Le Portrait de Petit Cossette
Synopsis
Eiri Kurahashi is a Japanese art student who works in an antique shop. His friends begin to notice a dramatic, and rather concerning, change in Eiri, as he becomes more absent-minded and his behavior completely changes. They quickly decide to blame their friend's troubles on a girl. They may be right, however, as Eiri has begun seeing a beautiful, doll-like girl trapped within an antique Venetian glass that his uncle bought in France. She seems to be living in a strange other world, contained entirely inside this glass, but her image refuses to leave Eiri's mind. His sketchbook becomes filled with her likeness, and he realizes he has become completely infatuated with this strange little girl. When he recognizes her in a portrait by the mysterious Italian artist, Marchello Orlando, he learns her name is Cossette d’Auvergne, and that she was tragically murdered along with the rest of her family. One night, as he closes up the shop, he hears a voice asking him not to leave. Finally making contact with the object of his obsession, he makes a deal that he doesn't fully understand. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is divided, with many praising the visual and auditory experience while criticizing the confusing narrative and shallow characters. Some viewers find the OVA pretentious but artistically brilliant, while others find it incomprehensible and boring. The series' dark themes and ambiguous storytelling contribute to the polarization.
Strengths
- Visually stunning art style and animation with detailed backgrounds.
- Haunting and effective soundtrack by Yuki Kajiura enhances the atmosphere.
- The OVA explores complex themes of love, art, and sacrifice.
Weaknesses
- Storytelling is confusing, non-linear, and requires significant interpretation.
- Characters are underdeveloped and lack depth, making it difficult to connect with them.
- The plot contains potentially disturbing elements, including gore and Lolita themes.