Draft fanart for my new fanfic
Hi all, how are you doing? Do you know today is the 21st day and the 21st week of the 21st year of the 21st century? 😉 Also, Stear’s birthday is coming up (May 25). I like both Stear and Archie a lot, so happy birthday, Stear!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been revising my longest fanfic “Love Never Fails”. I finished up to chapter 45, but I decided to take a break and started planning for my new fanfic. Below is a part of the illustration of a particular scene. As you can see, this is Albert with long hair (when he was amnesiac), but I’m not done yet. I’d like to ask you all for suggestions. Does it look terrible with watermark everywhere? I also put the name “Albert” in case someone steals my drawing and name him “Terry” again, LOL. 😀
Before I end this short post, I’d like to thank Fay for sharing this post with us from El Portal de Sakura about the interview of Keiko Nagita back in 1999. This is my first time reading about this interview too. I must say I’m extremely glad that Nagita sensei could continue writing as much as she wanted back then, including the introduction of a new character Terry. Otherwise, the story of Candy Candy would have been too short and not as intriguing.
Interestingly, Nagita sensei in the interview mentioned Albert adopted Candy as a 養女 to the Ardlay’s family. Though the author did not say he was her 養父. The terms mean adopted (foster) daughter and adoptive (foster) father respectively, and since Candy used “Ardlay” as her last name ever since the adoption, she was not merely a foster daughter. In the Candy Candy Final Story Epilogue, Candy did ask Albert about this, and he admitted he was her 養父 even though he had forgotten about it and was undoubtedly upset. He specifically indicated he did not want her to address him as such.
I agree with many of you that legally Albert was not old enough to adopt Candy, not to mention he was a bachelor, but how do you explain why she could use his family name? Do you think it was the author’s mistake or oversight? Or do you think Albert somehow used a fake identity (as an old man) to adopt Candy? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
In where I live we are suddenly blessed with a large supply of vaccines, so I finally got my first dose. Of course I will still wear masks and practice social distancing. How about you? At any rate, please take care and stay safe! 😉 Hope you like my new drawing of Albert. 🥰
Hello, Ms. Puddle. I may be a little late in my comment, but better late than never.
First let me congratulate you on your new drawing. I like it very much. You have portrayed perfectly an amnesiac Albert, just as he was when he turned and looked at Candy for the first time in the Room 0. I’m sure your final illustration will be even better, and I’m looking forward to your new fanfic. As for your watermark, I think it’s very wise that you’re trying to protect your intellectual property as best as you can, since there are people who have no respect for the work of others and sometimes even try to make a profit of it. We can’t be too careful.
I’m glad I came across that interview of Nagita back in 1999 in which she mentioned some very interesting points. It turns out (and by her own words) that while Anthony and Albert were in the story from the beginning, Terry was not, and Archie was supposed to be Candy’s second love instead. Nagita initially planned all three of Candy’s loves to be within the Ardlay family, but it seems she changed her mind and decided for her second love to be a sort of ‘outsider’. Therefore, she “apologized” to Archie for replacing him with Terry. Anyway, the Ardlay family had always had a central role in Candy’s story, as Nagita had started writing about them since she was 12, and apparently everything that happened in her story was related to them.
Of course this is not very good news to Terry fans who have believed for years that the actor was Candy’s great love and the main male protagonist of the story. Imagine how disappointed they must be to find out that their hero had just a supporting role in the cast. LOL.
Edit: I meant to say “the male protagonist”. The word “main” is redundant.
Hello Fay! It’s a delight to hear from you. <3 Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words to my fanart and fanfic! It's been a long time since I last wrote a CC fic so I'm actually a bit nervous. I hope you won't be disappointed. 😉 😛
Yes this interview back in 1999 is indeed intriguing, and thanks again for sharing this with us. To be honest, I don't like the idea of Archie being the second love, precisely because I like the Cornwell brothers. I'd rather Archie suffer from unrequited love and move on instead of losing Candy to his young Uncle WAA. I'm also glad that Nagita sensei had decided to introduce an "outsider" Terry into the story even though some of his fans have been aggressive over the years. Well said, Fay, about Terry's supporting role. He might be the main character during Candy's time in London, but it's clear he became a memory to her in CCFS after their breakup.
Indeed, it’s better that Archie had to go through an unrequited love than being Candy’s second love and then losing her to his uncle. With Anthony and Terry it was different. Anthony died and Terry was far away from Candy due to circumstances. But Archie would always be there, close to Candy, since he belonged to the family, and would have to witness her new love with Albert. I guess it would be rather awkward for all involved. (And let’s not forget about Annie and her possible reaction to that…) And yes, it was right that Nagita created an outsider like Terry for a change. Terry was a charming and fascinating character, and I am glad he had his share in the story (a very important one), but not more important than Albert who had been there from the beginning to the end, as Prince on the Hill, as Uncle William, as Albert. It’s funny that some people can’t see it, and it’s also sad if they see it but won’t accept it.
I still remember some crazy fans who asked Arechi Manga to change the structure of the Spanish translation of CCFS, moving the letters of the epilogue to the third section and putting Terry’s brief letter at the end.
I wouldn’t expect Archie to one of Candy’s romantic interests, however, he did get the short end of the stick when it came to be paired with that needy dimwit-Annie. Someone with his level of intelligence and laudable ethos should have been paired with an equivalent-for example, a colleague from work or university.
Typo 1: “I wouldn’t expect Archie to be one of Candy’s romantic interests..”
Typo 2: “..when it came to being paired with that..”.
I agree with that. Archie could do a lot better. Maybe that’s why Nagita had to apologize to him, for pairing him with Annie. LOL.
At least Nagita somewhat “compensated” via elevating Archie’s character and making him much more mature and affable in the novel.
This novel has a great deal of flaws but the writer did her utmost to provide further character development and magnitude not only to Archie but to Stear and George as well.
Yet, it’s interesting that Nagita did not put any effort to elevate Terry’s character. Instead, she deprives him of his own narrative ‘voice’ after the end of section two. Terry is reduced to a mere shadow of the past whilst Albert gains in momentum and the author keeps on enriching Albert’s already fascinating and intricate character.
That said, the novel-version of Terry is a mere puppet-if not pitiful victim-of circumstances, whereas in the manga and anime he was far more dynamic and resourceful. In the novel, however, Terry is a simplistic and passive recipient who contiguously indulges himself into self-pity and defeatism. He’s a rather pathetic character in the novel.
Ironically so, the producers of TOEI and Yumiko Igarshi as manga artist did much better jobs in developing Terry’s character. The reason why Terry was appealing to some people back in the 1970s-1980s was thanks to the alterations made to his severely toxic character by the TOEI producers. The anime producers had removed those disturbing scenes of the May fest and they were wise to do so. However, Nagita not only decided to keep that disconcerting scene in the novel but she made Terry’s character appear even more toxic and violent against women than in the anime and the manga. Nagita had the golden opportunity to elevate and improve Terry’s character but for some reason of her own she decided not to. Instead, Nagita decided to add further depth and significance into the character of Albert and further expound upon the intricate relationship brewing between Candy and Albert.
