 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | RIGHT STUF / NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 300 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | 7+ | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 06/24/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 06/30//2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
SYNOPSIS:
In 19th-century London, class lines are sharply drawn, and the social standing to which people are born dictates the path of their lives will follow. Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, never felt her place in life to be a burden. But then she met William, a member of the gentry and the eldest son of a wealthy family. His warm smile and earnest affection threaten to capture her heart… but can love truly conquer all? Contains 12 episodes of the first season on 4 disks in a handsome box set.
REVIEW:
Emma is a period piece romance that unfolds with all the charm of a Jane Austin story (though not to be confused with Jane Austin’s Emma). Emma: A Victorian Romance is an affectionate adaptation of Kaoru Mori’s manga. This first season of the anime gently takes its audience into the lives of a kindly maid Emma and the sweet gentleman William as they fall in love in the 19th Century London, England. For any fan of period romances like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. It will delight in this historically based romance. It begins with a girl saved from a terrible plight. Young Emma, rescued from peril, is raised and educated by the respectful Governess Kelly Stownar. The matron’s stern face belies and truly caring and generous nature. She helps guide Emma who becomes a modest and hard working maid for the nobility. At a time when status dictated everything, an unlikely romance timidly blooms when William Jones meets Emma. He’s the eldest son of the Jones nobility, he is rich and duty bound to take over his father’s land and business.as well as to marry within his station and not below it. To court a servant was unheard of at that time, but the gentle William cannot help but be moved by Emma’s kindness and poise. Soon she has unknowingly won his heart and now he will brave the wrath of his family and the barrier between their positions in order to win her heart. It is a task with more than a couple of obstacles. First is William’s friend Hakim, a carefree royal from India, he too appreciates Emma. There is also the pure hearted lady Eleanor Campbell. She adores William and being of nobility, is considered by many to be his ideal match. However neither of these rivals are portrayed with any antagonism. Instead they are good people who could very well prove worthy of the object of their affection, but there is no greater obstacle for William and Emma than their very different stations. The pressure it puts on both of them to break up their budding romance is immense. When tragedy strikes Emma’s life and a confrontation with his father goes badly for William, the two young people in love must face a very difficult decision. Emma’s choice at the end of the first season brings the first arc to a tearful yet hopeful moment that perfectly sets up the show for it’s seasonal season. The animation is an intriguing and impressive feat of Japanese artistry capturing the historical setting and times of the 19th century England. Directed by Tsuneo Kabayashi (Glass Mask, The Twelve Kingdom) and scripted by Mimiko Ikeda (Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu), the gently paced story has a soft look with exceptional detail given to the backgrounds and clothing designs making them as historically accurate as possible.
EXTRAS:
Bonus features include Character Biographies, Textless Opening, Textless Closing, Japanese Promotional Commercial, Japanese TV Promotional Spots, Japanese DVD Commercials, US Season One and Season Two Trailers, Scene Access, Nozomi Entertainment Trailers, and the 96 page Emma Victorian Gazette. The packaging is given an antiquated look, the hard art box is done in brown tones. The four thin pack cases are joined with a lovely “Victorian Gazette”. This nearly 100 page booklet is done in the style of a 19th century British gazette and offers background information and illustrations of the era, covering England’s 19th century architecture, modes of travel, fashion and a lok at day to day life. It is quite in depth and includes photos and illustrations as well as a glossary, and comments by Emma’s creator Kaoru Mori. It even has advertisements as included in the Gazette in the style of the times.
IN SUMMARY:
Emma is a historical drama that will charm any fan of romances. People who enjoy Jane Austin’s works will love the anime adaptation of Kaoru Mori’s beloved love story set in 19th century London, England. |
