Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Case Study No. 1191: Unnamed Female Librarian (Naoki Urasawa's Monster)

Monster - Library Scene
0:53
Naoki Urasawa's Monster, scene of episode 33 when Johan reads a certain book
Tags: monster 33
Added: 1 year ago
From: arkaivsf
Views: 1,289

From wikipedia.org:

"Monster" ("Monsuta"), sometimes referred to as "Naoki Urasawa's Monster", is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa, published by Shogakukan in Big Comic Original between 1994 and 2001, and reprinted in 18 tank?bon volumes. The story revolves around Kenz? Tenma, a Japanese surgeon living in Germany whose life enters turmoil after getting himself involved with Johan Liebert, one of his former patients who is revealed to be a dangerous psychopath.

Urasawa later wrote and illustrated the novel Another Monster, a story detailing the events of the manga from an investigative reporter's point of view, which was published in 2002. The manga was adapted by Madhouse into a 74-episode anime TV series, which aired on NTV from April 2004 to September 2005. It was directed by Masayuki Kojima, written by Tatsuhiko Urahata and featured character design by Kitaro Kosaka. The manga and anime have both been licensed by Viz Media for English releases in North America, with the anime having been broadcast on several television channels. In 2013, Siren Visual licensed the anime for Australasia. Monster won an Excellence Prize at the 1st Japan Media Arts Festival in 1997, the 3rd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 1999, and the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2000.

Plot
Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a young Japanese doctor, working at Eisler Memorial Hospital in Dusseldorfin 1986. An accomplished brain surgeon, he seems to have everything: a promotion in the offing; the favor of the hospital's director, Udo Heinemann; and Heinemann's daughter Eva as his fiancee. However, Tenma is increasingly dissatisfied with the political bias of the hospital in treating patients, and seizes the chance to change things after a massacre brings identical twins Johan and Anna Liebert into the hospital. Johan has a gunshot wound to his head, and Anna mutters about killing; Tenma decides to operate on Johan instead of the mayor of Dusseldorf, who arrived later. Johan is saved, but Mayor Roedecker dies; Tenma loses his social standing (and Eva) as a result. However, Director Heinemann and the other doctors in Tenma's way are mysteriously murdered, and both children disappear from the hospital soon afterwards. The police suspect Tenma, since he benefits from the turn of events; however, they have no evidence and can only question him.

Nine years later, Tenma is Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial. After saving a criminal named Adolf Junkers after Junkers was hit by a car, he hears Junkers muttering about a "monster". Tenma is kind to Junkers, who reciprocates by opening up to the doctor. One evening, when Tenma returns with a clock as a gift for Junkers, he finds the guard in front of Junkers' room dead and Junkers gone. Following the trail to the construction site of a half-finished building near the hospital, Tenma finds Junkers held at gunpoint. Concerned for Tenma's safety, Junkers warns him against coming closer and pleads with him to run away. Tenma refuses, and the man holding the gun is revealed to be Johan Liebert, the boy whose life Tenma saved nine years earlier. Despite Tenma's attempts to reason with him Johan shoots Junkers; telling Tenma he could never kill the man who saved his life, he walks off into the night, with Tenma too shocked to stop him.

After this incident Tenma is again suspected by the police, particularly BKA Inspector Lunge, and he tries to find more information about Johan. He soon discovers that the boy's sister (now called Nina) is living a happy life as the adopted daughter of two caring parents; the only traces of her terrible past are a few nightmares. Tenma finds Nina on her birthday; he keeps her from Johan, but is too late to stop him from murdering her foster parents. Tenma eventually learns the origins of this "monster": from the former East Germany's attempt to use a secret orphanage known as "511 Kinderheim" to create perfect soldiers through psychological reprogramming, to the author of children's books used in a eugenics experiment in the Czech Republic. Tenma also learns the scope of the atrocities committed by this "monster", and vows to fix the mistake he made by saving Johan's life.

