| Turn-Up Book | |
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 Episode 1 Episode 00: The Harlequinade | |
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Japanese Name |
仕掛け絵本 |
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Romanized Name |
Shikake Ehon |
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Airdate |
July 16, 2011 |
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Adapted from |
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Manga counterpart |
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"Turn-Up Book" is the 1st episode of The Mystic Archives of Dantalian anime and the first story shown in the adaptation. As seen in the light novel, it's also called Episode 00, since it shows Hugh becoming the key-keeper protecting Dalian.
Hugh receives a letter informing that his grandfather died. Hugh inherited a mansion and a collection of books. He must take care of Dalian and guard the Dantalian's Bookshelf.[1]
Summary[]
A child finds himself in a strange place. He sees a girl reading a book. He asks about the place. She answers that the place has no name, but people called it "Labyrinth Library" or "Dantalian's Bookshelf". He also asks if she is lonely. He offers his hand to her. She smiles and holds his hand.
A young man received a letter informing about his grandfather's death. The latter had a huge collection of books, even those considered accursed, which intimidated relatives. The young man is driving towards the mansion owned by his late grandfather. On the way, he stops to fix his car and to ask for directions. When he arrives, he tries to use a golden key to enter, but only has success with a common one. He explores the dusty mansion and finds a trace on the floor, which takes him to a secret path behind a bookcase. He uses his lighter while descending a dark stairway. He reaches a basement full of books. He sees what appears to be a doll sitting on an antique chair. He realizes that he's looking at a girl reading a book. He introduces himself as Hugh Anthony Disward and says that he's searching for something called "Dantalian's Bookshelf", which he should inherit along with all his grandfather's assets. Hugh also tells her that he should take care of Dalian, name which he thinks refers to a pet. The girl gets angry and hits Hugh, introducing herself as Dalian.
Hugh and Dalian chat after they introduce themselves.
In the kitchen, they have a conversation while Hugh makes tea. Dalian confirms that she was his grandfather's friend. Hugh was a pilot during the war. He's disappointed with the collection of books owned by his grandfather Wesley. Dalian suggests that Wesley's collection can have an infinite amount of knowledge. She refers to the "heaven in the pot" tale. Hugh sneers to the idea. During the conversation, Dalian eats Hugh's bread after asking for sugar. She notices Hugh's golden key. Before Hugh can answer about the item, someone appears to take him to Lord Henry Conrad's mansion. Conrad had invited Hugh. Dalian decides to tag along. Inside the carriage, Hugh reveals that he's going to Conrad's mansion to investigate the rumors saying that he murdered his rival Wesley to obtain a valuable book. Hugh has no evidence, but Dalian affirms that they will learn the truth in that full moon night.
They arrive at Conrad's bleak mansion. Dalian refuses Hugh's hand to get out of the carriage. There's no one to welcome them, so the servant runs by himself to look for the other servants. Dalian feels that they are too late. She runs ahead to investigate the place, followed by Hugh. The couple finds a body and signs of destruction made by what appears to be a beast. Dalian affirms that they should go to Conrad's study to find the truth. They hear a scream. After following the voice, they find the body of Conrad's servant, with a knife stuck in its head. An eerie clown appears and attacks them with throwing knives. Hugh carries Dalian and finds protection behind a couch. He pulls out a revolver, a lucky charm from Wesley. The knife thrower is shot by Hugh and turns to ashes.
Hugh and Dalian explore the mansion. They find one more body and signs of an elephant. Later, Hugh has a confrontation with a lion. The creature is shot three times and turns to ashes. Dalian notices some ink in the ashes. She explains that they also might encounter a serpent and a jester. After all, the anomalies come from the Phantom Book called "The Harlequinade". They move towards Conrad's study, while Dalian explains the purpose of the Dantalian's Bookshelf. It's a library to seal the dangerous Phantom Books, items that contain forbidden knowledge, that can bless the reader, or curse those unworthy. Dalian mentions that the power of a Phantom Book is affected by the moon.
Hugh gains access to the Labyrinth Library, after using the golden key to unlock the gate.
A dragon appears to block their path, representing the circus' freak show. Hugh avoids the dragon's fire breath while protecting Dalian. He uses his revolver, but the shots have no effect against the monster. The dragon attacks with its tail and destroys some columns. Hugh is wounded in the midst of the destruction. He decides to distract the dragon while Dalian seals The Harlequinade. Hugh feels responsible for solving the problem caused by his grandfather's book. Dalian asks Hugh to recite the words of the contract. Hugh grabs his golden key and recites the words inscribed in it. A keyhole appears on Dalian's chest. Hugh uses his golden key to unlock it. He reaches his hand into the void on Dalian's chest and receives a Phantom Book called "Book of Fairy" from the girl inside the Labyrinth Library, where 900,666 Phantom Books are sealed. Hugh's right hand gains a mark resembling the golden key. Hugh reads the Phantom Book.
