This is actually Genji. A guy. Yes, the character design is a tad quirky.
By the way, this is Thirteensugars’ idea for the title because she was screaming man-whore for the whole twenty minutes of this show (we were watching it together). I am literally going crazy with the number of “THIS IS SO WRONG” themes and issue in this show, but there are also elements present that made me want to watch this in the first place. Genji Monogatari is just the type of show that has many elements going in various different directions
Incest, lolicon-extraordinaire and oedipus complex all withstanding, the epic anime of an epic novel of great historical value in Japan seems to make for a truly epic viewing experience. Does it nail it though, or somehow manage to screw itself up?
Summary
A naked lady spoke about how she was merely born to serve the naked man beside her. She humbled herself completely to him, and he told her that he knew all about it. The man was Hikaru Genji. She asked when he will next visit her, since his last visit was three months ago. The man said that he would appear to her soon. At the carriage, Genji told his assistant to give the woman a beautiful yukata simply because he did not know when he can next visit her. In a sakura blossoming garden, Genji and Tō no Chūjō (a famous general) was talking about Genji’s attractiveness. Genji described how To was very popular among women, and there was a saying that To can make wilted flowers bloom.
We go back to the time where Genji was 9 years old, when he first met his stepmother, Fujitsubo no Nyōgo. When the two met, they did not know the person they suddenly met. Genji wondered who this beautiful lady was. We realized that Genji’s mother was a lowly concubine of the emperor. Even though the emperor wished to confer the empress status on her, it would go against tradition. Nonetheless, this lady gave birth to Genji and he gained special favor despite not being a legitimate child of the emperor. Genji ran around to gather information, and finally found out that the beautiful lady was his new stepmother. We see how the two improved their relationship through discussing about stories on a scroll.
The palace ladies were saying how the two felt like siblings due to Fujitsubo’s young age (she was only 14). One day, Fujitsubo was reminiscing about the spring back in her home. When Genji asked her whether she missed home, she said she did not. Yet, her tears fell uncontrollably. Genji decided to bring the first bloom of spring to Fujitsubo. As Fujitsubo’s health seemed to be weak, she did not go out during the winter. Genji tried to pluck one of the flowers to bring it back to Fujitsubo. However, he fell into the icy water and nearly drowned. Fujitsubo knew he did that for her, and thanked Genji for the effort. Still, she warned Genji not to do something so dangerous. Genji said he wished to be older soon, so that he can be strong enough to protect her from all harm.
On another day, Genji described how his deceased mother looked just like Fujitsubo. Fujitsubo said that Genji was her son and younger brother. Genji suddenly rushed forward to give Fujitsubo a kiss on the lips, and told her that she was not his mother or brother. That story was never told to anyone, and the two kept their distance from each other as Genji grew to be a beautiful man. Fujitsubo became frail, and was kept indoors most of the time. Genji tried to bring some flowers to the sick Fujitsubo, but Fujitsubo simply told him to leave. Fujitsubo started to cry when Genji left, and was depressed that she had to deliberately put a distance between them. Genji finally became twelve, the age of manhood. He was no longer allowed to go to the women quarters. Genji begged Fujitsubo to meet him one last time, but was denied the chance. Back in the present, To mentioned how Genji’s eyes had this distanced look, as if he was thinking about a lost love hidden deep within his heart.
Thoughts
Before I go into the story proper, please let me have this supreme rage ranting for the first paragraph. Who was the BLOODY SMART IDIOT TO HAVE such a ridiculously inappropriate OP for this show? If you are thinking about a show based on Japanese history that is rather slow and romantic, the last thing you want to hear is some god darn rock music that is blasting to the eyes and ears. Imagine the horrors of horrors when I was preparing myself to watch this epic romance only to be completely turned off by the total jarring music of PUFFY.
