Faithful to the manga - what does that mean (to you)?

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JunoDX

Solaris Luna
Nov 8, 2018
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#1
Wondering/thinking about what will or could be cut from the upcoming movies makes me think about that term "faithful to the manga" a.k.a. original source material. Crystal so far is a good example that using the manga as a storyboard, adapting the manga 1:1 mostly doesn't work. I guess we all agree. The question is, to what degree can the screenwriter change the story to still be faithful to the original source material and what is necessary to add to make the both movies work, also as a standalone movie experience for each film. The LOTR-movies for example were one big story split into 3, but each one of them works for itself. What additions would you tolerate? Which ones not? They might change more then we think/assume, since especially the first part of the arc is very episodic.

Also: would you approve design changes? We saw the inners in their fuku, but who knows, we might end up with Jupiter having her flower belt and Mars that gem. Which is not canon, nor to the manga neither to Crystal. Would that bother you or would you be happy about a som fresh new ideas?
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#2
Wondering/thinking about what will or could be cut from the upcoming movies makes me think about that term "faithful to the manga" a.k.a. original source material. Crystal so far is a good example that using the manga as a storyboard, adapting the manga 1:1 mostly doesn't work. I guess we all agree. The question is, to what degree can the screenwriter change the story to still be faithful to the original source material and what is necessary to add to make the both movies work, also as a standalone movie experience for each film. The LOTR-movies for example were one big story split into 3, but each one of them works for itself. What additions would you tolerate? Which ones not? They might change more then we think/assume, since especially the first part of the arc is very episodic.

Also: would you approve design changes? We saw the inners in their fuku, but who knows, we might end up with Jupiter having her flower belt and Mars that gem. Which is not canon, nor to the manga neither to Crystal. Would that bother you or would you be happy about a som fresh new ideas?
The biggest issue with me was the pacing of Crystal so far. While I have always wanted a faithful adaptation of the manga, I never wanted it to be chapter per chapter. It just doesn't work well and they cut a lot from it, mostly character moments. The main problem was whenever Crystal decided to deviate from the source and not following it. They opened up plot holes and robbed a lot of characters from their moments. They had the whole source materia finished long ago and could have adapted it faithfully, while streamline some stuff, add where needed and fix stuff or improve and elaborate on them Fruits Basket 2019 is a very nice example of how to adapt a finished source material well so far. They rearranged some stuff to make it work better, weren't affraid to combine chapters in one episode if they work well and stretch and add to some important chapters to dedicate episodes to them. If Crystal was done by more experienced stuff and they cared, they could have done stuff adding some character moments from side stories, elaborate on plot points etc. Without changing the story. The design changes were bad in s1 for Rei as the gem was tied to her mother and introduced a level to her character explored in Casablanca memory. As for Jupiter's belt I think it would have been a bit tacky so I am happy without it.
 
Likes: Seira Hazuki
Sep 13, 2008
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In the shadows throwing roses at you
#3
accurate, no extreme deviations at least from main events
it's fine to add some things here and there but nothing that changes the story/Key events
1-1 isn't exactly the way to go you do have to add stuff but some changes not too much just enough to make it's own

best example Beryl necklace stab, take that away and have Minako deliver the sword hit not to the necklace but full on through her

draw from the source well not from toei's out of ideas box but have some small changes to flesh things out right
that's my take
 
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Likes: sapphire91
Jul 29, 2012
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#4
If "faithful to the manga" means having the manga animated page by page, with no filler, then it's going to be bad. The manga is rushed, especially the first arc, and I think that adding new stories is a good thing. Crystal attempted to do add more depth to the story by having the senshi have a relationship with the shitennou, but the execution was terrible. We need more episodes. The 90's anime did a great job, especially with season 1 and the season 1 finale (far more compelling than what the manga and Crystal delivered us).
 
Aug 18, 2011
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#5
"Faithful to the manga" to me means animating the manga panel by panel. In a perfect world, the animated adaption would expand on the panels and flesh them out a bit. This is what I was hoping TOEI would do for Crystal at the start of the series, but instead we got the bare minimum. For the movies, I'll be happy with the bare minimum. A large part of me is unconvinced that we'll get even that.
 
Jul 31, 2012
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Outer Space
#6
I wonder what would make them change from a full on stab through Beryl into her necklace.

Also they removed Sailor Moon Kick for some reason? That was one of her early signature moves.

