NationStates Jolt Archive

Heaven Becomes My Hell: Martin Brandt's Labyrinth
An Article in the Ixanian Animation Review

“Murder had a blood red door on the other side of which was everything unimaginable to everyone.” (Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones, p. 206)

We all acknowledge that the most horrible experience imaginable is the murder of a child. We have all heard the stories of families over the years who have lost children to murderers but no one expected an anime to be made about a subject like this.

An Ixanian anime has become famous for its story centered around this notion. Martin Brandt's Labyrinth is the cult classic Ixanian anime which depicts the story of Zaneta (http://th01.deviantart.com/fs10/300W/i/2006/123/d/b/Anime_Girl___Random_by_IceCreamMoon.gif), a murderered girl in Ixania, and how she adapts to the Other World with the friends she makes in the Heaven that becomes her hell whilst her family and friends (on Earth) struggle to adapt to their loss and move on. Episodes will often deal with this notion of the struggle to move on and, in Zaneta's case, the struggle to accept her death but they also bring up the stories of other people whom Zaneta meets throughout the series such as a twelve year old girl who looks up to Zaneta as an older sister during most of the episodes and Remus, the poet who becomes her guide in the Other World.

Created in 2005, Labyrinth has remained a classic with its high quality animation, depressing story, and its witty maxims; Martin Brandt suggested that his inspiration for the story was his fascination with understanding the human mind. The series is planned to be exported to the allies of Ixania and nations who would not mind airing the 36 episodes on their televisions and selling the 13 graphic novel volumes in bookstores. The first episode of the series, Crash and Break, premiered on Ixanian television on November 18th, 2005 while the first graphic novel, Apotheosis, premiered on September 5th, 2005. Both premieres were greeted with mass numbers of fans who fell in love with Zaneta and her heartbreaking but also uplifting saga. The series had since gained cult classic status, has won several awards, and has grown into a well known franchise with many fans who adore the dark and philosophical series which intellectually minded critics praise for making people think when watching an episode and such critics point out the existentialist influences within the series as well.

Critics praised the series almost immediately for being one of the first animes to be rooted in real life rather than in fictional worlds. They also commented on how it was the first anime to really tackle the phenomenon of murdered children - something many others wouldn't have done in the view of one critic.

It is expected, Brandt said, that the series will do good overseas; he simply hopes, however, that people appreciate it for being "a story in which we may understand the sorrow that permeates existence when we lose people we hold to our hearts."

The plot of the series - as we have already heard -centers around a girl named Zaneta whose happy and overall average life is suddenly ended when she is raped and murdered by a man whose claim to fame is that he is the infamous serial killer that the authorities struggle to find. The serial killer is depicted as a man who targets girls just like Zaneta and who kills them without any concern, that is to say, that he doesn't care at all about what the families go through and so forth. To the satisfaction of the fans of the series, the man who murders Zaneta is killed off in the final episode when he is killed by a drunk driver with his body and identification sent straight to the authorities who, by then, have linked him to Zaneta's death. The series goes through the years 1983 to 1993 and examines the complex relationships that develop within Zaneta's family after her death.

Once she is killed, Zaneta discovers that she has gained eternal life but it is not what she expected nor is it what she wants. She has dreams that she wanted to fulfill but now she must set them aside. She must trust her friends such as a poet named Remus who becomes her guide in the Other World. Whilst she struggles in her heaven, Zaneta's family struggles with being unable to accept Zaneta's death. The mother goes into an intense depression while the father becomes hardened; Zaneta's older brother and younger sister also suffer in the process. The murderer, on the other hand, strives to keep everyone thinking he is innocent. The series delves into the pits of human sorrow during its 36 episodes and makes numerous references to Ixanian murder cases involving murdered girls; one can easily find existential influences within the series as well and the graphic novels are given names such as Acceptance, Retribution, Requiem and Disintegration. The narrator of both the novels and the episodes is none other than Zaneta whose charming yet morbid narration of her demise and her subsequent "rebirth" in the Other World has made many people become ardent fans of the cult classic. One critic remarked how Zaneta's narration is a mixture of stoicism and extreme emotion; at times she will get all emotional when she speaks about the dreams she once had or when she explains how: "Even here, you can feel the sorrow of those who you have left behind." The Other World is depicted as the multilayered Heaven of cities and parks where people live forevermore as immortals; some of whom struggle to retain sanity in the face of being unable to live again. Zaneta is quoted as saying: "We will all find ourselves here, in the Other World, whether we want to or not."

The Other World was modeled to look like a sophisticated cosmopolitan metropolis with streets given names such as The Boulevard of Broken Dreams which Zaneta often finds herself walking upon where all she can see is visions of the dreams she had back on Earth which include her dream to travel all over the world and see all its landmarks and people before she died. The inability to pursue this dream in the flesh horrifies her but Remus tells her that she is able to see the world from the Other World and, thus, see the family and friends she left behind. It is a bittersweet joy, Zaneta notes, when she is able to see her family with the Earth Viewer because she knows that she will never see them again in the flesh.

Ixanian animation marketers have already targeted nations such as Romandeos and Lamoni for the first wave of marketing that they have in mind for Labryinth with advertisements being quite morbid, if you ask me, with their look. After watching one episode of Labryinth, the first episode, we must say it is a great series far more better than that Anazaiza No Victoria that appeared on our shores. The first episode contains a scene suggesting rape but does not depict it; it rather shows a shadowy figure stabbing another shadowy figure amidst bloodcurdling screams (we can assume the rape has already taken place) and then we are sent to the Other World where Zaneta, newly dead, meets her guide; the poet, Remus, becomes her guide in the Other World and, with him, Zaneta struggles to find the peace everyone associates with the afterlife while her family and friends strive to find the truth about her death and the peace of having her in a "better place" as many people say to us; the anime also features the murderer and what he does after he kills Zaneta as well as the austere detective who is charged with discovering the truth. The detective is often cited for his the proverbs he makes up from time to time and for his ruthlessness in solving the case at hand.

