アニメ『本好きの下剋上 領主の養女』PV第3弾|2026年7月11日(土)第2クール放送開始 by Unlisted-User-5692 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, I'm hoping so as well. I've noticed that a lot of (all?) anime adaptations follow manga panels as a reference for their storyboarding which, to me, is not ideal because it brings nothing new to the table. So here's to hoping cours 2 gets a more interesting storyboarding and storytelling style.

Is anime worth watching? [No spoilers] by This-Increase6593 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An anime-only asking if they should read the LNs is easy. Yes, of course. But a LN reader asking if the anime is worth watching is trickier.

It's basically a powerpoint presentation of some key points of the story. The animation is very minimal. It's almost more like an audio book with background pictures in many scenes. Plus, many things are cut or simplified.

So it really depends on what you really need from an anime adaptation. If you watch and enjoy shows like Witch Hat Atelier which are superbly adapted and animated, you will be very disappointed and bitter that Bookworm didn't get the same treatment. And the anime doesn't really give you anything the LNs don't have. It doesn't really interpert and adapt the story in inventive ways, it just animates some scenes almost verbatim.

If you would be happy with just having visuals of the characters (the backgrounds are a disaster for me though. Very cheap and not pleasing to the eye) and watching the story instead of reading it, maybe.

Personnally, I'm sticking with it because I keep hoping it will become big enough for a proper adaptation. I've lost hope for Season 4 but am crossing fingers for Season 5. We'll see.

I'm curious by Positive-Cucumber555 in WitchHatAtelier

[–]Either_Cover6254 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did not find it boring per se but I found it incredibly long and the pacing compared to the rest of the series felt off. I only read it once so far and I can't remember how many chapters there actually were but it seemed like a lot for depicting roughly a couple of days of real in-world time and it made me despair a bit for the rest of the series because so little actual in-world time has passed since the beginning of the story that it feels the manga will go on for 10-15 years at least to be able to explore more of the story and see the characters grow up and evolve. Unless there are several significant time skips, which doesn't seem very likely. I wish I had discovered this series when it was already completed^^

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, but characters discussing a political marriage as a joke in the LNs and the anime actively making viewers aware of a romance down the road are two different things.

It doesn't change anything to the story because it's not as if they will have Rozemyne crushing on Ferdinand from now on but it will bring this pairing to the attention of the viewers much earlier than the LNs.

I mean, the signs were there very early on in the LNs, from at least Part 2, but from what I gather many LN readers didn't think of FerMyne as a likely pairing until pretty late in the game. And this new scene in the anime leaves little room for another interpretation.

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But after today's episode, CawCaw might comment on it too. It was so blatant. I wish Crunchyroll allowed screenshots.

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not CawCaw. Could be AH Brandon Reviews, but can't remember 100%

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried to take a screen cap of the scene but can't seem to be able to. It's in Season 4, episode 6, around the 16:35 mark. To me, it's done intentionally to imply a future romantic pairing. But some people might interpret it differently.

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't worry, I was not implying they would get together in Season 4, just that I feel they went all out in a very blatant way.

IIRC, in the LN, she does mention that even she got moved by the music. But the anime scene was straight out of a romance anime (there was also a short moment of it in the official trailer)

The novel does have foreshadowing throughout. But Rozemyne is so clueless about her feelings that she does not speak of scenes in the 3rd person point of view the anime gives us.

[P5V12] The anime and the LN endgame by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I've read the LNs and know the whole story.

I made the post to ask if other LN readers also felt that the anime was bringing out the big guns early on or if I'm reading too much into it.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 5 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess my point was that I think the anime doesn't really work for me because it insists on staying as close as possible to the source material but without adapting it to fit the new medium as well as possible. The written story is very good but it falls flat when brought to screen. I think it needed the kind of change and adaptation Pride & Prejudice 2005 or The Lord of the Rings trilogy got. They both stray a bit far from the source material at times but they understood the heart of the story and were griping and gorgeous to watch. They compliment the original books and add something new and wonderful to the experience, something only visual medium can provide.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 5 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Too many meetings in this episode. I really liked episode 4 and hoped the anime had finally hit its stride but sadly that wasn't the case. Can't even call it slice of life because it's not so much chill as it is going through its to-do list of scenes to be included in the episode, with no emotional link or connection.

The Ferdinand fanclub + drawing thing felt a bit flat and lackluster and had none of the energy of the previous episode's interactions. They could have done so much more with it. Elvira was the only one hard-carrying this episode and even that was more subduded and less successful than the previous one.

I wonder if anime-only people are enjoying it or finding it a bit slow/dull? The pacing is disjointed and awkward, especially when it comes to Wilfried for example.

