The appeal and evaluation of Portrait of Cosette Vol.0 <Limited Edition>: A deep look into this special book

Portrait of Cosette Vol.0 <Limited Edition> - The aesthetics of gothic horror and the world of aesthetic pure love

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

December 27, 2003

■Release and sales

Aniplex

■Frequencies

28 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Aniplex, Domu

■ Director

Akiyuki Shinbo

■ Production

Animation Production: Domu

■Works

©2003 COSSETTE HOUSE/Aniplex

■ Story

Is it a hallucination, a fairy, or perhaps the spirit of the object?

Kurahashi Eiri, an art student working part-time at the antique shop "Korando", falls in love with a pretty blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl reflected in an old cut glass, and secretly enjoys meeting this inhuman phantom. However, this is the beginning of a tragedy for the two fated people drawn together by a "cursed vessel"...

■Explanation

The advance version of the fantasy and fantasy, the pure love of beauty, the aesthetics of destruction, the tragic fate, the transparent melancholy, the decadent lethargy... This is the advance version of a unique OVA that pursues the aesthetics of gothic horror and romance and has constructed a unique world view and presence. The original video animation, which is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2004, will be released for the first time in all three volumes. It includes a trailer with plenty of advance cuts, staff interviews, spots, etc. It is also full of still images such as setting boards with a unique world view and image illustrations. In addition, a promotional video for the ending song sung by the lead voice actor, who was selected from 1500 people in an amateur audition, will be recorded.

*Quoted from Sony Music official website

■Cast

・Cosette/Marina Inoue・Michiru Yabuki/Ikumi Fujiwara・Eri Kurahashi/Mitsuki Saiga・Shoko Mataki/Megumi Toyoguchi・Hakkai Mataki/Hyosei・Shakado Boshinni/Rei Igarashi・Yufu Saiga/Mamiko Noto・Michio Hisamoto/Shinnosuke Furumoto

■ Main staff

・Planning, original story: COSSETTE HOUSE, ANIPLEX
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo Screenplay: Masayoshi Sekijima Character design: Hirofumi Suzuki Animation directors: Hirofumi Suzuki, Takahiro Chiba Production design: OKAMA
・Art Director / Easter Hime Gumi ・Color Design / Shibuya Keiko ・Director of Photography / Tanaka Kouji, Watanabe Junichi ・Editor / Seki Kazuhiko ・Sound Director / Kameyama Toshiki ・Music / Kajiura Yuki ・Animation Producer / Ishida Hiroshi ・Producers / Fujimoto Masatoshi, Anzai Takeshi, Abe Ai ・Animation Production / Dome ・Production / ANIPLEX

■ Related works

・Portrait of Cosette Vol.1-3

■ Theme songs and music

・ED1
Jewel Lyrics: Yuki Kajiura Music: Yuki Kajiura Singer: Marina Inoue

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Portrait of Cosette Vol.0" is a limited edition OVA released in 2003, a unique work that combines gothic horror and romance. The director is Akiyuki Shinbo, the scriptwriter is Masayoshi Sekijima, and the character designer is Hirofumi Suzuki, bringing together a luxurious team of staff to create a unique worldview. This work was produced as a prequel to the original video animation released in spring 2004 in three volumes, and it skillfully depicts elements such as the bizarre and fantastical, aesthetic pure love, the aesthetics of destruction, tragic destiny, transparent melancholy, and decadent lethargy.

The story begins when Kurahashi Eiri, an art student working part-time at the antique shop "Korando," falls in love with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl named Cosette, who he sees reflected in an old cut glass. Eiri enjoys meeting Cosette, but this is also the beginning of a tragedy between the two fated people, drawn together by a "cursed vessel." This setting deeply moves and terrifies the viewer, drawing them into the story's development.

Director Akiyuki Shinbo's direction brings out the atmosphere of gothic horror to the fullest. The color design and art director's attention to detail are apparent, and the dark, beautiful visuals envelop the entire work. Yuki Kajiura's music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the ending song "Hakuseki" features Marina Inoue's crystal clear voice, which is particularly impressive, further deepening the worldview of the work.

The cast is also superb, especially Marina Inoue's performance as Cosette, who realistically portrays the fantastical character. Mitsuki Saiga's performance as Eiri Kurahashi is also superb, as she portrays the pure and frightening nature of an art student, stirring the emotions of the viewer. Other voice actors, such as Ikumi Fujiwara as Michiru Yabuki and Megumi Toyoguchi as Shoko Mataki, also perform their roles well.

This work is a must-see for fans of gothic horror and romance. It is a limited edition and difficult to obtain, but it is well worth it. In particular, the trailer, staff interviews, setting boards, image illustrations, and other materials included in the advance version are very useful for gaining a deeper understanding of the background of the work.

"Portrait of Cosette Vol.0" is a masterpiece that depicts the aesthetics of gothic horror and the world of aesthetic pure love, and it is a work that leaves a strong impression on the viewer. This work, which combines the unique direction of director Akiyuki Shinbo, music by Yuki Kajiura, and the acting of a luxurious cast, can be said to be a work of art that goes beyond the boundaries of OVA. If you love gothic horror and romance, this is a work that you should definitely watch at least once.

■ Recommendation points

1. **Gothic horror aesthetics**: The dark and beautiful visuals that embody the direction of director Akiyuki Shinbo and the art director's attention to detail are embedded throughout the film. The visual beauty that brings out the atmosphere of gothic horror to the fullest leaves a strong impression on the viewer.

2. **A story of aesthetic pure love**: The tragic pure love between art student Eiri Kurahashi and the girl Cosette reflected in the cut glass deeply touches the hearts of viewers. Elements such as the mysterious and the fantastic, the aesthetics of destruction, and tragic destiny are skillfully depicted.

3. **Luxurious staff**: The film is made up of a stellar cast, including director Akiyuki Shinbo, screenwriter Masayoshi Sekijima, character designer Hirofumi Suzuki, and music composer Yuki Kajiura. The work, which brings together their talents, will leave a deep impression on viewers.

4. **Impressive music**: Yuki Kajiura's music is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the ending song "Hakuseki" features Marina Inoue's crystal clear singing voice, which is impressive and further deepens the worldview of the work.

5. **Great Cast**: The voice actors of each character, such as Marina Inoue as Cosette, Mitsuki Saiga as Eiri Kurahashi, Ikumi Fujiwara as Michiru Yabuki, and Megumi Toyoguchi as Shoko Mataki, are all very good at playing their roles. Marina Inoue's performance in particular brings a realistic portrayal of the fantastical characters.

6. **Limited production value**: Although it is a limited production and difficult to obtain, it is well worth it. The materials included in the advance version, such as trailers, staff interviews, setting boards, and image illustrations, are very useful for gaining a deeper understanding of the background of the work.

"Portrait of Cosette Vol.0" is a must-see for fans of gothic horror and romance. The unique direction of director Akiyuki Shinbo, music by Yuki Kajiura, and the performances of a stellar cast combine to create a work of art that goes beyond the boundaries of an OVA. It's a work that you should definitely watch.