The name of the series comes from Martin Brandt's notion that all people are in a labryinth after we lose a loved one and that we struggle to find the way out; he had become well versed in the child murder cases which provoked him to compose the drafts for his animated masterpiece while his friends in the animation industry helped him get it animated and out to the public who were definately receptive. In an interview, Martin Brandt cleared up controversies such as his form of Heaven and the alleged rape scene which was, in his words, nothing much in detail. When asked why he made the story in the first place, Brandt is quoted as saying: "Why not? We should strive to understand the complexities of sorrow and how the victims may feel when they cross the line."

If you need a good piece of Ixanian animation to help you understand its diversity and vibrant forms, then Labyrinth is for you. It is a work of Ixanian animation that has many fans all over the Empire and which, it is hoped, will have fans all over the world but one can only hope and, apparently, Martin Brandt is keeping a close eye on the marketers he has trusted with the marketing of his cult classic. Will they succeed? We can only wait and see.

OOC: Ixania makes all sorts of animation, mind you, but this is the first work that I want to RP being exported instead of assuming that it's already being seen overseas. Labyrinth is the merger of two stories; Dante's Divine Comedy and Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones into one to form the unique and chilling series we have here; I thought that both of them put together would be excellent. The point of this thread is to have your nations recieve the anime and, in your posts, you tell me how your people like it. It's like the thread Ryou did sometime ago. Just post reviews from critics, etc. The name of the anime comes from the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3lndvRhS_M) by the German band, Oomph, which is the anime's opening theme in a way and the series is made in the Ixanian language.

(*tag for latter I've got to go to class!*)

To: Martain Brandit
From: MBC (Motokatan Broadcasting Corporation)

We're very intrested in your project and hope it will draw some excellent revenue. We hope we can discuss licensing and broadcasting rights with you very soon.

To: Martain Brandit
From: MBC (Motokatan Broadcasting Corporation)

We're very intrested in your project and hope it will draw some excellent revenue. We hope we can discuss licensing and broadcasting rights with you very soon.

From: Martin Brandt
To: Motokatan Broadcasting Corporation

I am glad to hear of the possibility that my project may have success in Motokata; I'd definately be willing to meet with your representatives although, to be honest, I was expecting representatives of the studio where I work to do that but, nonetheless, I can certainly meet them.

From: Martin Brandt
To: Motokatan Broadcasting Corporation

I am glad to hear of the possibility that my project may have success in Motokata; I'd definately be willing to meet with your representatives although, to be honest, I was expecting representatives of the studio where I work to do that but, nonetheless, I can certainly meet them.

RE:

Thank you for your recent memo, as you are the creator we assume you have the legal authority to pass the rights onto others. You may bring any creative consultants including Executives from your studio. We're anxious to meet you and get started, and we are looking forward to this.

Thanks

RE:

Thank you for your recent memo, as you are the creator we assume you have the legal authority to pass the rights onto others. You may bring any creative consultants including Executives from your studio. We're anxious to meet you and get started, and we are looking forward to this.

Thanks

OOC: Should we start a new thread for this?

ooc so not a anime of This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film))

To: Martain Brandit
From: Lamonian Broadcasting Corporation (LBC)

LBC is interested in acquiring the rights to broadcast this series in the Free Republic of Lamoni. We are certain that some sort of deal can be worked out that will be beneficial to both parties.

ooc so not a anime of This (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film))

OOC: Nope. The name of the anime comes from the song by the German band, Oomph.

To: Martain Brandit
From: Lamonian Broadcasting Corporation (LBC)

LBC is interested in acquiring the rights to broadcast this series in the Free Republic of Lamoni. We are certain that some sort of deal can be worked out that will be beneficial to both parties.

To: Lamonian Broadcasting Organization
From: Martin Brandt

It would be a pleasure to see my animated series broadcasted in the Free Republic but I would recommend that you talk to the representative of my studio that is in charge of arranging such things. Thank you for your interest.

To: Martin Brandit
From: Mephracast TV Corporation

Dear Sir,

We are interested in acquiring the rights to your new anime. Recently Asian style television has been widely popular, especially among our 16-22 demographic. We feel that your show would find many new fans in our nation, and would be quite lucrative for all involved.

Thank you,
William Keaton

To: Martin Brandit
From: Mephracast TV Corporation

Dear Sir,

We are interested in acquiring the rights to your new anime. Recently Asian style television has been widely popular, especially among our 16-22 demographic. We feel that your show would find many new fans in our nation, and would be quite lucrative for all involved.

Thank you,
William Keaton

To: William Keaton, Mephracast TV Corporation
From: Martin Brandt

Mr. Keaton,

I must say that it would be a pleasure to give you the rights to my anime so that it may be aired in the Mephrasian nation and I am quite hopeful that it will be a success in your nation. If you need any information, you may contact our studio. Thank you for both your time and interest.

Signed,
M. Brandt.

OOC: Ixanian animators (those who make anime) don't consider it to be Asian in nature but won't go up in arms over you saying that.

Bumped. Where are the reviews? Are Ryouese animes the only ones that get a lot of attention? :p

To: William Keaton, Mephracast TV
OOC: Ixanian animators (those who make anime) don't consider it to be Asian in nature but won't go up in arms over you saying that.

