Saiunkoku Monogatari – 75


There are three episodes left. Then, what the heck is a recap-episode doing here? This shows more and more that the creators just need to take a break for a year, and get their budgets and planning fully sorted out, because right now it seems that they just can’t keep up with their own schedule. Unfortunately, the planning-department of Madhouse just isn’t as good as that of for example Nippon Animation, which basically showcased Les Miserables without any break or recap at all, and looks to do the same for Porfy no Nagai Tabi.

The only new scenes are of Ryuuki, developing and reflecting on his own actions. Thankfully, this made the episode not a total waste of time, but this remains lazy on the creator’s side. Thankfully, the development that Ryuuki went through was very good, and the episode prepared really well for the final three episodes.

My main worry is that Madhouse has become infamous for screwing up slightly with their adaptations. For most part, they adapt faithfully, but when it comes to the details, you can always see cut corners. This isn’t like Gonzo, where they basically rewrite more than half of the original source-material; with Madhouse, the changes just feel lazy. Just a few examples:
– Shigurui: Entire final chapters left unanimated, with no intention to do so either.
– Devil May Cry: turned into random plotless fillers.
– Claymore: went with an original story after episode 21 and changed from an engaging plot to a cheesy final battle.
– Death Note: a rushed second half with many pages omitted.
– Gunslinger Girl: no intentions to animate the plot-heavy second half of the manga, so they went with their own ending.
– Pet Shop of Horrors: Just four chapters animated, no information on main character whatsoever.

I think you can understand my worries. Right now, Saiunkoku Monogatari really needs a second season, but I can’t help but fear that Madhouse will screw up with the little details again, and it’s such a pity to see this happen, right when we’re about to hit such an rumoured excellent part of the original novels.

9 thoughts on “Saiunkoku Monogatari – 75

  1. I have a question… Where can I watched new episodes? I’m looking it for month and I can’t find it… Please, help me 🙁

  2. But it’s all in Japanese. I’m looking that episodes in english (I don’t understand japan, but I want know what they said). Have You something like that?

  3. Why just make them 13eps or 24-26 episodes in length (which is the standard)? Mess around with the episode count(try 15, 18, and 22 eps more often); use more week breaks, like Clannad is doing. I’d rather have soccer games than recaps and corner-cutting.

  4. i really don’t believe they are going to stop being faithful enough to the novel. 🙂 they need to stop because that is where book 12 stopped.

    it was also shown in the book that ryuuki did think about whether he is indeed a king for shuurei or a king for the people… and yes, there were pandas in the novel, too. 🙂

    i’d say they will take a break long enough for the novels to be done and over with until they return to the anime production. I just hope that when it comes back, it will continue to be faithful to the anime.

    season 2 will be ended with everything hanging up in the air, i bet. 😛

    don’t worry, the next novel will come out in may. heeheehee… ~_^

  5. they have two options, one is making the cliff hanger end which ended vol.12 indicating the upcoming Season 3 Kouyuu Arc, or they just ended the Ryuuki/Shurei gang taking the boat on their way back to the capital. yeah, this is my worry time as well. i’m still in the middle of downloading the episode, but i just hope that they don’t screw up the panda scene…or did they already? with the panda’s “sit dancing” at the preview!? that’s just not normal for pandas ^^6

Leave a Reply