Studio Fortiche, the French animation production house behind Arcane: League of Legends, is considering making a significant impact on the animation industry with its plans to branch out to new shows and adaptations in the future. And the group already has a classic in mind, a project that is sure to pique the interest of classic viewers.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, Crunchyroll unveiled the details of their interview with Pascal Charrue, the co-founder of Fortiche, the French animation studio behind the highly popular show Arcane. His insights, shared at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024, provided a wealth of information for animation enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Charrue, Co-Founder of Fortiche Expresses Interest in Vagabond
Following Fortiche’s presentation of their new project, “Penelope of Sparta,” Crunchyroll interviewed Pascal Charrue to learn more about the company and their anime inspirations. When asked which manga they’d like to develop on the tiny screen, co-founder Pascal Charrue mentioned Naoki Urasawa’s works, notably Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond, which revolves around Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. Charrue stated that the series’ amazing depth and exquisite artwork inspired him to come up with this idea first.
The question went as follows:
Crunchyroll: If you could adapt any manga into animation, which one would you like to make with your team?
Charrue: That’s a tough question. The first adaptation that comes to mind would be Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. It’s a masterpiece with incredible depth and stunning artwork that would be fascinating to bring to life in animation. Although Naoki Urasawa’s works have already seen multiple adaptations, they remain a significant source of inspiration for us.
When considering manga to adapt, it’s essential to find those that genuinely benefit from being animated. Often, I find myself disappointed with some adaptations due to the simple fact that the pacing of a manga, which you control as a reader, doesn’t always translate well to animation.
via Crunchyroll
Possibility of Vagabond Anime
If you are unfamiliar with Vagabond, the series dates back to 1998, as Inoue brought the series to Kodansha. The historical epic is inspired by Musashi Miyamoto, a legendary figure and swordsman from history. With more than 35 volumes to its name, Vagabond is one of manga’s greatest epics, and its detailed art has turned it into a classic among fans.
Despite the lack of an anime adaptation, there is hope on the horizon. Fortiche, a potential candidate, is willing to take on that responsibility. So maybe once Arcane season two has aired, Fortiche can contact Inoue’s team, bringing the possibility of an anime adaptation to life.
Here is the official synopsis:
At seventeen years of age, Miyamoto Musashi–still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō–was a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword. In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezō’s vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezō’s life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way.
Official Synopsis
Charrue’s Inspirations and Personal Favorites
During the interview, Charrue stated that while Fortiche does not focus on creating new content, he is a fan of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and believes it would complement the studio’s storytelling style.
“I must admit, I don’t watch as much anime as I used to due to time constraints, but the last one that really caught my attention was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners by Hiroyuki Imaishi at Studio Trigger. I initially watched it out of curiosity because it’s also an adaptation of a video game. Even though it’s quite different from Arcane, they managed to successfully incorporate emotion into the story, which is something we always aim to achieve in our own work.”
Charrue
Information on Arcane Season 2
While a specific premiere date has yet to be announced, the excitement is palpable as Netflix has confirmed the return of Arcane season 2 sometime in November. For more, check out our guide for the best Netflix shows for some viewing inspiration.
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