INTRODUCTION (I don't wanna read this.)
a) available for online purchase (yes, outside Japan)
b) through an NSFW (not safe for work, i.e., hentai) link.
The site stocking the .pdf - remember: not safe for work - is dlsite.com. They accept orders from all over the world; their portal is in English (and a few other European languages), so you will not have to wrestle with Japanese. Payment via credit card is, from my experience, safe - I bought my .pdf quite a while ago, and I haven't had any unauthorized purchases on my account - and your funds do (minus a fee for the site, I imagine) go directly to the doujinshi artists. You just have to keep in mind that about 95% of DLSite's stock is hentai and that you are going to be greeted with some majorly eyebrow-raising pictures when you enter the storefront.
(As for why Funato's dealing with a hentai site at all, I imagine it's the technology; I can't think of any other businesses that allow customers to purchase doujinshi electronically.)
Once you click through to the storefront, just put "LUNAR" into the searchbox. You're looking for the "LUNAR Oshigoto Sairoku shu (LUNAR - Past Works Collection)"; at this writing, it costs the equivalent of 945 yen in your native currency at the going exchange rate. You'll have to register to make your purchase; if you get signed up for DLSite's mailing list, just unsubscribe.
Funato claims that the two .pdfs between them contain the entirety of her (non-commercially-available) work for Lunar, though that's not entirely accurate; there're at least two web illustrations and a couple calendar illustrations I can recall that aren't included. As you may have gathered, though, both contain a wealth of Lunar-related material, as well as an interesting outsider's perspective into the production process.
Translation by R. Capowski; please e-mail with any questions or comments.
(This mimics the color-coded table of contents provided in the sidebar of the .pdf for easy correlation. Page numbers refer to those in the .pdf.)
| Lunatic Parade | ||
| .....Story #1 | 3 | |
| .....Story #2 | 6 | |
| .....Story #3 | 9 | |
| .....Story #4 | 12 | |
| .....Story #5 | 15 | |
| .....Story #6 | 18 | |
| .....Story #7 | 21 | |
| Lunar: Strolling School illustrations | 24 | |
| Lunatic Carnival | ||
| .....Story #1 | 34 | |
| .....Story #2 | 36 | |
| .....Story #3 | 38 | |
| Magical School LUNAR! illustrations | 40 | |
| Extras | ||
| .....Lunar 1 layouts | 44 | |
| .....Lunar 2 layouts | 50 | |
| .....Thoughts on the animation | 63 | |
LUNAR LUNATIC COLLECTION
54 Pages of Manga
15 Illustrations
"Lunatic Parade" - 7 stories
published in Megadrive Fan, 1994
"Lunar Strolling School"
Game Gear, 1995
"Lunatic Carnival" - 3 stories
published in Sega Saturn Fan, 1996
"Magical School LUNAR!"
Sega Saturn, 1997
[Note: though Lunatic Parade can be divided into seven stories, they are all connected chronologically. As will be apparent, the strips are meant as a light introduction to the Lunar 2 cast than a depiction of canon.]
STORY #1
We see Lucia hitching a ride on a wagon filled with straw.
LUCIA (thinking): My name is Lucia.
Lucia wanders in a market; Hiero and Ruby are buying an apple from a merchant.
LUCIA (thinking): Today, I'm on a sightseeing tour that has taken me all the way to the far-off countryside.
Soon, however, I lose my way in an unfamiliar town.
At times like this -
LUCIA (pointing finger): It's imperative to ask the natives for information!
Lucia points at Hiero.
LUCIA: You there! Show me around!
SFX: HERE'S A SUCKER!!
RUBY: (The "natives"? *gag*)
HIERO (sweatdropping): I...I can *hear* you loud and clear; you don't *have* to...
Then Hiero gets a glimpse of Lucia...
HIERO: *gasp--*
...and, dazzled by her beauty -
HIERO: W-where shall we go first?
RUBY (steaming, kicking Hiero's head): GRRRRR...
LUCIA: (Lucky me! ::heart::)
Hiero, all smiley, turns to Ruby.
HIERO (smiling): Hey, hey, Ruby, you look a little bent out of shape, huh?
(Something wrong?)
RUBY: (You THINK~?)
LUCIA: Oh, my! What do we have here - a little flying pink piggy?
RUBY: GRRAAAAAAGGHHH---
HIERO [laughing]: No, no! It's a cat - she's a cat!
Ruby latches on the back of Hiero's head, clawing his forehead.
Ruby: NOOOOOOOOOO!! I HAAAAATE THIS GIRLLLL--!!!
Hiero: Eeyowowowwwww!!
Ruby: C'MON, WHAT'RE YOU MAKING ALL GOOGLY EYES AT HER FOR!! AAAAAAAA--WE'RE TOO BUSY ALREADYYYY--!! ME BEING A CHILD OF THE RED DRAGON AND ALL AND...COME OOOOOONNNNN~~!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! WE'RE TOO BUSY ANYWAY--!!
The next panel...
HIERO (brightly, to Lucia): How about something to eat? You're hungry, aren't you?
- we see Hiero and Lucia walking away together. Ruby sulks in the corner of the panel.
SFX: ::being left out in the cold::
The group comes to a - CAPTION: Restaurant
HIERO: I'll have the nattou special!
(Nattou, as you probably know, is a type of sticky, pungent Japanese soybean dish commonly considered icky.)
RUBY: *I'll* have the *fish*--! (*heart*)
HIERO: How about you, Lucia?
LUCIA: ? ...me?
The special deluxe full-course steak dinner.
(Hiero and Ruby are agog.)
HIERO (sweatdropping): W, wow... You, you've sure got money, huh, Lucia...
LUCIA (oblivious, eating): Money?
Whassat?
(A pregnant pause.)
SFX: QUICK LIKE BUNNIES!
HIERO (dragging Lucia by arm): RUN FOR IT, RUBY!!
RUBY (fish in mouth): OH-KAY! ::heart::
PROPRIETRESS (from far away): Eeek--! Dine-and-dashers!
(After the escape, in an alley...)
LUCIA: Are you all right?
HIERO: Yeah. Thanks.
*whew*
(Both of them sip the drinks in their hands, before it hits Hiero...)
HIERO (thinking, grimacing): THIEVES.
(As the day goes on...Lucia tries to enter the men's bathroom.)
HIERO: Lucia!! You can't go in there!--
LUCIA: ?
(Lucia pops up happily, a gem in hand. A jewelry store is in the background.)
HIERO (freaked): Where'd'ya get that!?
(Lucia points out a pot in a pottery store. Another specimen on the floor breaks. (It looks like *Hiero* did it, though...))
HIERO: Aaaaaahh~~
(The trio walks back. Hiero and Ruby are exhausted.)
HIERO: Hey.
Once we get the money together, let's go back and do right by everyone, OK...
Arghhh...
LUCIA: ?
?
Don't be so down!
HIERO (crying): AND WHOSE FAULT IS THAT!!
(Lucia spots a dandelion by the side of the road.)
LUCIA (pointing): What's this?
HIERO (weary, but enchanted): *Ahhhh...*
That's a dandelion! Never seen one?
(Hiero picks it and offers it to Lucia.)
HIERO: Yeah... They don't grow around where you were born, huh?
LUCIA (smiling): ...thank you...uh--...um...
HIERO (smiling): It's Hiero! My name is Hiero! And this's Ruby!
RUBY (to Hiero, under her breath): (Grrr...)
Hie~~roooo~~!! Send Lucia back to an in~~n!!
Let's hurry home--!!
LUCIA (who's heard): What's an inn?
(Hiero and Ruby blanch. Back at Hiero's house...Lucia sleeps soundly under the covers, while Hiero, without any blankets...)
LUCIA: Zzzzz...
HIERO: *chatterchatterchatterchatterchatterchatter*
STORY #2
(The next morning...)
RUBY (stretching in the morning light, thinking): What a wonderful morning!!
SFX: *lazing, rolling*
(Ruby rolls over...)
RUBY (thinking): ...and to wake up with my darling Hiero, even better...
(to paw a sweatdropping Lucia's cheek.)
RUBY (thinking): it just makes li'l ol' me *so*--
RUBY: *SHOCK*
EYAAAAAAAAHH--!
(Ruby flies furiously over the head of househusband Hiero, frying egg over a hibachi with an apron on.)