Characters
Dr. Kenzo Tenma - The main protagonist of the series. Kenzo Tenma is a Japanese neurosurgeon working at Eisler Memorial Hospital in Düsseldorf. Little is known of Tenma's childhood apart from his father (who worked as a director at a prestige hospital) and brother also being doctors. Tenma's family ties grew weaker since he left Japan for Germany. Tenma's surgical skills became evident to his superiors at the beginning of Monster, and he was promoted to chief of neurosurgery by Director Udo Heinemann around the time he met Eva (who Directror Heinemenan offered to him in marriage). When a young boy with a bullet wound arrived, Tenma was about to operate when Chief of Surgery Dr. Oppenheim and Director Heinemann told Tenma to work on Mayor Roedecker (who collapsed at his holiday home) first. Tenma told Heinemann that he was the only one who could operate on a child and asked Heinemann to have Dr. Boyer handle the mayor. Heinemann ignored his request, ordering him to operate on the mayor. After a crisis of conscience, Tenma saves the life of a young boy instead of Mayor Roedecker. He is then scolded afterwards by Dr. Boyer and Dr. Oppenheim for not treating the mayor (who died as the doctors had to scramble to cover for Tenma at the last minute). At a banquet, Tenma begged for forgiveness from Director Heinemann who forgive him while blacklisting him, withdrawing Eva's hand in marriage, and Boyer becoming the new head of neurosurgery. Weeks later, Tenma gets word from the police that Director Heinemann, Dr. Oppenheim and Dr. Boyer have been mysteriously killed. Because of the three deaths and transfers of some doctors, the chairman of the board appoints Tenma chief of surgery. Nine years later, Tenma learns that Heinemann's murderer (and the recent killer of Adolf Junkers) is the boy he saved years before, Johan Liebert. Plagued by guilt, he resolves to find Johan and end the life of this "monster" he feels responsible for creating (while evading Inspector Heinrich Lunge, who suspects Tenma of the murders). He is a humanitarian who cares about the lives of others, and his kindness influences those he meets. In his quest to kill Johan, Tenma nearly succeeds several times only to have him slip away until their final confrontation in Ruhenheim. At the time when Tenma was staying at Milan Kolasch's house, it is revealed that Tenma can make a good Oyakodon. When Johan wants Tenma to kill him, he threatens Wim when the child's drunk father, Herbert, mistakes Johan for a monster and shoots him. After Johan is flown to a hospital in a helicopter, Tenma treats him and is cleared of all charges. He later joins Doctors Without Borders (learning from Otto Heckel where Johan and Anna's mother is), and visits the comatose Johan in a police hospital. Afterwards, he heads off to meet Dieter, Nina, and Dr. Julius Reichwein before he heads overseas.

Johan Liebert - Johan Liebert is the "monster" of the title and the principal antagonist of the series. The mystery of his past is the focus of the plot. He is called a monster, the next Hitler and the devil himself. Johan Liebert was shot in the head as a child, but saved from death by Dr. Tenma. Because of this, he regards Tenma as a father figure. He claims to love his twin sister, and has some loyalty to her. Johan has spent parts of his life in different places under different names. He possesses charisma and intelligence but is also cunning, manipulative and deceitful; while he is kind, compassionate and loving to children, he can be cold and cruel. He uses his talents to manipulate and corrupt others, often with no apparent end than to cause suffering and destruction. His goal (stated as a child) is to be the last one standing at the end of the world. One of the themes of Monster is how individuals are capable of behaving monstrously, and Johan often acts as a direct or indirect catalyst for such behavior. He identifies with other killers, discovering their secrets. Like Tenma, Johan is similar to a character from a manga by Osamu Tezuka: in this case Michio Yuki, the villain in MW. This includes his childhood involvement in a secret military experiment, his ability to manipulate powerful people, his ambition to trigger the end of the world, his suicidal tendencies and occasional episodes of cross-dressing. In keeping with the Apocalypse theme, Johan shares traits with the Antichrist: being "resurrected" after being shot through the head and being mistaken for a monster with "seven heads and many horns". Although Nina remembers that Johan and Anna had no real names, he is primarily known as Johan. After causing the death of Petr ?apek, he orchestrates the Ruhenheim Massacre and has his final encounter with Tenma. When Johan threatens Wim to get Tenma to shoot him, Johan is shot by Wim's drunken father, Herbert. He is flown to a hospital in a helicopter, with the bullet wound treated by Tenma. Comatose, he is visited by Tenma in a police hospital. The final page shows his bed empty, ambiguously suggesting that Johan has escaped from the hospital.

Hans Georg Schuwald - First seen in chapter 47, Han Georg Schuwald is known as the "Bayern Vampire." He is a successful, reclusive paraplegic businessman and his success allows him to donate his library to the University of Munich. Schuwald employs several students from the university, who read him Latin. He fathered a son with a prostitute, Margot Langer (friends in Prague with a mother of twins), whom he says he still loves. Although it is believed he was there when Karl was born, for some reason he abandoned mother and son. While his library-dedication ceremony is targeted by Johan in a scheme to unleash terror and pandemonium, the authorities (including Inspector Lunge) believe Schuwald is the real target and Tenma is responsible. Before Tenma leaves for Prague, he has Karl deliver a message to Schuwald about the mother of the Liebert twins' living in Prague. Schuwald later undergoes therapy with Dr. Reichwein and hires Fritz Vardemann to defend Tenma when he is arrested. After the Ruhenheim Massacre at the end of the series, Schuwald is informed of Tenma's current status and wishes to see him again one day.

