Le Chevalier D'Eon - Series Profile

The Gist:

When the sister of D'Eon de Beaumont is found mysteriously murdered, he sets out to discover the truth of her death but uncovers an evil and magical power instead.

The History:

Le Chevalier D'Eon (French translation = D'Eon the Knight) is a historical anime adapted from the fantasy novel by Tow Ubukata. Produced by Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Blood+), the series ran in Japan from August 2006 to February 2007 on both WOWOW and Animax.

North American distribution rights were originally acquired by ADV Films but were transferred to FUNimation in February 2008. The story was also been adapted into manga by Kiriko Yumeji and Tow Ubukata in 2005 and is currently ongoing with six volumes to date. The manga was subsequently licensed for North American release by Del Rey.

Manga vs. Anime:

Both the manga and the anime series were adapted from a fantasy novel written by Tow Ubukata so they are relatively similar in storyline.

How To Watch:

Le Chevalier D'Eon is available on DVD from FUNimation Entertainment.

Genre:

Fantasy, historical, mystery/suspense, horror

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Studios:

Animation - Production I.G.
Distribution - Originally licensed to ADV Films, North American distribution rights were given to FUNimation in February, 2008.

Rating:

M for mature audiences

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The Review:

Le Chevalier D'Eon takes us to a dark, horrific place full of bloodshed, deceit, zombies and plenty of action. Taking place in 1742, the city of Paris is under the rule of King Louis XV. D'Eon de Beaumont is a knight in service of the king and a member of the Secret Police. When the dead body of his sister Lia is discovered floating in a coffin down the Seine River, D'Eon is enraged and vows to uncover the truth.

What he finds however are supernatural forces unlike anything he ever imagined in his wildest nightmares. This evil permeates everything and is so powerful, it even manages to bring Lia back to life, allowing her to possess her own brother in an attempt to avenge her death.

Intrigued? You should be - Le Chevalier D'Eon is quite the complex story with plenty of madness and mayhem to keep you on the edge of your seat. But perhaps what makes this series really unique is that it is loosely based on the real D'Eon de Beaumont, a French diplomat and secret spy for the real King Louis XV.

Unlike the anime series, the real D'Eon did not have a sister but is said to have masqueraded as a lady - Lia de Beaumont - to get close to Empress Elizabeth of Russia, a fact that is loosely represented in Volume 2 of the DVD collection. The real D'Eon later claimed that he had actually been born a woman but was raised as a man so that his father could inherit from in-laws and spent the last half of his life as a woman living in England.

Of course, there are no tales of supernatural forces or other magic surrounding the real D'Eon - those are reserved for the anime only, but even history buffs will be willing to sacrifice a little accuracy in favor of entertainment because this anime is just so well done.

Rated M for mature, this series is definitely not for the young or the squeamish. But if you have the stomach for it, Le Chevalier D'Eon will literally knock your socks off!