Have You Watched Toho Elisabeth?

have you watched toho elisabeth?

I have not watched the Toho version in full for several reasons.

1. Elisabeth in Japanese to me doesn’t sound as good as Elisabeth in German. Due to the differences in diction, I find the original German much more expressive and intense. Japanese can be expressive and intense too but it doesn’t do so in the context of Elisabeth.

2. Toho, as I have read, is like a compromise between the Takarazuka version and the Viennese version. And that, to me, does not work. As I have said, the Viennese version is laid out so intricately, the smallest detail can throw the whole show out the window. They, of course, keep Rondo of Love and Death because the Japanese audience has spent almost 20 years prior to Toho associating Elisabeth with Rondo. Even when the Viennese Revival cast toured Japan around 2006-2007, they had to add Rondo (which was a stupid request).

Anyway, due to those reasons, I haven’t watched Toho. I might later but for now, if I want to watch a masterpiece I would watch Pre-2012 Viennese version, and if I want to hate-watch, I have a dozen Takarazuka versions to choose from.

For the past 2 days, the Mononoke team’s decision to recast the Medicine Seller has been living rent free in my head. And today I come to offer another perspective.

Because of the way animation in general does not allow for much appearance of the creators, much of the public credit and acknowledgement go to the only slither of humanity that can be seen or rather … heard. People equate their favorite characters with the providers of their voices. Kaji Yuki is literally Eren Jaeger. Dante Basco is literally Zuko. And Sakurai Takahiro is literally Shirokuma, Osomatsu, Makishima, Rohan, Kusuriuri, etc. Except this is a very reductive view because in truth, the voice actor does not, at all, play any part in the actual creation of a character or vision. They are the missing piece of a puzzle, but the other 99 pieces, the base, the frame, they’re the works of the writers, the designers, artists, animators, and directors. The voice actor simply HELPS bring that vision to life per directed, they are not creators.

In light of the recast decision, I have seen outcries saying that without Sakurai Takahiro, the Medicine Seller is no longer the Medicine Seller, which is a sentiment I can understand. I, too, have deep attachments to the characters voiced by him, and thus, indirectly, to his voice. But while his voice is perfect for such calm, mysterious, almost mystical character, consider this. Would you want a main character of a story that intentionally explores the lived reality of women in history (both pain and gain) through a humanizing lens, whose affiliation is neutral but with subtle acknowledgement and empathy for the victims of each crime (who are mostly women), to be voiced by a man who has, for a very long time, deceived and taken advantage of the women in his life? The compatibility between Sakurai Takahiro and the Medicine Seller is purely superficial, they stand for complete opposite things. And the team, while fully know the risks they are taking, sided with their creation.

With that decision, their creative interest is fully protected. By recasting the Medicine Seller, they are asserting their rightful claim to the credits of creating both the character, AND the series. THEY are the mysterious lines spoken in several intakes of breath, THEY are the glamorous kimono, THEY are the cheeky and mischievous actions that also imply a sense of misanthropy. The Medicine Seller is NOT, and never has been, Sakurai Takahiro. Secondly, with such cruel actions as his reputation, it is difficult for any production to continue working with Sakurai Takahiro, especially in a lead role where he would no doubt be involved in many promotional materials and inevitably be linked with its name. Hence, it is likely that, without any drastic action, upon finishing this movie, the Mononoke team, too, might close its door and try to move on. But by detaching him from the name, they are now able to look forward into the future and continue to conceptualize the universe that we all love and crave, without the weight of such an impactful and disrespectful scandal, that directly contradicts their stance, on their mind.

In all, with the single brave decision to recast one of the most recognizable traits of their central character, the Mononoke team has protected their character, their work, their creation. It is truly commendable.

Anybody interested in a 1-hour-long video essay dissecting the consequences of Rondo of Love and Death in Elisabeth das Musical?

We as a fandom don’t talk enough about this

In Chat Blanc, when Gabriel tries to separate Adrien and Marinette, Marinette’s response is to comply to that demand and breaks up with Adrien, prompting him to run after her and is forced to out himself as Chat Noir. This incident leads to the blue-eyed nightmare that is Chat Blanc.

But in Pretension, when Gabriel tries to separate Marinette and Adrien again, this time by threatening Marinette that if she doesn’t give up Adrien, he will make sure she can never work a single day in the fashion business. However, this time, Marinette stands up to Gabriel. More importantly, she reassures Adrien that she will NEVER abandon him.

This is important for 2 reasons:

1. It really demonstrates how gutsy Marinette has grown. She is no longer weak in the face of a looming authority like Gabriel Agreste. She is now confident, assertive, and not going to obey anybody, much less Gabriel.

2. Marinette shows Adrien that she can be his emotional pillar of support, so that he is no longer alone. He has somebody to rely on when his father fails (which, let’s be real, Gabriel gets worse and worse each season). And to show him that standing up to Gabriel is possible and absolutely the right thing to do, she could have inspired him to try and stand up for himself too.

Is Chat Blanc still a looming specter of threat? Perhaps as both Marinette and Adrien grow up into confident and self-assured adults, he will become less and less of a nightmare, just a “what could have been.”

In other words, I’m not pressed about the reveal. It’ll happen when it feels natural and consensual for both sides. Even if that means season 12 🤣🤣🤣

SAY IT LOUDER!!!

In all seriousness, I hope the women involved in the scandal get to remain anonymous and receive the support they require. And I hope that none of the reputation of any production he’s involved in take a dive. Each work is the creativity and effort of many many people. Let’s not trash them because one guy decided to be a dick. In regards to Mononoke, I will look forward to it whether they recast him or not. Sakurai Takahiro may be a huge jerk but he truly has a talent and his voice is indisputably perfect for Kusuriuri - a character I have a very personal attachment to. On the other hand, if they do decide to recast him, I wish the new guy the very best and it will not change my decision.

I will watch the new Mononoke movie with all the excitement and love I feel for this series all these years. Because it’s a series with so much depth both narratively and historically. It holds so much work and wisdom of so many talented people that I refuse to let one person ruin it.

If the Medicine Seller saw how Takahiro Sakurai treats women, he'd feed him to a bakeneko.

Why are these 2 the way that they are 🤣

adrienette season 5 dynamic my beloved