"Portrait of Cosette": A thorough review of the fusion of a moving story and beautiful images

Portrait of Cosette - Aesthetics of Gothic Horror and Tragic Pure Love

■Overview of the work

"Portrait of Cosette" is an animated work released as an OVA in 2004. This work, which consists of three episodes, was produced based on an original story by Aniplex and COSSETTE HOUSE. Directed by Akiyuki Shinbo and produced by Dome, it features a unique worldview that combines gothic horror and pure love. Each episode is about 38 minutes long, and the beautiful visuals and profound storyline draw the viewer in.

■ Story

Kurahashi Eiri, an art student working part-time at the antique shop "Korando", is captivated by a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl named Cosette, reflected in an old cut glass. She enjoys her fantastical encounter with Cosette, but it is the beginning of a tragedy brought about by the "cursed vessel". The fate of Eiri and Cosette unfolds as a story of mystery, fantasy, and pure love.

■Explanation

"Portrait of Cosette" is a unique OVA that combines gothic horror and romance. It skillfully incorporates elements such as the bizarre and the fantastic, the pure love of decadence, the aesthetics of destruction, the tragic destiny, the transparent melancholy, and the decadent lethargy to create a unique worldview. The visual sense of director Akiyuki Shinbo and the storytelling of screenwriter Masayoshi Sekijima are perfectly matched to create a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers.

■Cast

The cast of this film is as follows:

• Cosette - Marina Inoue
• Arrowhead - Ikumi Fujiwara
• Eiri Kurahashi - Mitsuki Saiga
• Shoko Mataki - Megumi Toyoguchi
• Mataki Hakkai - Ice Blue
• Shakado Boshinni - Rei Igarashi
• Yufu Saiga - Mamiko Noto
• Michio Hisamoto - Shinnosuke Furumoto

In particular, Marina Inoue's voice as Cosette is a perfect fit for the atmosphere of the work and captures the hearts of viewers. Eiri Kurahashi as Mitsuki Saiga also skillfully expresses innocence and anguish.

■ Main staff

The production staff for this film are as follows:

• Planning, original story - COSSETTE HOUSE, ANIPLEX
• Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
• Screenplay - Masayoshi Sekishima
• Character design: Hirofumi Suzuki
• Animation director - Hirofumi Suzuki, Takahiro Chiba
• Production design - OKAMA
• Art Director - Easter Hime Group
• Color design - Keiko Shibuya
• Director of photography - Tsuneji Tanaka, Junichi Watanabe
• Edited by Kazuhiko Seki
• Sound Director - Toshiki Kameyama
• Music: Yuki Kajiura
• Animation Producer - Hiroshi Ishida
• Producers: Masatoshi Fujimoto, Takeshi Anzai, Ai Abe
• Animation production - Domu
• Production - ANIPLEX

Akiyuki Shinbo's directing talent shines in the film's visuals, while Yuki Kajiura's music adds depth to the film's atmosphere.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of this work are as follows:

• #1 (2004/05/26)
• #2 (2004/07/26)
• #3 (2004/12/22)

The story progresses with each episode, drawing viewers in. The final episode in particular depicts the story's climax and has a moving conclusion.

■ Related works

The following works are related to "Portrait of Cosette":

• Portrait of Cosette Vol.0
• Portrait of Cosette Vol.2
• Portrait of Cosette Vol.3

These works are prequels or sequels to the story, and we recommend watching them to gain a deeper understanding of the work.

■ Theme songs and music

The ending theme of this work is as follows.

• ED1 - Jewels
• Lyricist: Yuki Kajiura
• Composer - Yuki Kajiura
• Sung by: Marina Inoue

Marina Inoue's singing voice further enhances the atmosphere of the work. Yuki Kajiura's beautiful melody and lyrics resonate deeply in the hearts of viewers.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Portrait of Cosette" is highly acclaimed as a unique work that combines gothic horror and pure love. Akiyuki Shinbo's visual sense and Masayoshi Sekijima's storytelling are a perfect match, making it a work that leaves a strong impression on the viewer. Yuki Kajiura's music also deepens the atmosphere of the work.

This work is especially recommended for those who like gothic horror and pure love stories. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and a profound story. Although it is a short work with only three episodes, it is packed with dense content, and once you see it, you will never forget it.

■Detailed information and recommendations

"Portrait of Cosette" is the story of Eiri Kurahashi, an art student who works part-time at the antique shop "Korando", who falls in love with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl named Cosette, reflected in an old cut glass. Eiri enjoys a fantastical encounter with Cosette, but it is the beginning of a tragedy brought about by the "cursed vessel". The fate of Eiri and Cosette unfolds as a story of the supernatural, the fantastic, and pure love.

The appeal of this work lies above all in its visuals and music. Akiyuki Shinbo's skill as a director is fully demonstrated in the visual aspects of the work. In particular, the scenes that skillfully express the atmosphere of gothic horror capture the hearts of viewers. Yuki Kajiura's music also deepens the atmosphere of the work. Inoue Marina's singing voice for the ending theme "Hakuseki" enhances the atmosphere of the work and resonates deeply in the hearts of viewers.

The cast also adds to the appeal of this work. In particular, the voice of Cosette, played by Marina Inoue, is a perfect fit for the atmosphere of the work and captures the hearts of viewers. In addition, Eiri Kurahashi, who plays Mitsuki Saiga, skillfully expresses innocence and anguish. The other cast members also bring their characters to life.

This work is short, consisting of only three episodes, but it is packed with dense content. The story progresses with each episode, drawing the viewer's attention. In particular, the final episode depicts the climax of the story and has a moving ending. This is especially recommended for fans of gothic horror and pure love stories. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and a profound story. Once you see it, you will never forget it.

Related works include "Portrait of Cosette Vol.0", "Portrait of Cosette Vol.2", and "Portrait of Cosette Vol.3". These works are prequels and sequels to the story, and we recommend watching them to understand the work more deeply. In particular, "Portrait of Cosette Vol.0" depicts the meeting of Yongli and Cosette and their relationship in more depth. In addition, "Portrait of Cosette Vol.2" and "Portrait of Cosette Vol.3" depict the sequels of the story, and you can find out what the fate of Yongli and Cosette will be.

"Portrait of Cosette" is highly acclaimed as a unique work that combines gothic horror and pure love. Akiyuki Shinbo's visual sense and Masayoshi Sekijima's storytelling are perfectly matched, making it a work that leaves a strong impression on the viewer. Yuki Kajiura's music also further deepens the atmosphere of the work. It is especially recommended for those who like gothic horror and pure love stories. It is also recommended for those who want to enjoy beautiful visuals and profound stories. It is a work that you will never forget once you see it.