After I began Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake, it was an odd feeling; all the pieces was completely 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 stay motion movie extra occasions than I can depend (I am unhealthy at maths), so the primary episode required a little bit of an adjustment interval. After which, very like with Remaining 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 modifications had been made. In spite of everything, each the comedian and movie are dated in locations, so it will make sense to modernise these components. 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 towards… wins?
Cling on, that may’t be proper, Scott gained that struggle within the comedian? And within the movie? So what’s occurring right here? Then comes alongside the second episode which differs even additional, totally trying 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 feel by this level you possibly can see the place the Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake comparability comes into issues. In reality, you may make an equally sturdy 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 job for the Japanese dub that I will not spoil.
With this variation, O’Malley and co then have the chance to current the comedian’s characters in a brand new gentle, 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 – possibly they don’t seem to be so evil in spite of everything? It is rather a lot tougher to name Ramona a manic pixie dream woman this time too, a little bit of criticism that form of missed the purpose of her character in earlier iterations anyway.
It is self-reflective in a means that may solely occur by way of altering the canon, and asks you to take a look at the story in a brand new means. Take into account alternate views, possibly even rethink your relationship to the unique comedian. Scott Pilgrim’s first quantity launched means again in 2004, there’s simply no means that you are the identical individual as you have been then, and the identical might 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 form of horrible in their very own, particular methods, Scott is clearly nonetheless relationship a high-schooler, and sure everybody nonetheless thinks it is bizarre – however this was, and nonetheless is, the purpose.
Media like Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake, the Evangelion movies, and now Scott Pilgrim Takes Off ceaselessly have me excited about 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 stay within the distress the collection steeped itself in. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, too, refuses to remain the identical, why would we wish 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.
