Once I began Final Fantasy 7 Remake, it was an odd feeling; every little thing was totally different, however the identical. Shinier, prettier maybe, with some photographs being a one-for-one of the unique. There was one thing acquainted about it, which was clearly the purpose. I’ve had that feeling once more just lately, with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, an anime tackle the traditional comedian collection. I’ve watched the dwell motion movie extra instances than I can rely (I am unhealthy at maths), so the primary episode required a little bit of an adjustment interval. After which, much like with Final Fantasy 7 Remake, one thing new occurred.
Spoilers forward for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
Comedian creator and co-writer on the anime Bryan Lee O’Malley had stated in interviews main as much as the discharge of the anime that some adjustments had been made. In any case, each the comic and movie are dated in locations, so it could make sense to modernise these parts. Besides it turned out O’Malley lied. It wasn’t just some issues that modified, a discovery I made on the finish of the primary episode the place Matthew Patel, the primary evil ex Scott has to face off in opposition to… wins?
Cling on, that may’t be proper, Scott received that battle within the comedian? And within the movie? So what’s occurring right here? Then comes alongside the second episode which differs even additional, totally making an attempt to persuade the viewer that Scott is, actually, useless. Greater than that, with this third adaptation of the comedian, Scott’s love curiosity Ramona Flowers takes centre stage.
I believe by this level you possibly can see the place the Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake comparability comes into issues. Actually, you may make an equally robust comparability with the Rebuild of Evangelion movies, themselves remakes of the 90s anime that strays from the canon at a sure level and by no means appears again. The Evangelion similarities aren’t misplaced on the crew both, there’s multiple reference to be present in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, together with the casting of Fumihiko Tachiki, the voice of Shinji Ikari’s father Gendo in Eva, in a task for the Japanese dub that I will not spoil.
With this transformation, O’Malley and co then have the chance to current the comedian’s characters in a brand new mild, which is precisely what it does. We get time inside Ramona’s head as she tries to determine herself out, and even the seven evil exes get fleshed out – perhaps they don’t seem to be so evil in any case? It is loads more durable to name Ramona a manic pixie dream lady this time too, a little bit of criticism that sort of missed the purpose of her character in earlier iterations anyway.
It is self-reflective in a method that may solely occur by means of altering the canon, and asks you to take a look at the story in a brand new method. Take into account alternate views, perhaps even rethink your relationship to the unique comedian. Scott Pilgrim’s first quantity launched method again in 2004, there’s simply no method that you are the similar particular person as you have been then, and the identical could possibly be stated about characters like Scott, Ramona, and the remainder.
That is not to say all of those characters have instantly grown to be higher folks for a contemporary viewers. Everybody continues to be sort of horrible in their very own, particular methods, Scott is clearly nonetheless courting a high-schooler, and sure everybody nonetheless thinks it is bizarre – however this was, and nonetheless is, the purpose.
Media like Ultimate Fantasy 7 Remake, the Evangelion movies, and now Scott Pilgrim Takes Off steadily have me interested by what creatives owe to their characters, and in flip their viewers. We’re nonetheless but to see the conclusion of seven Remake, and the Eva movies outright refused to dwell within the distress the collection steeped itself in. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, too, refuses to remain the identical, why would we need to see the identical factor once more anyway? It is a lot extra thrilling to expertise one thing new that is constructed from one thing outdated, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off has spades of freshness.
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