.]
Story & Setting
An adaptation of the French Novel "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo", Gankutsuou is set in the distant future in the year 5053, primarily in the City of Paris. The story centers around the life of Viscount Albert de Morcerf and his friends as he meets and befriends the Count of Monte Cristo. There is a clear theme of growth, maturity and change in all the characters as their lives are slowly but surely affected by both the Count as well as each other. Though unbeknown to them however, the Count has other plans than simply befriending them and on the other hand, has started his grand plan of what could be considered, the ultimate revenge. The depth behind this revenge however is too deep to be said with words and as such I will simply move.
To describe the story in one word, that word would be spectacular. The story captivated me to the point that it left me utterly breathless at times, full of rage and hate at times but yet at other times, filled me with an almost overwhelming urge to tear up. I had started watching Gankutsuou with high expectations and after completing it, I fear my words do not do it justice. The sheer intricacy in the plot in not only creating a believable story but one full of emotions is just breathtaking. The emotions and feelings which the characters go through, though admittedly might not be that which we face on a day to day basis, are not only believable but experience-able. The shock, rage, anger, happiness, sadness, regret of the characters is so clear that it almost feels that the same emotions were flowing through me as my eyes were fixed upon on my screen. The whole story connects itself beautifully with the characters, relationships which once seemed crystal clear are actually clouded and full of deceit. Lies abundant and truth veiled, it almost makes you start to question your own life which you live.
On the part of the viewer, not only are emotions channeled clearly to the viewer but in addition to that, many things are kept hidden until much later in the story. Naturally, hints are given as well as succinct but yet not complete explanations about anything happening through the anime leaving you gasping for more. As the truth behind things is unraveled later through Gankutsuou, everything starts to join and connect together, almost like puzzle pieces combining to form a complete and glorious picture. Jam packed with suspense and unpredictability, such a captivating story is one which definitely should not be passed by.
Animation
The animation is one of the unique types in anime and stands out sharply from the norm. Simply overwhelming at times but yet frustratingly simple at others, it however does manage to very effectively help the story move along. Not that I'm criticizing the animation. While it might take some getting used to, due to the sheer difference between normal anime-type animation and what is seen in Gankutsuou, once you get used to it, you never cease to be in awe of the fantastic scenes it creates. There are also some hidden meanings in the animation itself as well as being very effective in generating emotions in the various scenes. As mentioned earlier, the sheer contrast between the simple at times but overwhelming at others allows the story to create two extremes of emotions in the viewers. While at first glance it might seem less than appealing, don't discount the story simply because it strays from what you might be used to.
Sound
Though definitely fitting and in line with how the story moves, the music was hardly what captivated my attention. As a matter of fact, the music was far overshadowed by the sheer pressure of the plot. I found myself hardly noticing it at all, which in fact does help to intrigue viewers even further. By having music and sound which does not overwhelm but instead, serves the purpose of setting the scene and provoking thought, what might have been seen as an oversight is in fact a key to drawing viewers deeper into the story.
Characters
As relationships is one of the key themes in the anime, naturally this is one of the major focuses throughout the whole story. Both the obvious as well as the less obvious relationships are developed, all to a certain degree. The relationship between the Count and Albert de Morcerf is one of the big focuses as Albert changes radically throughout the whole series as this progresses. The Count too is further exposed to the rest of the community Albert surrounds himself with, through both Albert's introductions and also through his own efforts. There is clear development in both the relationships as well as the individual characters as they are affected by those around themselves. Motivations for actions are shown clearly though at times it can be rather shocking even if believable.
Emotional turmoil is very obvious at parts and in-spite of that, the anime manages to draw you further into the characters so that you not only feel for them but also feel with them. While some might seem shallow originally, the sheer depth of change which they go through by learning about and from those around them is just breathtaking. There is no doubt that a great deal of effort was put into their creation.
Overall
The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Death is certain, it's hour uncertain. This anime is one too good to be passed by. Though it could be considered shallow at first glance, in reality, Gankutsuou is a layered masterpiece, one which pays close attention to detail, delves deep into both characters and story and yet manages to do all this without creating even a single moment of boredom. Truly a great piece of work and most definitely deserving of the awards it has won.
[AFTERWORD: As this is my first review, please do give any comments of which I could learn from and improve on for any reviews I might do in the future!]