RUBY: IhateitIhateitIHATEIT! WHY does LUCIA have to stay here!?
Sleeping in your bed, eating your food, getting babied by you - I HAAAATE Lucia!!
SFX FOR RUBY FLYING IN CIRCLES: ::whirlwhirl::
HIERO (exasperated): (Yeah, yeah...)
But, c'mon, Ruby - Lucia doesn't know anything about this town! It'd be horrible for her if we left her all alone, wouldn't it...
(Lucia peeks around the corner.)
HIERO (scrambling): Hey, hey - LUCIA! Good morning! ::heart::
SFX: ::lovesick::
RUBY (jumpkicking Hiero): I HATE IT--!
(Later, in town...Ruby is still bent out of shape.)
SFX FOR RUBY: ::pout::
HIERO: Hey, now. Cheer up, Ruby -
that caravan you like is coming by!
(At the caravan...)
LUCIA (looking): ?
(The group tours the caravan. Suddenly...)
VOICE FROM ALLEY: DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT WERE WE DROPPING BY THIS TOWN TO RELAX?
HIERO: (Huh?)
(Hiero, Ruby, and Lucia peek behind a wagon to discover Jean with a nebbish-looking fellow presumedly from the carnival (not Giban).)
JEAN: Or did you just mean that I wasn't getting a break!?
PRESUMED MANAGER: There are people here who've been looking forward to seeing you dance, Jean!...
I'm begging you, Jean! Just once, even!
(Ruby flies over, thrilled.)
RUBY: Hey, lady, are you a dancing girl--!?
JEAN (startled): Wh, who're you guys?
RUBY: Dancing girls are my FAVORITE!!
C'mon~~! Dance for me! Dance for me!
LUCIA (thinking): I wonder what a "dancing girl" could be...
MANAGER DWEEB: See? C'mon, Jean...
JEAN: NO WAY!
I SAID I HATE DANCING!!
(Ruby is devastated.)
SFX FOR RUBY: *Ohhhh...*
LUCIA: Say~y...
What's a "dancing girl"?
HIERO: Someone who dances!
LUCIA: Why does the person who dances dance?
RUBY (back turned, dejected, not needing this today): (Ahh~~hh...)
HIERO (sweatdropping): Because they like it, I guess, don't you think?
LUCIA: You don't like to dance, Jean?
JEAN: No. So?
LUCIA: If you don't like dancing, then why do you dance?
(Jean's stunned by this big revelation. Apparently, the talk about "varied interests" will come later.)
LUCIA: You say you hate this "dancing", and yet you dance?
If you hate it, then why don't you quit?
JEAN: UM-
AH-
WH, What do you mean, "why don't I quit"?
How can you say...
...Well, it's not that I hate it...
RUBY (elated): WILL YOU DANCE FOR US!?
JEAN (grinning): Well, damn!!
All right! But in return, you hafta come see me, OK!
(That night, everyone does and is enthralled. During the performance, Ruby looks at Lucia...)
RUBY (thinking): Even if it's just a little bit,
I get the feeling that I've gotten to like Lucia.
(A pause...)
RUBY: Who am I kidding - I HATE HEEERRR!!
HIERO (in background, to Lucia): ::lovesick::
LUCIA (smiling): ?
STORY #3
(We open on...)
RONG-FA (thinking): FINALLY, I'VE ARRIVED!
So it's come down to *this* hicksville...even we wandering gamblers fall to earth, I see...
(*heh*)
SFX: BAM
(Suddenly, Mr. Smug is knocked flat by Hiero's fishing rod.)
HIERO: Oh-! Sorry!
RONG-FA: LITTLE PUNK--!
HIERO: Whoa~! I said I was sorry!
(Rong-fa suddenly gets a glint in his eye, and his dice come quickly to hand...)
RONG-FA: Keep me company for a while, and I'll forgive you.
HIERO (sweatdropping): ...HUH?
RONG-FA (aghast): GAAAHH--
If you're asking which way I swing, I like girls!...
Who's spreading these @%$#!*@ stories--
(Rong-fa shows Hiero his dice.)
RONG-FA: THIS!! I'm talking about this!
This is perfect! I've been looking for an opponent.
All righty! You'll put up that fishing pole!
If I win, it'll be mine!
HIERO (getting anxious about gathering crowd): HUHHH--!?
SFX from crowd: *stare stare*
HIERO (thinking): This's no good! I'm taking Lucia fishing today...
(Listen to me, will ya?)
RONG-FA: ALL RIIIIGHT!!
LET'S GO, BOY!!
GAH HAH HAH HAH HAH--
(Rong-fa rolls the dice...)
NOTE NEAR DICE: SO...
(...and, before long, he's collected not only Hiero's fishing pole but his cape, his pouch, his wicker tackle box, and his boomerang.)
RONG-FA: Sorry there, boy! Looks like I've taken a lot on you here...
HIERO (thinking): RATS!!
(Hiero gets up and flips Ronfar a quick good-bye.)
HIERO (thinking): At this rate, I'll lose the clothes off my back.
HIERO: Well, I've got things to do...
SFX: *grab*
(Rong-fa yanks Hiero back by the collar.)
RONG-FA: WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EVEN WON ONE ROUND WITH ME YET!?
AREN'T YOU ASHAMED TO BE LOSING? AREN'T YOU A MAN!?
(Hiero runs away, sweatdropping and with his hands over his ears, but Ronfar gives chase.)
RONG-FA: Is it acceptable for a man to run away before a victory?
A man who runs away is nothing but a loser!
Loser!
LOSER!
LOSER!!
FROM THIS DAY FORTH, YOUR NAME SHALL BE
"LOOOOOOO--SERRRRR"!!
RONG-FA'S SIGN: LOSER
HIERO (exhausted): *SIGH*
All right; I'll do it. Will that make things better?
(A rematch?)
RONG-FA: Yeaaahhh, yeah, yeah! I like a man who can see reason!
HIERO (aghast): "YOU LIKE A MAN"!?
SFX OF HIERO SHYING AWAY: whoosh!
RONG-FA (thinking, sweatdropping): Somebody stop this guy.
(Meanwhile, Lucia and Ruby arrive...)
LUCIA: HIERO--!
RUBY: WHERE ARE YOU--?
HIERO: AH!
Ruby! Lucia!!
SFX OF RONG-FA'S DICE: rattle rattle
Ruby (miffed): We waited and waited for you, but you never showed up!
What're you doing!?
SFX: ::nag nag::
HIERO (sweatdropping): Oh, just a little gambling...
LUCIA: What's that?
HIERO: You bet on whether the total shown on the dice
will be odd or even.
RUBY: THAT LOOKS FUN!! I WANNA TRY!
(ME, ME! MEEEE!)
NOTE NEAR DICE: AND SO...
RUBY: *ohhhhh*-wah - how embarrassing--!! Why can't I win?
HIERO: (He's tough, huh?)
RONG-FA (to Lucia): Wanna give it a try, young lady?
LUCIA (smiling): ...Odd.
(Rong-fa rolls. Lucia wins.)
CROWD: OoooOohhh...
RONG-FA (thinking): It's luck, pure luck.
LUCIA (smiling): Even!
(Before long, Lucia's won back, as the captions detail, Ruby's purse, Hiero's cape, his boomerang, and the fishing pole, pouch, and tackle basket.)
CROWD: OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH--!
RONG-FA (shocked upon rolling the dice again): You...you win...
HIERO: AWESOME, LUCIA!!
LUCIA: .........Why?
(Lucia points to the dice.)
LUCIA: Each die shows only one number!
(This green one is 2.
This is 4.
And the marked one is 5!)
(Hiero and Ruby, for some reason, are less than elated by Lucia's discovery.)
LUCIA (noticing a seething Ruby): Huh? Isn't figuring that out the object of the game?
(A horrified Ronfar turns to walk away, but is stopped by Hiero's hand on his shoulder.)
SFX OF HIERO"S HAND: *CLAMP*
RONG-FA (to Hiero & Ruby): *eheh*
(A cartoon star of pain later, at Hiero's house...)
RUBY: Hey, hey! You're not putting your back into it!
(Rong-fa is mopping the floor. Ruby is kicking the back of his head.)
RUBY: And when that's done, you can clean the bathroom--!
RONG-FA: uuuhhhuhhhhh~~...
RONG-FA (thinking): And look at me now!~~
SFX: *sweep sweep*
STORY #4
(At Hiero's house...)
