Chat Noir, the charm is lost...
Blog Entry: Chat Noir, the charm is lost...
Blog Entry: Chat Noir, the charm is lost...
I have a version of this with pictures at:
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-1-566438554
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-2-566438737
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-3-566438852
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-4-566438990
One of the things I liked best about Chat Noir in the cell trailer was the contrast between his civilian and hero self. Adrien was serious and quiet, a perfect complement to his mischievous guardian spirit.
Presumably influenced by the spirit and under the encouragement of anonymity, he was much more outgoing as Chat Noir. His hair and expression also reflected that contrast.
Both Chat Noir and Ladybug had a variety of funny expressions, which are toned down or lacking in the CG.
The biggest disappointment though, isn't an aesthetic one though, it's the fact that they changed the fun dynamic for Ladybug liking Adrien and rejecting Chat Noir, while Adrien rejects Marinette and likes Ladybug, neither realizing they are the same person, for something much more cliche. They show hints of liking both, giving the impression that the characters are trapped in a love square that doesn't exist. I was into the irony and the laughs that came with it, but the cliche indecisiveness is boring.
Furthermore, Chat Noir is much less appealing when he's not at odds with himself. Instead of that interesting contrast of serious vs. kind of crazy, we get "charming" vs flirty, which doesn't quite contrast all that much. The serious Adrien that was hilarious because he was a serious character paired with a mischief maker (the cat spirit), is now a generic creature that looks like he was copied from some random boy band. I miss my Chat Noir, this is not my Chat Noir.
Another thing that has occurred to me is the possible presence or absence of Adrien fangirls. Clearly Marinette is one, though her best friend is not. It could be because she's Marinette's friend, or because Adrien is simply not her type, but given the fact that he is a model and this is taking a turn for the cliche, I wonder if he'll have a fanclub. Even if it would be cliche if he did, it would make less sense that he didn't. Another thing that made the original Adrien so likeable was that he was so quiet, hardly ever smiling in civilian form, always looking annoyed, dressing formally in dark colors, blending into the background.
Adrien was the kind of guy most girls would overlook, which was a big part of what made Marinette's crush on him so cute. She also acted more dreamy, where as in the new version she acts like a stalker, where did her subtlety go? I'm not really motivated to root for her in the shipping department now that she switches from obsessing over Adrien to flirting with Chat Noir, whom she thinks is a different guy.
The original Adrien was in love with Ladybug, thus paid Marinette no mind, as he was unaware of her hero identity, yet I couldn't help it but to root for him back then. It looked like he was only really confident enough to notice girls as Chat Noir, and just got annoyed as Adrien, as if the only way he opened up and showed a more playful side of himself was in hero form. This was intriguing and made me want to know more about him. Now that he's Mr. Generic Charming Model, Marinette's crush feels superficial, and Adrien's character falls flat.
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-1-566438554
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-2-566438737
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-3-566438852
http://mikaristar.deviantart.com/art/Chat-Noir-4-566438990
One of the things I liked best about Chat Noir in the cell trailer was the contrast between his civilian and hero self. Adrien was serious and quiet, a perfect complement to his mischievous guardian spirit.
Presumably influenced by the spirit and under the encouragement of anonymity, he was much more outgoing as Chat Noir. His hair and expression also reflected that contrast.
Both Chat Noir and Ladybug had a variety of funny expressions, which are toned down or lacking in the CG.
The biggest disappointment though, isn't an aesthetic one though, it's the fact that they changed the fun dynamic for Ladybug liking Adrien and rejecting Chat Noir, while Adrien rejects Marinette and likes Ladybug, neither realizing they are the same person, for something much more cliche. They show hints of liking both, giving the impression that the characters are trapped in a love square that doesn't exist. I was into the irony and the laughs that came with it, but the cliche indecisiveness is boring.
Furthermore, Chat Noir is much less appealing when he's not at odds with himself. Instead of that interesting contrast of serious vs. kind of crazy, we get "charming" vs flirty, which doesn't quite contrast all that much. The serious Adrien that was hilarious because he was a serious character paired with a mischief maker (the cat spirit), is now a generic creature that looks like he was copied from some random boy band. I miss my Chat Noir, this is not my Chat Noir.
Another thing that has occurred to me is the possible presence or absence of Adrien fangirls. Clearly Marinette is one, though her best friend is not. It could be because she's Marinette's friend, or because Adrien is simply not her type, but given the fact that he is a model and this is taking a turn for the cliche, I wonder if he'll have a fanclub. Even if it would be cliche if he did, it would make less sense that he didn't. Another thing that made the original Adrien so likeable was that he was so quiet, hardly ever smiling in civilian form, always looking annoyed, dressing formally in dark colors, blending into the background.
Adrien was the kind of guy most girls would overlook, which was a big part of what made Marinette's crush on him so cute. She also acted more dreamy, where as in the new version she acts like a stalker, where did her subtlety go? I'm not really motivated to root for her in the shipping department now that she switches from obsessing over Adrien to flirting with Chat Noir, whom she thinks is a different guy.
The original Adrien was in love with Ladybug, thus paid Marinette no mind, as he was unaware of her hero identity, yet I couldn't help it but to root for him back then. It looked like he was only really confident enough to notice girls as Chat Noir, and just got annoyed as Adrien, as if the only way he opened up and showed a more playful side of himself was in hero form. This was intriguing and made me want to know more about him. Now that he's Mr. Generic Charming Model, Marinette's crush feels superficial, and Adrien's character falls flat.