Copyright Screen Rant
As anime becomes a bigger business, the animation of individual series is only improving. Far from a situation where only one or two series per season stand out with truly impressive art direction, dozens of visually stunning anime are released every year. Still, though, it's difficult to deny that there is a certain charm to the visuals of classic anime. While some fans still champion the hand-drawn look of 90s anime, the most impressively animated series on Crunchyroll actually came out in 2004. The mid-2000s might not be famous for its visual appeal in terms of anime, but that didn't stop Gankutsuo: the Count of Monte Cristo from blowing fans away. Far from a relic of its era, Gankutsuo is still nothing short of a feast for the eyes. Gankutsuo's Jaw-Dropping Animation Puts Modern Anime To Shame Created by Studio Gonzo and loosely based on Alexandre Dumas' world-famousThe Count of Monte Cristo, Gankutsuo takes opulence to the next level with its striking style. In Gankutsuo, the texture of hair and clothes moves independently of the characters. The result is absolutely striking, adding a unique flair to an already out-there series. More than just the unique way Gankutsuo handles texture, though, the series' art direction in general is inspired. Gankutsuo's use of decadent gold, in particular, evokes the French Rococo style. Impressionism was also a clear reference point for the series' look, giving it a painterly quality. It's abundantly clear that a tremendous amount of thought went into the Gankutsuo's aesthetics. Even the characters' clothing is well-thought out as high-fashion designer Anna Sui was hired to work on the costume designs. All of this helps Gankutsuo shine as one of the best-looking anime ever. Gankutsuo's Visuals Are More Than Just Pretty Though Gankutsuo is ostensibly based on The Count of Monte Cristo and takes more than a few plot beats from it, the series is hardly a straight adaptation. Gankutsuo takes place in the far future as opposed to 19th-century France, and uses science fiction elements such as mechs to enhance its story of revenge. The visuals assist the story thematically, making all the wealth and opulence featured appear all the more otherworldly and unnatural. The titular Count of Monte Cristo embodies this. His blue skin and wispy features give him a vampiric quality that makes every scene he's in nothing short of magnetic. As all great anime do, Gankutsuo uses its animation, art direction, and costumes to enhance its story. While there are many gorgeous modern anime, nothing has come close to being as visually arresting as Gankutsuo.
