The story of Gankutsuou is about a boy named Albert de Morcerf, who one day on a carnival on the moon meets with the charismatic "Count of Monte Cristo". Albert is captivated by this man, and begins introducing him to important figures in Parisian society, unaware of the Count's true motivations for not only him, but everyone around him.
One thing I should note is that while the story in Gankutsuou does largely follow the plot of the book, it takes many deviations, particularly towards the end. While this may detract fans of the original novel, the anime is still and excellent adaptation, perfectly betraying all of the themes that the book had, while also surprising people who know the original story. Whereas the book takes place in the 1800's, the anime jumps ahead to the future, with technology being a central part of the world. This allows for an atmosphere and color pallet much different than you would expect, but also provides for a great backdrop to the story that never seems to get in the way.
The art too is something a bit unexpected about this show. All of the characters are animated in such a way that it makes it seem as if there clothes and hair are moving and changing as the characters move. This may feel bothersome at first because of how differently it's animated as opposed to other shows, but after getting used to it, the animation becomes one of the best things about the show, giving it a style that is unique and interesting, not to mention high quality. Couple this with a soundtrack that perfectly sets the mood for every scene, and you've got enough atmosphere and eye candy to make it a standout show alone. But Gankutsuou doesn't stop there.
When it comes to plot, Gankutsuou is incredibly complex and deep, making every single second count and tying together a myriad of plot points. At first it may seem slow, but after about halfway through, a plot twist occurs, making every single event from the previous episodes suddenly relevant again, and making you realize just how important everything was. Giving a detailed description of what actually happens in the show would take ages, as there is just so much to The Count's plans that you really won't understand unless you see it for yourself. The one part where the plot stumbles is right near the end. Everything is building up to a great climax, but in the end there really isn't one. Some out of character events start to happen, making the ending feel very anticlimactic and unfulfilled.
Another very strong part of the series are the characters. From Albert, the naive boy who is to willing to trust the Count and believe in everything he says. To Eugenie, Albert's arranged wife who starts out against the marriage but slowly begins to warm up to him. Not to mention Franz and Valentine, another arranged couple who do not want to be together, and Maximilian who is actually in love with Valentine. The parents of all these characters are also incredibly crucial to the plot, in a lot of ways even more so. Albert's father starts out seeming like a very nice guy, but has many secrets from his past. Eugenie's father comes off as a lazy, greedy man from the beginning, and this is only proved further as time goes on. And lastly Valentine's father, who is a cold man who also has an incredible secret to keep.
Last but not least is The Count himself. The Count is a very complex character, coming off as incredibly trust-able and like-able, but clearly having his own motives. Upon being introduced he manages to get on everyone's good side, putting his incredibly laid out plan into motion. He's charismatic, charming, a genius, rich, and elegant, making him a character that the cast, as well as yourself, has a hard time finding faults with. A large part of the mystery of the show is finding out more about The Count, as we start out initially unaware of who he is or what exactly he wants. As the answers start pouring in, The Count shifts from being someone you admire and stand in awe of, and more someone you feel sympathy for, but never really pity. The only problem with him is again near the end. I won't say exactly what happens at the end to avoid spoilers, but suffice to say he steps out of character at the most crucial moment, making the ending less satisfying than it should have been.
All in all, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is an amazing anime that border on near perfection. If it weren't for some hiccups in the story and characters right at the end, than this would be a ten, but these things leave a bad taste in your mouth right at the conclusion, keeping it from perfection, but it still establishes itself as a deep and complex show that has a unique art style and well developed characters, making it a must-see series.
