Code Geass R2: NOT LIKE PLANNED

[spleener.livejournal.com]

So I'm surprised this hasn't been posted to the comm yet. I'm sure there are other links on this but I'm going to go ahead and post the ones from Koda's blog:

http://trainwreck.ggkthx.org/2008/08/19/taniguchi-on-geass-not-as-planned/

http://trainwreck.ggkthx.org/2008/08/20/changing-the-time-changing-the-show/

tl;dr- the planned story for R2 had to be scrapped entirely due to the fact that R1 was on a late-night thursday slot and R2 was moved to a prime time Sunday slot, mostly because they couldn't write R2 with the assumption that the audience had seen R1 before. Among other things, the subplots involving Cecile's relationship with Suzaku and Suzaku's connection to Geass (ie why he went catatonic at Kaminejima when the elevator thing activated) were basically dropped, and Rolo was added in.

One should note that this is far from the first time that a show's direction has been influenced by executive meddling, hell, Geass R1 had a lot changed because it was originally slated for a prime time slot and moved to late night, and probably wouldn't have been as good as it wound up being if it weren't for that.

And this is actually a pretty amazing analysis of the situation I just saw posted on /a/:


Rolo is meta as fuck

Rolo is an expression of Taniguchi’s frustration at not being able to develop R2 his way.

Rolo was forced into the story as part of the “re-envisioning” of the show that led to many changes, some of which suck ass. Taniguchi is aware of this. And he is aware of his own situation: forced to work with the damn thing anyway, for the profit of his superiors, no matter how he feels. I’m not making him out to be a great creative mind of a martyr, just noting that he kind of feels a little fucked. Hence, the place of Rolo in the story.

He’s unwanted. Defective. He’s made into what he is because external forces, in this case the Geass cult, decided on it. He does not start out with a will of his own, and his role is to deceive. This is how Taniguchi sees R2: an imperfect creation forced on the viewers, trying too hard to be liked and accepted. No doubt he sees himself as a “disposable rag” at the hands of the executives, and the show as possibly equally forgettable by the viewers. And then, of course, Rolo as the representation of the spirit of R2 kills something that was positive about R1.

So Rolo’s death is both an embodiment of sincerity and deception. On one hand, Rolo accepts his status as a tool but still strives toward what he believes is good in the end. A fairly plain admission by Taniguchi that his work has its failings, that his own capacities are limited, and that in spite of this, he will still try to work around the obstacles and make it good. The very removal of Rolo might even suggest a graudual return to his original plans. But on the other hand, the scene is highly emotionally manipulative, and a decent amount of effort was put into it, in spite of possible dislike for the character. And people seemed to drink it up. That in itself is a fuck-what-you-think-you’re-going-to-watch-this-shit-anyway at the viewer.


Personally I agree with the idea that Taniguchi's been doing his best in spite of being fucked over by the execs, it seems like people are finding out he was pissed off about this a year ago just now and assuming he's still pissed off and has basically been phoning in all of R2 and therefore every story development they disagree with is due to that. I for one like the current R2, and I honestly think Taniguchi and the rest of the team have gotten over what happened and are happy with the R2 they've created.

That said, I'd love to see the original plan for R2 in some way, perhaps as a manga?

Comments

[tanaiel.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I think everybody is exaggerating.
So, the story got scrapped. And?
Sure, it's not the most pleasant thing, but it happens.
And I'm convinced that the most central themes are still the same.
No reason to asume the story is any better/worse because of that. I'm sure Taniguchi did his best.

Still, it's shit that you screw a story over because you want to change the timeslot.
I'm satisfied with R2 but hope, like you, we'll get the original version in some way.

And is it confirmed that Suzaku's Geass plot was dropped? That's crap.

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

Adding my own rraghhh and grrragh about the changes is pretty much useless at this point, though I'm upset about the dropped plots (especially considering the foreshadowing in S1 that. . . is now completely pointless). Suzaku is generally the one fucked over in development, though I believe Kallen's backstory was also eliminated from the plans.

That said, the excuse they gave for Suzaku's inhuman abilities (in light of dropping the Geass connection plot) was absolutely priceless.

"Oh, he's just a superhuman."

[nekoi-echizen.livejournal.com]

i see, this explain cause this serie have something wrong.. :/ I mean.. I feel something strange from this 2nd season. It's not like the first and if Taniguchi will do a manga with the original R2 I'll be very happy to read it!

