Albert de Morcerf is the son of a high-ranking aristocrat who doesn’t really know what he wants to do with his life. His childhood friend, Franz d’Epinay, takes him to Luna, a planet of festivals, to give him a break from the expectations of aristocratic Paris. While on Luna, the paths of Albert and the Count of Monte Cristo intersect. Franz tries to warn Albert that the Count is too shady for his own good. Albert does not listen and invites the Count to his home in Paris. The Count agrees, saying he was planning on buying a place in Paris, and sets a date for three months from that day.
The Count of Monte Cristo: Gankustuou is 24 episodes (Acts) over 4 discs. It portrays the message of the destruction that greed brings, to those who desire, and to those who where of aid in fulfilling those desires. It is set in the future that has returned to an Elizabethan era of an aristocratic society. The background animation is stunning, but the characters them selves appear to be hand drawn and therefor are a little flat. The pattern’s on the clothes don’t move with the person, they are stationary and almost don’t seem to belong there. The plot is very dark, but the way it progresses is amazing. From the first episode to the last there is a very different feel to each episode, gradually getting more dramatic. There is a good deal of sexual innuendo of of infidelity, and even once, a very brief scene of implied rape. The story is deep, and has strong messages of to morality tell the viewers, which all unfold in the last few episodes for those who have not yet discovered it. I liked the setting, and the overall sense of a more sophisticated way of life, with poetic language and respectable decorum (when sincere).
The Count was the one who inherited a spaceship, the young and sincere, Edmond Dantes. He ended up discovering some things about one of his friends, and coworkers, but he let his friend off with just a warning. That only led to hatred of Edmond, a “goody-two-shoes”. Out side of work, Edmond was engaged to a lovely maiden, who was also a friend of his. The one he believed to be his best friend, secretly hated him because Edmond unknowingly stole the heart of the one his friend loved. Together, Edmonds friend and coworker plotted to ruin Edmond. They accused him of being involved in a terrible crime, and thus he was thrown into a prison for the most detestable criminals. Edmond did nothing wrong, he was tortured for no reason. That’s when Gankutsuou, a sprit of revenge, offered to help Edmond get what he desired most, the total and utter destruction of those who betrayed him, and took his life for greed.
The ones who threw away the life of Edmond became some of the rich and powerful families of aristocratic Paris, even the judge who sentenced Edmond to prison. Albert happened to be the son of one of those people who was willing to trust the Count enough to let him into his house. In the end, greed’s destruction finally won over those who used it, and revenge helped make that happen.
The Count of Monte Cristo: Gankutsuou, The Complete Series was directed by Mahiro Maeda, produced by Gonzo sutdios, and a Dubbed version will be released by FUNimation on the U.S.A. on 04/28/2009.
ComicsOnline gives The Count of Monte Cristo: Gankutsuou, The Complete Series 5 out of 5 Family Crest.
