gankutsuou
巌窟王, lit. The King of the Cave, released as Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo in English
A 2004 animated adaptation/re-imagining of Alexandre Dumas's classic french novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, by GONZO. The setting is moved to the year 5053 (vs. 1815-1838 in the novel), though the majority of the story remains in France. The protagonist is Albert de Morcerf instead of Edmond Dantes.
The series is notable for its use of a "collage" effect where the hair and clothing of characters act as "holes" to stationary backgrounds underneath (the pattern stays still, but the opening changes as the characters move around) (see Danbooru post #139047 for a good example of the effect on Haydee). The series also makes heavy use of CG art.
A manga by Maeda Mahiro, director of the TV series, was also released, beginning in 2005 in Kodansha's Afternoon.
Characters
- Albert de Morcerf
- Andrea Cavalcanti
- Baptistin
- Bertuccio
- Count of Monte Cristo
- Eugenie Danglars
- Franz d'Epinay
- Haydee
- Peppo