Chibi

Nope, Youth of May is around a completely different set of events (Gwangju Uprisings of 1980) Snowdrop is based on the June Democratic Struggles of 1987. Both the dramas are set in different times, and against different backdrops.

Thank you!!!... I'll ping you in a few days then!... ^^
Yes, those buttons right next to each other are dangerous! xD

Haha, no no, I use the google draft to see how it's looking... it's easier to transfer and format that way... I'm kinda already used to it, and I always feel like I'll screw it up if I do it on the official MDL editor! xD

As somebody who watches equal amounts of dramas from both the countries... I can see the distinctly 'Chinese' elements that have been placed in this drama.
-One Female Character is styled exactly like historical/fictional costume c-drama (right from clothes to hairstyle to hair accessories)
-The food in the gisaeng-house looked like mooncakes, century eggs and dumplings?
-The artwork for the poster is also reminiscent of Chinese ink-drawings of imperial background.
-There were some props like swords, which looked as if they are not the kind used in traditional Korea setups.

I won't comment on which culture is superior (there isn't a 'superior' culture because each has their individual quirks and charms!!!). Let's say this is a never-ending saga fueled by the fact that IRL, both cultures have continued to influence each other at various different points of history. It's really a 'chicken and the egg' issue in 2021, if the Hanfu preceded the Hanbok, or vice versa, because historians from both camps have points to support their own sides.

Let's also just say a much awaited c-drama with *superstars* is awaiting its release-date till now because while the story is fictional, the style-department (wardrobe, sets and accessories) borrowed their elements heavily from Ancient Japan (never-ending saga, I tell you)... and is rumored to have not got clearance because of this. Similarly, another scandal-embroiled director from China had to come forth and release statements after his Ming-era costume drama had some photos leaked online that sparked outrage from C-netz because the Ming-dynasty costumes looked heavily 'inspired' by Joseon (Ming was also the period with the greatest cultural exchange between the two kingdoms... so it shouldn't be a point of contention tbh...) but nonetheless, the outrage was for LEAKED pictures and the drama is not even *close* to being aired.

In short, because of their complicated history around WW2, citizens need the smallest trigger to be offended about borrowed elements from a rival country. Mis-directed maybe, but also completely justified taking history into account.

Yup, sadly it was a spinoff, but NJH as Habaek was SPOT-on casting T_T
The wasted potential makes my heart hurt!! Too bad koreans don't make xianxia, or else it'd be perfect! <3
You're right, I was thinking of that too...picking a c-drama xianxia cast, with actors who played visually similar roles! ^^
Thanks for the link though xD I'll get to working on the article... you honestly fill me with such renewed enthusiasm every time... also do you mind if I ping you with a preliminary draft in google-docs? :3

You're right, the photo edits were soo funny xD
https://page.kakao.com/home?seriesId=46326204&page=1
This is the link for the official manhwa (black n white because the colour-version is SO tacky)... i would say they did a phenomenal job with the kdrama casting but its maybe 10 percent like the OG work maybe? So watching the drama wouldnt realy explain much of the manhwa :) the only catch is i found it in korean, so i'll look around for english translations (so far i have only been revisiting it for the beautiful artwork, and for comparing the artwork to Xianxia dramas)

Oh WOW... such a well-researched article... I clearly saw the resemblance! ^^ It was sooo funny seeing some of the recommendations though xD
Regarding the article, yes, I have to work hard on finding character resemblances... the only problem is imagining 2021 photos of actors in historical costume (with the wigs and all) and picking the closest one!
Also, if you have some time and are willing to glance at the Manhwa, I'd highly recommend it... the artwork is absolutely stunning, plus it has a full-colour version made public very recently. The kdrama was super trash, so I wouldn't recommend that xD

It's the excel spreadsheet on who claimed which topic...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSDi7_3BczkDX6jYo1t4jEoIgslglqQRDFLChnxaWDBVvcYQtEOj3erWpeqsOI5NCHxX5CLnPuJ_8OS/pubhtml
This one I believe... so the editors contact the approval staff for 'claiming' topics, and it seems they stopped doing it. Or it could be that not everybody is updating it... Sorry I'm new, I really don't know how it works.... but I have legit info from one of the editors that doing a duplicate topic isn't a problem as long as it follows other guidelines!

