#coppélia et swanilda

[hakobore]

Hope you enjoyed the extended preview for Coppélia et Swanilda, my comic this year for ShortBox Comics Fair! It's now available to purchase and download until Oct 31st (UK time)!

[kaithonks]

So I’ve had some Thoughts about Coppélia et Swanilda by Hana Chatani

Recently, an old professor of mine introduced me to the Shortbox Comics Fair, a digital comics fair with independent comics from all over the world. I had been complaining to him about wanting to expand out. I took his recommendation and instantly a few things caught my eye, particularly Hana Chatani’s Coppélia et Swanilda.

Some of my most precious childhood memories are of going to the ballet with my grandmother, so I was familiar with Coppélia’s story. It ended up in my cart and I bought it and read it and well, here we are now? As a typical rule in writing these I do try to avoid spoilers as well, I generally want people to read and try things out for themselves. And I doubly recommend that for any independent work. With that, I’m gonna be extra careful about spoilers for Chatani’s work, as I did enjoy it a lot and would recommend people buy it to try it out for themselves. Knowledge of Coppélia I don’t think is necessary to enjoy the story, but Chatani put a lot of nice little touch in for those who know ballet. 

I find Chatani’s art to be very cute, and it lends itself really well to the fairytale sort of aesthetic. But it’s not so limited that it cut any expression of emotion away from the characters. Partially with Franz and Swanilda’s dance, you really get a sense of her desperation. Part of this effect comes from the key focus on motions. A lot of the comic is filled with movement, which for a story from a ballet is an enjoyable translation from between the mediums. It has been a while since I’ve seen a production, but I’m curious to see if certain movies from a production were directly referenced. But with that movement it also means when the comic is still, like in the scene with Franz and Coppélia, it creates a sense of unease and tension. 

On that line, Chatani doesn’t directly follow Coppélia’s storyline, and I actually really enjoyed the twist it decided to go for. While avoiding spoilers, the comics really builds the bond between Swanilda and her friends. It also takes Coppélius in a different, more sympathetic turn. The story does sort of leave me wanting more, in both a good and bad way. As the story feels like it wants to continue, but is cut off, so it’s a little unsatisfactory in that way. Not that I would have liked the original ending of the ballet, I actually do like this exploration of the story, but doesn’t really end where I am fully satisfied. Now, all stories don’t need a satisfying ending, but I’m not fully convinced that the tone of this story was able to pull that mood off. Given Swanilda’s already wavering at the start and her emotions seem to still be wavering at the end. Yes, she ends with a goodbye and pretty soundly puts here feelings towards Franz away, but it doesn’t totally hit that point of closure for me. 

Despite that, I still recommend the story. Personally, I feel a bit like I’m nitpicking a fine story that uses both its writing and art well, and ultimately this is something I’m glad I bought. It’s a nice little twist on a classic story, and it’s well told. It’s 67 pages, and I received both an English version and a Japanese version. It is done in a manga styling with it being in black and white with reading from right to left. Again, I recommend it or just looking around the Shortbox Comics Fair to see is there is something else for the personal taste.

[valkwise]

Val's SBCF Recs #3 - Coppélia et Swanilda by Hana Chatani

(This is Hana's fourth year in SBCF -- if you haven't read Hana's previous entries, each one is very much worth your time and you can find links to purchase each of them here.)

While I wasn't familiar with the source material for this story, I have an extremely passing familiarity with ballet. This comic has a deep appreciation for the artistry of professional ballet, and also a sense of joy and fun throughout that reminds me of what ballet felt like as a young kid in dance class. It's easy to want to stand up and recreate the poses on the page!

The obvious challenge with this adaptation is that comics are a silent, motionless medium -- and ballet is dependent on music and dance. Coppélia et Swanilda takes advantage of this disadvantage, creating suspense in certain scenes that would be impossible with audio, and creating the illusion of easy movement with intuitive page flow and paneling.

This comic also takes advantage of the medium's strengths. Onstage, faces can't be easily read, and emotions have to be conveyed through the body. Comics don't have that problem. With the ability to focus more on the quiet, emotional depth of the characters, Hana peels back the layers of this beloved story in a way that makes so much sense it feels inevitable.

[pgabachelorarfa2024mllegonot]

N - 125 - 7 mars 2024 nouveau projet ! je me suis inspirée du ballet classique ; Coppélia.

Cette histoire met en scène Swanilda, son fiancé Frantz et le vieux Coppélius, fabricant de poupées automates, dont l'ambition est d'en créer une dotée d'une âme .

Frantz s'éprend de la dernière création du vieillard, entrevue par la fenêtre : Coppélia, qu'il croit vivante.

Swanilda, jalouse s'introduit dans l'atelier. Frantz y pénètre à son tour, surpris par Coppélius qui tente à l'aide d'un breuvage de sa composition de l'endormir pour lui ravir son âme.

C'est alors que la poupée Coppélia s'anime, et pour cause : Swanilda a pris la place de la poupée.

Elle brise les automates et s'enfuit avec son fiancé qu'elle épousera à la fête du village...

J'ai réalisé le décors de l'atelier en gardant l'esprit du décors d'opéra / théâtre.

[momentmusical54]

#NowPlaying Coppélia - Tableau 1: No. 2 Scène (Swanilda et Frantz) de Léo Delibes

[hakobore]

Debuting as a downloadable digital comic at Shortbox Comics Fair this October, I present you Coppélia et Swanilda! Suspicious that her fiancé’s heart might be straying, Swanilda and her friends set out to uncover the truth in rather unconventional ways. But when even darker secrets are inadvertently laid bare, Swanilda must decide what is best for her and her rival in love. Read right to left. Available in less than a week!

[hakobore]

Cover reveal for my newest comic Coppélia et Swanilda, debuting October 2024 at ShortBox Comics Fair! Previews coming closer to its release<3

[hakobore]

Thank you everyone for getting Coppélia et Swanilda! (and for tolerating my all my promo posts for a month.)

[hakobore]

Get Coppélia et Swanilda

[hakobore]

ShortBox Comics Fair is now live! Please enjoy this cheesy teaser I made as a taster to the 10 page preview I'll post later🩰