You’re absolutely right! Albert’s character in the CCFS is awesome but Terry is reduced to a mere sidekick and his role is just playing second fiddle when juxtaposed to the other CCFS characters from the 3rd section of the story onwards. The epilogue is predominantly reliant on the interpersonal interactions between Candy and Albert and the secrets as well as humour they share with each other.
Well said, @Gabriella. We read about Terry primarily from Candy’s recollections in section 3. She hardly mentioned him in her letters to others too.
My sentiments exactly, @Sarah. Didn’t Nagita sensei say Igarashi had done a wonderful job bringing Terry to life? Perhaps Terry in the manuscripts was like the one portrayed in CCFS, but the manga, especially the anime, elevated his character.
Yes I also wonder why the author intentionally diminished Terry’s role in section 3. 🤔
That’s true. In the 2010 novel, Nagita praises Igarashi’s drawings and advises her readers to imagine all the characters of her story as depicted by the aforesaid manga artist.
Yes @Sarah, I remember that for most characters we can simply imagine Igarashi’s drawings, but interestingly Nagita sensei still changed a few. For example, Annie had blonde hair in Igarashi’s artworks but in CCFS she was described to have dark brown hair.
Btw, does anyone remember Susanna’s eye colour? In CCFS it’s never mentioned as far as I know 🤔
As for Terry, I agree with you and I also find it rather odd that Nagita reduced Terry’s character to a distant memory after the end of section 2 of the novel. In stark contrast to the manga and anime, Terry ceases to play an active role in Candy’s life and the readers have no idea what he’s thinking or feeling. The bottom line is that Terry’s role in the 2010 novel is severely limited and he only has his “15 minutes of fame” in section 2 and that’s it. On the other hand, however, Albert’s role becomes increasingly more important and far more relevant from the beginning until the end of the novel, especially when it comes to Candy’s personal adult life.
The irony is that some of those paranoid Terry-fans go out of their way to trash the manga and anime where, in fact, it’s thanks to Igarashi and TOEI that Terry had such an appeal amongst certain females during the previous century.
Had it been the other way around and the public first got wind of the novel (prior to the manga/anime), Terry wouldn’t have had an infinitesimal fraction of the appeal he had back in those days of the past.
The reason is simple..
Both the manga and anime offer ample significance and relevance to Terry’s character. The viewers/readers have a constant know-how about Terry’s mindset and actions because he’s in Candy’s life one way or another even though they’re apart in different states of the US. On the one hand, Igarashi had done a fine job in illustrating Terry and, on the other hand, TOEI was astute in reducing Albert’s significance and thus amplifying Terry’s. TOEI was also clever in keeping Candy away from the Magnolia by having her working as a nurse elsewhere. Therefore, Candy and Albert wouldn’t spend too much time together as they did in the manga and novel version of the story.
However, in the novel the material circumstances change for all three characters involved-Candy, Albert, Terry. First and foremost, Terry ceases to be relevant in Section 3 of the novel and thereafter. He’s just sporadically mentioned here and there.. Secondly, Candy and Albert get very close and comfy in the house of Magnolia to the point where they both shatter all decorum and continuously express their mutual yearning and longing for those days they lived together at that place. Anyone with intelligence and logic can understand that Candy and Albert had become more than just friends..The third and final point is that while Terry diminishes in importance after the end of Section 2, Albert becomes more and more vital to Candy’s life and to the overall story. It’s beyond any shadow of a doubt that all of Keiko Nagita’s characters are emotionally important to her, however, certain characters play their (limited) part and eventually go away as in the case of Terry while other characters gradually gain in significance such as Candy and Albert. Until the end of the novel, the relationship between Candy and Albert constantly grows and evolves leaving more than just mere hints that they’re only friends. In Candy’s own words-in the novel (Section 3)-she confesses to herself that she does not see Albert as a paternal or brotherly figure but as a man she finds attractive and who means the world to her. Her feelings for Albert did not occur overnight but followed an emotional process which took its time after having achieved life-learning experiences and emotional maturity.
The irony is that some of those paranoid Terry-fans go out of their way to trash the manga and anime where, in fact, it’s thanks to Igarashi and TOEI that Terry had such an appeal amongst certain females during the previous century.
Had it been the other way around and the public first got wind of the novel (prior to the manga/anime), Terry wouldn’t have had an infinitesimal fraction of the appeal he had back in those days of the past.
The reason is simple..
Both the manga and anime offer ample significance and relevance to Terry’s character. The viewers/readers have a constant know-how about Terry’s mindset and actions because he’s in Candy’s life one way or another even though they’re apart in different states of the US. On the one hand, Igarashi had done a fine job in illustrating Terry and, on the other hand, TOEI was astute in reducing Albert’s significance and thus amplifying Terry’s. TOEI was also clever in keeping Candy away from the Magnolia by having her working as a nurse elsewhere. Therefore, Candy and Albert wouldn’t spend too much time together as they did in the manga and novel version of the story.
However, in the novel the material circumstances change for all three characters involved-Candy, Albert, Terry. First and foremost, Terry ceases to be relevant in Section 3 of the novel and thereafter. He’s just sporadically mentioned here and there.. Secondly, Candy and Albert get very close and comfy in the house of Magnolia to the point where they both shatter all decorum and continuously express their mutual yearning and longing for those days they lived together at that place. Anyone with intelligence and logic can understand that Candy and Albert had become more than just friends..The third and final point is that while Terry diminishes in importance after the end of Section 2, Albert becomes more and more vital to Candy’s life and to the overall story. It’s beyond any shadow of a doubt that all of Keiko Nagita’s characters are significant and emotionally important to her, however, certain characters play their (limited) part and eventually go away as in the case of Terry. Until the end of the novel, the relationship between Candy and Albert constantly grows and evolves leaving more than just mere hints that they’re not only friends. In Candy’s own words-in the novel (Section 3)-she confesses to herself that she does not see Albert as a paternal or brotherly figure but as a man she finds attractive and who means the world to her.
Hi @Christine, this is very interesting. I would have thought the Terry fans loved the anime version a lot! They don’t necessarily like the manga; some even refused to read it I heard.
Indeed I agree with you that in the anime Terry was like the main male character after Anthony’s death, overshadowing Albert’s significance. I often wonder why TOEI sacrificed Albert’s character so much. 😓
Well said about Terry’s role and Candy and Albert’s relationship in CCFS, Christine. I couldn’t have said it better 👍🤗
For sure Candy had romantic feelings for Albert by the time he confessed to her on the hill. Otherwise she wouldn’t have accepted him as POTH and kept calling him her prince in her subsequent reply to his letter 💕
LMAO!
You’re absolutely right about that-Christine.
Those poor hysterical Terrfans are constantly shooting themselves in the foot whenever they shitpost about the manga & anime. Their derangement syndrome impedes them from realizing the obvious that Igarashi and TOEI generously offered so much weight to Terry’s character. In the novel, however, Terry’s role is truncated to a severe extent whilst Albert’s role becomes far more important. This is the reason why so many Albert-fans post positive feedback and favourable reviews about Keiko Nagita’s novel on so many social medial platforms. Irrespective of the ambiguity surrounding the identity of ‘anohito’, when it comes to the novel, Albert is the clear winner.😉
Yes, @Sarah, I agree. Too bad Archie did end up with Annie. I don’t like her in the manga or the anime, but in CCFS she was even worse to have written that letter to Candy. 🙁 I think pro-Terry fans like that letter a lot though.
