<p>It certainly comes from the fans who have played the visual novel (VN) and set the expectation too high for the anime adaptation.</p>

<p>Some background, the original <em>Tsukihime</em> VN was stated as an exceptionally big hit for a <em>doujin</em> game in Japan and drew big attention when an anime adaptation was decided. The VN itself also seemed to receive global recognition. Note that it also consists of multiple endings and many backstories and may take more than 30 hours (according to <a href="https://vndb.org/v7" rel="noreferrer">VNDB</a>) to finish all the routes.</p>

<p>Putting aside opinions, the anime was broadcasted for 12 episodes based on a certain character's route:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> "Arcueid's True End"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, due to the limitation on episode counts and the staffs having troubles in trying to incorporate <em>all</em> elements from the original source, many unimportant settings were left out. Some settings and characters' personality were also changed partially. Moreover, some voice actors were not experienced in anime voice acting, including Nabatame Hitomi (Arcueid's voice actor) making <em>Tsukihime</em> as the debut in TV anime voice acting. Additionally, all of the voice actors were different compared to the <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melty_Blood" rel="noreferrer">Melty Blood</a></em> which had been released before the anime.</p>

<p>On the other hand, the manga adaptation following the same anime's route was also released at nearly the same time and <em>was serialized for 7 years</em>. While the story development was interwoven with multiple routes, the manga also integrated some references from <em>Tsukihime Tokuhon</em> and <em><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagetsu_Tohya" rel="noreferrer">Kagetsu Tohya</a></em> without feeling out of place and losing the original source's atmosphere. Even words of acclaims from the original author were written on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_(publishing)" rel="noreferrer"><em>obi</em></a>.</p>

<p>Now, back to the fans' opinions, there were many reasons why they didn't want to "acknowledge the existence" of this anime. To summarize it:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> - Plot development: all over the place, slow pace, wrong focus, under-/unexplained details, bizarre use of flashbacks<br>
 - Bad presentation: too many non-subtle dialogs instead of actions<br>
 - Characters: modified personality and roles<br>
 - Visual: too many close-up shots of faces/upper torsos, stiff/stilted/ motionless, unremarkable action scenes<br>
 - Audio: over-the-top sound effects, poor translation &amp; dub</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and many concluded that it's okay as a standalone work but terrible as an adaptation.</p>

<p>Interestingly, <em>Japanese fans also didn't want to acknowledge the anime's existence</em>. Most of them assumed the anime as "a dark history" and "there's no anime adaptation". Since they had the same opinion as with the global audiences, it's probably safe to say that it has spread since the original TV broadcast in 2003.</p>

<hr>

<p>Sources:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9C%9F%E6%9C%88%E8%AD%9A_%E6%9C%88%E5%A7%AB" rel="noreferrer">Japanese Wikipedia</a></li>
<li>Reviews: <a href="http://anitay.kinja.com/grexs-lunar-legend-tsukihime-review-1780509201" rel="noreferrer">AniTAY</a>, <a href="https://myanimelist.net/anime/169/Shingetsutan_Tsukihime/reviews" rel="noreferrer">MyAnimeList</a>, <a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.142352.3191327" rel="noreferrer">the escapist Forum</a>, <a href="https://finalcrosmaycry.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/tsukihime-anime-review-i-wish-it-didnt-exist-either/" rel="noreferrer">FinalCrosMayCry's WordPress</a>, <a href="https://www.anime-planet.com/users/roriconfan/reviews/32293" rel="noreferrer">anime-planet</a></li>
<li><a href="https://typemoon.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E7%9C%9F%E6%9C%88%E8%AD%9A_%E6%9C%88%E5%A7%AB#.E8.A9.B1.E9.A1.8C.E3.81.BE.E3.81.A8.E3.82.81" rel="noreferrer">Japanese Typemoon Wiki</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-19T16:22:27.510Z
2017-12-19T16:27:45.163Z
2017-12-19T16:27:45.163Z
Aki Tanaka
<p>I've been hearing people talk about how the 2003 <a href="https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/lunar-legend-tsukihime" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tsukihime anime</a> "does not exist", for example, <a href="https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/2000121-anime-and-manga-other-titles/60258238" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qcyn3/do_any_of_these_anime_exist/cdblnfm/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. I wonder why that is, when the anime had great art and music for its time. On the other hand, I don't hear people saying Studio Deen's <em>Fate/stay night</em> anime does not exist, even though it has had its fair share of criticisms.</p>