Dalian closes The Harlequinade.
Some scenes briefly show his past as a child and as a pilot. He appears piloting an airplane. Then, as a child, in a photo with his parents. After that, mourning at his mother's deathbed and later seeing his father leaving home. Finally, Hugh appears doing the sign of the cross in front of the girl inside the Labyrinth Library. The next scene shows Hugh dressed as a girl, playing with Kamilla. There's also a scene showing Dalian's sadness due to Wesley's death at the hands of Henry Conrad.
Only ashes remain from the dragon after the power coming from the Book of Fairy is released. Hugh and Dalian reach Conrad's study, where the man had his final moments. Dalian closes The Harlequinade, forcing all the creatures inside the book. Hugh recognizes Dalian as the "heaven in the pot". Dalian tells Hugh that she's hungry. They leave the place together. Hugh affirms that he will prepare something for her, but that they must find a carriage first. They hold hands.[1]
Light novel-anime main differences[]
| Light novel[2] | Anime[1] |
| - | Hugh and the girl in the bookshelf hold hands. |
| The chapter starts with Hugh at the gates of the Disward estate. | The episode starts with Hugh driving to the Disward estate. |
| Dalian is afraid of Hugh at first. | - |
| Hugh and Dalian go to the kitchen only after she smells the fried bread in Hugh's pocket. | Hugh and Dalian talk in the kitchen. There, Dalian smells a fried bread in Hugh's coat. |
| Dalian asks if Hugh is a soldier after watching his skills in preparing tea. | Dalian asks if Hugh is a soldier after examining his lighter. |
| Hugh wonders if Wesley did something wrong to Dalian. | - |
| Hugh explains that he planned to live using his grandfather's inheritance for a while. | - |
| - | The "heaven in the pot" tale is shortened in the adaptation. |
| Dalian runs in fear when Conrad's servant shows up. | - |
| Hugh is attacked by a tiger. | Hugh is attacked by a lion. |
| Dalian uses the Book of Fairy. | Hugh uses the Book of Fairy. |
| - | Flashbacks show Hugh's past and the moment when Wesley was killed. |
| Hugh seals The Harlequinade by pushing it into the void on Dalian's chest. | - |
| Hugh and Dalian hold hands inside Conrad's study. | Hugh and Dalian hold hands outside Conrad's mansion. |
Trivia[]
- Conrad's mansion has a statue of Athena as acroterion. Athena is the goddess of wisdom in ancient Greek mythology.[3] Later, the statue appears destroyed, probably broken by one of the beasts from The Harlequinade.[1]
- Conrad takes one of the Phantom Books from Wesley, books which supposedly have the wisdom of demons.[1]
- Conrad has a sculpture of a lying woman in his art room.[1] It's similar to French sculptor Aristide Maillol's Air, modeled in 1938, a work that honors the crew of a disappearing hydroplane.[4]
- There's a sculpture of a couple in Conrad's art room. During the confrontation against the lion, Hugh misses a shot and breaks it. Soon after, the sculpture appears intact.[1]
- The letter Hugh received to inform about his grandfather's death has a real address. It was delivered to the College Cranwell station belonging to the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF). It's located at Sleaford, Lincolnshire, postcode NG34 8HB.[5]
- The Penny Black is attached to the envelope. Produced from 1840 to 1841, it's the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system, featuring the profile of Queen Victoria.[6]
- Hugh uses a map to find his way to his grandfather's mansion.[1] The map is based on real-life Throughway Maps of London and of The Home Counties, published in 1931 by the British Automobile Association.
- The clown hits a couch while attacking Hugh. The knife soon turns to ashes. However, the knife Hugh finds at the servant's head never disappears.[1]
- While Hugh is reading the Book of Fairy, it's possible to identify real World War I photos, including those showing the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest battles on the Western Front, where armies of the British and French empires fought against the German Empire.[7]
- While Hugh is reading the Book of Fairy, a scene shows Kamilla and Hugh's childhood.[1] The scene relates to the events of The Key-Keeper.[8]
- The episode has no opening.[1]
- Episode 11 ends with the scene of Hugh arriving at the Disward estate.[9]
- The first drama CD is the sequel of Episode 1.[10]
- An introductory show was broadcasted before Episode 1.[11]
- As explained in GAINAX's trivia column, etiquette at the time said that people should wear hats and gloves outside. When visiting someone, people would hand hats and gloves to a footman. This detail can be seen in Episode 1.[12]
References[]
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