Story: I have not read Dumas' original story, so I will only review the stand-alone show's plot. A young man meets and befriends a mysterious man, who claims to be the Count of Monte Cristo. The young man, Albert, and his friends are quickly swept up in a massive plot of revenge and deceit. Their relationships are all tested, and we soon learn the toll that revenge takes on those you love.
I found the story to be incredibly engaging. While it progressed a bit slowly at times, it was necessary to build the relationships between the yougner characters. The whole show has a very grand idea of revenge, and as a viewer you can easily get lost in the romanticism of the Count's plans.
Art: Personally, I loved the art. The "Unmoving plaid" effect is used liberally throughout the show, and that's what gives the show its disinct feel. While it may seem gaudy and flashy, the bright colors and patterns provide the futuristic, fantastical feel to the show.
Even 9 years after the show aired, the mech scenes and overall CG are still enjoyable. While the CG backgrounds or other models have certainly aged, they can hold their own in the CG-heavy scenes.
Sound: One of my favorite parts of the show was the music. I found the opening and ending songs to be a bit uninspired, but still pleasant to listen to. The backgound music is where the music shines. Every piece fits the situation perfectly. Even listening to the soundtrack by itself is enjoyable, as the songs hold their own without visuals.
I watched the show with English subtitles, and I enjoyed the voice acting. Every actor did a great job, and I feel that the performances mathced the personalities that each character has.
Character: Dat Count. The Count was such an intoxicating character, you have no choice but to like him. So charming and well-spoken, but so undeniably evil. Poor Ablert, he didn't stand a chance. Albert's naivete throughout most of the show is a driving factor for his growth, and by the finale you can see how strongly he has held to some of his ideals. The supporting characters are very fleshed-out, and add significant depth to the story.
Overall: I highly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys interesting art, great music and a wonderful story. I had minimal knowledge of Dumas' classic story, and I was still able to appreciate the adaptation immensely.
TL;DR 5 words/phrases to describe Gankutsuou
awesome art, romanticised revenge, gripping music, touching, dramatic
