Canute (Vinland Saga) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canute |
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| Vinland Saga character | |
Canute, as drawn by Makoto Yukimura
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| First appearance | Vinland Saga |
| Created by | Makoto Yukimura |
| Voiced by |
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Canute (Japanese: クヌート, Hepburn: Kunūto) is a character from the manga series Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura. Canute is the 17-year-old prince of the Danes. He is initially portrayed as timid and womanly, and unable to function without his retainer Ragnar. These traits, along with his strong Christianity, earn him the mockery of the Vikings with whom he works. After Ragnar's death, however, he has a sharp reversal of personality, becomes strong and kingly, and develops an ambition to create utopia on Earth before God's return. Towards this end, he plots to overthrow his father Sweyn Forkbeard and take the crown of the Danes.
Canute is based on the historical King Canute the Great, the most prominent Danish ruler of England. Critical response to Canute's character has been positive due to his early character arc from scared man to a charismatic ruler, showing he has the power to overthrow his father as the next King. His characterization in the story arc as the new ruler was subject of positive response as well as analysis with how Yukimura pays homages to the real Canute the Great in several scenes from the series.
Creation
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Though based on real figure Cnut, Makoto Yukimura said that Canute's personality was based on his interpretation of him as he did not do research for several sides shown in his role in the story. Canute was created to be the foil of the series' protagonist Thorfinn. While Thorfinn develops several values in the narrative based on the author himself, Yukimura wanted the reader to see that there is always somebody with a different idea. Canute's power in the second story arc was meant to emphasize how he is now the new cause behind the world Thorfinn experience as a Viking and wants to escape as a result of the violence it caused. In their eventual reunion, Yukimura want to contrast the their view points and how the protagonist decides abanon any hope of like Canute, having decided seek his own way of living.
Yukimura was often told by his editors not to draw Canute with a beard, as they claimed its interference with the bishonen archetype he represented would diminish the series' popularity. He rejected that idea, claiming that every man had a beard in that era. Conversely, Thorfinn becomes an adult in the second story arc, but he shaves his beard, as Yukimura did not want him to look strong.
Kensho Ono voices Canute in Japanese. His first impression was that he was bearish and contrasted with Thorfinn. But then he "wakes up". Both lines were required at the audition, so he remembers worrying about what to do about it. While Thorfinn feels like a bad boy with a strong wild flavor, while Canute is a royal family, timid and few words. It was a way of counterarguing with a certain kind of resignation while showing pride as a royal family even if it was fanned by Thorfinn. Following Ragnar's death, he thought that he was a very worthwhile person. In his life, there is only a future where he will die if he continues to be timid. However, this incident made him realize that he must change the world. Ono was very impressed because he felt that way. He thought it would be better to calculate backwards and show the audience that he has changed completely when he wakes up. Ono approached with a posture that allows me to play in the most stable manner. The director said it was important to have a sense of nobility as a prince. He said that he wanted his words and nuances to show his pride and that he was different from ordinary people.
In the English dub of Vinland Saga, Canute is voiced by Jessie James Grelle in the Crunchyroll dub, while Griffin Burns portrays Canute in the Netflix dub.
Appearances
Canute is the 17-year-old prince of the Danes. He is initially portrayed as timid and womanly, and unable to function without his retainer Ragnar. Askeladd's company finds employment as mercenaries under King Sweyn in the Danish invasion of London by the British and Thorkell the Tall,a former Jomsviking. As Thorkell takes Sweyn's son Prince Canute captive, Askeladd's company captures the prince with the intent of selling him to either side for a profit with the young protagonist Thorfinn bodyguarding him. Askeladd has Canute's caretaker Ragnar's die in order to make the prince more independent. As Canute questions his love towards Ragnar and whether or not he loved him, he has a sharp reversal of personality; becomes strong and kingly, and develops an ambition to create utopia on Earth before God's return. This new attitutde allows him to stop the fights between Thorkell and Askeladd's forces and have them under his command. Towards this end of a utopia, Canute plots to overthrow his father Sweyn Forkbeard and take the crown of the Danes. Askeladd is ultimately forced to sacrifice himself by killing Sweyn during an audience when the king announces his plan to invade Wales, feigning madness as Canute kills him, so the Prince could take over Dane-occupied England without question.
King Canute marches ahead of his troops in the war against Ethelred II for the throne of England. He severely punishes some of his forward troops for pillaging and treating the English peasants badly. Canute greets Floki on his way to accept the surrender of Earl Eadric of Mercia when Thorkell appears, angry at not being allowed to sever Eadric's head, but Thorkell defers to Canute's strategy. Eadric offers Canute treasure to leave him and Mercia alone, however Canute rejects the paltry offer and demands that Eadric swear loyalty to him and deliver Ethelred's head in exchange for retaining Mecia. Canute then sets alight a series of massive pyres across the countryside to demonstrate his power. Both Ethelred and his son Edmund are dead within 3 years leading Canute to being recognized in 1018 as Bretwalda, King of England. Canute has visions in the form of the head of King Sweyn who exposes Canute's hidden ambition and accuses him of poisoning his brother Harald so he can be king of Denmark and England. Canute spars with Wulf, captain of his guard, and manages to defeat him, garnering the necessary respect among his men as a warrior. However, Canute is faced with a shortage of revenue to fund his domains of Denmark and England and considers a plan to requisition farmland from wealthy landowners to fund the military. Canute prepared to march on Ketil's farm with over 100 men including Floki's Jomsvikings.
After his initial victory, Canute prevents Floki and his Jomsvikings from pillaging the farm so that he can acquire it intact. Thorfinn approaches Canute's camp alone and is greeted by a towering Jomsviking named Drott the Bear Killer, who ridicules his request to talk to the king and knocks him down. Thorfinn realizes that he cannot convince Canute to alter his path, and states that he will travel far away from the reach of the king. Canute is bemused, but he accepts Thorfinn's choice, and abandoning the ways of his father, he surprisingly alters his plan to forcefully seize farms. He even withdraws his troops from England, avoiding a potential uprising and earning the respect of the English nobles.
