Notes about the Kaze to Ki no Uta release
2008/12/22
Hi everyone, interactii here.Dattebayo is proud to revitalize its partnership with Live-Evil fan subs in order to bring you the Kaze to Ki no Uta OAV from 1987. The OAV is based on the long running manga by Keiko Takemiya, which is not available in English. Keiko Takemiya was also responsbile for "Terra He", which was just recently remade into an excellent anime that I highly recomend.
This is the first time that the Kaze to Ki no Uta OAV has been digitally subtitled since it was subtitled on VHS tape by Technogirls on 9/25/1997. If you have seen this OAV subtitled in English, you saw the Technogirls version. They did an excellent job, but we felt it was time to bring this classic video to you in a more modern form.
We have used the original 1987 laser-disc as the video source and the sixty-minute presentation has been completely re-translated with the help of the experts at Live-Evil. This OAV represents one of the earliest examples of shounen-ai anime, and for this reason we feel it is historically important enough to deserve our efforts.
When Technogirls originally produced the VHS tape, they added some additional notes at the beginning of the translation that I found somewhat informative. Here they are for your enjoyment:
If the idea of animated homosexual romance makes you uncomfortable, DO NOT continue watching this tape!
This anime was made for fans of the manga, and it was assumed that the viewer had read much of the story. To view it properly, you will need a short briefing.
Set in a boy's boarding school in France in the 19th century, the story is presented as a series of memories of the main character, Serge, returning to the school he had attended as a teenager.
Gilbert, the school tramp, is Serge's roommate, and the story centers on the relationship of the two boys. Gilbert rarely goes to class or takes tests, allowi9ng older boys to use him sexually in return for their term papers and tests. Two of the boys, Jack Dren and Max Blough, both vying for the attentions of Gilbert, engage in a duel to "own" him. The sadistic Blough wins and Jack Dren is forced to leave the school. (You will see a momentary scene in which the student supervisor, the imperious Rosemarine, announces Dren's expulsion.) It is at this point in the story that Serve comes on the scene and the anime begins.
Blough, assuming he has "rights" to Gilbert, is infuriated by Gilbert's fickle attitude, and tries to stuff leaves of a poisonous plant down Gilbert's throat. Gilbert arrives back at this room, choking to find Serge there. This is where you first see Gilbert in the anime.
About Serge: he is the son of a nobleman who married a gypsy. Serge's father was killed in a war when Serge was young and he was raised by relatives.
About Gilbert: abandoned by his parents, Gilbert was raised by his uncle, the cruel poet Auguste Beau. The story implies that much of Gilbert's outrageous behavior is due to Auguste's psychotic sadism. Gilbert believes he is in love with Auguste. Auguste's financial support to the school ensures the school's tolerance of Gilbert.
I hope there are some of you out there who can enjoy this unusual OAV.
Merry Christmas!
Interactii