Adaptating a narrative between mediums is not easy. But the best adaptations keep the narrative as similar as possible after the necessary changes. The Harry Potter series of an excellent example of adaptation done right. The vast majority of changes are omissions rather than complete narrative and character changes.
Alas, The Wingfeather Saga is not an adaptation done right. Not only are there omissions, but the actual addition changes add little to the narrative and take valuable time that could have been used to include important moments from the books.
The characters are also vastly changed. They have apparently all achieved the pinnacle of their arcs. None of them have the struggles or flaws contained in the book. In the novel, Janner wants to know more about his father and his purpose in life. In the show, he couldn't care less about who his father is, and Esben is mentioned in casual conversation by Nia and Podo when a chapter of the book is literally titled "A Stranger Called Esben." Janner's entire drive is to find out more about his father and grow into his responsibility as a protector of his siblings. And he gets none of it.
A major trait of Tink in the novels is his fear of heights. It's something he had to overcome and when he does it has strong implications for his character. That doesn't exist here. He's already fearless.
Leeli has little development in the first book and that's the same here. As for Nia and Podo, well they're essentially the same characters, they just do completely different things than they did in the books.
I wanted to love this show. I was incredibly excited for it. The animation is very good and so is the voice acting(when it isn't lost in a bad sound mix), but the narrative had been changed almost beyond recognition in ways that make the show itself far poorer.
Depending on how they end this season, they could still end up on the right track for season two, plotwise, but I'm afraid the characters have been hollowed out too much to fix.
Alas, The Wingfeather Saga is not an adaptation done right. Not only are there omissions, but the actual addition changes add little to the narrative and take valuable time that could have been used to include important moments from the books.
The characters are also vastly changed. They have apparently all achieved the pinnacle of their arcs. None of them have the struggles or flaws contained in the book. In the novel, Janner wants to know more about his father and his purpose in life. In the show, he couldn't care less about who his father is, and Esben is mentioned in casual conversation by Nia and Podo when a chapter of the book is literally titled "A Stranger Called Esben." Janner's entire drive is to find out more about his father and grow into his responsibility as a protector of his siblings. And he gets none of it.
A major trait of Tink in the novels is his fear of heights. It's something he had to overcome and when he does it has strong implications for his character. That doesn't exist here. He's already fearless.
Leeli has little development in the first book and that's the same here. As for Nia and Podo, well they're essentially the same characters, they just do completely different things than they did in the books.
I wanted to love this show. I was incredibly excited for it. The animation is very good and so is the voice acting(when it isn't lost in a bad sound mix), but the narrative had been changed almost beyond recognition in ways that make the show itself far poorer.
Depending on how they end this season, they could still end up on the right track for season two, plotwise, but I'm afraid the characters have been hollowed out too much to fix.
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