Hello @Fay, I couldn’t agree with you more. Terry indeed plays an important role in Candy’s life, but he can’t compare to Albert, Prince on the Hill or Granduncle William 🥰😍
Well said!
Thank you for sharing your insightful analysis with us, Fay!
For those who have actually read this novel, it is crystal clear that the main characters of this story are Candy and Albert. Their relationship undergoes various intricate phases and eventually develops from a friendship into an intimate romantic bond during their adulthood.
Many a time has Nagita expressed her affections regarding all the characters of her novel, however, she singled out Albert when stating that simply the thought of Albert when writing about him in her book made her heart beat fast with utmost excitement.😊
Excellent points, @Christine! Albert and Candy were in love by the time he confessed to her as her prince, no doubt about that 🥰
Also, many thanks for reminding us that Nagita-sensei is indisputably an Albert fan herself, LOL 😆
Keiko Nagita expressed her warmest sentiments for all her characters and in her latest interview in Paris in 2019, she had also expressed her love and respect for Susanna and how she wanted to write more about her.
Nonetheless, Nagita’s love for Albert is definitely pronounced and no matter how certain delusional fans want to downplay this, the author herself constantly refutes and directly contradicts them via the ways in which she has generously offered the best attributes and character traits to Candy and Albert.😊
Exactly, @Christine. Nagita has also expressed her regard for Susanna through Candy’s narrative. Candy declares that she considers Susanna a wonderful person and never insults or belittles her. On the contrary, Susanna has been the target of many hateful and insulting remarks from Terry fans who even ridiculed her disability. Apart from the emetic comments about Albert being a pedophile, this disgusting abuse of a disabled person like Susanna clearly shows how low Terry fans can go in order to support their idol. Even their most celebrated website, Candy Terry Paradise, was mainly based on this double purpose: insulting Albert and Susanna. Maybe this is one of the reasons the admin of that page finally decided to shut it down.
Couldn’t agree with you more, Fay!
Some of those Terry-fans (fortunately, not all of them but only a minority of decadent middle-aged shrews) are doing a disservice to Keiko Nagita via their emotionally disturbed and acutely unhealthy obsession with a cartoon character called Terry. It’s pathetic of them that they’re deploying and weaponizing a mere and completely unimportant fictitious and anachronistic character in order to hurl insults and hurt real-life people. It’s no wonder that Keiko Nagita has been keeping a safe distance from all those clowns. She’s polite to them-as she is with everyone-but that’s it. Even the editor of Arechi Manga has strictly prohibited any such clownish acts by them on Facebook. If Terry was actually a living and real-life person and knew about the sordid and vomitous ways in which some of his own fans behave, he would have walked right up to them and spat them straight in the face as he had done to Eliza in the manga.
There’s a very popular YouTube channel in Spanish called “Juegos Juguetes y coleccionables” where two ladies-Jocelyn and Karen-did a series of reviews concerning the CCHD and they openly castigated and ridiculed some of those Terry-fans as being even worse than Eliza for wishing the demise of Susanna in order to get back Terry. Those two astute ladies continued saying that it’s pathetic for those Terry-fans to wait like lingering vultures over Susanna’s corpse so as to grab Terry into their desperate arms. Those two ladies received loads of backlash coming from some of those hysterical Terry-fans (as usual..) but Jocelyn and Karen stood their ground and actually doubled-down by saying that those who have dignity and self-respect do not wish or wait for the death of another person. Needless to mention that it’s completely psychotic to be so emotionally intense over a male character which doesn’t exist nor has he ever existed. That’s not passion but a diseased obsession.
Healthy people invest in the real world and demonstrate their real love and their real passion as well as commitment to other real-life people and real-life aspirations for upward mobility and personal fulfilment. Those who are obsessed over make-believe characters are losers.
Thanks for sharing your impressively intelligent and logical commentary, @Ms Puddle, @Fay and @Christine!
It’s obvious that certain fans have lost any form of psychological equilibrium and they need to seek professional/medical assistance instead of lashing out against other people over fictional characters. Neither Terry nor Albert nor any other fictional character offer any usefulness to humanity. None of those characters will ever cure cancer or eliminate COVID-19 or help pay our taxes and our bills. They will never put food on our tables nor will they ever give us our well-deserved and earned salaries. Those of use who have actual jobs and meaningful lives have no need for such nonsensical obsessions over such fictional characters.
Instead, we are in these various online forums just to have some fun during our free-time and admire the creativity of those who produce beautiful fan-art and fan-fiction. Nothing more and nothing less..
Thank you @DanielleV! You have raised some good points about those of us with real jobs or responsibilities in life! We are here mainly for fun and entertaining our creativity or imagination. Thank you for choosing my blog as one of the forums to spend your free time 🤗
That’s precisely the case and it’s an honour for me as well as so many of us in this forum to be given the opportunity to share our thoughts and, above all, appreciate your amazing fanart and fanfiction during our much needed and well-deserved free-time.
As mentioned before and not only by me, you are a person who musters dignity and class. Some of those extremist fans who erroneously conflate passion with diseased fixations for mere fictional characters could learn a lot from you but they must first seek professional/medical assistance to restore any residual psychological equilibrium and personal integrity they may have.
Each and every individual has the right to approve of or criticize any living or fictional character and if some of those disturbed fans cannot take criticism, that is clearly their own problem. Whether they like it or not, people will continue to air their opinion and critique and no one will ever seek nor need their consent. End of.
Thank you so much @DanielleV for your highly encouraging words! My honour indeed 🥰🤗
Well said @Fay and @Christine! I couldn’t have agreed with you two more. 👏👏
Thank you for bringing up that Spanish YouTube Channel, Christine. Enough said about some crazy Terry fans, and sometimes I think CCFS and the invention of Anohito have exposed their obsessions even more.
Brilliant illustration of Albert! Whether his hair is longer or shorter, he’s still a beauty.🔥✨🥰
Thank you so much for sharing @Ms Puddle!
Thank you @Irana93 for your positive feedback❣️ What a delight to hear that he’s a beauty to you 🤗
What’s not to like? Albert’s Nordic beauty and tall stature in tandem with his intelligence and kindness render him such a remarkable character. It’s not surprising that Albert’s fans are in their greatest majority younger women who are much more independent and well-educated as opposed to older generations which were bred in conservative and often theocratical communities raised with suppressing patriarchal norms. Toxic masculinity was tolerated in the past but it’s refreshing to see that the younger generations of women and men have zero tolerance for misogynistic and chauvinistic male characters. It’s intriguing that Keiko Nagita had created the character of Albert who was a feminist male character way ahead of his time. His progressive and liberal mindset are worthy of note.
I have to agree with the fact that misogynists and woman beaters like Terry are not tolerated in these days as they were in the past. However, CC manga and anime were both first known in late 1970s, and it’s only natural that many fans who knew the story back then as children would be now in their forties or early fifties. Among them are Terry fans as well as Albert fans. There are several Albert fans about that age who were Terry fans in their adolescence and turned into Albert fans as they grew older. Of course, there are also many in their forties and fifties who still cling to an adolescent Terry. These people, unlike Candy, have never actually matured and their case is hopeless. At the end of the day, it’s not really about biological age, but rather more about education level, background, culture, all these factors that define a person’s character and preferences.