I have nothing against PUFFY, but the song is so terrible that it actually detracts you from enjoying the few minutes after the show. It is that bad, and it shows that while generic OPs do not kill a show, totally inappropriate and terrible OPs can. It does make me mark down the grade of this show by quite a bit, and I advice you to fast forward the OP before it makes you rage in total anger. Seriously, can’t they have music similar to what we have in the ED. That is something in the same emotion range of the show. I do not know Japanese, but I know that there is a huge cognitive dissonance with the music and the plot. It’s like having any Metallica music for Aria the Origination, or a Hannah Montana song for Black Lagoon, or a Celine Dion song for Akikan. Imagine the pain of your ears.
Sorry for my digression because it was causing a huge rage after the viewing of the show. 13sugars and me both considered the OP to be terrible. However, the OP is probably the only bad thing that is going for the show. I will say that this is a show that will be very open to debate due to the man-whore known as Genji. If anything, this man literally beds anyone that he finds attractive and similar to his mother. If this is a show that aims to deduce that the Oedipus complex exists among children, this is it. Silly comment aside, the characters are very interesting and complex. I do not endear myself to Genji but his character is perhaps a specimen of the patriarchal society in medieval Japan. If anything, I see him as an entity of suppressed love inflicted to the death of his mother.
The story seems to be merely a biography of Genji and his women, and I feel that the current stepmother seemed to describe a lot of raw emotions. I had a discussion with 13sugars about these princesses who are married to the emperor. She says that these women are at least luckier than the ordinary women in those days because they are promised the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter and security. That is the life of Fujitsubo, a lady brought in to be the main woman of Genji and Genji’s father life. However, as you can tell from the tears of reminiscing, it is clear that life is not only about surviving, but being able to live the life you wish to. You can endure hardship, but at least you have the destiny of your life.
Animation is very pretty, with detailed and beautiful background. The character designs for the other personalities of the show are well done. Fujitsubo looks beautiful, and Thirteensugars adds that it reminds her of Paradise Kiss. However, what is wrong with Genji’s design? When he is 9 years old, he looks like a loli rather than a shota. The grown up Genji looks like gaylord vampire, so fair that it seems that his blood is suck dry. I am not sure whether it is influenced by the fact that pale complexions are desired in historical Japan, but he probably could have looked more beautiful than gayish. Just a personal view.
It is probably obvious that Genji will have a forbidden romance with Fujitsubo. Is it true love? Can love happen through misery? This is a question of many other questions that will resound in your head after watching this episode. Watch this for the subtleties within the words, and you will understand why the anime adaptation is clearly on solid ground with the source material. A must try, and make sure you fast forward the OP.
25 Comments
The OP song was horribly inappropriate. It wasn’t even appropriately inappropriate. By that, I mean those songs which are intentionally the opposite tone of the series they introduce. This one wasn’t even that. It was a wholly inappropriate song with no consideration for the show it was introducing. I was shocked at how wrong it was.
I’m glad you mentioned that Genji was vampire-like pale. I know that fair complexions were the ideal at the time because they indicated that the person didn’t have to do manual labor outside. But even still, Genji was too pale for my liking. I wanted to give him a blood transfusion so he wouldn’t die before the episode ended.
Watching the raw, I couldn’t follow much of the story. In fact, I didn’t even realize until near the end that the child in the story was a boy and that the boy was Genji. From now on, I’m going to have to wait for the subs. I understood too little of the raw to spend the bandwidth and the drive space on the raw.
White pale skin was one of beauty aspects during heian period. Aristocrats, man and women, applied makeup to look more pale.
Heian sense of beauty can feel strange to us, black teeth for example.
Read about it. Bear with it
The main advantage the anime has over the novel is that we know what is going on. On the contrary, we are deprived of such great moments of revelation and going like: “Wait, so Genji did sleep with the girl and her brother?”
Also, reworking the story in the style of Koihime Musou or Ikkitousen would be incredibly funny.
If they are portraying Genji as a raging man-whore, then it sounds like they’re being pretty faithful to the novel. ^_^ And yes, the novel pretty much is just a giant recollection of Genji’s romantic exploits. Politics rears it’s head a couple times (like when Genji is exiled at one point), but mostly it’s about how he’s THE romantic guy. And yes, it was considered cosmopolitan at the time to bed as many women as possible, as long as you treated them with respect. (Hein was awesome and weird at the same time)
But yeah, he’s basically a walking Oedipus-complex. But we haven’t even gotten to Murasaki, his “true love.” When she shows up we’ll see the man-whore turn into a Pedobear!