OOC:Sorry about that, Asian trends are popular in Mephras atm

Labryinth leaves some lost, others intrigued

Tuesday marked the premiere of the much anticipated Ixanian anime, Labryinth: Zaneta's Saga, and an estimated 300 million Mephrasians tuned in. However, this exotic piece did not suit all viewers palates. Many, such as Ron Wellington, of Kepangu, was thrown off by the language. "I found the use of German a bit disconcerting, as I had come to know anime as a Japanese form, but overall, it wasn't bad" Other purists saw it as an affront to the art and boycotted, however that was an opinion held by a small minority. Reviews by critics were mixed, however mainly tended toward the positive. Zeke Cai of the Euphova Herald was especially enamoured with the depiction of the Otherworld, describing it as "rich and multifaceted, a feast for the eyes." Jessica Jervais of the Beausoliel Reporter called the title character an "exemplary highly detailed person, very believable and exciting to watch." Others complained that the storyline was "hard to follow" while others claimed that Zaneta could sometime be "irritating, or unrelatable." However, overall the average viewer seemed to enjoy the piece.

It seems as though the series will continue to enjoy success, especially among the youth who have embraced anime as an entertainment form, and is likely to garner cult hit status within many groups of urban youth. Labryinth airs weekly Thursday Night at 9:00 pm on Mephrastar 2, with an encore airing at 4 pm on Saturday afternoon.

OOC:Sorry about that, Asian trends are popular in Mephras atm

Labryinth leaves some lost, others intrigued

Tuesday marked the premiere of the much anticipated Ixanian anime, Labryinth: Zaneta's Saga, and an estimated 300 million Mephrasians tuned in. However, this exotic piece did not suit all viewers palates. Many, such as Ron Wellington, of Kepangu, was thrown off by the language. "I found the use of German a bit disconcerting, as I had come to know anime as a Japanese form, but overall, it wasn't bad" Other purists saw it as an affront to the art and boycotted, however that was an opinion held by a small minority. Reviews by critics were mixed, however mainly tended toward the positive. Zeke Cai of the Euphova Herald was especially enamoured with the depiction of the Otherworld, describing it as "rich and multifaceted, a feast for the eyes." Jessica Jervais of the Beausoliel Reporter called the title character an "exemplary highly detailed person, very believable and exciting to watch."

It seems as though the series will continue to enjoy success, especially among the youth who have embraced anime as an entertainment form, and is likely to garner cult hit status within many groups of urban youth.

OOC: I should mention that all Ixanian anime is usually made to be broadcasted in Ixanian and that the anime is really just called "Labyrinth" but, other than that, thanks for taking part in this! I am glad to see that my series did pretty good in your nation. :tongue:

OOC: Lamoni, did you want to RP that meeting?

the show will never ever be shown in Imperial or its colonies

from
IMHQ

Ixanian Anime Jumps to the Top!

ENTERTAINMENT-In Anime news, TV's Labyrinth (or Meikyuu ) has proven to be a runaway success in Motokata. Since broadcasting began MBC's ratings have jumped 12% since last year and it has beaten out some of the other strong contenders such as Avengers! from Production I.X
and video sales are expected to out perform Batman Gotham Knight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_Gotham_Knight).

Most critics agree it's the finest anime to come to Motokata this year. And those that gather at the cafe's to watch or at home after school also agree.

(review to come)

the show will never ever be shown in Imperial or its colonies

from
IMHQ

OOC: I prefer to have people say WHY they'd ban the show. :p

OOC: Bump for reviews.

Labrynith, it's more than an Anime it's a classic work of Art!

Tsubaki Nekoi


My good friend turned me to Labyrinth, I was hesitant at first, most of the dark, Gothic and violent anime's have turned me off but once I turned on this show, I couldn't put it down! Just like a good book it's captivating from start to finish. With it's incredible story line, philosophical undertones, and one amazing original score, this anime is sure to be this years contender at the Anime Awards of Merit. I'm predicting awards for it's incredible visuals of cinematography, writing, directing, acting, music and well the sky is the limit.

The characters will touch you like you've likely never been touched, the music will move you in ways only music can. My nod is to the director for allowing such an exceptional soundtrack where most directors would have allowed to take a back seat. The use of leitmotifs works wonders, and the bold melodies combined with the soft melodies makes such polarities that it's almost a musical story by its self.

Writing as I mentioned, is perhaps exceptional. It's perfect, it gives the audience maturity and ability to reason, but doesn't leave us so far in the dark that we are clueless.

There is nothing more I can say, this anime will be regarded as a classic for years to come.

A+

OOC: No one wants to air my show? Not even Ixania's allies?

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/CB6802/seal.gif

Personal Endorsement

It is with great pride that I inform the international community of my personal endorsement of Martin Brandt's Labyrinth. The book was presented to me when my officials on our imports had received export requests of the novel to Leichstur. Among others, I personally sat down and read this book. Giving it my undivided attention and thought.

When I had read the final word in the novel I closed the book with a heavy heart that the story ended there. I have passed the book to be imported into Leichstur. I had also heard that the story had been adapted into an animated TV series.

Without hesitation I requested that television companies in Leichstur would be allowed to air this series on their networks. So far, the IMB, International Media Broadcasts, and the NABC, National Animated Broadcast Company networks have begun airing the series as the episodes are released to them.

So far, the series has been a hit across Leichstur's internet community and it has become quite common to see AMVs containing clips of the show played to Linkin Park songs on Leichstur's YouTube network.

The novel and series have interested and impressed me greatly and I look forward to future marketing campaigns of Martin's work springing up in Leichstur as it would be a shame for my people to miss out on such a great experience as witnessing this storyline.

Respectfully,
Martin Leichstur II
Prince of The Principality of Leichstur

From: Martin Brandt
To: His Highness, the Prince of Leichstur, Martin II.
Subject: Personal Endorsement

It is a very pleasurable honor to have one's work endorsed by a man of high status on the social ladder in my opinion, Your Highness, and I am truly thankful that you have endorsed my animated series and that you are sponsoring its circulation in your nation. I must state that you may be a bit confused in terms of mentioning a novel. Where did you hear about that? It has always been a pleasure to hear that my work has been well recieved by the masses and, therefore, I am very proud of myself whenever I hear about my work in Leichstur; your patronage was an unexpected development, I must say! My inspirations for the series vary, Your Highness, but they have all served a common purpose. As for the AMVs made about Labyrinth, I must say that some of them are well made. Your Highness, I remain ever-so-thankful for your patronage and I am definately hopeful of attaining future successes for my series.