SFX: DING-DONG DING-DONG DING-DONG
LUCIA: HIERO--!
WE HAVE A VISITOR--!
SFX: DING-DONG DING-DONG DING-DONG
HIERO: Ye--es, coming, coming!
(Hiero opens the door...)
SFX OF DOOR LATCH: ::clack::
HIERO: Who might be cal--
SFX OF FOOT IN THE DOOR: BOOM
SFX OF VISITOR SHOVING OPEN DOOR: cree-cree-cree-creeeeEEEEAAAK
(...to have the visitor shove a very eager foot in the foyer and pry open the door. A spooked Hiero looks up to find...a very spooky Remiena Ausa staring back at him.)
REMIENA (seizing Hiero's wrist to stop him from running away, eyes gleaming): I'M NO WEIRDO!!
HIERO: LIKE HECK YOU AREN'T!!
(After relations are normalized...)
REMIENA: Forgive the intrusion, but...CONGRATULATIONS!!
(Beaming, she pulls out a little confetti-noisemaker for her celebration.)
REMIENA: Out of 98,600,000,000 people across the country, YOU have been chosen!!
HIERO (sweatdropping): (Ninety-eight *billion* six hundred million?)
(Remiena merrily shoves a document in Hiero's hands.)
REMIENA (pointing): Now! Just sign right there, if you please--!
HIERO (reading): "Magic Guild Registration Form"?
Um, OK, I'm not real good with magic...
REMIENA: (HUH--?)
NOT EVEN FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS MAGIC GUILD OF VHEEN?
ACT NOW, AND YOU'LL BE MEMBER #1!
(HOW COOL--!)
HIERO (sweatdropping): YOU MEAN TO SAY THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE GUILD, DON'T YOU!?!
(Hiero gives a sigh and shrugs.)
HIERO: Magic per se just isn't my specialty, and...
SFX FOR AN OBLIVIOUS, GRINNING REMIENA: ::twitch twitch::
(Remiena, an idea in her head, again turns to Hiero.)
REMIENA (hand to her mouth, as if telling a secret): Well, that makes you my customer!
(Hee hee!)
There *is* another way, you know!
HIERO (sweatdropping): HUH?
REMIENA (as a tea-service girl in a traditional Japanese setting): We *do* have different levels of service, you know...
(Tee hee hee!)
HIERO (sweatdropping): HUH?
"POEM" ON SLIDING PAINTING IN BACKGROUND: whateeeever
REMIENA (the galaxy as her backdrop): Namely, our worry-free! (for those who prepay)
SFX: ::dramatic drums:: BOM-BOM BOM-BOM BOM-BOM
REMIENA: jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring BACKDOOR ADMISSIONS!! For in this world, everything revolves around...
(A dramatic tableau with Remiena striking a pose on a cliff overlooking the ocean against a hi-no-maru backdrop.)
REMIENA: CASH!!
SFX: ::fanfare::
NOTE BY REMIENA: FOR SURE!
HIERO: (But...butbut?)
REMIENA (gleeful): *Aaaaand* you'd even be receiving professional guidance in your magical education! Neat, huh? Huh?
HIERO: Nooo.
REMIENA (pleading): But you'd just love the opportunity to learn magic -
CUSTOMERRRR!
(Hiero grimaces. Suddenly, Lucia steps in.)
LUCIA (smiling): What's all this? What's going on?
HIERO: Ahhh, Lucia! Um, well...
LUCIA (smiling): If you're interested in magic, then maybe I might be able to teach you a little?!
(I can do a little bit!)
(Hiero is happy, but Remiena...)
SFX: HUH!?
REMIENA: WHAT DID YOU SAY!?
ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE MORE TALENT THAN THE MAGIC GUILD?
LUCIA (sweatdropping): (I-I'm not saying any such thing...)
REMIENA: OOH, WHAT NERVE--!!
STEP OUTSIDE!! WE'RE GONNA SETTLE THIS-!
(Outside, Remiena stands next to a wooden post.)
REMIENA: OK? This's the target.
We'll see whose power is superior!
Now, I'll start!
(Remiena concentrates...)
REMIENA: Grrr...
(and unleashes a huge fireball.)
REMIENA: WAH!
SFX OF BURNING ::FOOM::
HIERO & RUBY (clapping): WHOOOAAAA--!
REMIENA (smiling smugly): Eh, that was nothing!
LUCIA: Am I next?
(Lucia proceeds to produce a small propane plant explosion.)
SFX: BA-BOOM!
(Remiena is temporarily speechless. She starts to skulk away...)
REMIENA: (I...
I lost...
*Me*...)
HIERO (sweatdropping): Ah--... Remiena...
(Where're you goin'?)
(...but then stops suddenly and turns around...)
REMIENA: HEL-LO!!
(The next we see, a newly exuberant Remiena is chasing after a distressed Lucia.)
REMIENA: Hey - hey - Lucia! Your magic power! We could put it to use in the guild, huh?
SFX: ::wah-wah-waaah::
(Hiero and Ruby shrug their shoulders. Whatcha gonna do? I still have to hand the contest to Remiena, though, as her spells are actually useful beyond the first dungeon.)
STORY #5
(First, a note from our sponsors...)
HIERO (sweatdropping, pointing to face): In story #4, my tattoos were left out in nine separate places. Find them and draw in them for me, will you?
(Here, right here!)
RUBY (looking): My mouth was missing in two spots!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry! [sweatdrop] I'm so embarrassed--
NOTE: And please buy the "LUNAR: The Prelude" CD, released on 6/25 for 2500 yen from Toshiba EMI!
(Now, to the story, which begins with - a close-up of Leo's nose.)
SFX OF LEO'S NOSE: *sniff sniff*
LEO (thinking): I SMELL IT--!! THAT'S THE SCENT -
(...and we open once again on Hiero's house.)
LEO (thinking): THAT'S HIS SCENT!
(Leo approaches, and we see a shot of feet...)
LEO (thinking): It reeks of him!!
(...and a familiar shirt...)
LEO (thinking): ?!
(...and a familiar face, at the moment not very amused.)
SFX: ::beep::
(We see that Leo's tracking has brought him a little too close to his apparent quarry; he and a sweatdropping Hiero are now nose to nose, a little heart between them. Both suddenly realize the truth of their positions...)
LEO (backed away, pointing): WHAT'RE YOU TRYING TO PULL--!!
HIERO (hand fisted, shaking): I COULD ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION!
(Leo looks away and steels himself a bit, as if to break bad news.)
LEO: (*sigh* What a predicament...)
There's no sense losing your heart to me, boy!...
HIERO (smiling): WHAT A COMEDIAN!
[taking up his sword] Here, I have a niiiiiice straight line for you!
LEO (shaking): (haaaaaa)
HOLD ON! HOLD ON! HEAR ME OUT!
SFX: ::quiver quiver::
(The next panel, Leo is holding his newly-bleeding nose.)
HIERO (hands on hips, miffed): What're you trying to pull, just barging into people's homes!!
NOTE NEAR LEO'S NOSE: the punch line
LEO: Uh... ugh... Good job listening to me...
SFX: ::gasping for breath::
(Leo strikes a proud pose, backlit by a bright blue sky.)
LEO: I! am!
(Leo falls over.)
SFX: ::crash::
HIERO (eyes crossed, sighing): Whatever. What do you want, already?
LEO (extremely agitated): *Grrrr...*
(With *all* my accomplishments...)
LEO (thinking): My publicity man - I'll have his HEAD!!
(Straightening up...)
LEO: Actually, I'm looking for a man named Rong-fa!
PICTURE OF RONG-FA, WHO'S POINTING TO HIMSELF: Yeah, me!
(Hiero's face shows a spark of recognition.)
HIERO: Ohhh, that guy!
He was here, but he left the day before yesterday!
SFX OF LEO, GAPING IN SHOCK: GAH--
(Leo straightens himself up *again*, then begins giving Hiero an oddly accusatory look...)
LEO: Hmmmm... This is a change of subject... But!!
You _cretin_!!
HIERO (shocked): HUH?!
LEO (pointing figure): I can't say I'm impressed by you lollygagging around the house all day!!
SFX NEAR A NOW-AFFRONTED HIERO: LEAVE ME ALONE!
NOTE ON BROWN PART OF LEO'S HAND: fur
LEO: So young! What is wrong with you...