You’re both right. Excellent comments, @Irana93 and @Fay!
Well said, @Fay. It’s not really about the readers’ ages but more about education, culture and upbringing 👍
I agree with you, @Irana93, especially about Nagita sensei’s creating a male character that was ahead of his time. The same for the author too, because back in the 70s Japanese culture was predominantly patriarchal.
Male characters such as Albert as well as Stear represent the modern man who knows how to respect dynamic women. This is the reason why these characters have developed such a massive appeal amongst the younger women-most of whom are empowered and highly educated. Only the older and conservative mindsets desperately try to act as apologists for toxic male characters such as Terry. It doesn’t make any difference, however, because progressive and liberal mentalities of our modern times are overwhelmingly stronger and much more powerful, hence, tearing asunder such nonsensical, cobweb and downright anachronistic beliefs which dwell in isolated sad old heads of zero relevance and importance.😉
Hello @Ms Puddle and @Irana,
You have made astute points and it goes without saying that a woman or man who respects oneself never tolerates nor condones any form of violence against another human-being, whether it be physical or psychological.
However, let’s not forget that Candy was living back in the early 1900s when it was, unfortunately, acceptable for a man to abuse a woman as the latter was regarded by religious as well as socio-political authorities as “inferior”. It was also in Candy’s disposition to forgive all those who abused her, including Neil, Terry and Eliza. Candy had also forgiven Annie and Susanna. She was a devout Catholic and she would have been “trained” by the patriarchal and theocratical society to always turn the other cheek when struck hard.
In a similar fashion, Keiko Nagita has also forgiven many people who have hurt and humiliated her. She has even forgiven Yumiko Igarashi to the point of even recommending and admiring her manga artwork. If the rumours contending that Candy constitutes Nagita’s “alter ego” are true, then this story gets even more interesting because Candy, may in a way, reflect Nagita’s inherent ability or proclivity to forgiving those who have caused her severe pain and harm.
Another aspect worth considering is the fact that Nagita is from Japan and even though her story of Candy Candy is based on British and American characters, her mentality and cultural background is, nonetheless, heavily reliant upon the acutely patriarchal society of Japan which remains very conservative and unfavourable to women even until this day. Feminists in Japan are struggling and working fiercely hard to eliminate such awful patriarchal norms which impede women from being considered as equal to men in the family, society and workforce. The older generations of Japanese women such as Nagita (don’t forget she’s over 70 years old) have had no other alternative but to tolerate such emetic discrimination. Fortunately, younger Japanese women are much more influenced by feminism and lay an active role in changing the quality of life for women in all aspects of human interaction for the better.
***play an active role***
All your points are excellent and, i particular, I couldn’t agree more with @Irana93’s statement that progressive minds are much stronger in the contemporary world. No matter how desperately some narrow-minded folks want to cling to the past, contemporary people and their mindsets change and there’s absolutely nothing those silly bigots can do about it.
The same goes for modern-day women refusing to tolerate or admire toxic male characters such as Terry. Such characters were popular in the previous century but they are utterly ridiculed and dispensed with in our times, especially by the youth. Besides, it’s 2021 and not the far back 1970s and 1980s were racism and sexism were considered acceptable in mainstream media and elsewhere. Moreover, intelligent people refuse to function as mere passive recipient “fans” but as critical thinkers who know how to appreciate but also criticize various genres in literature or such ‘light mangalized novels’ such as the CCFS (or CCHD) by Keiko Nagita. Appreciating any form of work, whether it be literature or music or anything else, comprises the analysis of its positive but also its negative elements. At least this is how erudite and intelligent individuals act.
Good points @Gabriella and @Irana93!
Things have indeed changed these days, but to be honest bad boy tropes are not necessarily outdated because it’s still appealing to some people, though I must agree it’s not as popular anymore.
Thank you – Ms Puddle, Anita and Gabriella – for your kind words and support.
I presume that we all know that each generation and each society is different based on its norms and values.
Through the passage of time, everything and everyone without exception undergoes some form of scrutiny and we all have the democratic right to criticize as well as approve , whether it’s assessing a piece of writing, evaluating an idea or another person, etc.
It’s called having an opinion and expressing one’s freedom of speech. If certain desperate fans do not like that, then they should pack their bags and head off to North Korea because here in the democratic and civilized world we all have the unconditional and unnegotiable right to air our perspectives whether someone’s fragile albeit toxic so-called ‘masculinity’ gets hurt or not.😉
Exactly, and it is also worthy of note to specify that the image or “bad boy” trope is so passé’..
Yeah, it used to be a thing back then when those CC fans were young but so many years have passed since then and the standards have changed, apparently.
Come to think of it though, the tastes and trends had already begun to change since the nineties when more and more feminist-inspired movies, TV shows and animated cartoons started to prop up.
For instance, you got loads of manga and anime productions where the central character is a female warrior or badass scientist. In turn, the male characters become more shy but develop that “strong and silent type” attitude which is much akin to Albert’s “signature style”. There’s also the emerging trope of the shy but intelligent geek which resembles Stear’s character a great deal.
Arguably, one of the most iconic and influential male characters which set the stage for a completely different ideal for men and masculinity is the character of “Byron Sully” in the notable TV series “Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman”. If anyone is similar to the Albert-type character, that surely is Byron Sully. He’s got the whole “package”: mountain man, kind, patient, strong and silent type, educated and respects intelligent women such as Dr Quinn.
Now, it’s widely accepted that Sully and Dr Quinn made the ideal couple in terms of being equivalent and demonstration reciprocal love as well as respect. However, it should be taken into account that while Sully is so incredibly similar to Albert in terms of character, Dr Quinn and Candy have absolutely nothing in common. For one thing, Dr Quinn would have never accepted nor tolerated in the slightest any form of physical or psychological abuse against her. This is the reason why Dr Quinn has remained an all-time-classic feminist who has withstood the test of time and has retained popularity in so many countries worldwide. The same goes for Byron Sully. The two of them have almost become archetypes.
The Dr Quinn story has maintained its appeal and millions of people worldwide are demanding for a reboot.
Unfortunately, Candy Candy hasn’t stood the test of time as it lacks in such widespread and worldwide popularity. Hardly anyone knows about Candy in the USA, UK and Canada, including most countries in Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Candy may inspire nostalgia to us, yet, to the younger generations, Candy is considered to be corny and cheesy. This particular story by Keiko Nagita sure hasn’t stood the test of time and the novel is as flat as a poorly baked pancake…
You’re to-the-point, Myra. Toxic male characters such as Terry have no appeal to younger generations and rightfully so. His last remaining fans have been reduced to an insignificant minority which is getting older but none the wiser. Some of them are desperately trying to whip up the enthusiasm that used to exist back in the 70s and early 80s but, in reality, what those poor old fans are achieving is nothing more than flogging a dead horse.
Well said!
Hi @Myra, I remember you have shared the TV series Dr. Quinn before. I’m intrigued too but too bad I don’t have much time for TV series 😓
Candy Candy may not be as well known in many countries but it’s one of the best ones in Japanese manga history. In fact, I was told that the ending of the manga, where little crybaby Candy first met her prince, was considered classic. I used to wish that Nagita-sensei had kept Igarashi’s drawing of Albert and Candy’s hugging each other as the end, but I sort of understand why that was removed.