Holy crap, he looks too girly! >< Woah.
I definately would have preferred that they did the manga series of Gekka no Kimi. I enjoyed that series, but it’s true that it would need to be wrapped up first or there could be a weird ending to the series. Maybe not too interested in Genji because I know what will happen, but also not too into the animation style. Oh well, maybe someone’ll do Gekka no Kimi as an anime series eventually.
I think the loliness was mostly caused by his hairdo…
(Curious to see this for myself now.)
To be fair, all little boys were dressed like that in the Heian era; very girly.
And remember, this is Japan, the land of androgyny.
“gaylord vampire”? LOL, you just got the impression so perfectly!
This show seems like an interesting one, but it isn’t quite my taste. I might see the first episode (and the OP, just to see how bad it is)
The art looks stunningly beautiful. Move over Alto, here comes Genji!
Read the book, or read it for as long as you are able to. Genji is the world’s first novel and it certainly reads like it too. Like Schezernarde of the original 1001 Arabian Nights, the author of Genji rambles on and on. But it is a classic, and parts of it are amusing, especially the transition from the first to the second chapter.
@LKK: Yep, my only qualm of the show is that he could have looked less pale despite the fact that a pale complexion is the sense of beauty during the Heien era. In fact, I do not think that it is his paleness of his skin that makes me think he is unattractive, but his features. I mean, To actually looks very deliciously bishie, and he is quite pale to be honest.
Well, I actually did not realize the boy was Genji (too girly) until half way through the show when they keep calling the girl Hikaru. Yes, I was that slow but the androgynous issue only lasted at 9 years old. It should not be that much of a problem. In all honesty,the production values of Genji is very high. It’s hard to think of it otherwise.
@Alone: I did. In fact, I mentioned in my reply above to LKK. I did bother to read a few chapters of the classical novel before going into the show, and actually liked it. The black teeth is just too queer for me though. I hope I never get to see it presented.
@Hafl: On your suggestion of Koihime Musou? NO. I will die of pain.
@L-chan: Ya, actually I guess they are. He literally just goes around banging every single blue-eyed girl that looks like his mother. that is just fricking awesome! I actually want to see a bit about the politics during the era, but the romance part is probably the one that will keep me watching. I am also forcing GF to watch it with me despite her dislike of Genji being a man-whore in general.
Oh, the murasaki part will be painful to watch. Is Murasaki really his true love though? A question for you.
@Cat: Hmm, I think the girly part is just for the 9 year old Genji. He looks generally manly (but gayish) when he grows up. I think that the artistic style and the character designs in the anime is pretty acquired, and fits the criteria of the people during that age. I will need some time to get used to it, but I doubt I will ever like Genji’s character design. It just feels way too wrong.
@5: Ya! I guess it’s the way the little boys are styled then in those times.
@Kaitune: I wish to take credit for it, but it is my girlfriend who quoted that term. Or was it me? Anyway, it came up when we were watching the show together, and we are going WTF at different times. It’s a hilarity.
No, don’t watch the OP please. Unless you wish to die from pain.
@Schneider: It is beautiful! I actually am surprised that the animation is so nice, particularly the background and the many angles of the shots/scenes. It’s pretty impressive and I like how they put so much detail, even to the small sakura petals falling from the tree.
@Rah: Oh, I did! I read the first three chapters to see if I will be too turned off by the show. Well, it’s an old Japanese classic text after all.
Yes, Murasaki is considered to be his true love. Because he basically raises her to be his ideal woman.
