Anime and the Art of Adaptation

Exploring a selection of anime adaptations of famous works of both Eastern and Western provenance, this book is concerned with appreciating their significance and appeal as independent texts. The author evaluates three aspects of anime adaptation—how anime adaptations develop their original sources in stylistic, aesthetic, and psychological terms; how specific features of the anime medium impact alchemically on the original sources to bring into being imaginative works of an autonomous nature; and which qualities render an adaptation in anime form a distinctly unique artistic creation.

Dani Cavallaro has written widely about literature, cultural theory, and anime. She lives in London.

Dani Cavallaro
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 220
Bibliographic Info: filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5860-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-6203-2
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. The Frame of Reference      5

2. The Nightmare of History

Belladonna of Sadness, Grave of the Fireflies and Like the Clouds, Like the Wind      19

3. Epic Adventure with a Sci-Fi Twist

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo      38

4. The Fairy Tale Reimagined

The Snow Queen      64

5. Romance Meets Revolution

Romeo x Juliet      99

6. A Magical Murder Enigma

Umineko no Naku Koro ni      128

7. A Tapestry of Courtly Life

The Tale of Genji      146

Filmography      197

Bibliography      201

Index      207