Thank you @Ms Puddle and @Anita for your replies.
“Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman” is, arguably, one of the best TV series ever aired on syndication and there are millions of people demanding for a reboot. Dr Quinn epitomizes the empowered feminist who relies on her own resources and intelligence so as to overcome adversities. Byron Sully represents the paragon of the feminist man whose masculinity is neither fragile nor toxic but complements and reinforces independent, dynamic women such as Dr Quinn. Beth Sullivan, who is the main writer (there have been several co-writers along the way), has done a sterling job in creating such well-rounded and complex characters. If you ever get the time, I would highly recommend you watch this TV series.
Many people have commented about the overt similarities between Byron Sully and William Albert Ardlay. Their physical appearance is different but their character is almost identical.
Tbh, when I had been watching the Candy Candy anime I had thought that Albert and Dr Kelly were going to become a couple. Do you remember her? She was a character added to the anime-she doesn’t exist in the manga or novel, apparently. Dr Kelly was a doctor who protected Candy when she was working as a nurse at a rough coal mine in a rural place. Nobody knew that Dr Kelly was a woman because she had disguised herself as a man which was easy for her to do given her lofty height and slender physique. It’s interesting that when Candy explained via a letter to her friends back in Chicago that her employer was a female doctor, Annie and Archie were shocked but Albert was impressed and expressed his utmost respect for Dr Kelly’s medical achievements.
Regardless of whether we’re referring to the manga, anime or novel, the common denominator is the elevation of Albert’s character and how both Keiko Nagita and Yumiko Igarashi have singled him out as being a remarkable character who is beautiful inside-out.
Thank you @Myra for your suggestions!
About the anime version, for some reason I don’t remember the part where Candy worked elsewhere with Dr Kelly. I guess I was too young back then. Later when I rewatched as an adult i only picked some parts to watch. 😉
Yes I couldn’t have agreed with you more that both the author and the illustrator have put lots of efforts in portraying the main character Albert in the story.
In some dubbs, she’s called Dr Kerry and in others Dr Kelly..
Based on the anime, Dr Kelly (or Kerry) appears to have been a former medical student of Dr Martin when he used to teach at university. Of-course, this scenario is based on the anime, exclusively, and is nowhere to be found in either the manga or novel.
Anyway, I have managed to find a video on YouTube based on the episode I was telling you about. It’s dubbed in Spanish but the subtitles are awful-as is the usual case with YouTube/Google translations.
I was way too young myself but I remember this episode because I found it interesting.
https://tinyurl.com/fvuc5ebm
Interesting, @Myra! I actually own the DVD set of anime version 👍 Which episode is that?
The title of that video reads episode 104. I’ll check out if this episode is available in any other language on YouTube.
I think this is the Japanese one but there are no subtitles available:
https://tinyurl.com/wxr74huu
Well said @Anita and @Irana93! I don’t have much to add except that a lot of south east Asian countries, including Japan and Korea, are still very patriarchal. Things have gradually changed nowadays but still far behind when compared to European and North American countries. I grew up hearing many horror stories about how women faced domestic violence and abuse.
To me, Nagita sensei was well ahead of her time to create gorgeous male characters like Albert, Georges and Cornwell brothers, etc.
Hello Ms Puddle,
I really like this new illustration of Albert. Your work is becoming evermore sophisticated in terms of facial expressions and hues. The light-blue colour you’ve used for Albert’s attire blends well with the colour of his eyes.
Who can blame Candy for falling in love with Albert’s lovely blue eyes?😎
Thank you so much @Michelle 😍 for your encouraging feedback to my new drawing. 🤗 You made my day! 💃
Yes, who can blame Candy for falling for Albert’s blue eyes? 🥰
You have done a fine job with both Candy and Albert, especially when it comes to their face, wavy hair and beautiful eyes.
Thanks again @Michelle❣️ I’m seriously considering to draw another CC character though, but let me at least finish the current one first 😅
How are you? Hope you are fine.
I’m so impressed with this new drawing of yours. Albert looks stunning even though he’s in an amnesiac state. This scene reminds me of the moment Candy steps into Room 0 and finds Albert standing next to the window. His gaze was melancholic but cold and distant at the same time. Your drawing is intriguing because you’ve added the feeling of confusion in Albert’s eyes.
As the saying goes-“The eyes are the mirror to the soul.”-and there’s a lot of complex emotions going on in Albert’s psyche as seen through his melancholic albeit beautiful azure eyes.
Can’t wait to see the finalized version of this drawing. I’m sure it will be fascinating.
Thanks for sharing!
Awww… Thank you so much @Christine for your highly encouraging words and compliment to my new fanart❣️
You bet! I mainly used the manga volume 7 as my reference, and the scene in Room 0 was the first one I checked. I must say that was a captivating scene, and Igarashi did an excellent job even though it was black and white. Did you realize she rarely used an entire page for one scene only? This is one of them, and the other one, if I recall correctly, is Candy’s discovery of Albert’s true identity. It speaks volumes of the significance of his character.
Thanks again for your support 😍, and I certainly hope you’ll like the finalized version. 🤗
That’s true, and if I remember correctly, Igarashi had also devoted an entire page depicting Candy and Albert in each other’s embrace on the tree following Stear’s death. It’s that moment where Candy was reduced to tears and Albert comforted her. I had heard that the Italian version of the manga had deliberately omitted that scene. Interesting..
Hi @Christine, that particular scene on the tree is one of my favourites, although it’s about half a page I think.
Yes I also heard that this scene has been omitted in the Italian version. I wonder why… Were the publisher or editors afraid of the inevitable? That Candy was moving on? 🤔
That scene had been omitted in the Greek version of the manga too.
Come to think of it though, the reason for this is probably because the Greek version was simply a translation of the already available Italian version rather than putting any effort in translating the original Japanese manga.
Yes, that makes sense, @Myra. Interestingly, the manga publisher did not check the other versions like Spanish or French. If I remember correctly though, the Greek manga is coloured and also used the fabricated ending from the Italian version?
That’s right. The ones I have in Greek are coloured and they had also translated that hilariously nonsensical continuation of that cheap Italian manga version.
Yes, @Myra, it was cheap and nonsensical. The “drawings” were results of copying and pasting from various scenes as far as I can tell 😅
I know.. Those weren’t drawings in that ridiculous Italian manga but simply “tracing” Yumiko Igarashi’s original illustrations. It’s surprising that Nagita and Igarashi didn’t sue the Italian publishers for their imbecilic “copy-pasting” and downright exploitation out of profiting from Igarashi and Nagita’s original work. But the again, copyright and intellectual property laws weren’t as strict and specific as they are nowadays.
Apparently, there used to be a Terry-fan hysteria in Italy back in the distant 1970s-1980s but much has changed since then as modern-day women are by far more independent, educated and with an intense aversion to such toxic male characters. This is the reason why contemporary and younger women prefer progressive and liberal male characters such as Albert and Stear. This most forthcoming change is noticeable in Southern Europe as well as Latin America as millennials and Gen Z are predominantly progressive and feminist.
Well said!
Well said, @Christine!
I’d also like to quote a CC fan’s words (she’s from Italy) though. She said that most of her friends like men with dark hair. They seem to be more appealing than those with blonde hair. It’s probably a cultural thing? 🤔
I don’t think so.. It’s more of a personal preference, tbh.
