NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER

THE TRANSFORMATION OF MONSTER THROUGH THE LENS OF ADAPTATION

Abstract

This article analyzes the adaptation of the manga Monster (1994–2001), by Naoki Urasawa, into its anime version (2004–2005), based on Linda Hutcheon’s theory of adaptation. The study aims to understand how the narrative is transformed in the transition from print to audiovisual media. To this end, it adopts a qualitative and comparative approach, focusing on the analysis of specific scenes and examining elements such as framing, lighting, soundtrack, and voice performance. The results indicate that the adaptation does not merely reproduce the original content but reconfigures the narrative according to the specificities of the audiovisual medium. It is observed that sound and visual elements contribute to the construction of dramatic tension through strategies inherent to the audiovisual format, while the manga employs graphic resources and reading rhythm to shape this tension in a distinct manner. The study concludes that the anime preserves the moral and thematic complexity of the source material while promoting a reinterpretation that expands its expressive possibilities and its reach to different audiences.