Ok I promised to write something about anime, since that is also a hobby of mine. Though I do tend to like the less main stream or not so popular ones. At least among other friends or fans most never or rarely heard of the titels I watch. So I would really like to introduce you to one of my favourite anime: Dantalian no shoka.
Plot
When it comes to this anime's genre it fits right up my street, so if you like mystery, historical, supernatural with action added to the mix this serie might be just the thing for you. Though a slight hint of fantasy is also part of the mix, but that is my personal opinion.
So what is the story about? It starts out with our male protagonist Hugh ( or Huey ^^) Anthony Disward, who is a former military pilot. The one day he receives a message that his grandfather passed away and legt him his mansion. And with that mansion comes his book collection ^^ ( I wish I had that many books XD). And unexpectantly he encounters a young girl reading in the basement named Dalian, our female protagonist.
Here Huey opens the passage way to the Dantalian Archives by using the lock that is connected to Dalian. He then actually reaches into her chest to retrieve the books. (I know it sounds creepy but it doesn't look gross, and it as actually portrayed as a very loving gesture.)
Then it turns out his grandfather was the girl's key keeper, since the young Dalian is not really human. She is in fact a gateway to the archives of Dantalian and that can only be opened by her keykeeper. Besides collecting books his grandfather was also responsible for finding and collecting rare "Phantom books" or Gensho in Japanese. These are books which contain knowledge that really shouldn't be known by men, and not everyone can read them. Though when they are able to use them tragidy usually enfolds.
Hugh's first encounter with Dalian, he actually thought she was a doll... untill she turned a page. Ofcourse his grandfather mentioned Dalian in his will ... but he thought she was a pet -.- so surprise !
Not long after they meet a book seemed to have been stolen from his grandfather's collection. And it's a phantom pop-up book about a circus. This is a lion turning to dust.
Yes imagine that, running into a dragon in the middle of the hallway. Like the lion this is a pop-up figure from the book.
A Phantom book ... looks very appealing right?
Here Hugh and Dalian seal the phantom book again, making sure the powers of the book are back in it;s papers.
Characters
Dalian :
Also called the kuro yomihime (litterally black reading princess), or as the English translation says: Black Bibliotheca Princess. Besides Dalian there are also 2 other princesses. She looks like a young girl in her early teens, though her actual age is unknown. She does however often in a manner which sugests that she older than any of the other characters.She also loves reading, which is not so surprising because of her role as Bibliotheca Princess. Even when she travels with Huey to recover phantom books she drags along stacks and stacks of books. She is also really strict on the handeling of books, once there is a break in, in their mansion, and some of the burglars manhandles a book. She really gave that one a scolding. But she also has a really endearing side, she loves anything with sugar. She even has a single lock of hair that actually shows her enthusiasm for sweets.
She the small lock indicated by the arrow, that is the part that springs up when she's eating sweets. Or sometimes just mentioning a treat will make her react that way ^^.
Hugh (Huey) Anthony Disward :
Huey as he is called by most of his friends, is former lieutenant of the military, and faught in the war as a pilot. After his grandfather passes away he comes to inherrit his house and his grandfather's famous collection of rare books. However he is not aware of the duty his grandfather carried with him and what it entails. He sure is surprised when he finds a "doll" in a dark and room with little light surrounded by books. Imagine his surprise when the doll turns out to be our girl Dalian.
Camilla Saur Keynes :
She is a chilhood friend og Hugh. She adores western style clothing and Dalian doens't seem to be too fond of her in the beginning.
Flamberge :
Not much information is given about her during the series. She travels with Hal Hambout and a rather intersting choice of clothes. She also bears a simular lock like Dalian. However they do not seem to want to store away the books, instead they burn them and use their power. Bit for hat ends ... Who knows?
Hal Kambout :
Flemberge travel companion, he is very strict and rude towards Flamberge. What and how their companionship came to be is unknown. I guess more details on that can be found in the novel on which this series is based on. (wich unfortunatly I dod not posses -.-). He does seem to look like a sort of wizzard and battles phantom books by using the power of other books.
Professor :
This mysterious guy seems to be up to no good. Though whatever the reason or what is purpose is stays unknown in the series. You do however see him handing out phantom books to others with rather disastorous outcomes. He has a connection to Raziel.
Another girl who seems to have a connection to the Dantalian archives. Dalian and Raziel seem to have so huge argument going on, since their meeting in the series is anything but pleasurable. And other background information is not given in the series.
My verdict:
Well I already mentioned I absolutely love this show. I guess I should mention my main reasons. Let just line them up.
Raziel & Dalian, they really can't stand each other
1 Historic appearance.
I have always loved history, and I like old and antique stuff. So the style of the buildings the interiour and the clothes really apeal to me. The feel of the setting the characters are in I just love that sort of thing.
2 Costumes.
The costumes actually came to be by a collabortion of a Japanese Fashion brand called Alice and the Pirates. Which I think are rather marvelous. And just look at what Dalian wears <3.
The keeper of the Dantalian archives, she never leaves the library though
This is how Hugh meets her in the archives, he appears as a small boy.
3 Mystery / Fantasy
I really am big fan of mystery genres. And the slight hinge of fantasy with the phantom books and getting acces to a library through another person (in the litteral sense). And of course books, not to mention books XD, me and books is a combination made in heaven ( I really get Dalian's attitude towards books).
So those are my main reasons why this show is so awesome to me. It has action, mystery and some fantasy thrown into one. And the style in which they desingend everything is just so wonderful, it feels like you step into a known and yet comepletely unknown world at the same time.
And evethough the means of getting acces toward the library seem rather vulgar, when you watch the show it seems really delicate and elegant in the actual shots, so I say job wel done to the artists.
And just the story seems like something I could come upt with. I always had a very huge imagination and could come up with anything, the more impossible it seemed the better to me. That makes this series so much more appealing, to think that books can grant you abillities and powers. And you seal them away in a mysterious library to keep them from causing harm.
So if you have become curious about the series here is a site where you can watch it ^^.
Or if you have any sites that you know maybe you can find it there.
Hope you enjoyed !
静夢 龍
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