Most countries in the South of Europe actually prefer blonde men and women. Dying one’s hair blonde is common practice in Southern Europe-especially among the women.
Just to mention that I’ve got relatives in Italy and Spain and I also travel quite a lot to Mediterranean countries. I’ve travelled to Greece as well and the pro-blonde culture also seems to dominate there as well.
I see, @Christine! Thanks for the information, and you’re right it’s probably personal preferences. It seems pro-blonde culture is dominating everywhere then. I heard in UK or Hollywood the actors or actresses with blonde hair have better chances too. 😉
Pleased to read about your vaccination. Hopefully, the world will return to normalcy after the greatest majority of the population is immunized. There are discussions concerning the necessity for a third dose, however.
Thank you @Sarah! I’m not sure if we will ever be back to pre-pandemic lifestyles but at least the infection rates seem to go down in many places around the world. What worries me now is the variants though, especially in countries like India. 😓
It also depends on whether the majority of the population will proceed with the vaccination. There is a lot of hesitancy, especially among the younger groups of people.
On a different note, I’m glad to know that you’ve been vaxxed. I’ve heard that AZ has been prohibited in Canada for women under 50, therefore, I presume you got the Pfizer or Moderna since you are much younger. Am I right?
You’re right @Gabriella that AZ is on hold for everyone now. I got Pfizer myself. Have you got yours yet?
Yes, I have after having cancelled the one with AZ. There was no way I was going to do that one given the fact that I’m in my 30s and that particular vaccine has been reported to cause thrombosis to younger women. It’s not surprising that many countries have prohibited the distribution of AZ.
Glad to hear that you’ve got your first jab too, @Gabriella! As I mentioned before, we’re now blessed with enough supply of Pfizer even for youngsters 12+, so recently high school kids can book their appointments. As for those adults who have received their first doses of AZ , it’s likely they would be given a choice whether to get AZ again for their seconds.
I have the impression that the much younger ones who are in their early 20s as well as teenagers are going to bail out of the vaccination process due to multiple reports of myocarditis cases as an alleged result of having taken the vaccine. In the US and UK, many younger people have cancelled their appointments or don’t bother even showing up.
This is still being investigated, isn’t it @Gabriella? It’s dilemma, but taking the vaccine is possibly much less risky than contracting the real deadly virus, right?
I agree with you, Ms Puddle.
Yet, this entire global pandemic is so messed up that it’s a bit like out of the frying pan and into the fire..
What’s for sure is that more research needs to be done on both the virus and the available vaccines, especially with regards to their long-term (side-) effects.
Yes indeed, @Gabriella. I couldn’t agree with you more. Because of unknown side effects I did hesitate a bit whether to get vaccinated initially, but my doctor explained to me that the benefits considerably outweighed the risks.
You got me swooning over this lovely fan-art of Albert. LOL
Regarding the CCFS, Albert doesn’t seem upset about Candy teasing him. It is clear that they’re both joking about the “father-daughter” situation. Moreover, just because Candy used the name “Ardlay” doesn’t mean anything legally because the Ardlay clan kicked her out of the family once Albert was declared missing. Even George couldn’t do much to protect her. The editor of the Spanish translation (Arechi Manga) also specifies that Albert was nothing more than a tutor for Candy until she became a legal adult who can look after herself. There are many forms of “adoption” and there is absolutely no parental adoption going on in the relationship between Candy and Albert. As you’ve already mentioned, Albert was too young to adopt anyone and he was also unmarried which deemed him legally impossible to be permitted to issue an adoption, especially not for a woman only 10-11 years younger than him.
The issue of adoption has clearly been debunked by Keiko Nagita and her agent. She has also debunked the so-called significance of the “blank pages”, as formally announced by the editor of Arechi Manga who had contacted Keiko Nagita’s agent himself.
You can easily find all this information on the official social medial accounts of Arechi Manga (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube).
Exactly! What matters is what the author and the professional teams involved in the official editing and translation have to say and not hysterical fans desperately trying to impose their bigotry and spew their tediously repetitive nonsensical slurs. It is clear-cut in the novel that Candy states that she never had adoptive parents like Annie did. What is even more significant is that Candy indisputably clarifies that she does not perceive Albert as a father-figure or brother but as a man she finds attractive and also deeply respects as well as admires. She goes even further to say that Albert is a man most special to her (Section III, CCFS).
Well said, @Sarah!! 👍👍 I totally agree with you, but the reason why I brought this up was that the author herself used the official terms for adoptive father and adopted daughter in her interview and the novel. 🤔
If I’m not mistaken, that interview dates back in 1999. If you compare the old novel with the new one (as published in 2010), you will notice that Keiko Nagita has specified (via Candy’s narrative voice) that there was never any father-daughter relationship between Candy and Albert. Candy even refuses to consider Albert as a brotherly figure to her, let alone a father-figure.
Furthermore, Candy keeps on addressing Albert as her friend in her letter to Eleanor Baker. When in her own thoughts, Candy “addresses” Albert as a man who is neither a father nor a brother to her but a man most special in her life. She elucidates that her feelings for Albert are deep and complex and she wonders whether Albert also feels the same for her. There is indisputable attraction between those two blondes and it definitely has nothing to do with fatherly or brotherly love.
I consider the analysis provided by the editor and two translators of the Arechi Manga version of the CCFS (CCHD) to be astute; those professionals involved in the official Spanish translation of the novel explain that Candy was forced into the family of the Ardlays by Albert, however, he was nothing more than a tutor or mentor for Candy until she reached adulthood.
I’m sure that Keiko Nagita has the education and knowledge to know that it’s legally impossible for a bachelor in his early 20s to adopt a female in her late teens. It couldn’t happen then and it can’t happen now either-at least not in the civilized world.
Let’s not forget that the word “adoption” is not restricted to parental. There are many forms of “adoption” and it’s even used when a human-being wants to “adopt” a cat or a dog. Apparently, that doesn’t mean that the “adopted” cat or dog has become the “son” or “daughter” to the said human.😉
I’ll agree with @Sarah and I find her comment spot on. Albert never had any intention in adopting anyone and the only reason he became Candy’s protector for a while was only due to the desperate pleadings of Anthony, Stear and Archie. Candy was under a temporary protection by Albert until she became old enough to protect herself from the claws of the Lagans. If Albert and the other Ardlay boys hadn’t fought so hard to protect Candy, she would have perished under the horrifically inhumane conditions as a child slave-worker in Mexico.
Thank you @Sarah and @Gabriella for your detailed replies and explanations. I totally agree with you both that Candy and Albert had mutual attraction; I also appreciate the professional insights provided by the Arechi Manga.
It’s so true Albert was never a father figure to Candy, who might have regarded him as a brother before but her feelings for him had undoubtedly evolved as she grew up.
I’m wondering why Albert admitted in his letter to Candy that he was her adoptive (foster) father though. What’s the official translations in Spanish, Italian or French? Thanks in advance! 😍
As the translators of Arechi Manga have already specified (you can check at their YouTube channel-it’s the official Arechi Manga one), Candy and Albert were simply being sarcastic and joking around. It’s crystal clear that no one in his or her right frame of mind would ever consider it possible for such a young man who is unmarried as Albert could or would ever adopt a young woman. Context matters in this case and it’s beyond any shadow of a doubt that Candy and Albert are teasing and trolling each other.