The Shitennou love Quartet was silly. The 90s did deviate from not killing but at least we got something. The bus youma in Rei's first appearance got Jadite's death exactly how it was in the manga when it should have been him instead. At least we saw how powerful Sailor Mars was.

I know it's not official but the Hell Tree Arc was interesting for what it was. I liked the Fire Soul Bird and Supreme Thunder Dragon. These attacks seemed more powerful than ever their Stars attacks..lol
 
Jul 11, 2013
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#7
I wonder what would make them change from a full on stab through Beryl into her necklace.

Also they removed Sailor Moon Kick for some reason? That was one of her early signature moves.

The Shitennou love Quartet was silly. The 90s did deviate from not killing but at least we got something. The bus youma in Rei's first appearance got Jadite's death exactly how it was in the manga when it should have been him instead. At least we saw how powerful Sailor Mars was.

I know it's not official but the Hell Tree Arc was interesting for what it was. I liked the Fire Soul Bird and Supreme Thunder Dragon. These attacks seemed more powerful than ever their Stars attacks..lol
Stabbing Beryl could be considered as killing a person. No matter how wicked she is, she is still human. It's too much for a shoujo series.
 

JunoDX

Solaris Luna
Nov 8, 2018
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#8
Well, SM is quite a mature shojo manga. Who said that shoujo has to be always cute? We have many killings in the 90s anime that can be considered as brutal. Cutting a necklace pearl with a huge sword to defeat de villain is kinda meh but they could have made at least visually more impressive. Beryl is just standig there like a tree.

I personally am totally fine with changes if they serve for a better storytelling.
 
Jul 11, 2013
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#9
Well, SM is quite a mature shojo manga. Who said that shoujo has to be always cute? We have many killings in the 90s anime that can be considered as brutal. Cutting a necklace pearl with a huge sword to defeat de villain is kinda meh but they could have made at least visually more impressive. Beryl is just standig there like a tree.

I personally am totally fine with changes if they serve for a better storytelling.
It's their fault for letting Usagi float in the air, making a long speech. If I were Beryl, I would defeat her in a second.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#10
There probably were some censorahip going on, but not with how Beryl died. They had the brilliant idea to make the girls act like one and just couldn't stop doing it, because the trashy writer decided this is the way to put focus on the team. I still remember how they said in an interview how they decided on the Shottenou crappy hendling because they would develop the senshi in this wonderful way.... Thank god they stopped their amazing creativity.
 

Boro

Solaris Luna
May 19, 2012
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Mount Grimrock Level 4
#11
well, if faithful means adaptation like crystal s1, then it isn't needed. We have the manga already, and Naoko made some great, evocative land/skyscape art for it.

What should it be in spirit? I think we can let Naoko decide on that. But then everyone would die a final death in s1 and they couldn't milk the series a fourth time or some cookie.
 

JunoDX

Solaris Luna
Nov 8, 2018
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#12
What should it be in spirit? I think we can let Naoko decide on that.
That just reminded me that she's going to be the supervisor, gladly. I don't know the new writer but the community says good things about his work so far. Toei must have understood now, that a 1:1 adaption was a bad idea and has been criticised globally.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#13
That just reminded me that she's going to be the supervisor, gladly. I don't know the new writer but the community says good things about his work so far. Toei must have understood now, that a 1:1 adaption was a bad idea and has been criticised globally.
And decided to do a movie instead. People critized the lack of development and they are shrinking it even more. They do it because it is trendy. If they have learned a lesson the would have changed the format for season 3
 
Likes: Starlight
Jul 11, 2013
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#14
And decided to do a movie instead. People critized the lack of development and they are shrinking it even more. They do it because it is trendy. If they have learned a lesson the would have changed the format for season 3
I think they did a good job for season 3. There was so much information for each episode, covering Inner, Outer and the villain's stories.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#15
I think they did a good job for season 3. There was so much information for each episode, covering Inner, Outer and the villain's stories.
It was in the manga as well. I specifically refered to the format, which stayed the same overall. Act 1 was split in two simply because it was double chapter. Anyway my point is the movie format is not addressing the main issue with Crystal as a whole. It can still work, but the Naoko supervion kind a make me feel like they had to changed so much that they needed her approval. Once we see a trailer we might have a better idea.
 

sapphire91

Stella Nova
Jul 6, 2018
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#20
Sure but it's only recently that the sequel movies/OVAs are being released in theaters as opposed to TV or home video.
Fate Stay/Night is neither under-performing, nor lack popularity. Movies make more money and sell better, so many try this route.
 
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