When she dies in the novel it shatters him, which is basically the signifier. His first wife and some other lovers of his die at various points, but none of them destroy him like her death does.
genji is like the total antithesis to the lead hero of mahabharata[i like this epic]. @_@
I guess you could call it a classic. I would prefer to call the novel the very first piece of fangirl slashfiction ever written… Genji isn’t terribly discriminatory on the basis of gender, shall we say. Also, probably the one book that has forever enshrined Japanese lolicon in the literary canon…
@bunnycakes: A Japanese classic more akin to the Mahabharata (or the Iliad, for that matter), you may want to look up the Heike Monogatari; it’s a more typical epic conflict type of classic.
The OP was indeed painful, I had to take a few days break after it before I came back to watch the show, so I could purify myself in MariaHolic goodness.
SPOILERS FOR NOVEL. MINOR ONES SINCE MURASAKI WAS ALREADY DISCUSSED ABOVE.
Geh. I’m sure there are many academic discussions about whether or not Murasaki is his true love, but um, wasn’t she Fujitsubo’s like, niece twice removed? Some vague blood relation that results in her looking at lot like his stepmother. I would say that definitely complicates anything. I enjoyed reading the book, but Genji’s manwhoreness, I think, exceeds love. Is he likable here? Because I was apathetic about him in the novel.
OP = WTF, for god sake, it made me wanting to kill myself xD, but I suceed and didn’t do it…
@Kylara: It’s up to academic debate, sure, but Murasaki is the character who becomes as legendary as Genji, not Fujitsubo. (and yes, she’s Fujitsubo’s niece, but unlike Fujitsubo, Genji can love her openly)
It’s hard to say if Genji is “likeable” or not yet, since the episode mainly focused on his childhood, and it’s hard to relate to a loli-shota. He is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai, so that’s a point in his favor.
Oh I like this series. The drawing in this anime is unlike other ‘normal’ anime, I think, the drawing more realistic and looking closer to people irl, especially the eyes drawn – they’re gorgeous!
So this anime is based on a novel? I’ll not be surprised if there’ll be a live-action drama based on this novel… or was it done already?
Anyways, I’ll look forward to the second episode. Have enjoyed myself reading all of your thoughts for this first episode =D
@vendredi: thanks. i’ll try to find a comprehesible e-book of it.:P [reminisces those blasted kojiki and nihon shoki manuscripts]
genji: it was interesting though, i wouldn’t bother touching this if the graphics weren’t awesome. still, the severe lack of action pains me. *lulucopters backs to her pretty flying robots and exaggerated martial arts animu*
Really, when I first see the top picture, I thought it was Murasaki! I know young Genji is beautiful, but he is definitely not a girl. If he were to blossom into a vampric gaylord, at least he should have been, at worst,a bishounen with shounen-ai aura =_=”.
I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet. I have mixed feelings about this anime. On the one hand, I’m interested cuz I studied it in a class; on the other, I fear my possible destructive reaction towards the jerk would propel me to smash my laptop.
By the way, does the anime follow Waki Yamato’s “Akaiyumemishi’? The drawing here looks 70s to 80s-ish. I tried to finishn the manga twice. First time I throw the book away when I reached volume 2. Years later, I picked it up again and could tolerate as much as volume 5. The story and illustration were great, but I just couldn’t stomach the man’s smourous nature, his wickedness and selfishness. Also, the oppression post on women of the period tickled my deeply-buried feminist sensibility and annoyed the hell out of me.
@Kylara: You have me totally on your side. What the jerk needs most is not loads of the substitutes of maternal love but an experienced psychiatrist.
By the way, does the anime portray the first chapter (Kiritsubo) in details? I wish to see the animated love episode between his father the Emperor and Genji’s mother. It is the closest to romance the book has ever get. And being a cheesy person who perceives that such overly romantic love doesn’t exist in real life, I just adore that pink, fluffy bit of fantasy.
Well, no, actually. There will be no romance, but there’a a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG line of women to come.
@OP’s
Have you ever tried reading Gekka no Kimi? It’s shoujo and personally I thought it’s somewhat better than the manho version here. -_-
Haha…I can understand why Thirteen Sugars says that…because when I read the original text I couldn’t help but get frustrated at him. I still haven’t finished it…
But he’s not a bad guy since he does take care of his women. But…I still can’t forgive him for making Murasaki suffer so… ><;