Hello!
I think that Sarah is making a valid point with regards to the importance of context and the ways in which sarcasm and jest have been deployed in this novel.
This novel already has a proven track-record of focusing on context as well as irony and sarcasm such as in the case of Candy and Eliza, Neil and Terry. For example, when Candy had told Eliza at the dinner table (this scene is in the first section right after Candy was taken in the Ardlay clan) that her intention was to become a refined, kind and gentle lady like her, Candy was clearly being sarcastic at Eliza’s expense. This is noticeable in the novel because the boys started grinning and were about to crack up from laughter. A similar situation often occurred when Terry trolled Candy. He would tell her that he didn’t find her appearance attractive but he was apparently lying through his teeth and being sarcastic. In a similar fashion, Candy and Albert are also teasing each other and being sardonic with regards to Albert’s presumptuous role as the “Grand Father” of the Ardlay clan. Both Candy and Albert are mocking this ludicrous role because Albert is way too young to be the so-called great patriarch of the illustrious Ardlay clan.
Candy further explains this ridiculous situation in her letter to George and she explains that even though Albert is highly intelligent and shrewd as a business entrepreneur, he is way too young to be the head of the Ardlay family. Yet, Candy explains to George that she will continue to tease and poke fun at Albert for a while longer out of revenge. Of-course, the word “revenge” is used sarcastically.
In brief, Keiko Nagita often uses sarcasm and doublespeak in her writing. It’s a pity that some of her readers and fans fail to grasp the arcana of her humour and wit.
Well said, @Anita! Context does matter when it comes to reading any novel. I like the examples you’ve provided, especially with Terry lol. He noticed Candy and recognized her right away back in the academy, which speaks volumes of his first impression of this lady with freckles. 😉
About Candy’s letter to Georges however, I don’t recall her saying Albert was too young to be the patriarch… I thought she meant everyone had assumed the patriarch was an old feeble man? Let me double check the letter. 🙂
Thank you @Sarah! The last time I read CCFS it was absolutely clear Candy was trolling Albert (I remember writing about it in a post before) but his subsequent reply to her was different. It’s more like he was upset, even teasing himself. Anyway, I’ll re-read this letter and check the official YouTube Channel of Arechi Manga. 👍☺️
You can’t be upset and tease yourself at the same time.. That said, it’s obvious that Albert wasn’t upset but playing along with Candy’s flirtatious teasing. Deep down inside, he enjoyed the unlimited and unconditional attention Candy was generously giving him. She wanted to keep on triggering him because she’s attracted to him and wants to know if he feels the same about her.
Some readers believe that Albert was also upset about being called a “Prince” by Candy but they’re most certainly wrong about that too.
In playful flirtations, there’s always ample teasing going on and the parties involved often feign being upset or indignant in order to provide further fuel to the fire and keep the flirting going even if it’s under the guise of teasing.😉
Good points, @Sarah! I’ve always thought Albert was upset but teased himself to make Candy feel less ‘guilty’ of breaking her promise to him earlier lol. Yeah, you might be right. 😉
About Candy’s calling Albert her prince, I couldn’t agree with you more. After all, she still admired him (both his handsome appearance and his kindness) as an adult.
Have you watched the two videos of Arechi Manga on YouTube, @Sarah? The editor and translators offer generous explanations and answers to various questions surrounding the novel and, in particular, the nature of the relationship between Candy and Albert by specifying that it is not paternal or fraternal but based on a deep friendship which is moving into another far more complex level.
Yes, I watched these two Q&A videos on the official Arechi Manga channel on YouTube:
tinyurl.com/hm8nxknr
tinyurl.com/p5ms5u9d
Thanks for the links @Sarah. Would you mind if I update your comment to make these links clickable?
Don’t mind at all!
Thank you @Gabriella! Glad you like my drawing of Albert 🤗
About the adoption issue, thank you so much for your detailed response. ☺️ I agree there were different forms of “adoption” back then and the laws didn’t really protect the less fortunate ones like Candy.
In Albert’s reply to Candy’s teasing (in the original Japanese version) he was actually upset and even reminded Candy of her promise earlier. He also added that he was sensitive. 😉 Yet he did end his letter in a joking way. 😁
Apart from half a dozen of desperate Terrfans, no one else really bothers with that adoption debacle. It was just a hoax and it’s just as ‘valid’ as those idiotic ‘blank pages’ claims. Besides, all the editors and translations involved in the official translations of this novel have debunked that so-called adoption issue as sheer nonsense. All educated and sensible people are fully aware that single young men in their early adulthood cannot in any way whatsoever adopt a female in her late teens. What’s even more important is that there was never any father-daughter or brother-sister relationship between Candy and Albert. Instead, their relationship started off as a friendship which evolved into a romance after both of them were legal consenting adults.
Well said, @Gabriella. Since Nagita-sensei was inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs, Albert is for sure Candy’s benefactor, no matter how one looks at it. I think their relationship is way more complex than Judy and Jervis’ relationship though, because Albert also owed Candy his life, so they were both deeply grateful to each other.
That seems to be the case, Ms Puddle. Nagita’s work is deeply influenced by “Daddy-Long-Legs” not only in terms of subject matter but also the epistolary style.
Agree with you, @Gabriella. But CC story is more complex and involved many characters, so epistolary style is insufficient, at least to me. 😅
You’re right about that-Ms Puddle.
It also depends on the ways in which this technique is used. For some writers, it works fine for them to use the epistolary style but for others (as in Nagita’s case) it doesn’t really work..
Agree with you @Sarah, but at least the correspondence in the CCFS Epilogue is great.
A lot of details are indeed missing when Candy and Albert lived together as siblings and the period between his disappearance and her discovery of his true identity. I sometimes wonder if this was intentional… 🤔
You’re making a valid point about the Epilogue. I’ll add that even though the reader doesn’t get to know the details of Candy and Albert’s daily life when living together at the Magnolia, there is ample information regarding the ways in which those two main characters felt about their cohabitation. What’s even more significant is the way in which the author underpins the nostalgia and yearning Candy and Albert feel for those days and how they both desire to see each other again. Perhaps, this was Nagita’s intention; she wanted to place far more emphasis on the ways in which Candy and Albert felt about their experience and for each other rather than get into details about their cohabitation at the house of Magnolia.
I couldn’t have agreed with you more, @Sarah concerning the pair Candy and Albert. If Nagita sensei had indeed narrated their cohabitation and all CCFS would have been a 3-volume novel. 😉
That’s a very perceptive comment @Sarah. I agree with you that Nagita’s novels are mainly based on feelings. The content of her work is emotional and ’emotive’.
Hello @Ms Puddle and @Gabriella,
Thanks for your positive feedback!
As for your vaccination, did you experience any side-effects? Which one did you receive?
So @Anita have you checked with your doctor yet? I got Pfizer myself.
Thank you for your concern. Based on my medical check-up and doctor’s advice, I can’t get the vaccine yet because my blood platelets are lower than average. I’ve been given a diet rich in protein and iron to try to get the level higher. The next check-up will be in about 7-8 weeks’ time.