Sincerely,
M. Brandt.

Official Statement

Not in so many decades have I seen such a wonderful movie, especially in animation. Quite seriously the People of Anagonia, or at least the community who finds interest in these sorts of things, has began setting up Conventions presenting your series. Tourism has increased across the region, and the money is flowing equally to all nations within the United Republic. Honestly I couldn't ask for a more wonderful miracle than to see children and grown-up's a-like enjoying their lives and...well...spending their money to help the economy!

However I don't know why children find this so interesting, as it seems more adult-oriented. But the Government doesn't interfere in the lives of Parents when they consent to such things. However the case, your valuable piece of family-friendly, somewhat disturbing, yet imagination-enticing material has increased the popularity of our own Anime's. That's saying something, as last time we shown one of ours we had riots!

Yours truly,
Senator Jack Pattons

The Harland Herald.
25 October 2008.Tempature: 7 degrees celsius.

http://th01.deviantart.com/fs10/300W/i/2006/123/d/b/Anime_Girl___Random_by_IceCreamMoon.gif
Labyrinth Review.
By Michael Collins.

Right, all my regular readers will undoubtly now that whenever I usaully review an anime, it usaully gets a 2 or lower, mainly because it's some of the local crap we got here. But, Labyrinth is one of the most dark animes I have seen in years.

It starts off with Zaneta, a young girl, running through a labyrinth she cannot get out off. She is dead. She was raped, with the rape scene being blank, though the screams sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Thus followed a dark story which gets you seriously considering life and it's point.

Overall: 8/10.
Plot: 10/10.
Characters: 7/10.

This series is the third to be awarded the Herald Golden Gate!

OOC: Lamoni, did you want to RP that meeting?

OOC: Sure.

OOC: Come one, come all! Please post! I'm hopeful to have this be in the public spotlight.

SBC- Stevidian Broadcasting Corporation

After watching several previews and then the first hour of Labryinth we were most impressed by the story, the acting and the artwork. Anime is not very popular in Stevid and it is exceptionally difficult to get a wide viewing audience to watch anime television. However a public viewing opinion poll resulted in increased interest in the film.

The rights to broadcast resulted in a small bidding war between several public television, digital and cable/satellite companies. However the government owned SBC won the rights to broadcast will be showing the programme on Stevidian television and throughout the entire Empire on all television sets that pick up SBC channels.

It will be shown after the 9 o'cloock watershed because sexual references and dark connotations that younger veiwers would find disturbing or distressing. It will be shown on SBC2 rather than the primary channel used for late night films or dramas, this is not because we do not favour it highly as a programme but because anime is not very popular as a television culture in Stevid. However despite this SBC2 is a highly watched channel and we anticipate that at the time of viewing in Stevid alone there will be on average around 2.5 billion viewers. In Rubet Island we estimate around 500 million will tune in, and across the entire Empire we believe around 12 billion people will be watching the programme.

Labryinth will be aired in three weeks time at 21:00 at prime nightime television on SBC2 and will be repeated online the next day on the SBC website and at 10:30 on SBC3 (Digital).

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr337/NSAdenia/Flags%20and%20Insignia/ABCheader-1.png

Sir:

The release of Labyrinth is not unknown in Adenia, and it comes, with the large anime-involved subculture in Adenia, that we should make a request for Broadcasting Rights for our own channels - certainly, we feel that this would make an excellent addition to our own scheduling.

ABFC (Adenian Board of Film Classification) Certification of Fidelity will accompany this letter.

Yours,

Margaret Osbourne
Programming and Schedules, General Manager
Adenian Broadcasting Corporation

----

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr337/NSAdenia/Flags%20and%20Insignia/ABFC.png

This Picture, as per the Adenian Board of Film Classification, Chief Film Classificator's Office Regulations, has been classified:

15-P

Permittence to show on mainstream and specialist television, movie houses and picture theatres, and in schools and educational facilities.

Viewable by those aged fifteen (15) or over, or in the event of parental permission or accompaniment, by those under the age of fifteen (15).

Kurona Censors have reviewed your material and deem it while vastly violent and frightening, an important social commentary, thus all mediums will be premitted for sale and distribution in Kurona to age appropriate adults (age 14 by Kurona standards) the author shall receive 40% of all revenue.

Thank you,
Royal Council for Arts

Due to AHSCA's simplistic lifestyle, it's unlikely the anime series can come, however we would like it for the books to be sold on our islands.

OOC: This is for all who have posted here and who have imported the animated series into their nations. AHSCA, the books shall be exported to your nation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crossing the Line: Martin Brandt Speaks About Labyrinth
An Article by John Sarti

The recent international success of Labyrinth has reached the studio where it was first created years ago under the direction of Ixanian German animator, Martin Brandt, who I interviewed this week for his views about the rise in his series' popularity in other nations such as Stevid and Motokata. Martin Brandt was quite ecstatic during our conversation with some pretty good words to say for those who had imported his work which was not actually his first. In 1999, Martin Brandt came into the spotlight with his hardcore espionage anime which he christened with the name of Black Card which features an expert spy who saves the land from foreign enemies with nothing more than sex appeal, book smarts and his marksmanship. That series is still famous to this day but has been largely eclipsed by Labyrinth in terms of popularity with the fans of Ixanian animation. "....I had felt that the idea of an intellectual spy was sort of catchy so I worked with it and came with the anime you've all enjoyed. It wasn't really meant to be made because I was really just fooling around."