TRYING TO STRIKE ME, A MEMBER OF ALTHENA'S GUARD--
NO!! GO AHEAD!! GO AHEAD AND STRIKE ME!!
YOU FINALLY HAVE YOUR INVITATION!!
(Hiero is a bit sweatdroppy about all this. We cut away to Lucia (with a very cute Ruby on her head), who has ducked out from inside the house.)
HIERO: --EEEEEEEEK!!
LEO: Get in therrreee! I'll get you ALL the way in--!!
LUCIA (smiling): ...What are you doing?
SFX OF LUCIA APPEARING: ::pop::
(We see that Leo has jumped on Hiero's back and has swallowed the back of his head, as this translation commentary goes straight to the gutter.)
HIERO (weakly): A-aaaa... Lucia...
LUCIA: Oh, my! Who is this fellow...
(Leo suddenly catches a glimpse of Lucia and becomes acanonically lovestruck.)
LEO: HUH--!?
(Lucia approaches Leo and takes his hand...)
LUCIA: PAW!
SFX: ::PLOP::
(Leo gives it, involuntarily.)
LUCIA: SIT!
SFX: ::PLOP::
(Leo does so, involuntarily. Lucia throws a bone...)
SFX: ::whoosh::
(...and Leo fetches it, woofing all the way. Lucia is enchanted. Now, a question for you - Leo's supremely out-of-character behavior aside, given how beastmen are a normal part of Lunar's demographic makeup, would this not be considered racist?)
LUCIA (ecstatic): I know, Hiero, I know!! This is what you call a dog, right?!
LEO: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME, WOMAN!?!?
HIERO (as an aside to Lucia): Well, when it comes right down to it...
(That cuts a bit close to real-world race humor for me.)
LEO: GRRRRRRRRR---
I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH BOTH OF YOU--
(Leo reaches for his sword, but -)
SFX: ::whoosh--bop::
(- is immediately hit on the head with a "magical paper fan" by a newly-arrived Mauli.)
MAULI (hands on hips): (Ohhh--h!)
Big brother!!
What are you doing, away from your job?!
LEO: M-Mauli...! N-no, I--
MAULI: Quiet!
(Mauli grabs Leo by the collar.)
SFX: ::grab::
MAULI: You bring shame upon me, brother, when you act so cravenly!
NOW! BACK TO WORK!
(With that, Mauli drags Leo away.)
MAULI: Well, then, nice meeting you all!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
SFX: ::drag drag drag::
LEO (crying): ah--
(Hiero blankly waves good-bye. A moment, and then...)
LUCIA (grinning): ...What just happened?
HIERO: ?
...well...
STORY #6
(Lucia, paper bag in hand, is exiting a grocery store, when her attention is drawn by something...)
VOICE: HEY - HEY, GIRL!
(We see a sunglasses-clad Nall, flanked by two other punks, emerging from a nearby alley.)
SFX: WHAM
NALL: Gimme your ear for a minute! [In Japanese: tsura (which is actually a word for "face"; a different body part is used in their particular idiom).]
(Lucia attempts to comply, and reaches into her grocery bag to produce -)
NALL (sweatdropping): That's a can of tuna [tsuna].
LUCIA (sorry): OK.
(Lucia tries again.)
NALL (sweatdropping even more): That's a basket [tsutsura].
(A third time.)
NALL (had it): That's a TIGER! [tora]
(Nall, fed up, whaps Lucia on the head with a paper fan.)
NALL: Ehhh, KNOCK IT OFF!!
SFX OF FAN: ::swish::
::BOP::
(Suddenly, an unimpressed Hiero appears from behind Nall and cracks an ostrich-sized egg on his head.)
SFX: ::BOOONNNGGG::
NALL (scraping shell off head): OWWWW--WW!!
GOON OF NALL (in background, worried): gaah--...
HIERO: So, you're the type that hits girls, huh!?
(waving finger) *tsk tsk tsk!*
...this is what you do!
[crying up a storm] How stupendous, Lucia!! You've finally mastered the art of human comedy!
Haven't you made such FANTASTIC progressss!!
NOTE: star of Naniwa
["Naniwa" is an archaic name for Osaka; the term seems simply to refer to their rising luminaries (particularly in sports). Based on a line to come in this strip, though, I believe that this is an in-joke probably referring to one of the seiyuu, probably Hikaru Midorikawa, but I can't find any ties to Osaka for any of the seiyuu for the characters here. Maybe someone's just a Tigers fan?]
LUCIA: (He's praising me!)
RUBY: (...Not really.)
HIERO: YOU TRY!!
NALL: BLECCCCCHHH!!
LUCIA (aside, to Ruby): (Hiero's quite energetic today!)
RUBY: (It's probably just stress.)
HIERO: *whew*
[thinking back on Leo, Remiena, Rong-fa] Mmmm....
I sure have been running into nothing but weirdos lately...
And you're unmistakably one of 'em!
SFX: ::grrr...::
HIERO: Lemme stick a Weirdo Decal on you! I made 'em myself, so in the future, they'll command a premium!
SFX ON HIERO: ::busy busy::
SFX: ::sticksticksticksticksstickstick::
NALL: GET 'EM OFF!!
(DON'T TOUCH ME, JERK!)
HIERO (offering pen): Here, lemme autograph 'em for...
SFX NEAR NALL: *ARGH*
NALL: FORGET IT!!
AUTHOR'S NOTE NEAR GREEN BACKGROUND: Green River Light
(This is a pun on the name of Hiero's Japanese voice actor, Hikaru Midorikawa; when arranged in the traditional Japanese family-name-first format, it can be translated as "green river light".)
BACK-UP GOON: Boss, we're forgetting why we're here...
NALL (on edge): Y-YEAH!
ALL RIGHT--
(Nall recovers himself and crosses his arms, gleefully staring down the trio.)
NALL: I'm Nall, boss of a powerful gang around these parts!
POWERFUL GANG: SO HAND OVER YOUR MONEY!
HIERO (exasperated): P...Pardon my ignorance, but -
if you're the boss, then why are you doing the shakedowns yourself?
(How pathetic!)
NALL: SHADDUP!
LUCIA (to Hiero): What's a "shakedown"?
HIERO: It's when someone who's poor tries to take your money by force!
(Lucia is moved by this and, as the background states, gives Nall a "look of pity".)
LUCIA (thinking): "Poor"......
NALL: *gulp*
LUCIA: I see!
That must be just horriblllle for you!
LUCIA: I'll give you my change purse.
NALL (stunned): HUH?! (*heart*)
(Once Nall opens it, though, he is stunned to find that it is -)
SFX: ::EMPTY::
NALL: GIIIIRL!!
GANG MEMBERS (holding Nall back): B-boss!
LUCIA (smiling): Now you can save up *lots* of money!
NOTE NEAR LUCIA: seriously confused on how it's used
RUBY (sticking out tongue): Think you're gonna get money from people that easy, huh?
NALL: !
(Nall, just noticing Ruby, is shocked and uneasy.)
SFX: ::STARE::
RUBY (unnerved): W-whaaat?
NALL: DOGFACE.
(Ruby darkens in seething rage.)
SFX NEAR RUBY: ...*SNAP*...
(We pan away as...)
SFX: ::SCRATCHSCRATCHSCRATCH::
NALL: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
NARRATION: And if you want to know what happened later...
(A NEWLY-BANDAGED) NALL: Hey! Hey! Girl!
(Nall's new mark turns around...)
REMIENA (smiling): ::wibble::
NALL & GANG (running away): GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH
REMIENA (running after them):
How about it? Act now, and you'll be Member No. 1!
NARRATION: Forcibly rehabilitated by one little girl...
(We open on Rong-fa running toward Hiero's house.)
RONG-FA: IT'S AWFUL! IT'S HOOOOORRIBLLLLLE!
(Rong-fa busts in and fips over Hiero's bed with a once-sleeping Hiero still in it.)
RONG-FA: HYAH!
SFX OF FLIPPING BED: BAM
SFX OF HIERO TUMBLING TO GROUND: WHAM
HIERO: blahglaglah
(Hiero, half-awake and holding his head, gets up.)
HIERO: Wha, what the heck - Rong-fa?
RONG-FA (catching his breath): HE--EY! HEY!
RUBY, JEAN, LEO, NALL, REMIENA: WHAAAAAT--!?!?