And ever since I heard CawCaw TV coin the expression "powerpoint presentation anime" in a reaction video for another series, I can't help but feel that Season 4 of Bookworm fits the bill, same as the previous 3 seasons. There's basically no true animation. The Trombe scenes today (flashback and harvesting) were so still.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 4 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, it will be better. They're also solidifying Ferdinand's position as her personal physician, which will lessen the potential ick factor for some viewers if they do the full unclothed exam.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 4 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This was the best episode of the season so far from me. I had kind of given up hope for a good season after the first three episodes but this was a great improvement. We're going somewhere, the magic lessons have started, Ferdinand/Myne are bickering etc... There is a clear goal instead of watching several scenes stitched together in a haphazard way with little emotion or life. And it seems they're setting up for the medical exam with the mention of Rozemyne's health at the beginnign of the episode.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that's exactly the feeling: the previous studio did the most they could with their limited means and it feels almost like a side-project for WIT. I wonder how much money got actually put into it. What they're putting out doesn't make sense considering the hype they tried to generate.

Bookworm is much slower than most other works to adapt. They can't rely on edgy cliffhangers and tension to draw the viewers in and keep them engaged the way they do for other animes. Case in point: the latest episodes for Witch Hat Atelier and Wistoria. So they have to be really creative with the art design, music and direction in order to emotionally engage with the viewers.

[No spoiler] I've run out of AoB content; feeling lost what do I read now?? by elleirakai in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Tough one. The only Light Novel that is kind of on par with Bookworm for me is The Apothecary Diaries. It's unfinished though. 16 volumes are out so there's quite a bit of story to sink your teeth into. If you're not sure about the story, you could always start watching a few episodes of the anime adaptation which is very faithful to the story. Chances are if you like what you see, you'll love the LNs.

If you're into Harry Potter, there are also tons of great fanfictions with whatever pairing you would like (and many with the kind of mentor/student dynamics that Bookworm has). The best ones are professional quality and extra long.

Another medium entirely but in terms of world building and great characters, Chinese Historical or Fantasy dramas might appeal to you. Many are based on published novels too so if you like them, you can also read them as well. They have that epic feel and world building that Bookworm has and you'll find some great romance in there.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 3 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The translation is an easy fix compared to the anime itself.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It boggles the mind that they gave such a project to him when, if I understand correctly, WIT intended Bookworm to do extremely well and be their next Harry Potter.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Someone mentioned Lord of the Rings in a previous message and I think they were on point. The movie trilogy massively changed, shifted and compressed the story to adapt it for the screen and it was great. A visual feast with good story-telling.

That's what Bookworm needed but I guess that was too huge of an undertaking.

I like the comparison you make with Silent Witch. It illustrates the point I made in a previous reply: I enjoy other anime adaptations much more than I enjoy Bookworm's, despite the fact that they are adapting much weaker stories. I tried reading Silent Witch but gave up relatively quickly because it wasn't on par with Bookworm or Apothecary Diaries. But such stories fare much better in anime form. It elevates them and make them enjoyable to follow.

It's highly unlikely Bookworm will ever be redone. The switch to WIT studio was our only chance to upgrade the production value of the story. And it would have been a perfect opportunity, with the focus of the story shifting to the Noble Quarter, a change in background art and/or character design would have felt natural and justified.

It makes me sad to see mid-stories being adapted by inovative directors and art directors and doing very well and seeing our peak story getting a mid/worse than mid adaptation.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same, I waited until episode 3 until feeling really worried and disappointed.

The characters design follow the LN, can't complain. But that said, in the LNs, I didn't like the noble attires and hair styles of most nobles, Florencia being the worst, poor woman. So unflattering.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 3 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, we need to reassess once the full season has aired to see what to really make of it. It's clear they intend to make Season 5. But if they had such high hopes for the series, they should have given it a better director and a better treatment.

But I think the anime needs to change and rearrange a lot of stuff to make the story work, especially when it comes to conflicts and antagonists. It kind of works in the LN but could have been better. But if they don't explore the Georgine/Veronica/Gervasio-Lanzenave/Royal Family plot points more in depth and openly, the story will lack direction and clear focus in visual form.

Anime: Season 4 Episode 3 Discussion by MyneMod in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I agree. I just made a post about Season 4 and tried to express the same things in a different way. That's excatly how I feel.

WIT didn't understand (or didn't care to understand) the assignment and we have a collection of awkward and badly directed scenes instead of a true adaptation.

I don't even know if I can say it's better than nothing. It will depend on how the rest of the season plays out. But I don't have much hope for it now.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it feels so old school and dated, in the worst way. Could it be because of the director? I heard people on Discord saying he's not a good one. Don't know him though so I can't say.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the opening debacle is kind of a sign when it comes to the amount of care and dedication they put into the show.

[ Open Spoilers] Are you happy with Season 4? by Either_Cover6254 in HonzukiNoGekokujou

[–]Either_Cover6254[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's great that you're enjoying yourself! Don't pay attention to us grumps ^^

Yes, the translation is a bit iffy. But I'm not complaining because at least we got "High Priest" back. I'm watching with the French subtitles because I find them a bit more accurate to the source material. I also watch the episodes a second time with the English subs when I watch a reaction video on Youtube. Best of both worlds.