<p>So why has the Tsukihime anime acquired this hate? How and when did the saying start to spread, and do the Japanese audiences also echo this phrase online?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-27T01:12:16.190Z
"I don't hear people saying Studio Deen's *Fate/stay night* anime does not exist, even though it has had its fair share of criticisms." - I've definitely heard similar "it doesn't exist"-type jokes about Studio Deen's *Fate/stay night* adaptation, for what it's worth - especially after Ufotable's adaptation of *Unlimited Blade Works* (and other *Fate*-related media).
V2Blast
<meme><tsukihime>
Why is it said that the Tsukihime anime "does not exist"?
# Why is it said that the Tsukihime anime "does not exist"?
Posted by: username_0 on 2017-12-19
I've been hearing people talk about how the 2003 [Tsukihime anime](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/lunar-legend-tsukihime) "does not exist", for example, [here](https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/2000121-anime-and-manga-other-titles/60258238) and [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qcyn3/do_any_of_these_anime_exist/cdblnfm/). I wonder why that is, when the anime had great art and music for its time. On the other hand, I don't hear people saying Studio Deen's *Fate/stay night* anime does not exist, even though it has had its fair share of criticisms.

So why has the Tsukihime anime acquired this hate? How and when did the saying start to spread, and do the Japanese audiences also echo this phrase online?
**Tags:** meme tsukihime
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "I don't hear people saying Studio Deen's *Fate/stay night* anime does not exist, even though it has had its fair share of criticisms." - I've definitely heard similar "it doesn't exist"-type jokes about Studio Deen's *Fate/stay night* adaptation, for what it's worth - especially after Ufotable's adaptation of *Unlimited Blade Works* (and other *Fate*-related media).  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_2 on 2017-12-19. Score: 15 | Accepted answer
It certainly comes from the fans who have played the visual novel (VN) and set the expectation too high for the anime adaptation.

Some background, the original *Tsukihime* VN was stated as an exceptionally big hit for a *doujin* game in Japan and drew big attention when an anime adaptation was decided. The VN itself also seemed to receive global recognition. Note that it also consists of multiple endings and many backstories and may take more than 30 hours (according to [VNDB](https://vndb.org/v7)) to finish all the routes.

Putting aside opinions, the anime was broadcasted for 12 episodes based on a certain character's route:

> "Arcueid's True End"

However, due to the limitation on episode counts and the staffs having troubles in trying to incorporate *all* elements from the original source, many unimportant settings were left out. Some settings and characters' personality were also changed partially. Moreover, some voice actors were not experienced in anime voice acting, including Nabatame Hitomi (Arcueid's voice actor) making *Tsukihime* as the debut in TV anime voice acting. Additionally, all of the voice actors were different compared to the *[Melty Blood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melty_Blood)* which had been released before the anime.

On the other hand, the manga adaptation following the same anime's route was also released at nearly the same time and *was serialized for 7 years*. While the story development was interwoven with multiple routes, the manga also integrated some references from *Tsukihime Tokuhon* and *[Kagetsu Tohya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagetsu_Tohya)* without feeling out of place and losing the original source's atmosphere. Even words of acclaims from the original author were written on the [*obi*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obi_(publishing)).

Now, back to the fans' opinions, there were many reasons why they didn't want to "acknowledge the existence" of this anime. To summarize it:

> - Plot development: all over the place, slow pace, wrong focus, under-/unexplained details, bizarre use of flashbacks  
> - Bad presentation: too many non-subtle dialogs instead of actions  
> - Characters: modified personality and roles  
> - Visual: too many close-up shots of faces/upper torsos, stiff/stilted/ motionless, unremarkable action scenes  
> - Audio: over-the-top sound effects, poor translation & dub

and many concluded that it's okay as a standalone work but terrible as an adaptation.

Interestingly, *Japanese fans also didn't want to acknowledge the anime's existence*. Most of them assumed the anime as "a dark history" and "there's no anime adaptation". Since they had the same opinion as with the global audiences, it's probably safe to say that it has spread since the original TV broadcast in 2003.

---

Sources:

* [Japanese Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9C%9F%E6%9C%88%E8%AD%9A_%E6%9C%88%E5%A7%AB)
* Reviews: [AniTAY](http://anitay.kinja.com/grexs-lunar-legend-tsukihime-review-1780509201), [MyAnimeList](https://myanimelist.net/anime/169/Shingetsutan_Tsukihime/reviews), [the escapist Forum](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.142352.3191327), [FinalCrosMayCry's WordPress](https://finalcrosmaycry.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/tsukihime-anime-review-i-wish-it-didnt-exist-either/), [anime-planet](https://www.anime-planet.com/users/roriconfan/reviews/32293)
* [Japanese Typemoon Wiki](https://typemoon.wiki.cre.jp/wiki/%E7%9C%9F%E6%9C%88%E8%AD%9A_%E6%9C%88%E5%A7%AB#.E8.A9.B1.E9.A1.8C.E3.81.BE.E3.81.A8.E3.82.81)
---
