Gonzo's 2004 series Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is a fascinating anime. On the surface, it is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' legendary novel The Count of Monte Cristo However, it takes the classic story in a completely new and dramatically avant-garde direction. The most obvious change is the setting. This anime isn't set in 1815. Instead, it is set in the far future of 5053.
Its ending is notorious among anime fans, due to both its surreal nature and how it deviates from the novel. After Viscount Albert de Morcerf is saved from kidnappers by the mysterious Count Of Monte Cristo, he introduces the Count to his family and friends in Paris. But this quickly becomes his undoing.
The Count is revealed to be Edmund Dantes, a sailor who was Albert's mother's first love but was implicated in a murder by Albert's father. However, while in prison, Edmund made a deal with a demonic being called Gankutsuou. This being allowed Edmund to escape and build a new life as the Count. The Count then spent years carefully plotting out his revenge and now starts to set his bloody plan in motion.
As the bodies pile up, Albert decides enough is enough and challenges the Count to a duel. However, Albert's friend Franz takes Albert's place and ends up getting killed by the Count. This sacrifice isn't for nothing, as Franz stabs the Count and breaks off part of his sword in the man's heart. Alas, Gankutsuou intervenes and keeps the Count alive.
Albert's father Fernand takes the Count's companion Haydée as a hostage. In response, the Count demands that the injured Albert gets taken as a hostage, leading to a tense standoff. During this standoff, Albert pleads with both men and convinces his father to let Haydée go. Fernand asks the Count to let Albert go, saying that his son should not pay the price for his crimes. The Count ignores this plea and attempts to shoot Albert. However, Baptistin, one of the Count's henchmen, jumps in the way of the shot and takes the bullet instead of Albert.
Albert begs the men to stand down and the Count, now totally possessed by Gankutsuou, turns to leave. Albert follows, reminding the Count that he had told Albert that a man should make his own destiny with his own two hands. Gankutsuou tells Albert that this is for nothing, as he can not understand the Count's heart. However, Albert hugs the Count and kisses his cheek, causing Gankutsuou to leave his body. Without the demon inside him, the Count bleeds out from the sword wound. However, as he passes, he asks Albert to remember him as Edmund Dantes.
Albert's method of stopping the Count, while unorthodox, perfectly fits the themes of the story. Vengeance had isolated the Count and turned his heart cold. People had ceased to be people to him. In his eyes, they were mere tools that he could use and manipulate to get what he wanted. It required a moment of tenderness and genuine human connection to break the spell and break the cycle of violence and vengeance. Gankutsuou relied on the Count feeling like he would never be understood and that vengeance was his only way to escape. Albert's selfless actions showed that this was merely an illusion and that some people can move beyond anger and build a new future for themselves with their own two hands unshackled from the sins of the past.