Karl Neumann - First seen in chapter 47, Neumann is a student at the University of Munich and the son of Schuwald and Langer (who sent him away for a better life). Karl spent much of his childhood in foster care, until the Neumanns adopted him; he is shown to love and care for them as his parents. Neumann tries to get close to Schuwald without letting him know that he is his son. He is also involved in the mystery of a dead student, and the disappearance of Johan Liebert after his father's book collection is destroyed in an inferno during a ceremony at the university library. After reconciling with his father, he remains as Schuwald's personal assistant. He later confronts Inspector Lunge and shows him a picture of Johan. Under orders from his father, he encounters Tenma at the train station and reveals that the twins' mother lives in Prague. When Tenma is arrested Schuwald has Karl hire Fritz Vardemann to represent him, and Neumann is present when Nina returns for therapy with Dr. Gillen. At the end of the series, Karl tells his father about Tenma's whereabouts after the Ruhenheim Massacre. It is revealed in Another Monster that he has taken Schuwald's last name and lives happily with him, he is facing challenges to his paternity as Schuwald's son.

Franz Bonaparta/Klaus Poppe - Bonaparta is held responsible for the eugenics experiment leading to the birth of the Liebert twins, and author of the storybooks used to indoctrinate the children of Red Rose Mansion (notably The Nameless Monster, from which Johan took his name and his mode of operation). Other books include The Big Eyed Man and the Big Mouthed Man, The God of Peace and The Quiet Village. His stories are full of metaphor and symbolism, often with monsters as important characters. Most also promote the idea that human nature contains the ability to become good or evil, although his works tend to denounce humanity rather than uplift it. He is the father of Jaromir Lipsky, who received a postcard from him directing Inspector Lunge to Ruhenheim (where he runs the Hotel Versteck). Bonaparta is probably responsible for the death of the twins' father, as their mother strongly believes he is. He is shown (in flashbacks) to spend much time drawing her, although she despises him (vowing she would never forgive him, and when she died her children would avenge her). Bonaparta reveals his identity to Lunge and Grimmer after Grimmer threatens a supposedly paraplegic man who facilitated the Ruhenheim Massacre by giving out guns. Bonaparta repents for his actions after seeing Grimmer's death. He tells Tenma he had fallen in love with the twins' mother at first sight (despite her antipathy to him and his associates), also confessing that he killed anyone who was associated with (or even knew of the existence of) her and the twins. Bonaparta admits his guilt for making Johan; he later tries to kill Johan but is, instead, killed by a dying Roberto in front of Tenma and Wim. His real name is Klaus Poppe; other aliases include Emil Scherbe, Helmuth Voss and Jakob Vyrobek. Bonaparta revealed the twins' mother's name (Anna) only to Lunge and Tenma. Another Monster states that almost all traces of her were erased. After the mass murder at the Red Rose Mansion, it is hinted that Bonaparta erased her past. His son Jaromir Lipsky hints that Bonaparta wanted to isolate their mother and make himself the only one who knew of her existence.

Anime
The manga series was adapted into an anime by Madhouse, which aired between 6 April 2004 and 27 September 2005 on Nippon TV. Directed by Masayuki Kojima and written by Tatsuhiko Urahata, it features original character designs by long-time Studio Ghibli animator Kitar? K?saka which were adapted for the anime by Shigeru Fujita.

An English dub of Monster was produced by Salami Studios for Viz Media, which had the North American license to the anime. A DVD box set of the series, containing the first 15 episodes was released 8 December 2009. However, due to low sales of the first box set, Viz decided not to continue releasing the remaining episodes on DVD and later dropped the license.

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From imdb.com:

"A Child's View" (Kodomo no Jyoukei")
Original Airdate: November 23, 2004
English Airdate: February 8, 2010

Several kids are killed while playing daredevil stunts suggested by Johan. Dieter tries to convince a seriously injured boy not to commit the stunt again. Schuwald announces a large donation of antique books to the University of Munich and a ceremony to commemorate the donation is planned. Johan passes out after he reads a picture book by Emil Scherbe. Tenma plans to kill Johan at the book donation ceremony.

Johan Liebert (voice) ... Keith Silverstein
Librarian (voice) ... Caitlin Glass

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From tumblr.com:

I've been checking out my fave parts of the Monster anime for pleasure or reference and find myself appreciating the way it was handled more and more. As a die-hard fan of the manga, I'm not always pleased with how the animation quality falters occasionally, but pleasant or titillating surprises like this make up for it.

In this scene in the manga, Johan's helping a librarian pick up some books she dropped and she notices how good looking he is. Totally harmless.

In the anime, I was expecting his pretty face in the same light style, but instead I see this and all I can think is "OMG HIS EYES ARE GLOWING." Totally creepy.

