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gackt_armyIn 2007-08, instead of continuing with his 'Moon Saga' Gackt decided to revisit the concept of his Rebirth album and tour of 2000, Requiem et Reminiscence
(As Gackt has posted the entire story of RR2 on his website, and it is written in the tour programme, these are not spoilers, but they are a condensed version of events, leaving out much of the detail - Gackt also changed his original RR concept, taking his character 'Proto' back to the Second World War)
In the story of 'Proto' a young pianist (named Gackt) at the start of the Second World War attempts to join the German army, but is refused because of his Japanese heritage (before Japan became an ally of Germany) He is in love with a young woman named Elena. Elena is killed by an enemy pilot and Proto in his grief, is allowed to join the German Army as a test subject, he agrees to become a cyborg, half-man, half-machine.
Proto gives up his memories and becomes the 'Shinigami' or Death God of Nibelungen, leading a group of commandos he wreaks havoc on the enemy until his memories return, after visiting his own grave with flowers, he discovers the scientist who created him and kills him, and disappears, possibly to perish in the wilderness.
The story of 'Zero' is that of a young violinist who has two best friends - Asakura, a scientist and Maria - a woman that he and Asakura both fall in love with. 'Zero' enlists in the German army, while his friend Asakura goes to work on the RRProject that spawned 'Proto.'
When Proto disappears, the Project is in jeopardy, until Asakura mentions that his friend bears a remarkable resemblance to Proto - this is to remove 'Zero' as a rival for Maria's affections.
Unlike Proto, who became a cyborg by choice, Zero is kidnapped, his memories are wiped and replaced with Proto's memories. Zero is now the Shinigami of Nibelungen, and leads a new battalion, this time comprised of cyborgs like himself.
Unlike Proto, Zero's memories only return in sections, he is both Proto and Zero, as demonstrated by playing a piano and a violin. Zero 'fails' in his last mission, himself and his men (broken in their last battle) are destroyed by the Officers of the RRProject. Zero only receives his memories as he is dying by the grace of Asakura, who is ashamed of what he has done to his best friend.
In comparing the two characters, Proto is the more active, he drives the narrative of the first story, having made the decision to become a cyborg, once he returns to himself, he takes vengeance on his creator.
Zero on the other hand, has his choices made for him, he is forced to become a cyborg, he follows in the footsteps of Proto, doing his duty until his creators no longer find a use for him and at the end, Zero's 'salvation' is dependent on Asakura's actions.
It is interesting to me that Gackt has developed the story in this manner, the Proto character of 2000 is a typical 'heroic' narrative, while 'Zero' is a character tossed by the hands of fate, which recalls the new song 'Oblivious' showcased on stage by Gackt singing before crowds of people who pass by without seeing or acknowledging him.
(As Gackt has posted the entire story of RR2 on his website, and it is written in the tour programme, these are not spoilers, but they are a condensed version of events, leaving out much of the detail - Gackt also changed his original RR concept, taking his character 'Proto' back to the Second World War)
In the story of 'Proto' a young pianist (named Gackt) at the start of the Second World War attempts to join the German army, but is refused because of his Japanese heritage (before Japan became an ally of Germany) He is in love with a young woman named Elena. Elena is killed by an enemy pilot and Proto in his grief, is allowed to join the German Army as a test subject, he agrees to become a cyborg, half-man, half-machine.
Proto gives up his memories and becomes the 'Shinigami' or Death God of Nibelungen, leading a group of commandos he wreaks havoc on the enemy until his memories return, after visiting his own grave with flowers, he discovers the scientist who created him and kills him, and disappears, possibly to perish in the wilderness.
The story of 'Zero' is that of a young violinist who has two best friends - Asakura, a scientist and Maria - a woman that he and Asakura both fall in love with. 'Zero' enlists in the German army, while his friend Asakura goes to work on the RRProject that spawned 'Proto.'
When Proto disappears, the Project is in jeopardy, until Asakura mentions that his friend bears a remarkable resemblance to Proto - this is to remove 'Zero' as a rival for Maria's affections.
Unlike Proto, who became a cyborg by choice, Zero is kidnapped, his memories are wiped and replaced with Proto's memories. Zero is now the Shinigami of Nibelungen, and leads a new battalion, this time comprised of cyborgs like himself.
Unlike Proto, Zero's memories only return in sections, he is both Proto and Zero, as demonstrated by playing a piano and a violin. Zero 'fails' in his last mission, himself and his men (broken in their last battle) are destroyed by the Officers of the RRProject. Zero only receives his memories as he is dying by the grace of Asakura, who is ashamed of what he has done to his best friend.
In comparing the two characters, Proto is the more active, he drives the narrative of the first story, having made the decision to become a cyborg, once he returns to himself, he takes vengeance on his creator.
Zero on the other hand, has his choices made for him, he is forced to become a cyborg, he follows in the footsteps of Proto, doing his duty until his creators no longer find a use for him and at the end, Zero's 'salvation' is dependent on Asakura's actions.
It is interesting to me that Gackt has developed the story in this manner, the Proto character of 2000 is a typical 'heroic' narrative, while 'Zero' is a character tossed by the hands of fate, which recalls the new song 'Oblivious' showcased on stage by Gackt singing before crowds of people who pass by without seeing or acknowledging him.
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