LUCIA (finger in mouth): ?
HIERO (pulling hair out): GAAAH!
(The next we see, Hiero is face-down in a bit of blood with a big bandage on his head.)
HIERO (weakly): ~~...sorry for mouthing off...~~
RUBY (panicked, flapping her wings *and* arms): Doooo something, Hiero~!
HIERO: WHY ME!?
RUBY: YOU'RE THE HERO, AREN'T YOU~~!?
SFX OF LIGHT GOING ON IN HIERO'S HEAD: DING
HIERO (hand on chin, smugly grinning): Now that you mention it, I am the hero, aren't I?
RUBY (sweatdropping): ("Now that I mention it?"...)
HIERO: And that means...
(Hiero launchs off into the sky, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-style. The other characters pump their fists in solidarity, cheering him from below.)
SFX: ::CLANG::
REMIENA (finger to lips): (Here, kitty, kitty!)
(She grins and casts an impressive spell, juggling magic texts all about her.)
REMIENA: Since this's the last issue, you gotta register for my Magic Guild - right here! right now! GO!
(Leo poses confidently against the Blue Star.)
LEO: While you're at it, you should sign up for Althena's Guard!
(Rong-fa smiles, herb between his teeth, and does his trademark dice-between-the-fingers pose against a green Mah-Jongg backdrop.)
RONG-FA: Hey, hey! After that -
NALL: Next, I'd *appreciate* all your money a little pocket change!!
SFX NEAR NALL: Give me money (*music note*)
(Jean poses with her fans in the spotlight on a disco floor.)
JEAN: Last but not least, you should catch dance fever through my magnificent moves!
(All five visitors crowd around (and tower over) a cowering, sweatdropping Hiero.)
EVERYONE: WELL, HIERO?!?!
SFX OF GROUP SURROUNDING HIERO: WHAM
SFX OF HIERO: eek!
(Then, Hiero suddenly remembers...)
HIERO: *AH*
REMIENA: (Hey, he got away!)
HIERO: What do you wanna do?
(Lucia, who has so far stayed out of this, smiles, and the next we see...)
HIERO (eating sandwich): So, something like this, huh?...
(...Lucia, Ruby, and a content Hiero are enjoying a grand day of fishing.)
LUCIA (catching fish): *haha!*
HIERO (still munching sandwich): Ah, well.
RUBY (with fish): Fish! (*heart*)
EVERYONE ELSE (looking on, then back to the reader):: WE SHALL RETURN!!
JEAN: SEE YOU IN THE GAME, EVERYONE~!
REMIENA: BUY IT, WILL YA~!
THE END
LI'L RUBY: (Later! (:heart:))
[What follows is a bunch of image art Funato did for the Lunar Game Gear installment. The titles are below.]
pg. 25: The Teachers
pg. 26: We Two Are Good Friends
pg. 27: Friends
pg. 28-30: A Day Off
pg. 31: Twilight
pg. 32: Graduation [a neat note: instead of shifted tassels, the graduates of Yen get blue flowers on their lapels.]
pg. 33: Ghouls [a rare good shot of Barua here]
[The second set of comics, Lunatic Carnival, consists of three short stand-alone episodes, each introducing one of the main couples of Silver Star Story. Jessica and Killy come off by far the best, amazingly; neither Nash & Mia nor Arhes & Luhna fare nearly as well.]
#1: Arhes & Luhna
Manga: Akari Funato
(In a small house in Burg...)
LUHNA: ARHES!!
(...an impatient Luhna slams open the door of Arhes's bedroom. A bleary Arhes and Nall rouse from their bed.)
SFX: BAM!
ARHES: (*guh?*)
LUHNA (hands on hips): How long are you going to sleep?
ARHES (rubbing eyes): ~~~WHAT *IS* IT, LUHNA~~~!?!
(At the breakfast table, Arhes eats a fresh-fruit breakfast while Nall slurps milk.)
LUHNA: *AR*-*HES*!!!!!
ARHES (peeved): Luhna's even more of a nag than Mom~!
LUHNA (sweatdropping): Oooh--!
ARHES'S MOM: (Ha ha ha!)
NALL: Grrr--
(Understandably, Arhes grabs his hat and makes a break to leave. But--)
LUHNA: Arhes!
SFX OF ARHES WHEELING AROUND: ::whirl::
LUHNA: If you're going out, let me know where you're headed!
ARHES & NALL (running away in fright): YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH!!
LUHNA (left alone): Ohhh-h...
NALL: Arhes, you klutz!
ARHES: ......
(We see that Arhes has, rather inexplicably, fallen head-first down a well. I like to think that Luhna tried to smother him, then hit him upside the head with a rock and flung him down there. Anyhow, he's fallen in an equally unlikely manner - he's completely unable to turn himself around and right himself, and he's trapped Nall under his shoulder, so _he_ can't get out, either.)
SFX: STUCK
NALL: How're gonna get out!? I'm buried here!
SFX: ::squish::
(Arhes quashes Nall's idea as quickly as he squashes his head.)
NALL: WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, ARHES!?!?
ARHES: IT'LL BE HUMILIATING!! I DON'T WANNA BE TREATED LIKE A KID AGAIN!!
(We pan to Arhes's Samara-view from the well, a circle of light blue sky...)
NALL (calling to the surface): Heee--y!! Somebody!
(It's a loooong way up for the bottom of the well for the sound to travel.)
NALL (miffed): AR-HESSss~~~
ARHES: Someone'll come by soon!
(...and we see the circle darken to dusk, illuminated only by the sunset...)
NALL (calling up well weakly): He--yy...
SFX: splish
(A drop of water splashes onto Arhes's cheek.)
NALL (even more weakly): Look - it's even starting to rai...
VOICE: ARHES!!
(Arhes looks up, shocked, and discovers that the drop of water is not rain but a tear from Luhna. She is scared to death and framed by a starry sky. Not for long, though...)
SFX: ::NAG NAG NAG::
LUHNA: AND THIS'S WHY I ALWAYS TELL YOU TO LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!
(Luhna turns to storm off.)
LUHNA: hmph! ::seethe::
GUY WITH ROPE: (There, there, Luhna-chan.)
ARHES: Nall! Look at Luhna's shoes...
(We see that they're dirty and tattered from presumed hours of
SFX BETWEEN ARHES & NALL: *Urg...*
(A pretty panorama of the Blue Star at night against the silhouette of pine trees.)
ARHES: Luuuuuhna! We're hungryyyy!
LUHNA: Yes, yes, let me get you your dinner for tonight...
(Ladies and gentlemen, your dashing Dragonmaster and his fair and charming damsel.)
NARRATION: To be continued
#2: Nasch & Mia
Manga: Akari Funato
(A somewhat drowsy Nasch is walking along a tree-lines back road in Vheen on a bright and sunshiny day.)
NASCH: *yawn~*
(Just ahead on the path, Mia sits on a bench reading a book.)
NASCH (thinking): AAAH--
(Mia looks up, suddenly noticing Nasch's presence.)
SFX: SHOCK
(Panic-stricken, Nasch quickly ducks behind a tree.)
SFX: ::thump-thump::
NASCH (thinking): *O-our eyes met...*
MIA (peering from behind tree a ways away): ?
NASCH (thinking): What're you hiding for, Nasch?!?! Isn't this your big chance?!?!
(Nasch wheels about to face a perplexed Mia.)
SFX: ::whirl::
NASCH (thinking): Yeah! Being a man means being courageous!!
MIA: Nasch...?
(Nasch stops dead in his tracks, thunderstruck.)
NASCH (thinking, eyes overflowing with tears of joy): M-Mia-sama knows my NAME~~!
MIA: ???
(Mia turns her head to think...)
MIA: You're a student at the magic academy, aren't you?
SFX FOR MIA: *BLUSH*
MIA: Um...I - I always...um...
(Nasch is stunned.)
NASCH (gobsmacked): ("blush"?)
SFX FOR WEDDING BELLS IN NASCH'S MIND: DING-DONG
ARTIST'S NOTE: Mia ->
TS-E MIA ONI: Ohh-h, I'm just so *utterly* in love with you -
IMAGINARY NASCH: Eheh--
(At said wedding...)
IMAGINARY WEDDING NASCH: Mia...
IMAGINARY WEDDING MIA: Nasch-sama...
