June 21, 2008 by Vic
No, this anime is not Jane Austen’s Emma. This Emma, or a series of Japanese cartoons, depicts the story of a Victorian maid who falls in love with a member of the gentry. These cartoons are subtitled in English, and it is best to view them with the sound turned low. (Unless you understand Japanese!)
As you can see, the drawings are remarkable. Click on the link above to see a YouTube version of the series.
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The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground.
Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB
Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”
The grave after restoration
Read the full article in The Sunday Times. June 27, 2021.
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Hehe, I’ve seen this anime. It has also a second season entitled Emma – A Victorian Romance: Second Act.
Because I’m used to hearing Japanese, it didn’t bother me that much, though I must admit that at times it did feel a little odd since this series was supposed to be happening in Victorian time England and all :D
Emma was originally a manga (comics series) by the Japanese mangaka Kaoru Mori. It has been licensed, and is being/has been released in English as well. The anime was a shortened version of the manga, and personally, I liked the manga a little bit more. The drawing style is really beautiful, and since the text is in English, there is nothing to “disturb” the reader who wants to have it as believable as possible. For those who are scared they mightn’t like it, and would like to try it out first, there are the scanlations made by fans (for example: http://www.onemanga.com/Emma/). Just remember that in case you like the maga, please support the artist and go buy it for yourself!
To tell you the truth, I’m a little surprised that the Japanese haven’t published an anime adaptation of any of Jane Austen’s books like they’ve already done in case of many other famous books (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Masterpiece_Theater_series).
I can’t quite imagine how would that turn out to be, but the idea in itself sounds interesting (:
Thank you for the information Mushu. I will keep the link on this post live for a short time, then will remove it and link to the link you provided.
Interesting post and info from your reader Mushu. Although this anime is not the authentic Emma, but you can see how the genre of Victorian Lit. (and Regency, for that matter) has influenced other cultures. When I was growing up in Hong Kong, I used to read a lot of English lit abridged and translated into Chinese. Globalization may have started a long time ago, probably dating way back to Marco Polo time.
I just thought I’d comment on my reaction just now: I’d just gone without internet for a week and a half (liberating!), and I pop on this morning to catch up with my fav. blogs – and I see Anime. Over the past year I have become a rabid fan; so, completely unrelatedly – but as one super-nerd tends to do in light of discovering another super-nerd (imagine my voice shrill!) – I recommend Howl’s Moving Castle and Steamboy, two of which I recently saw via Netflix, both set in a stylized Victorian England. Both are English dubbed with reputable actors (Christian Bale’s in the first – and I forget who’s in the second, but the voice-acting is just superb).
I tend to do this with Jane Austen to Anime people, so I thought it couldn’t hurt to Animespeak to Jane Austen people.
Post-Script: Apologies if this comment was double-submitted, internet out here in the wilderness is shoddy.
I deactivated your link. No spam allowed on this blog.
Vic,
I grew up watching a very cute Japanese cartoon called “Candy, Candy”. So when I watched this anime it brought back pleasant memories. I just finished watching the first episode and I absolutely love it.
Thanks, for finding this unique Victorian Era cartoon, it is one of a kind.
Carmen,
Thank you for your comment. I absolutely adore these animes, and am totally addicted to Japanese cartoons and movies for that matter. If anyone knows of an English version of The Fishing Nut, which I saw in the mid nineties, please let me know. I would buy the video/s in a NY minute.
Hey Vic. This is a bit dated, but I just sent in my review of Emma-the-books-the-anime-is-based-on to the Graphic Classroom. I only got the first four, but I’ve ordered the rest of the series for my library’s next batch. I’ll shoot you an e-mail if you’re interested in the whole blah, but my main mention of Kaoru Mori’s Jane-ishness is that, well, Emma turns out to be more of a Bronte-thing than anything ^_^.