Martin Brandt mentioned that Labyrinth came out of his mind after he watched the parents of a murdered girl weep on national television when they were pleading for the return of their child. ".....At first, the idea of an animated series based on a murdered girl didn't seem too good to me but I soon felt that it would be great if done correctly rather than half-assed. I had just gotten out of collaborating with other animators with their projects and had desired to get back into the game myself rather than being a collaborator in it all."

The first episode for Labyrinth aired after a zealous advertising campaign orchestrated by Martin's friends in the business; there were posters showing Zaneta in a white dress shrouded by light while fire burns around her frame and there were trailers which featured moving compositions mixed with the heartwrenching scenes of the series such as when the mother of Zaneta is told about her daughter's death. Martin Brandt pointed out: "....I wanted the characters to be rooted in realism. I wanted them to look human. They had to be human so that the fullness of sorrow could be expressed."

When the first graphic novel came out in bookstores, it was found to be out of stock in many of the stores within a matter of a few days or even a few hours as people instantly were hooked to Zaneta's sorrowful and uplifting saga in the Other World. Martin Brandt felt that the traditional Heaven was a bit too cliche and so he felt like making an entirely new Heaven. "....I don't know what Heaven looks like nor am I suggesting that Zaneta's version is what it looks like; we'll never know what it looks like unless we die, I suppose."

The graphic novels were well known for their macabre art and their exquisite covers which featured the characters in all sorts of morbid and haunting attire and poses such as the dead Zaneta looking at her reflection which turns out to be the living Zaneta. The opening theme was composed by Ixanian German band, Twilight, who are well known for their industrial metal/grunge mixture tracks. The leader of the band, Peter Kranz, told us: ".....We were quite interested in the story behind Zaneta's death when we were asked to write a song about it. I'd thought it would be a good thing to do in the end. Mr. Brandt was quite happy with what we produced."

The series has been referenced to and explicitly mentioned in the songs of other Ixanian bands and musicians who have been fascinated by Martin Brandt's arguably most famous series. Animation Conventions are often filled with fans of Brandt's work who want to get the chance to meet him. Martin Brandt's wife once said: "....I'm very proud of my dear Marty for all the work he has done and wish him many more years of success!"

Martin Brandt also donated plenty of the revenue he recieved from Labyrinth to organizations and charities which help find and rescue missing and abandoned children all over the Ixanian Empire and its colonies which made him quite the hero although he said: "....I'm doing it because I care for the children and not because I care that people will wake up and call me a hero."

Labyrinth's episodes were often described as horrifyingly morbid with the characters depicted as human beings rather than stock characters as Brandt would say on DVD commentary for the last box set. We see Zaneta's rape scene on the first episode which starts off rather well with Zaneta's cold narration:

"....I woke up that morning and did what I usually did. How was I supposed to know that I would be murdered? No fourteen year old girl thinks about that, does she?"

The rape scene was trimmed down to be merely the sight of two shadows struggling while Zaneta's bloodcurdling screams could be heard in the background. Martin Brandt had it so that the last scream was the loudest and critics remarked how it brought chills up their spine. We do not see what happens to Zaneta's corpse although we do eventually discover the truth. The series shows us that the murderer in question was an infamous serial killer who could make himself into a teacher, a father, or anyone he wanted. Martin Brandt refused to make him into the typical evil person and gave him plenty of interesting traits. The murderer ends up dying when he is hit by a drunk driver during a drive; amazingly, the girl he had kidnapped prior to the drive survives without major injuries. It is around this time that Zaneta experiences the beatific vision and ends her story with a speech on how she has found solace in the Other World and how she simply wishes her family and friends a long and happy life on Earth. Zaneta never ages throughout the series and notes how she kind of likes the idea of perpetually retaining youth. The series also shows her descending onto Earth for a brief moment, in the night, to have a tender kiss with her boyfriend, John, whose dark comedic and pessimistic poetry is often recited in the series. Remus, the poet who becomes Zaneta's guide, also recites his own poetry during Zaneta's trek to the highest height of the Other World in search of solace.

Martin Brandt explained that Remus was meant merely to be the guide who would help Zaneta adjust to life in the Other World in the fashion of a guidance counselor and that his story would be left unknown although, through his statements, we can tell that his life was kind of bleak. Remus often dresses in Medieval Ixanian attire and speaks in a solemn but joyful tone with his witty maxims and his discourses on how Zaneta should try to accept the situation at hand. Zaneta also meets the many victims of her killer and all sorts of people in the Other World including her family's dead relatives who are saddened to see Zaneta with them. Martin Brandt points out that Zaneta's parents were a couple who felt that: ".....What happens to other girls would never happen to their own."

Zaneta's parents are depicted as well to do, modest and gorgeous looking people who have three wonderful children, plenty of cash, and who live a life of prosperity and peace only to have it all shattered when Zaneta is killed. The family is torn apart by the mental anguish with the mother going into periods of intense depression while the father constantly visits his daughter's tomb whilst questioning suspicious people for answers. Zaneta's older brother and younger sister grow up not knowing the truth; Zaneta's older brother becomes obsessed with protecting his only remaining sister while she becomes shy and frail.