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From wikia.com:

Librarian Lady
She offers her help to find a good picture book for Johan's friend. She is very clumsy, so while she's trying to find a book, many picture books fall off the shelves. Johan gives her one of his creepy and dreamy looks while helping her gather them. After that, he finds The Nameless Monster and collapses and the woman calls for help.

She is later seen bringing flowers to the hospital, but Johan had already left. She meets Lotte Frank and tells her what happened.

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From animepalm.tv:

[Schuwald is sitting in a wheelchair, as a bald man (wearing glasses and a suit and tie) looks at his collection of books]
HEAD LIBRARIAN: Herman Hesse's Der Steppenwolf, first edition. And this... Hoffman's Nachtstucke, first edition... You have an entire collection of Goethe's poems. It's a book collection big enough to make even me, the head librarian at Munich University's Fredrich Emannuel Library, dizzy.
HANS GEORG SCHUWALD: I made it this far in life with self-study. I didn't go to college. I thought that I'd just read books to learn, and this is the result.
HEAD LIBRARIAN: To have such a large collection of books donated to my library, I... I don't have enough words to thank you with.
HANS GEORG SCHUWALD: My eyesight is getting worse, so soon I won't be able to read them at all. I think they'd do more good in the hands of students rather than being allowed to sleep here in this room.
HEAD LIBRARIAN: Yes, many of the books are valuable, but they should be accessible to normal people too. I've already set aside a place for them. There will be a ceremony, so if you could please speak at it...
ROBERTO: What about security?
HEAD LIBRARIAN: Huh?
ROBERTO: Ever since Mr. Schuwald has taken control of his companies, I've been worried about his safety. Please make sure that the invited guests are checked out thoroughly.
[Johan enters the room]
ROBERTO: Isn't that right, Johan?
JOHAN LIEBERT: Yes.
HANS GEORG SCHUWALD: Karl and Johan, who suggested that I donate these books, will go.
HEAD LIBRARIAN: I'm the head librarian, Gerhmann. Good to meet you.
JOHAN LIEBERT: [shakes his hand] Good to meet you, too.
[in the Munich University Library, the head librarian gives a tour to Johan and Karl]
HEAD LIBRARIAN: This will be the room where we are going to put the books that Mr. Schuwald is donating. Regular visitors are not able to come back this far. You probably have never been here either, have you? The temperature and humidity are at optimum levels for storage and, of course, this place is safe from fire and theft.
KARL NEUMANN: What a collection of great books! This is truly a treasure of humanity. Don't you think so, Johan?
JOHAN LIEBERT: A treasure of humanity, huh?
HEAD LIBRARIAN: And we'll hold the donation ceremony in this center hall. Just as your butler said, the security will be very tight. I'd like Mr. Schuwald to feel at ease.
KARL NEUMANN: Yea. I'm sure Dad will love it. Isn't that right, Johan?
[he turns to see Johan staring at the upper level]
KARL NEUMANN: What's wrong, Johan?
JOHAN LIEBERT: Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
[a young woman with her hair in a bun is shelving books, when Johan walks up behind her]
LIBRARIAN: Oh... Are you looking for something?
JOHAN LIEBERT: Yes, I'm looking for a nice picture book for a friend.
LIBRARIAN: A friend?
JOHAN LIEBERT: Yes, a friend.
LIBRARIAN: Let's see. How about this one?
[she hands him a book]
LIBRARIAN: Isn't that a nice picture?
JOHAN LIEBERT: Yes, it is. But it's a little too adult for him.
LIBRARIAN: So your friend isn't a grown-up? How about this one then?
[she reaches up for the top shelf, and several books fall to the floor]
LIBRARIAN: Oh no!
[she bends down to pick them up, and Johan helps her]
LIBRARIAN: Thank you.
[she looks into his eyes and blushes]
LIBRARIAN: Oh, I-I'm a bit clumsy, so I'm always like this.
[he picks up one book and stares at it]
LIBRARIAN: Ah, this is it. This is the book I was going to suggest to you.
[she tries to hand him a book, but he just stands up and stares at the one he's holding]
LIBRARIAN: Hm?
[she gets up and looks at him]
LIBRARIAN: Do you like that one?
[she looks at the book]
LIBRARIAN: Oh, it has nice pictures. I wonder whose book that is.
[she looks at the cover]
LIBRARIAN: Let me take a look. Emil Scherbe... The publisher is Moravia... That publisher is located in Prague. There are a lot of good picture book artists in the Czech Republic. But I've never heard of Scherbe. He must not be very famous.
[he suddenly starts to tremble and murmur to himself]
LIBRARIAN: Hmm? LIBRARIAN: Is something wrong?
[his murmuring becomes louder and louder, until he screams and and falls to the ground]
LIBRARIAN: Gasp!
[the librarian runs away]
LIBRARIAN: [from off camera] Help! Somebody please help!

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