http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=5930
Trainman (Densha Otoko), a love-story original born on the popular 2 Channel message board, and later published by Shinchou, is going to receive four completely separate manga adaptations for serialization in four competing magazines.
Trainman, which captured the public attention on 2 Channel in March of 2004, tells the story of a 22-year old otaku who is interested in "Miss Hermes," an attractive young woman he saved from an annoying drunk on the train on his way home from Akihabara.
On 2 Channel, "Trainman" sought advice from fellow-otaku on how he should approach Miss Hermes and reported back on the progress of his relationship, while receiving encouragement from hundreds of online well-wishers.
A collection of these posts, spanning a period of 2 months, was published by Shinchou in autumn 2004 , and sold 260,000 copies in just 3 weeks and half a million copies in 2 months. In the process, the story garnered the attention of several manga anthologies, leading to a rather unique situation...
Not only is Trainman the first successful novel to be created from Internet message board postings (although there are some similarities with the situation in My Sassy Girl), but it is now also the first novel to be independently adapted into four different manga for serialization in four different manga anthologies at roughly the same time.
Three shonen magazines will serialize the story, while one shoujo magazine will publish it as a one-shot. Young Champion Magazine from Akita Shoten was the first to market, with their first installment published in their December 28th issue, followed by Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday Magazine on January 6th and then Monthly Champion RED Magazine (also from Akita Shoten) on January 19th. Shoujo magazine Dessert, published by Kodansha, plans to release a one-shot adaptation in their spring issue.
The editorial department of Young Champion explained their aim: "We were interested in the idea of a tale of friendship born on an anonymous message board on the net, being a subject suitable for manga and reflecting the present".
The editorial department of Young Sunday says "Even if there are others doing the same story, due to each Manga artists different style of expression, the content will be different."
Regarding fees due to the original creator of a work when it is adapted into a manga or anime, the concerned parties have stated that they intend to contribute the money to a fund for earthquake victims in Chuetsu, Niigata.
It's currently unknown, and the subject of widespread speculation, as to whether Trainman actually had a real life relationship with "Miss Hermes" or if the story expressed on 2 Channel was an elaborate piece of fiction, a hoax.
I've only read the CMX version(I wish CMX had better quality in general, I really do.), and the Del Rey novel version, but I was hooked from the premise. It's the reason I'm at 4-ch XD
I love how the novel version is set up, though it's kind of weird to have prices in pounds and other UKish stuffs.
>>165
Yeah, I think that's why a lot of otaku/nerds in general like Train Man so much. It's inspirational; that not everyone judges by looks, and that even otaku can find love somewhere.
(I highly doubt I could be as brave as Train and stand up to a drunkard though XD)
There are a lot more drama out there better than Densha Otoko.
I was disappointed in the Viz manga too. IMHO, the drama is the best, followed by the movie. (The drama's great because it's so long, so you get more detail.)
i just started watching the tv drama, i really like it
Densha isn't the be all and end all of dorama, just enjoy it for what it is.
Also, like a lot of the other ppl here, watching Densha Otoko inspired me to come to Ch2 + Ch4 :3 it was an awesome movie. awmawgawd. it blew me away, it is definitly one of my all time favorite films ^^
I read the manga today. I think it's a cute tory. And at the moment i feel like that guy in the manga...
a little bit late though, but I just watch the dorama...
damn... i really envy the main char, for him to be able to get a nice woman like that... (-.-)
The original posts > than all adaptations.
I didn't much like the dorama, I didn't care for the way they exaggerated the otakus. How are you supposed to take these clowns seriously?
I similarly didn't like the manga adaptation of NHK ni Youkoso! Too much gratuitous exaggeration. Seems like the writers were shying away from the reality of the situation. They lacked balls.
>How are you supposed to take these clowns seriously?
yeah... kind of sums up here.
I just saw the DX special pseudo-sequel. It was contrived as hell, but somehow still entertaining. At least we got to see more Jinkama, and the villain guy was awesome. The bit at the end helped to redeem it some. It really felt like something out of 2ch.
The manga of NHK ni Yokuso was much more cynical than the anime! It was the intention to exaggerate it into a degree that made sad situations turning into kinda funny, pathethic situation -.-
The anime was much more dramatic than being cynicall!
You have to see both version as their own.
I just love both the manga and the anime ;)
>>190
it's black comedy, what did you expect?
i <3 densha otoko. one of my fav bk ever
I first watched the movie, and thought "Something is missing here..."
Then I stumbled across the "novel" in a book store, started reading the first few pages, and thought "...Ah, here it is!"
I've just finished watching densha otoko by now. It's a great JDorama :D
The drama is way better than the movie
I decided to read the original posts - translated to English since I don't speak a word of Japanese. So far all I can say the original is muuuuch better than both the movie and and the dorama. Seriously - if you can, red the originals.
>>199
Better... I don't know. I have only seen the dorama. It's obvious from comparing the dorama to the original 2ch thread that they scripted some really strange things to make the show more interesting/put you on the edge of your seat.
So, the thread is the thread while the dorama is a fiction based on the thread with some application of artistic license. I think both are enjoyable in their own way.
Apples and oranges.
And yes, go read the original thread. It's quite nice.
>>201
Yes, he was a big big big crybaby! :D
Agreed, it took him forever to get used to being around her. I guess some people have the problem :\
i just saw the movie the other day and it was amazing! it had a great storyline and, in my opinion, was very believable. there is a good number of people there like Densha-kun. i lived in Tokyo for a period of time and saw first hand that there is no shortage of Otakus and drunk businessmen there. i remember one specific occasion where there was an obnoxious drunkard on the train with me. he wasn't starting any trouble but he was very loud and it was obvious that everyone there was bothered by him.
This movie was well developed and the people in it were great. Even if you have visited or want to visit Japan it gets you excited all over again. I especially liked the ending song in the credits by Orange Range. The beat, and lyrics fit the movie nicely.
about what specifically?
I agree, but I think the novel and movie are decent. The dorama just kinda sucks. It's adding wayy too many made-up aspects.
can people stop saying "dorama"?
"terebi" dorama.
Kitaaaaaaaaaa
moe~~
this thread is kinda lonely...
Husky x Medley is similar idea, but yuri version, for those interested ^^
A story of fantasy made true by the mysterious magic of love; this kind of story, is it really far-fetch to think that things like this can actually happen in real life?
Personally, I love the fact that, while the Japanese idolize a man for falling love with a girl met on a train, Americans idolize a bearded crackhead for beating the shit out of a black guy on a bus.
EBM.
Internet culture?
There are a lot of people.
There are a lot of ism and hobby.
I started watching the drama again. Also posting this from a train.
Incase you all haven't read it already, and I'd recommend it highly, here are the translations of the 2ch threads. It is an amazing read, you feel like you're really there, I don't think the book/movie/TV series really does the legacy justice. If this story was true, I'm kind of scared for Train. What happened to him? Is he still together with Hermes? And does he know about all of this catching on?
>>222
Woops, forgot link: http://www.rinji.tv/densha/
Hey, in that manga there is a photo at http://10ch.org/amezou/linkgazou.cgi/www.mangarush.com/manga/husky-and-medley/v-1/4/p-21#
but it has been edited and looks like crap, plus I suspect it is not at its original resolution. Do you happen to have the original? Or if you don't do you know where I should go to look for it?
Does the evil of commercialism have no bounds?
just today I saw the drama and movie Densha Otoko
really a very good love story ...
I hope Densha and Hermes happy until now
Densha is happy, don't worry
I'm still curious ....where are they now....?