Anime version of the Complete Dream of the Red Chamber

Author: Cao Xueqin (Author); Quan Yingsheng (Illustrator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Dream of the Red Chamber: Full-Color Anime Version (Complete 12 Volumes, 120 Chapters): The TV Series Dream of the Red Chamber, the Film Dream of the Red Chamber, and the Musical Dream of the Red Chamber are now joined by a comic book version of Dream of the Red Chamber. Whenever a new version of a classic masterpiece appears, controversy ensues, and the anime version of Dream of the Red Chamber is no exception. If previous versions of the characters remained faithful to the original, the anime version's portrayal of Qin Keqing and the Xiren sisters "exposing their chests and arms" was seen as a radical departure, leading to particularly intense debate. Can the great beauties of Dream of the Red Chamber be allowed to "reveal" a bit? Is it anti-tradition or a lack of inheritance to show Lin Daiyu "dyeing her hair"? Is it "Hax" to depict Xichun with "short hair"? The comic book version of Dream of the Red Chamber was created over two years by comic artist Quan Yingsheng, with each volume featuring "The Twelve Beauties of Jinling" as its cover. The entire comic book set consists of 12 volumes. In terms of content, the comic book version covers the key plot points of the original 120 chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber, with the first 80 chapters by Cao Xueqin forming the core of the comic. The target audience is young readers. The comic book version distills the three main threads of the story: the cause-and-effect illusions of the mortal and divine realms, the tragic love between the male and female protagonists, and the rise and fall of the Jia family. The script was written by Ma Yan, a redology enthusiast. Compared to the traditional fine-line brushwork style of previous Dream of the Red Chamber adaptations, this is the first time a more exaggerated modern comic book style has been used. Jia Baoyu appears handsome yet down-to-earth, while Daiyu's hairstyle is relatively quiet.