Martin Brandt hasn't announced whether or not he will work on a new project following the success of Labyrinth since he is quite delayed, he has said, with family life which he says is more important to him at the moment. He has, however, attended anime conventions to sign pictures and posters of his characters. The series is rated for older teens but even adults have taken an interest in the story and parents of murdered children praise Brandt for his work. A statue of Zaneta was recently unveiled in Brandt's hometown and the graphic novels have recently been exported to AHSCA while the anime is being exported to a diverse host of nations ranging from Stevid to Lamoni; Martin Brandt said he didn't know why the Imperials refused to air his series in their nation. In the end of our conversation, Martin Brandt said: "....I may get back to work one day with a new project but it depends....it all depends on what my situation shall be."

ooc hey fit your sig man you over the limit

Dear Neo-Ixania,

Northern Sea would be delighted to show this interesting show on its television network. It will be nice to add some shows from another culture into the broadcast. We request to know the rating that the Neo-Ixanian have given it, and would like to rate it ourselves so we can see what channels would best suit a show of its genre.
Regards,
Northern Sea

I'm Nick Geschke, and I approve this message:

"As a Storywriter myself, let me be the first, Neo-Ixania to say how much I respect the fact you're working towards such a goal as this deep, powerfully emotional, and overall interesting story-idea. I myself was thinking of making our own RP, which Zerin meets my (IC-self) daughter: The fact of the matter is, I can't stress how much I appreciate that one RP we did, and how much it really helped me out both as a person and as a writer.

Therefore, I say now: If there is ANYTHING you require of me, ask it, and I'll do it to the very best of my ability with no hesitation.

This has been, Nick Geschke, and I have approved this message from...myself.

To the Producers of Labyrinth,

We of the Council of Arts and Culture have been recently informed of your unique and bold anime to hit the airwaves of televisions around the world. As such we of Magic Sorcery. We hope that it will prove to be a well respected and enjoyed anime amongst fans in our Empire for years to come.

Because this is an international production it is mandated that a proper certificate of age rating be given, your production has been Certified as MA-17 (Mature Audiences: Not appropriate for minors). your list of entitlements are enclosed.

Thank you,
Mikiya Katakura
A&E Council Chief



All final percentages are based on a total annual revenue:

Film: 45% of Annual Gross + 15% of opening gross

Television: 35% of commercial revenue provided from advertisers 5% comes from networks

Books: 10% per novel

Music (CD's, DVD's MP3s): 5%

Other Media: 5%

INDENMEDIA NEWS

Lack of Gore and Tentacle Rape blamed for unsuccessful launch of Zaneta's Saga

Cecily Lockhelm, self-proclaimed protector of Western culture, castrator of bad tentacle porn, denouncer of pedophile tendencies in the East, scourge of the Weeabo, promoter of western animation traditions, Ball-cutter of Pokemans and disliker of Mudkips has publicly stated an explanation about the lack of success of the movie Labyrinth: Zaneta's Saga in the Confederacy of Third Spanish States, because as she has openly explained, she was really bored. As in the cynical opinions of Lockhelm and of her close friend Aaron Paul, "it's not a coincidence the genre boomed shortly after Japan was nuked." Her words about the movie are as it follows:

In a so memetically-flooded culture like that of the Confederacy, the only point for Animes to exist is something directed for lonely people that is know as fanservice. The very perceptions of the genre across the Confederacy create expectations from the target-audience whenever a plot is advertised as involving a rape story. Although I would gladly get rid of this filth that delights in such type of works if I could, I can do nothing about the lack of success of such movie, for people are free to watch what they want, and the influence of the /b/ TV is very strong among most fans of the genre here, who will rarely watch an anime that is not centered on sex, fanservice and violence. After reviewing the work as 3/10 under their immature, whimsical rating schemes because, according to them, it "Needs MOAR Tentacle Rape, gore and DESU, doesn't deliver what it promises and is too loaded with fail and emofaggotry that only fags wanting to become an heroes would watch it. I'd rather re-watch Mnemosyne, Gantz or Elfen Lied." eighty percent of the anime fans not even went to watch it, influenced by the "Hivemind". As for normal people, lets just say that we have a serious bias for our local western animations, influenced by our own culture and habits, and that the association of the subculture with certain online communities has served to repel it from certain audiences. I do not blame the quality of the work however, which is really something outstanding compared to the usual, it's just that we aren't really that much in anime for anything besides Internet memes and what some people know as "LULZ". As for the graphic novel, I'd gladly read on the other hand and try to ignore the fact it's a Manga to focus on the written content, as it looks like a good story, and I believe it'll have a better audience than the movie, no matter how contradictory it seems to be a Graphic Novel selling better than its animated version.

Regarding possible age restrictions in the Confederacy, as there is practically no government to enforce them, both warez and legit versions of the movie and of the graphic novel are already being sold or downloaded by people of all possible ages. Not that it really presents anything shocking compared to the usual stuff running through the Internets like "Tubgirl: The Movie" and "The Attack of the Naughty Tentacles 3". Thus perhaps a marketing focus on drawing pre-teens used to watching reruns of Freddy Kruger and Jason movies might harbor better results on the movie than teens or adults.

As for Cecily's Lockhelm supposed bigotry over Anime... there are as always rumors on the Internets that she is a closet Wapanese, and as this is a free society there is nothing she can do to stop the rumors from circulating. However, nobody ever found any incriminating evidence like a secret stash of Naruto OVAs, a Mudkip plushie or a Pokemon videogame with her, and thus such rumors remain as rumors, for now.

(C?) Independent Entertainment Media Center
INDENMEDIA is not affiliated, bribed or sold off to any mainstream entertainment company and provides articles, reviews and previews for movies, books, graphic novels and videogames 100% free of hype and sycophantic superlatives..

A Purely Eastern Success
Zaneta's Saga was released in Shujun. The more Socialistic West was quick to reject it, some stations even refused to air it. However, in the more moderate East, it gained a large following. Having over 600,000,000 viewers, the show had some of the highest ratings in Shujun, putting it on #12 in the most-popular-shows category. However, many government officials complained about both its lack of originality and lack of substance. Government officials were also upset over the anime style of cartoons, something many expressed disapproval to in the Fifty-Sixth Party Congress of Shujun.