IMAGINARY WEDDING BELLS: DING-DONG LA-LA-LAAAH--
(Back in reality, Nasch dances around while Mia rummages through her wicker carry-all.)
NASCH: Gahah--
MIA: Um...
SFX OF MIA RUMMAGING: ::rummage rummage::
(Finally, Mia extracts from her case...a comb and hand mirror.)
SFX OF BRINGING OUT COMB & MIRROR: BAM
MIA: I-it's...it's always...bothered...me...I know it's none of my business...
SFX FOR MIA: *BLUSH*
MIA: But...um...
(Nasch is as deflated as you would expect from this development.)
NASCH: T-thank you...I never realized it...
MIA: N-no! Not at all!
(Mia skips away, happily clutching her book, confident that -)
MIA (thinking): I did a good deed!...
MIA: ::giggle::
(Nasch is left stunned and horrified, holding the hand mirror.)
NARRATION: Nasch couldn't bring himself to say "I spend two hours every morning with the blow drier" - or that he thought it looked cute...
SFX OF NASCH TOUCHING HAIR: ::stick::
(But if his hair is sticky, then does he achieve his look through blow-drying or through hair gel?)
#3: Jessica & Killy
Manga: Akari Funato
At the Nanzas Barrier, a cheery and chipper Jessica waves to Killy's men.
JESSICA: MORNIN'!!
KILLY'S MEN (smiling): YEAH!
Jessica walks away, humming.
KILLY'S MAN #1: Miss Jessica's pretty chipper, huh...
KILLY'S MAN #2: You think something's up?...
JESSICA: (Wonder where Killy is~~ HmHmHmmmm~~)
KILLY'S MAN #3: Mmm. Is it her birthday, I wonder?
Killy, nearby, overhears and gets an idea...
SFX: ::grin::
KILLY (thinking): Her birthday...!!
In Killy's imagination, he presents a deliriously happy Jessica with a present.
IMAGINARY KILLY: Happy Birthday, Jessica!
IMAGINARY JESSICA (hearts all around): Tee hee! What a surprise!!
IMAGINARY KILLY (who has immediately hooked up with a bottle of sake and a couple of bunny chicks): YEAH!!
KILLY: LET'S DO THIS!!
A bit later, Jessica pops into Killy's house/barracks/whatever while Killy, happily humming, rummages around in a treasure chest in back.
JESSICA (looking around): I wonder where that Killy could've gotten to...
SFX FOR KILLY: ::rummage rummage::
KILLY (emerging): Jessica!
JESSICA: Oh - Killy!
Killy presents a surprised Jessica with the present.
KILLY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
SFX OF JESSICA UNSHEATHING SWORD: SHING
JESSICA (smiling): ...WHAT'S THIS...
KILLY (hand behind head in "li'l ol' me" pose): Heh heh~
In the background are images of Jessica from Killy's mind, lifting giant stones, twisting metal bars, and karate-chopping wooden boards.
JESSICA: HYAH!
KARATE-KICKING JESSICA: ZOOM!
And to those, we can add the image of the *real* Jessica running Killy through with his sword.
KILLY: HYAAH!!!
KILLY: GWAH--!!
JESSICA (tears in eyes): MY BIRTHDAY
KILLY: SAY WHAT!?! Then what's got you all bouncing around today!?
JESSICA (showing Killy picnic basket): I HAD MADE YOU SOME CANDY TODAY AND I WAS HAPPY THAT IT HAD TURNED OUT SO WELL!!
KILLY (waving hands): Wah-wah-wah-whoa-whoa!
JESSICA (chasing Killy with sword): You UNBELIEVABLE JERK--!!
KILLY: Bu--b-but--!!
KILLY'S MEN (sweatdropping): B...Boss...
They all laugh.
KILLY'S MEN: You gotta wonder why they always end up like this, huh...
NARRATION: It's because of you guys!!
[What follows are a few pieces of promo art Funato did for the Saturn Magical School Lunar. The titles are below.]
pg. 41: Cool Medical Professional
pg. 42: A Day in Their Lives
SS/PS
SS/PS LUNAR 2
Rough Sketch: Thoughts on the Lunar 2 Remake Anime Sequences
Jessica getting dressed: She's "putting on her usual outfit", "usual sash", "usual hood", etc.
Mia stopping in an alleyway: She's "adjusting her shoes" "before going out", and that's a "picnic basket" at her feet. The picture was originally supposed to be tilted a bit to the left, with the pan following the tilt.
Jessica in swimsuit: Nothing. She's at "the ocean". Big whoop.
Mia in swimsuit: At "the ocean" again; Funato has a note about how "since this is [facing] the same direction as the one of Mia putting on shoes [meaning, in both sketches, Mia is facing left and looking over her shoulder at the camera], please flip it horizontally". They did. Mia's also supposed to be pulling down her swimsuit (for better coverage) in back.
Jessica under sheets: There were originally "lace curtains" blowing in the breeze at the top of the image. She's supposed to be "suppin" underneath, a word that usually refers to a face without make-up but here refers to how Jess obviously has no clothes on.
Mia under sheets: Likewise, she's supposed to be suppin underneath. Funato has a note at the top, with an arrow, saying that Mia's head should be...er, headed a little more to the right than in the sketch.
Xenobia: The bromide was originally supposed to be upside-down, with Xenobia's legs at the top and the camera panning down to her face at the bottom - "looking from above directly overhead (because of her cleavage...)". She's supposed to be holding a glass of red wine. I thought this had been changed to a red jewel in the actual bromide, but looking at the latter, I now realize I can't tell what it is. I like the idea of the wine glass better, at any rate.
Rouyce: Likewise, that's supposed to be a "snake-like creature" rather than an actual snake; I guess the former was too distracting. Rouyce shouldn't have her cape; the creature below her should be coiled up, with Rouyce sitting atop the coil. The background originally consisted of "tropical foliage" (Funato draws rough long, pointy palm fronds).
Faithia: Again, the animal is "like a giant tropical bird", not a giant bird itself; in the sketch, the bird looks like a giant Phantasy Star III Rappy. The bird is facing the camera directly instead of to the side, as in the final bromide. Faithia is "without her cape" as well; the background features "sunlight filtered through the trees".
There's a note after Faithia's the end of the series: "PLEASE - go ahead and play with the framing and details, etc. at your convenience".
Yellow Box/Funato:
This is the layout sheet for the "Mia's Introduction" animation from the remake of Lunar.
I guess my instructions regarding the background were too detailed or something (I prattled on about the curtain pattern and the lamp and knickknacks on Mia's dressing table), because I heard that the background coordinator said "what the hell is all this?!"...
The details are in the Lunar mook that came out from Kadokawa Publishing.
Anime genga were all Greek to me when I started.
If I did this now, I'd draw up a room so exactingly elaborate it'd be fit for a princess!
[The drawing has a couple notes on it itself - there are shafts of sunlight that break through the room's darkness from the window, and "the frames of the windows on the other side of the curtains cast shadows [on the curtains] that can be seen through them [the curtains - I know, Mobius-strip translation]".]
Luhna sewing: notes specify that she's "sitting directly on the mat", which was originally to have been a round, "patchwork-quilt"-type mat. She's working on a "quilted bedspread" with her "sewing box" to her side. (The text specifies that she's doing yonabe, which is all-night work, usually home crafts.) The floor is to be wooden. She asks that "orange be used as the basis of the composiiton, due to the light being reflected from the fireplace"
Yellow Box/Funato: "I drew these for an 'after Lunar 1...' assignment, but I was told that the feeling of 'women belong in the home' was too strong, so they were scrapped.
Scrapped Mia bromide: The bromide of her "doing the laundry for the first time (Nasch's shirts)"; she's shaking one out, "soap bubbles" floating all around her, with the camera from a front/overhead perspective. There's soap at her feet, as well as a washtub, in which a note says "blue sky and clouds should be reflected in the surface of the water, in between the bubbles and laundry".
Scrapped Jessica bromide: She's "making a birthday cake for Killy and not really succeeding". Actually, right now, she's frosting the cake on a kitchen table in front of her, with an apron on, getting the frosting all over her fingers, licking them (apologetically, I think, though the expressions in the Lunar 2 sketches often don't correspond to those in the actual bromides) while looking at the camera. There's a messy bowl of frosting with a beater hanging out behind the cake, and in the background, there's a "wood-fired oven, like the one in Kiki's Delivery Service".