YESSS! I'm planning to 'cast' the Xianxia as well!!! (I mostly discussed the Xianxia aesthetics, mythology, the typical production values etc, but casting is the best part, and also the most controversial. Like could it be a Chinese production with Korean actors--- because the characters are still very much 'Korean'... or should I 'cast' both Chinese and Korean? The biggest problem is casting the leads, I have no idea, and would loooove to hear some recs from you) <3 <3

Aha, okay, I get why I see you more often on the thread!... However, the last I talked to an editor, she mentioned they stopped updating the spreadsheet with the topics, deadlines and authors. Now, anybody can do any article, and there could even be duplicate articles too, so no issues! ^^
Miles Wei... I'm loving Word of Honor also because I get to gif him in it <3 I have got a few of his older works... onto his more recent projects! :D
About the Manhwa, yes, they made a 'spinoff' k-drama that looked nothing like the original manhwa (which is muchhh closer in looks and setting-wise to Chinese Xianxia dramas... hence the 'imagining' bit... you know, with the wigs, the CGI backgrounds, the historic costumes, etc etc) :P

I keep visiting your MDL page, and see new articles being pitched (in publishing) plus I have subscribed to the MDL article topic thread, half of the notifications are from you... and I get a little boost to continue my writing with every new update I get from you ^^
Okay, I'm working on two articles... one is ofcourse the Miles Wei one [which is currently on hold as I try to dig out more info], and the second is the Bride of the Water God (Manhwa) imagined as a Xianxia drama [you know, cuz the artwork is reminiscent of the style]... I'm currently waiting to unlock more chapters on Naver webtoon to insert full-color images for the article :D

First of all, Cho Na, let me convey my absolute AWE at your speed of churning out such well-written/ well-researched articles so swiftly! ^^ I'm still struggling to get over my inertia to dig out photos/ gifs for my second editorial xD Secondly, I absolutely L-U-R-V-E this series... as someone who joined very recently, it's great discovering these gems of written-pieces once I run out of the daily published articles... I have bookmarked this entire series, and I read the ones featured here, at leisure. The inner-blogger in me does a happy-dance at finding so much content to consume...
Keep it coming... we're all loving it :D

I'm going to flip my table if this gets released before the C-drama version. T_T

Oh dear dear. I'm waiting to dig out more updates for NANA's screenwriters (atleast the director is a fan, and is always involved with female-centric projects) <3
The fact that they already changed Takumi's instrument from a bass guitar to a synth, worries me SO much T_T

Yup, super happy with the casting process. Nobody has been 'offered the script' and it's a nationwide casting-call followed by an acting/ musical boot-camp (>1 month).
Super pumped <3

HOW can you sign up to be a part of a creative-team for a product you DONT believe in? How can Xianxia and Xuanhuan be *below* someone? Is he secretly a Wuxia-purist? :O
Anyhow, I'm convinced A. people will sign up for *anything* JUST to make some quick-money and B. if the screenwriter/ director is a *fan* of the original work, then the final-product will be amazing (look at Word of Honor!) ^^

Another tragedy.
However, I'm pinning my hopes on nation-wide auditions and acting/musical boot-camp. Has never been done before for any of the IPs you mentioned.... so that is literally what is keeping me sane about an adaptation from c-drama land which might possibly screw it up! T_T
Guess only time will tell :')

Agreed, tragic indeed. How can you get XZ and still ruin it?

Then again, nation-wide casting call is *very* rare for an IP. Followed by an acting/ musical boot-camp? I don't think that has ever happened. :O
Nana is rated 9.2 on Douban (with a rabid fan-base in the country who has a massive respect for the original work), plus the acting-auditions tell me that they are taking things seriously...
They wouldn't invest so much time, money and efforts *just* to butcher the IP. [At least that's what I would hope, lol!] All the above you mentioned are domestic IPs, and I would place NANA in the same category as Hikaru no Go (Japanese manga-based IP, again with the author involved in the creative team). I hear HnG's adaptation received good reviews from the manga-ka as well... so let's pray they do things right this time too :')

Well, just like the characters here, we are on semi-masochistic tendencies already :P I too decided I won't relive my heartache, but I'm too involved now. Like all those years back.
Ps. those who know how c-drama work, know that nation-wide auditions is VERY rare. Only brilliant movie-directors like Zhang Yimou have done it before. Month-long boot-camps after the audition has *never* been heard of. Which goes onto tell *how* serious is the director and casting team about this (as i think about it, it calms my nervous heart a little) <3

Nana Osaki's character is named Nana.
Nana Komatsu's character is named Wei Wei (ugh why?)
Reira is still Reira, thankfully (cuz she's named after the Eric Clapton song, lmao!)
~~~