I see, @Anita. Does it mean you may get vaccinated once your blood platelets have reached a certain level, despite allergic reactions?
Idk.. It depends on what my doctors will advise me to do, thereafter.
Idk.. It depends on what my doctor will advise me to do, thereafter.
Wish you all the best, @Anita! By then probably more people have already got vaccinated and perhaps you don’t have to rush into making any decisions 👍
Thank you for your concern. I guess I’ll have to be a bit patient and see what my doctor will advise me to do and whether there are available alternatives.
Oh I forgot to add that I did not experience serious side effects other than sore arm and tiredness. I got the vaccine in the evening so I went to bed earlier than usual. I was back to work the following day. 🙏
That’s great! Wish you all the best on the second dose too!
Thank you @Anita! Same wishes to those who have not yet got their second doses 🙏
Hi, Ms Puddle!
Albert looks amazing whether his hair is long or short. The colour you’ve used for his eyes perfectly matches Candy’s description of Albert’s eyes as being blue as the morning sky…
Thank you @Anita for your encouraging feedback, especially his blue eyes❣️This is my second time drawing Albert with long hair. Igarashi did a fine job drawing his wavy hair, so I checked my manga volume 7 for ideas. ☺️
Yumiko Igarashi’s drawings definitely constitute “eye-candy” when it comes to male characters such as Anthony, Terry and Albert. However, I find Stear, Archie and George very handsome too. George, in particular, has the “retro” beauty as seen in b&w classic film noir.
George is one of my favourite characters too!
George reminds me of the following Hollywood actors: Hugh Jackman, Richard Armitage and Keanu Reeves.
Couldn’t agree more! Perhaps Richard Armitage a bit more in his resemblance to George.
He’s got that retro look, alright. Armitage and Jackman look eerily similar, btw..
Good choices although I was having Gregory Peck in mind.;-)
Same here, @Anita!! That was my first impression of Georges in the manga version. He reminds me of Clark Gable or Gregory Peck 🥰
I agree with you, Ms Puddle. Clark Gable would also make a great choice.
It would have been interesting to know which actors and actresses Nagita and Igarashi had in mind when depicting the characters of the Candy Candy story.
@Anita, rumours said that Igarashi’s Terry was based on the late Japanese actor/singer Hideki Saijo back in the 70s. You can easily Google search his images. 😉
Thanks for letting me know, Ms Puddle. I’ll take a look.
Looked him up. His hairdo definitely matches Terry’s.😂
Yes indeed @Michelle lol 🤣 The late Japanese actor / singer had been very famous for years since he was a teenager (around 16??), I heard.
Well said @Anita! Come to think of it, Gregory Peck is an even better choice.😉
Thanks! I’m glad that you also appreciate George’s character. He’s one of the best in the CCFS albeit underrated.
@Anita, I think Georges got elevated in CCFS when compared to the old novel. Albert spoke highly of him for sure. 😊 Some readers don’t appreciate the fact that Nagita-sensei has removed the part about Georges loving Rosemary in secret. What do you think?
Facts!
Yes, I’m so pleased that Nagita devoted more material concerning George’s character and background. He’s shrouded in a veil of mystery in the manga but his instrumental role in the lives of Candy and Albert is much more pronounced.
Hi @Anita, in the old CC novel Nagita sensei did write more about Georges too but in CCFS something about him had been changed. For example, no mentioning of Rosemary’s elopement or Georges’ help about that. Also, nothing about his unrequited love either.
Interesting choices, @Michelle. I’ve never thought of Keanu Reeves but now that you mentioned him, yes I do see some resemblance 😊
Yes indeed, @Anita! Igarashi’s talents are impressive, especially with male characters. They don’t look too feminine like those designed by some manga artists. I think Georges is the best looking one among all the mature men in CC.
Agreed. George is by far very handsome and Nagita has enriched his character even further via his academic education and industrious ethos. George is such a remarkable role-model for Albert and it’s great to read about how both Candy and Albert deeply respect his demeanour.
What about his age though? There seems to be a discrepancy in the various genres of this story. In the TOEI animation, he seems to be in his 30s-40s and a bit younger than that in the manga but he’s described as being middle-aged in the novel.
Would he be the same age as Rosemary, perhaps?
@Anita, I have similar thoughts too. If you notice, Igarashi drew the younger and mature male characters differently. For example, mature male characters include Georges, Vincent Brown and Terry’s father. To me, Georges is the best looking among them.
Remember I shared one Japanese Tweet before that the CC fan tried to gather as much data as possible for CC characters? In her spreadsheet she put down Rosemary being a few years older than Georges and 12 years older than Albert. Hence, if her data is correct Georges would be almost 10 years older than Albert, so when Candy first met Georges, he was in his 30s?
What do you think?
I agree with you that George is by far the best looking amongst the more mature male characters of the Candy Candy story.
Regarding George’s estimated or alleged age when he first met Candy, until reading the novel I had guessed he was in his 30s like you have mentioned. However, in the novel Nagita describes him as being a very well-dressed and refined middle-aged man who looks like a professor. It depends what Nagita means by ‘middle-age’. This term is relative; for some cultures is being 50 and older but for other cultures it could go as young as late 30s or early 40s. Irrespective of his age, George is gorgeous in the manga and anime. In the novel, Stear and Archie describe George as being very athletic and knowing martial arts. Being WAA’s bodyguard and caseworker, George would have to muster an excellent physique and thus be in great shape. In all three formats though (manga, anime, novel), George is depicted as being an elegant, intelligent and classy gentleman. IMO, I find George to be a much better and worthier character than Anthony, Terry and Albert put together.
Yes @Anita the definition of a “middle-aged” man has shifted over time due to changes to longevity.
I also think Georges was at most Rosemary’s age, so roughly a decade older than Albert, who was supposed to be the boss but held Georges with respect. Indeed Georges was a fascinating character and without him the story of CC would have been much less interesting. 👍
Beautiful artwork, as always, Ms Puddle!
As for the watermark, it looks just fine.
I agree. The watermark is alright and it’s essential given all the plagiarism and other forms of copyright/intellectual property theft going on online.
Yes, Ms Puddle is wise to secure her fanart because quite a lot of people use her work without acknowledging her as the creator of this fanart.
Thank you @Myra! That’s another reason why I have decided to “crop” my newer fanarts such that my drawings won’t be beheaded and pasted onto some other pictures. 😉
Thanks @Anita about your feedback concerning the watermark. That’s exactly what I think too 👍
Thanks @Myra! I’ve done some Googling; it seems this is one way to watermark my fanarts but I was a bit worried that it looks terrible lol 😅.
Thank you @Myra I’m so happy you like my new drawing 🥰
Your drawings are getting better and better, Ms Puddle!
Albert’s gaze is fantastic in this drawing. You’ve nailed it!
I’m so happy to hear that, @Myra 😍 It’s part of the illustration of a scene, and hopefully you’ll like the finished product ☺️
Definitely!
Thank you @Myra for your continued support❣️ You’re so kind 🤗
Are you preparing a new fanfic based on this drawing? I think that’s what you had mentioned, if I correctly recall.
Thank you @Myra for your interest. 🤗This fanart is an illustration of one scene, but the fanfic is not based on this. I might draw a cover image sooner or later. I’ll see 😊
Looking forward to it!