[luinthoron.livejournal.com]

Explains the train wreck that is R2 quite well...

[tanaiel.livejournal.com]

That said, the excuse they gave for Suzaku's inhuman abilities (in light of dropping the Geass connection plot) was absolutely priceless.

"Oh, he's just a superhuman."

Seriously? Duh.

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately. (http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/detail.php?board=916407&topic=43047093&message=491851283)

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

JUST A SUPERHUMAN

NOTHING TO SEE HERE

[rebmastu.livejournal.com]

The Geass manga running in Asuka right now is still in its early stages, and I'm starting to sense some deviation from that end. For instance, the Euphinator just kicked it month before last and the show-down between Suzaku and ledouche was significantly changed (Suzaku pined the douche down and shoved a fucking gun in his mouth), so we could see some proxy R2 win from that angle.

Cecile's relationship with Suzaku? Huh. Sounds wild.

[knittedninja.livejournal.com]

That's interesting... I really wish he could get an opportunity to develop the series as he wanted to.

[miasmacloud.livejournal.com]

I saw that thread on /a/ a bit ago, it's pretty much a spot-on and accurate analysis.

[mei-yi.livejournal.com]

Gah, now I really want to go find the manga. Which one though?

[tanaiel.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

[tanaiel.livejournal.com]

... Couldn't they have spent five minutes, like the ones of him angsting in episode 19, on a little explanation?
Or maybe they are just saving it for a manga or something? *is hopeful*

[miasmacloud.livejournal.com]

The manga is written by a different author though and doesn't really represent "how this should have gone". The anime concept stuff came before the manga.

[rebmastu.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. I'm not saying the author's going to act as some sort of proxy delivery service to "WHAT GEASS SHOULD HAVE BEEN!" Just that it might take a different, closer approach to the story. Of course it's based off of the anime, though, one look at the chapter count/stage of the story clues you off right there. Manga artists generally confer with the original creator of a series they're spinning off of in some small form, at least once.

[chickee1.livejournal.com]

Hey, Fullmetal Alchemist is being redone as an anime again, so why not another as planned geass?

[rebmastu.livejournal.com]

Here's a link to some woefully un-updated scanlations: http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5230

Considering how the latest chapter released in Asuka was chapter 21.... Well, that speaks for itself. ^^;

[neltis-screi.livejournal.com]

i knew it. the timeslot is a big big factor. i've always preferred CG at late night >.>

i still friggin enjoy R2 anyway, even if it's less awesome than S1, even if it hurts my brain orz i believe Taniguchi did the best he could to make the current as fun as his original.

it would be awesome to see the original story.

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping they do something, since they did after all devote time to giving a completely new character—Anya—what appears to be a significant connection to Lelouch and the Geass instead of Suzaku. I love Anya and all, but. . . :\

[konata-kawaii.livejournal.com]

I never knew that happened.
But seeing my fav character came out of it I can't really treat it as a bad thing haha.
It's amazing they continued it and made it good after all ^^.
In my opinion, this R2 is really nice too.
(Though I am curious what the original plan was (aww but without Rolo? D:))

[mossygirl.livejournal.com]

Kind of depressing to hear, but then again there's no changing R2 at this point, so I'll just be happy with what I can get.

It'll always leave me wondering, though -- just like with Escaflowne, which was originally planned for 39 episodes instead of 26. Can't help but wonder if it would have been better or worse.

[kadekmoment.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, and re: the manga. . . the writers aren't connected to the anime production team in any way, I think. They kind of do their own thing. Also, neither "Lelouch of the Rebellion" nor "Suzaku of the Counterattack" seems to suggest any connection of Suzaku to Geass like there was in the anime. I can't speak for "Nightmare of Nunnally" since I don't keep up with it.

[shad-fg.livejournal.com]

Seriously?
I don't think R2 is as bad as what everybody is saying.
Maybe I'm reading too much into the negative connotations of everything and the negative comments that people are making but I liked R2's storyline like nunally's death for instance. Nice plot twist.

[crophecy.livejournal.com]

...it is?!

are they gonna start again from the beginning or just the part from the manga that differs from the original anime?

[pinaworks.livejournal.com]

i've thought it was just a rumor. any source?