June 21, 2008 by Vic
No, this anime is not Jane Austen’s Emma. This Emma, or a series of Japanese cartoons, depicts the story of a Victorian maid who falls in love with a member of the gentry. These cartoons are subtitled in English, and it is best to view them with the sound turned low. (Unless you understand Japanese!)
As you can see, the drawings are remarkable. Click on the link above to see a YouTube version of the series.
Click on banner image to see this season's schedule
SEASON THREE ARTICLES
~ Review of Episode 6: Oh, how the mighty have fallen
~ Review of Episode 5: The Earl's Gone Off His Rocker and Book Giveaway
~ Beauty Lessons Learned from Downton Abbey
~ Review of Episode 4: Let the grieving begin '
~ Review of Episode 3: Not Enough Noses Out of Joint
~ Review of Episode 2: Being Tested Only Makes You Stronger
~ Say Yes to the Dress, Episode 2 Poll
Click on the banner to go to PBS Masterpiece Classic
SEASON TWO ARTICLES
~ Watch Downton Abbey Season 2 Online
~ Viewers of Downton Abbey Season 2: How Did You Like the Christmas Ending?
~ Downton Abbey Season 2 Finale:Tonight you're mine completely
~ Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey
~ The Flu Pandemic in Downton Abbey
~ Downton Abbey Season 2:Teagowns and Relaxation
~ Downton Abbey Season 2 Review:Coupling
~ Downton Abbey: Preview of Season 2
~ The Symbolism of the White Feathers
Click on image to read the story.
Please note my new links page. I have moved the blog roll and links to other Jane Austen and related topic - including Regency fashion, historic foods, Jane Austen societies, British sites, related topics, and more - to the top of the blog. Click on image.
Click on image to read the article.
Click on image.
Contributors to this blog include: Tony Grant and Shelley DeWees.
If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email me. (Yes, I am fallible. I'll own up to my mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on my face.) Write me at
Spam protecting image courtesy: Nexodyne.com
Thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome.
Click on the image.
Click on image to read this fascinating article.
Click on image.
Hehe, I’ve seen this anime. It has also a second season entitled Emma – A Victorian Romance: Second Act.
Because I’m used to hearing Japanese, it didn’t bother me that much, though I must admit that at times it did feel a little odd since this series was supposed to be happening in Victorian time England and all :D
Emma was originally a manga (comics series) by the Japanese mangaka Kaoru Mori. It has been licensed, and is being/has been released in English as well. The anime was a shortened version of the manga, and personally, I liked the manga a little bit more. The drawing style is really beautiful, and since the text is in English, there is nothing to “disturb” the reader who wants to have it as believable as possible. For those who are scared they mightn’t like it, and would like to try it out first, there are the scanlations made by fans (for example: http://www.onemanga.com/Emma/). Just remember that in case you like the maga, please support the artist and go buy it for yourself!
To tell you the truth, I’m a little surprised that the Japanese haven’t published an anime adaptation of any of Jane Austen’s books like they’ve already done in case of many other famous books (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_Masterpiece_Theater_series).
I can’t quite imagine how would that turn out to be, but the idea in itself sounds interesting (:
Thank you for the information Mushu. I will keep the link on this post live for a short time, then will remove it and link to the link you provided.
Interesting post and info from your reader Mushu. Although this anime is not the authentic Emma, but you can see how the genre of Victorian Lit. (and Regency, for that matter) has influenced other cultures. When I was growing up in Hong Kong, I used to read a lot of English lit abridged and translated into Chinese. Globalization may have started a long time ago, probably dating way back to Marco Polo time.
I just thought I’d comment on my reaction just now: I’d just gone without internet for a week and a half (liberating!), and I pop on this morning to catch up with my fav. blogs – and I see Anime. Over the past year I have become a rabid fan; so, completely unrelatedly – but as one super-nerd tends to do in light of discovering another super-nerd (imagine my voice shrill!) – I recommend Howl’s Moving Castle and Steamboy, two of which I recently saw via Netflix, both set in a stylized Victorian England. Both are English dubbed with reputable actors (Christian Bale’s in the first – and I forget who’s in the second, but the voice-acting is just superb).
I tend to do this with Jane Austen to Anime people, so I thought it couldn’t hurt to Animespeak to Jane Austen people.
Post-Script: Apologies if this comment was double-submitted, internet out here in the wilderness is shoddy.
I deactivated your link. No spam allowed on this blog.
Vic,
I grew up watching a very cute Japanese cartoon called “Candy, Candy”. So when I watched this anime it brought back pleasant memories. I just finished watching the first episode and I absolutely love it.
Thanks, for finding this unique Victorian Era cartoon, it is one of a kind.
Carmen,
Thank you for your comment. I absolutely adore these animes, and am totally addicted to Japanese cartoons and movies for that matter. If anyone knows of an English version of The Fishing Nut, which I saw in the mid nineties, please let me know. I would buy the video/s in a NY minute.
Hey Vic. This is a bit dated, but I just sent in my review of Emma-the-books-the-anime-is-based-on to the Graphic Classroom. I only got the first four, but I’ve ordered the rest of the series for my library’s next batch. I’ll shoot you an e-mail if you’re interested in the whole blah, but my main mention of Kaoru Mori’s Jane-ishness is that, well, Emma turns out to be more of a Bronte-thing than anything ^_^.