Psychological horror anime is no stranger to the Japanese animation and storytelling niche, but what makes this 3 OVA series fascinating is the murkiness of the plot that unfolds. You see, in this anime, it delves into aspects of human evil that are neither simple nor very ethical to deal with.... Don't get me wrong, neither is Le Portrait de Petit Cossette an ode to senseless violence or depravity, no; but it is a challenge to the intellectual, since it delves into the disturbing nature of characters who are murderers, and their motivations...
As you can guess at this point, it is not too far-fetched to assert that the world of manga and anime, mostly in Japan, is a place of creativity and almost no censorship whatsoever. Perhaps, for that and other reasons, it is a little difficult for us to understand the reasons why ordinary Japanese people consume this kind of content, full of terrifying references but bordering on less tolerable opinions. You know, my analysis and reviews never contain spoilers. I am a believer that every mind has the answer to draw conclusions.
Besides, Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is an impressive anime. The first few episodes within each OVA are a bit dense, I must admit that, but they are crucial to understanding the whole story. The main character is a blonde European girl 9, viciously murdered in the 18th century by an Italian artist who is terribly obsessed with her, and which has repercussions in the 21st century. Themes such as mystery, psychological terror, the classic use of existentialism but above all the subtlety to show on screen real world problems such as obsession, loneliness and voluntary isolation; deserve a separate recognition.
As I just mentioned, ‘Cossette’ was murdered in the past, in the present she is a spectre trapped in a Frenchified glass of wine inside an antique relics shop, which is guarded by a kind and handsome boy. Curiously, he notices the gleam and shape of this object (the glass) and upon peering through the glass, is shocked to see a beautiful blonde European girl. Eventually he comes to terms with the clash of reality versus fiction that this represents to his mind and realises that he is the only one who can see her. Time goes by, and he becomes obsessed with Cossette to the point of no return...
This is where the magic of this anime happens.... I recommend you to consume this story. It is digested very quickly, even if the first few episodes are a bit ‘slow’ and difficult to understand. But in terms of photography, direction, music and script, this anime is simply unique. It touches deeply but discreetly on sensitive issues that are better not to be detailed here... But I'm sure they are capable of hitting the right notes. Moreover, Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is an innovative and refreshing approach to the adult anime genre, Seinen. There is no censorship but not too much explicit content either. Everything we can see has been carefully measured and won't leave you indifferent, not at all... Yes or yes, you must see it.