Mia's actual Lunar 2 bromide: she's sitting "right in the middle of an English-style garden" in a "terrace made of whitewashed wood". There are supposed to be "cookies" and "pancakes", in a "silver cake stand", and a "tiny teacup" (with saucer) on an "Italian-style table". (The pancakes turned to cupcakes in the actual bromide; I should note, however, that I've seen the word "pancake" (and "pankeeki") refer to rounder, donut hole-like cakes. Furthermore, the "pancakes" are drawn like a Jell-O mold in the sketch. Eh.) There's a "quilted cover resting on the back" of Mia's chair, and a "hand-knitted lap robe" spread across her legs. "Lavender" grows behind her. The cushion on which Mia's sitting should have tassels on the corners. [Again, Mia's sketch has an abundance of minute details.]
Jessica's actual Lunar 2 bromide: Just the way it's depicted. [Well, Jessica's hair is shorter in the sketch.] There's a canteen on her shoulder and "sea spray" all around her. There are "cumulonimbus clouds" behind her. The sketch makes it clear that she is sitting on the prow of a much bigger boat.
Lucia walking in her red robes: In the sketch, she's looking up at "a flock of white doves" rather than the sunshine and general beauty, and her expression is more one of curiosity than happy wonder. Funato has a note on the side saying "it'd be boring with a normal forest, so maybe an autumn forest or something might be nice". Light is to be reflected in the stream at Lucia's feet, and she's supposed to be standing on its banks, not directly in it.
Jean drinking: is drunk, as we can see. Funato asks to make it "like a gravure idol [bikini girl, pin-up girl] on the cover of Yangu Magajin ["Young Magazine", a publication which features such girls]". We're supposed to see the night sky from the entrance of the tent, between the trees outside and whatnot, and there're supposed to be "snacks" on the plates in front of her.
Jean dancing: Just a simple sketch; there's way more on the next page.
Jean asleep: Her bedding should all be in "Indian-type patterns". She should be sleeping next to an "empty glass" and "bottles" (or one "bottle").
"I was considering making this like an old, weathered poster; what do you think?
"The poster design should be like the old American ones, like from the Old West.
[arrow pointing to background] "There will probably be something in the background, but since I don't have the materials [on the game], I don't really know what type of pattern it could be."
[arrow pointing to Jean] "hand-drawn feel"
[arrow pointing to lettering] "bizarre, splashy logo"
[arrow pointing to edge of poster] "Looks like it's been posted on the wall of a bar; we could see a glimpse of a wooden wall beneath the poster"
Note from Funato, presumably to Kubooka: "I think it'd be better compositionally if we moved the camera back a little bit more, but since this is a character shot... [A brief sketch shows Funato's alternate view, with more books and such below Remiena in the enlarged frame.] What should we do, huh....I'll leave the decision up to you."
Remiena at the beach: the sky was supposed to be "blue-gray", not outright sunny. Also, more of the sandy shoreline should be visible in the image - she's standing right in the edge of the ocean - and there are supposed to be seagulls all around her, standing on the shore, as well as many more in the sky ("a flock of about 100 seagulls [emphasis hers] flying up and away from the seashore"; another note denotes the presence of other "sea birds").
Mauli crossing a stream: There was originally a tree (or a stump) in the upper-right corner, its "roots covered with moss", and "rushes" in the upper-left corner of the stream. In the sketch, Mauli is wearing a regular long-sleeved dress, not a three-piece outfit.
Remiena rejected bromide ("Napping"): Remiena's sleeping on her back, eyes closed, all ribbons in her hair, clutching a blanket. She looks very short, childlike - exactly, in fact, like Rena from the Magic School games, right down to the sleep clothes and way she has her hair up at night. There's another chiro bank under her pillow, as well as a "petty cash ledger" and a "writing instrument".
Mauli rejected bromide ("Riverbank"): It's Mauli frolicking in a stream again, except here she's holding up her skirt so it won't get wet instead of carrying stuff across stepping stones. The bottom of the bromide looks up through the stream, with a "killifish-like" fish swimming close to the viewer and "rushes" on the edges. There's a "rocky area" behind Mauli, to the picture's right; the weather is clear.
Leo: The Valgan was originally parked in the background.
Borgan bathing: The "bathtub stopper" was originally hanging down from the wall. The roses on the side of the tub were originally "in relief", and there were sparkles everywhere. The tub itself was originally gold (in both metal and color), and the type where one half of the tub rises up to meet the bather's back. The suds were supposed to be yellow, and a pink ribbon was tied to the end of Borgan's scrub brush. The toys were pink and blue sand sharks/Dolphin Faces, not pink and orange angelfish. There was all rose wallpaper in the background, and the piping on the wall has been slightly shifted.
[Since exact translation is important here, I should note that, in Funato's second paragraph, I'm this close to translating the first phrase as "shortage of manpower" rather than "energy", but native speakers tell me the phrase used, "tairyokubusoku", won't support the reading.
Ol' Man Kubooka! (Eh?)
[the scene where Zophar descends in his dead-dragon form before his confrontation with Lucia]
[the close-up of Hiero looking on in shock at Zophar's resurrection]
[the close-up of Ghaleon in his death scene, where he looks up at the light]
[the close-up of Jean head-on when she dons her karate robes again
Ronfar's headband in the ED is the wrong color...?
[Lucia in her red robes in the first ending]
The voice performance for Lucia in her first appearance is flat.
The cutscenes don't match what's on the scenario and continuity sheets. The anime doesn't fulfill the production requirements.
ANYHOW, BAD.
(Please take good care of it!)
(ARE YOU SCREWING WITH ME!?!?)
*phhbbttt*
Give us...
HANG ON~! The magic guild's a real bargain! ::heart::
STORY #7
(What a jerky thing to do!)
THIS ISSUE,
THE MANGA IS COMING TO AN END!!
WHAT IS THIS, THE HYSTERICS CONVENTION!?!?
pg. 22
(Hiero smashes fist to hand in realization.)
THAT THIS LAST ISSUE BELONGS TO ME!
YEEAAAHHHH!!
MY SWASHBUCKLING GRAND ADVENTURE FILLED WITH TEARS AND LAUGHTER AND (*EEP*) ROMANCE!!
SWEET!
All is forgiven!
take me on in a REMATCH!
pg. 23
(Nall grins atop a pile of gold coins, flashing a hand signal that in the U.S. would mean "OK" but in Japan refers to money.)
[running to Lucia] What about you, Lucia!?
I think how it's the last issue went totally over her head, though.
(*sigh*)
LUNAR: STROLLING SCHOOL
LUNATIC CARNIVAL
LUNATIC CARNIVAL
You're supposed to be chopping firewood this morning, *aren't* you?!
(GEEZ--
I just wanna sleep a little more...)
What bad manners! Don't stuff your face!
And don't spread crumbs all over!
Now, now, she's *helping* your Mom! She's just worried about you! (*heart*)
Do you have a handkerchief or tissues?
What about a box lunch?
Be back before nightfall!
(And also-- And furthermore--)
pg. 35
(Suddenly, though, we are looking up from a very Sadako-ish perspective...)
Heeeyy... Call for Luh--
[to Arhes] ~~It's no use~~...
We're gonna die of hunger~
IF I HADN'T DISCOVERED YOU BY COMPLETE ACCIDENT, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU!!stalking looking for Arhes.)
LUNATIC CARNIVAL
Man, what great weather--!
On a day like this, you'd think something good would pop u--
Huh?
IT'S HER!!
THE NEXT GUILDMISTRESS -
THE SOCIETY PRINCESS EVERYONE WANTS - MIA AUSA!!
You wanna talk to Mia-sama...
pg. 37
THE SPARKLY-EYED MIA OF NASCH'S IMAGINATION: I've always been watching you, Nasch!
I mean...you're so handsome, and *such* a nice guy, and that cowlick just makes me *quiver*~~!!
let's find *some* way to get married right away!
What can I say!...
What to do~~
::hesitate hesitate::
Your hair in front -
it's all messed up...like from sleeping on it wrong...?
LUNATIC CARNIVAL
HEY, GUYS!! ROBBERY TREATIN' YA WELL!?
I'm so moved,
that I've decided to let you do whatever you like without saying a *single* word!!
pg. 39
Jessica opens her present to find...a sword.
Welllll...I had a *really* tough time picking something out, buuuuut...
seeing how manly you are, I thought you'd enjoy *that* the most...