Krasnaya Zvezda


-Enetertainment section


-Ruslan Sidorenko


Last night the Ixanian animated television program "Labyrinth" aired on Public Channel #2, and while lacking subtitles was general was well received according to the amount of viewers that tuned in. P-Ch2 released a statement earlier saying that they will run the rest of the episodes with subtitles, starting next week as a regular program. The main character, a murdered young girl, struggles to accept her earth while on the "other side", and parallel to that the same goes for her relatives. That information I received from a plot synopsis that I located online. The story is relatively dark akin to other programs on that particular channel, so it fits in well with other shows and is expected to be a success.

OOC: People can still post reviews if they wish.

they only review this show got by any Imperials were the five troops who were locking up the Embassy building as the Government pulled out all Imperials out of Ixania as well as cutting off trade and travel

here what they said when ask about it,by some reporter

"what i think of Labyrinth,it was a waste of my off duty time that what i think"

"i have no idea what in hell the plot was all about"

"sorry i did not see it ,ask one of the others"

"it was in Ixanian have no idea what they said and got bored an turn the tv off"

"i was busy now get out of my way this box heavy"

OOC: Oh the grammar.....

IC:

After airring on prime nighttime television on SBC2 and repeated on SBC3 all across the Empire today, the initial boards say that 67% of the Holy Empire tuned in to watch this feature length anime, estimates based off the last census and predicted population within the Holy Empire suggest that nearly 15.3 billion people were watching at the time.

The Stevidian Broadcasting Corporation's message boards and public relations forums have been flooded with comments as have the help desk e-mails in SBC. The opinions of the viewers were indifferent at best with around 20% being in different about the show and generally thought it was good television and enjoyed it. A further 20% disliked the programme but 90% of that disgrunted people admitted it was because anime is not to their taste.

However this leaves 50% of viewers actually really enjoying the programme and informing the company on how much they enjoyed it. In hindsight, the airring of Labyrinth was an amazing sucess and the price paid for it will probably be made up in the following weeks and may increase further once released for purchase to the public.

The SBC is actually quite amazed the programme received such a bad rapport from other foreign states but is not concerned in the slightest. Viewing figures went through the roof in the Holy Empire and several records have been broken in the process.

This show will be released onto DVD in Kanami and we expect it to be a great hit in the community.

WIBC Channel One Studio, WIBC Headquarters; Tailville DR, Wagdog...
Dee Patton exhaled as she prepared for one of her best reviews yet. She always got the good bits, her segment on the entertainment hour being “Dollar Masterpiece Theater” after all. But this one blew the others not only out of the water; equally as much it hurled them through the stratosphere, into orbit, and as likely as not whole other dimensions if one took the time to keep watching the trajectories involved. Now how to get that across amid the flak starting to emerge, she pondered…

“And you’re on in five…” Arnie the director was now starting the countdown, wouldn’t be long.

That Lockhelm bit was just cruel, Patton’s thoughts murmured as she once-overed her script for the last time before action. Yes some are skeptical and have right to be, Lord knows I’ve seen too much bizarre whats-its out there with fandoms; just lay off the bathroom humor about it already!

“Four…” Arnie sure loved taking his time about these things. How was Dee going to address the fact that, in recent months, those who would decry this anime for being ‘foreign’ (and thus ‘degenerate’ given the connotation) or else ‘bourgeois’ (ditto) were starting to pipe up again after some six years of relative quiescence? The Nationalists and Communists might remain minority parties for now but, as always, they were LOUD minorities and could make a reviewer’s life a hassle if they didn’t like them. Dee, proudly, was in that category; and didn't particularly care she was either.

“Three…” Dee fiddled some with her hair. Too poofy, yes; it came out too poofy by half. But the chief stylist Ezra was on her usual morning bender though so couldn’t be helped.

“And…” On billions of TVs across Wagdog, the opening theme to “Dollar Masterpiece Theater” would be entering its’ closing strains. Only a few tugs on the shirt now to make sure it didn’t make Dee look frumpy.

“Action!” Showtime; now, it was time to get out there and let the world know about a little ghost girl and her story.

“Greetings fellow connoisseurs of all curiosities cinematic and economic at once; once again I your host, Dee Patton, kindly welcome y’all to my cozy little ‘plantation of the picayune…’ for another night of relishing the beautiful cinematic and broadcast works of art which those outside our humble circle may not have bothered to notice. As we always say, ‘their loss, our gain everyone!’” The chipper platitudes which always opened the program done with, Dee could finally get to the meat of her segment tonight.

As clips from Labyrinth: Zaneta’s Saga ran silently on a small caption screen, the opening theme running throughout them, Dee wasted no time in continuing. “In this case I can claim a wonderful exception to that phenomenon. Whatever attention it has gotten in recent weeks, mostly positive aside from some of the inevitable peanut-gallery boo-hisses, the Ixanian animated series Labyrinth proves that we at our beloved DMT are certainly not too avant-garde to recognize quality when we see it.

“The plot should be familiar to most viewers by now, I should suspect; Heaven knows we here at WIBC quietly applied for broadcast rights virtually as soon as it debuted for foreign release. At present it’s only available in the original Ixanian with optional Atrean, English and Jakallan subtitles; but I naturally expect once official dubbings in those languages are available the DVD versions will come to include those as well.” Dee had experience enough with corporate-bureaucratic delays that it was a significant factor in the continuation of her smoking habit, alas; hopefully this anime wouldn’t suffer what its’ character did in such terms regarding future release versions.

“In any case, Labyrinth is an example of animation at its’ best; there are others at its' level yes but I don't believe any have yet surpassed that as far as I myself have seen. An epic but very relatable story, centered on a murdered girl who for lack of justice alas can find no peace in her supposed ‘heaven’ thus making her need for closure only worse; production values that top what came before thanks in no small part to Mr. Brandt, a crusader whose passion has created a work of the sublime out of otherwise senseless tragedy; this series has it all and I recommend it for our ‘Release of the Year’ title which we’ll of course pick a month from now counting many other candidates.” Candidates she expected to fail miserably, of course; Labyrinth looked set to have the award locked given the short lead time for anything to counter it.

