Chronicles: The Director's commentary

[Guyver XT]

Hi all,

Since we are putting so much work into breathing life into the many various characters we have in the fics, I'd like to take an opportunity to ask for feedback on how you like the portrayals.

This topic is for discussion of the characters and what you like and don't like about them. And for us to answer questions and supply a little 'behind-the-scenes' insight into why certain characters are portrayed how they are.

[Guyver XT]

Sho Fukamachi

Some people have commented on the noticable difference between Sho in this fic, and the Sho in the Manga. This was a conscious decision on my part when beginning the fic. Since this fic does not focus on Sho anymore, I didn't want him to be a character the reader would still need to worry about on a 'daily' basis.

The decision to show a more mature and self-reliant Sho invited a lot of depth into the character that will hopefully keep him alive and growing in the story, as opposed to being generally ignored on the grounds that we can't know what Yoshiki Takaya intends with the character's development.

This 'clean break' approach allows the fics to diverge from the Manga and gain a certain amount of integrity seperate from the ongoing official plotline. However, the flip-side is that my rendition of Sho may conflict with other impressions of the character. In many ways it is more accurate to consider this Sho a fully seperate character then the one in the Manga from this point on.

What are your thoughts?

[McAvoy]

I think it's interesting. It also gives you some leeway when it comes to stuff like that, for instance who knows what Takaya has in mind for Sho. Maybe he dies in the end defeating Chronos once and for all...

[largo]

I like this Sho alot more then the crybaby Sho of the manga.

[xtro guyver]

So far I like everything you have done with Sho in cronicles. Though the best thing you have done so far in the character devlopment for Sean and how you have begun to build his bond with Sho

[Guyver XT]

Sean Barker

Working with Sean was a little more interesting, mostly because being based on the live action movies was both better and worse then off the manga and anime.

Better in that there was a live actor to base some of his character on. Worse due to the fact that the live action movies were not strictly cannon in the grand scheme of things, and the campy feel had to be drastically reduced to show the characters as serious.

Thusly Sean is a bit darker a character in this fic. He is brooding and vacilates between depression and hyperactivity in almost a bipolar way. I chose to make sure that Sean and Sho are very different characters to each other, as opposed to a Japanese and American version of the reluctant hero.

Some of the fight scenes done so far, especially the one in the Chronos building, contrast Sean's infiltration with Sho's. Sean tends to brutally beat down his opponents, Sho kills quickly and cleanly whenever possible. Sean revels in the combat, and in the power that the guyver gives him. Sho on the other hand doesn't, he uses the guyver because he must, but he doesn't normally express fondness for the experience.

It will be interesting to see what turn his character takes as I write the third and final part of Union. Cori in many ways was Sean's anchor, much as Mitzuki is Sho's in the Manga. With her removal he will be more volatile then before and the more brutal side of his nature will cost him now that his better side is somewhat cast adrift.

What are your thoughts?

[Juggernought]

That definately sounds like something to get on with. For me...having Sean portrayed this way it adds some variety as to the number of characters that actually enjoy being a guyver. Can you imagine with this kind of personality showing, how he would be if he ever gained a higher classed unit? It'd be like another Faye.