ISN'T FOR _TWO_ _MONTHS!!_
You must have my birthday mixed up with some other chick's!!
(Ha ha ha...
*hyuk*...)
MAGICAL SCHOOL LUNAR!
pg. 43
EXTRAS
Bromide Layouts - 9 illustrations
Anime Genga Layouts
Bromide Layouts - 20 illustrations, including scrapped bromides
[The next section consists of Funato's rough sketches for the bromides she designed. Most of the text consists simply of scattered labels clarifying what certain roughly-drawn items are and stipulating the direction of the camera pan. An item-by-item translation would be uselessly choppy (what goes where again?) and not very enlightening anyway (we have the finished bromides, so we *know* what everything is), so I'm going to give quick notes on what was changed between the sketch and the finished bromide instead, with some perfunctory translations of longer phrases.]
Those are supposed to be "leopard-like creatures", not actual snow leopards. There's supposed to be a cylindrical cushion near Xenobia's knee. Her feet are supposed to be bare. Funato directs them to "play with the framing so that it's to your liking".
pg. 49
[Next comes a highly detailed sketch of Mia's room. Funato offers commentary in the first of several yellow-outlined boxes that will pop up when you reach the appropriate page on the PDF.]
I drew genga for four shots from Mia's introduction.
The Saturn version [of the game] might be hard to find, but the contents of the Playstation version are the same, so please take a look if you're interested and have the opportunity. Whenever I'm drawing her, Mia's hands look all puffed up...
I really was taught from square one and was such a bother to my supervisor Kubooka [Toshiyuki Kubooka, the character designer for Lunar]; I worked on them for a week, constantly worried.
I drove myself crazy over things like exactly how her sleeve should fall, but hearing his praise afterward - "that was good!" - made me happy.
[Here we are at the Lunar 2 bromides. Same deal, though some have extensive notes.]
The note opposite reads: "Kubooka-sama: SORRY for being late - here are the bromide layouts for Lunar II on the Saturn - thank you very much - Funato"
pg. 51
[Two scrapped bromides of Mia and Jessica. Funato explains.]
I get it, I get it."
pg. 52
Yellow Box/Funato: layout for Mia, in clearly different spirits [Mia is childish and smiling in the sketch.]
A note on the side mentions that it should "be in autumn colors - in a warm palette of sepias, beiges, pinks, etc." Obviously, this idea was scrapped, along with the lavender. And the pancakes.
pg. 53
Note on side: "Kubooka-sama / thank you for your help / I have 4 layouts left / please check these over / Funato"
pg. 54
Lucia opening a window: There's supposed to be a "world map" beside the window and "the spoils of their adventures" on the shelf in front of Lucia. The bromide is set in "Hiero's room (an attic room)"; it's morning outside.
pg. 55
Lucia in pajamas: Those are Hiero's pajamas and bed in which she's sleeping. There was originally a "blanket flung aside" to the left of the bromide, crumpled on the side of the bed. "Hiero's junk" is supposed to be under the bed on the upper-right corner. Please get your mind out of the gutter.
pg. 56
First, a note: "Kubooka-sama - here are the remaining sketches - 6 of them - thanks - Funato"
pg. 57
[The following are extensive notes on the Jean-dancing bromide that looks like a poster for the carnival.]
The colors would be faded, to like ochres and browns? Perhaps as if it were printed with a multi-color process (with the plates slightly misaligned on purpose?)... Maybe printed in a coarse grain... Looking at it, I think I could even play around with it on Photoshop..."
pg. 58
Remiena reading on a window sill: It is "sunset" outside, and Remiena is specified to be "backlit", in a single-hung window. A bookshelf is to be on the image's left edge, with a "stack of books" beneath the window on the right side, as well as the "back of a chair" sticking up over the lower windowsill on the left.
"An English feel [to the composition] would be nice. Please make it a sea scene around spring or fall instead of midsummer, huh?" [And, of course, they made it in midsummer. Man, they really had a problem with autumn in this production - though Lunar is all about the bright and cheery.]
pg. 59
Remiena "polishing coins": That's a chiro-shaped bank by her knee. There were originally "flower-print" drapes with "fringe" hanging down from the "four-poster bed" instead of striped, and there was a flower-shaped cutout in the bedstead.
A note to the side refers to the trail Mauli's following as what we might call a "goat path" but what the Japanese and Funato call a "beast path", in a bit of a pun here.
pg. 60
Yellow Box/Funato: "These were rejected. Because they 'weren't really interesting'."
pg. 61
Nall & Ruby sleeping: Nothing of note.
pg. 62
Yellow Box/Funato: "My favorite."
Yellow Box/Funato:
You might be reading this thinking, "what horrible things to write", but - well, no, they really were horrible!
GONZO did both Lunar 1 and 2, but 2 came at a time when GONZO was whining about a shortage of energy (one could say "a shortage of talent", perhaps) on their part.
GONZO's upper echelon was too expensive, and the difference between them and (what I guess were) the new guys was too apparent and left a bad taste in my mouth, I guess.
Anyhow, the accompanying image is a page-long note Funato wrote to Toshiyuki Kubooka, a collage of scribbles pointing out mistakes and perceived poor quality in the various anime cutscenes. Again, anything out of quotes is a direct translation of the memo; anything in brackets is me, the translator, explaining or commenting.]
I saw Lunar 2.
So long, Lunar 2. I'll take the continuity sheets instead, thank you.
<- Zophar
looks like shit. [She means literally, considering how she's drawn his main column.]
<-circling seagulls
[sketch mocking Zophar] jellyfish-octopus
They weren't even trying with the clouds at sunset.
The production of "horokobu ga ii. kono sekai o" ["Destroy this world", in our version] is bad.
The BGM is completely wrong!
My Hiero-chan...
his face is crudely drawn...
[the right side of his jaw] <- caved in
[his hair in back, drawn by Funato as ragged] <- no
The performance [voice performance, I think she means] is also bad. "yoooshi! atarashii..." ["Let's go, Ruby! Our next adventure..."] was kind of OK, I guess.
Ghaleon's lips: wrong [She's drawn the lips as weirdly pursed.]
[pointing to Jean's right eyebrow] the eyebrow they forgot to paint on Jean
[She's also drawn Jean's eyes as two different shapes.]
[written on Lucia's exaggerated hair] tons of hair
I liked the old version of Lucia's tower on the Blue Star.
Zophar's true form was good, though.
Lucia feeling the effects of the cold and Lucia surveying the landscape are wrong. [Note: the word written here, "mikudasu", means "to look down on a person", in the "to have an arrogant and disdainful attitude" sense. Considering the scene to which she's referring, I think Funato just omitted a ro-hiragana in haste and meant "miorosu", which means "to overlook/survey". I've therefore translated it as the latter, but my judgment could be incorrect.]
Farewell, Lunar 2.
You told me to do my best on the novel illustrations.
Is it all right if I change the character designs? For the purposes of the novel, I mean... [I would guess that this refers to Xenobia. In the novel illustrations, she's given pointy ears like Ghaleon and the rest of the "Kokuhaku Suru Kioku" magic-race characters.]
[This is your translator speaking. I would suppose these are some of the "frank comments" to which Kei Shigema alluded in his afterword to the Vheen Hikuusen manga.
My thoughts, however unsolicited, on the above - I can see this memo one of those things that you dash off after a long period of pent-up frustration and mean, then quickly regret for making too much of a fuss. Funato might be ashamed at how she made the points, but, as evidenced by the "shortage of talent" notes in the .pdf, thinks the points stand.
I am admittedly biased toward Funato in this dispute; Vheen Hikuusen was, for me, the most mature and best-wrought work to come out of the whole Lunar canon. Be it in the Carnival strips or the novel illustrations or Vheen Hikuusen Monogatari, Funato put great thought and detail into her realizations of the Lunar world. It seems petty to gripe about Jean's eyebrows or Ghaleon's lips - but I always thought that Ghaleon looked weird in that scene, and it was after reading this that I realized - yeah, it is the lips that do it. When you *do* care, it's tough to have your plans screwed up by shoddy work from those who don't.]
Translation by R. Capowski. The contents of the original .pdf are presumably copyrighted by Akari Funato; Lunar belongs to whoever in God's name has the copyright now and hopefully is not planning on making a Four Heroes game, given the current state of the franchise.