“Now we come to the moment of truth, fellow connoisseurs of the visual delights. And I say…” Dee Patton always had these moments, where she pronounced judgment on the media of the hour she was covering. “…it rules!”

Her standard form of praise thus given, and this was generally a positive-criticism show moreover, the closing sequence ran and Dee soon picked herself up to go out to the balcony for a smoke. Enjoyable, but also just another week’s review down; fortunately the reruns of last week’s installments on following nights kept her workload sane compared to others in the business; all in all a good night for a great program to receive its’ due.

Bumped for Greston's sake. :p

Tag for post later on

Tag for post later on

OOC: You can just post a review like you did with your own anime, Ryou. :p

This thread is still open to reviews.

We are still able to export this series to other nations....please post here if you want Labyrinth in your nation! :D

To: Martain Brandit
From: TV Monde SLA

The TV Monde corporation is interested in broadcasting Labryinth: Zaneta's Saga on TV7, the foreign channel. We will require that it have French subtitles, and it will air at 5pm, monday, tuesday, thursday and friday.

To: Martain Brandit
From: TV Monde SLA

The TV Monde corporation is interested in broadcasting Labryinth: Zaneta's Saga on TV7, the foreign channel. We will require that it have French subtitles, and it will air at 5pm, monday, tuesday, thursday and friday.

From: Martin Brandt
To: TV Monde SLA

I am pleased to hear that Labyrinth will be aired in Yanitaria; I am sure that there will be no problems with subtitling the series in the French language at all. I hope that my series does well in Yanitaria.

Bumped for (hopefully) more interest. :tongue:

This thread is still open for more posts.

Official Statement

Not in so many decades have I seen such a wonderful movie, especially in animation. Quite seriously the People of Anagonia, or at least the community who finds interest in these sorts of things, has began setting up Conventions presenting your series. Tourism has increased across the region, and the money is flowing equally to all nations within the United Republic. Honestly I couldn't ask for a more wonderful miracle than to see children and grown-up's a-like enjoying their lives and...well...spending their money to help the economy!

However I don't know why children find this so interesting, as it seems more adult-oriented. But the Government doesn't interfere in the lives of Parents when they consent to such things. However the case, your valuable piece of family-friendly, somewhat disturbing, yet imagination-enticing material has increased the popularity of our own Anime's. That's saying something, as last time we shown one of ours we had riots!

Yours truly,
Senator Jack Pattons

Senator Pattons,

I am very glad to hear that Labyrinth has done well in the nation of Anagonia as it has done in plenty of other nations around the world. Since its creation, Labyrinth has become one of Ixania's animated classics with many AMVs appearing all over the internet along with all the usual things you would find surrouding such well loved works. My intention was to create an animated series that could appeal to all viewers regardless of tastes and to show how family ties can be strengthened despite the advent of personal tragedies. Zaneta may not be a real person but there are many girls who have ended up like her if you get my drift. I hoped that people would be able to get a connection to the story and understand that Labyrinth was rooted in what many families have faced over the years.

I remain grateful for your kind words.

Sincerely,
Martin Brandt

The LHC Ministry of Culture has decide it will air Neo-Ixania's Martin Brandt's Anime Labyrinth (labryinth) as it is based on real life experiences rather then fictional worlds.

The shows episodes and movie will be shown in theaters all across La Habana Cuba. The Books will be sold in the governemnt book stores. Charge will be in Convertible CUC Pesos $ as we must share the profits $ with the appropriate entities in the nation of Neo-Ixania.

Citizens can now purchase $ hard currency Convertible CUC Pesos mostly sent by thier Miami Shorerian family members and those still floating around with CUP Pesos even though its a bit expensive $ to do so the cost $ is worth the price $.

Our popular government run Poll will interview, record and report the people's reactions and reviews in the days to come. As well as the Gross Profits $ of attendance.

The Ministry of Culture has reviewed the context as is their social duty and found it ravingly refreshing.

LHC Minister of Culture Abel E Jimenez.
LHC State Council of Ministers Collective.
La Habana Cuba Socialist Republic.

The LHC Ministry of Culture has decide it will air Neo-Ixania's Martin Brandt's Anime Labyrinth (labryinth) as it is based on real life experiences rather then fictional worlds.

The shows episodes and movie will be shown in theaters all across La Habana Cuba. The Books will be sold in the governemnt book stores. Charge will be in Convertible CUC Pesos $ as we must share the profits $ with the appropriate entities in the nation of Neo-Ixania.

Citizens can now purchase $ hard currency Convertible CUC Pesos mostly sent by thier Miami Shorerian family members and those still floating around with CUP Pesos even though its a bit expensive $ to do so the cost $ is worth the price $.

Our popular government run Poll will interview, record and report the people's reactions and reviews in the days to come. As well as the Gross Profits $ of attendance.

The Ministry of Culture has reviewed the context as is their social duty and found it ravingly refreshing.

LHC Minister of Culture Abel E Jimenez.
LHC State Council of Ministers Collective.
La Habana Cuba Socialist Republic.

OOC: People can still have this series aired in their nations. Just post here like LHC did.

To: Martin Brandt
From: Jason Fenris, Alluti Entertainment

Mr. Brandt,
Alluti Entertainment would like to express it's interest in acquiring the rights broadcast Labyrinth in Angenteria. In the recent years, Angenteria has found itself experiencing a growth of anime fans. We wish to add to that appetite with the broadcasting of this anime on Angenterian television, and the release of Labyrinth's graphic novels in Angenterian bookstores.

Sincerely yours,
Jason Fenris
CEO
Alluti Entertainment Inc.