Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
dynasty-scams
A version of Lolita where H.H. yells "I'll definitely meet you... the real Dolores!" and shatters a big Lolita kaiju with the power of love.
As with so many OVAs you can see the failed creative process on display as it breaks down from episode to episode. The first has some strong imagery and is at least suggestive of original thought about the relationship between the work of art and its otaku; both of the subsequent two just kind of aimless repeat these images and these points. At no point does a driving plot, idea or mood emerge. We flit aimlessly around the premise while occasionally gesturing at Eva, Lain or Angel's Egg. Eventually, tiring of the effort to say anything meaningful about the relationship between art and the subject matter it represents, it simply declares that it's a t…
Read at the sourceFronzel
The Portrait of Petite Cossette is awkwardly split into two distinct parts which alternate throughout its three episodes. One part is a ghost story with a simple premise that focuses on atmosphere and tension and has an effective ending. The other part is strange and outrageous visualizations of the protagonist’s fear and anxiety which very much seems like experimentation with new animation techniques rather than anything that actually benefits the story or tone. Where the first part is subtle and slow, the second is loud and excessive to the point of absurdity; it almost turns the show into a comedy.
Having wasted so much time on animation experiments, it then wastes more time with additional characters who putter around on the margins of the story threatening to do something but never f…
Read at the sourceTrajanCaesar
I see the vision. This is a deep and complex story of love, obsession, and madness. The problem is telling a story which should take 12-24 episodes into 3. They needed more time to tell the story as ambitious as this. As someone who's felt like the main character before, and felt as deeply, I could relate. The visuals, and atmosphere are great. But because it's trying to do too much in too little time, I cannot grade this higher. The characters were interesting, but I felt they didn't really give you enough time to know them, and we're sorta dropped into the story with no explanation. The core of the story they want to tell is fine, but transition scenes felt choppy, and it was hard to see where we were and when. Though it did a good job conveying the idea of atonement for past sins, carry…
Read at the sourcerooster_
A lurid, Gothic drama told with decadent flair and style over three episodes. The story is actually quite straightforward, though there is a supporting cast that feels largely disconnected from it, and seems to be off on their own sub-plot which more closely resembles a supernatural battle anime, and is far less interesting. The OVA's conclusion, though visually incredible, is a tonally off with the rest of the show, given its triumphant mood. However I was really taken by Cossette aesthetically; I just wish the premise had been carried to a more natural conclusion, instead of something that slightly smells of shounen. This anime is sometimes billed as horror; don't expect any "scary" horror here, only the aesthetic trappings of Gothic fiction (and Lolita fashion).
Read at the sourceNaz1994
Another anime I rewatched after many years. Its one who's content I had forgotten about but it always remained in the back of my head. So I decided to rewatch it ..
This anime is a feast for the senses. The visuals are stunning, the accompanying music is magical and almost haunting. I could say with confidence that the opening is one of my fav in anime. The enigma of Cosette herself is captivating. It really felt like watching a painting come to life at times.
Now I would say that the anime isn't amazing, plus I think there were too many side characters that felt unnecessary for such a short anime. Like, the story could have been told with just the main 2 people plus maybe 1 other person to witness the downfall of the main character slowly deteriorating
Personally I wouldn't recommend…
Read at the sourceAniNexus_Reviews
This is not a conventional review, but a strong, spoiler-free recommendation, stamped with conviction. My reason for doing treating the "review" process this way, in the case of Le Portrait de Petit Cossette (or "Cossette no Shouzou,") is because of how this anime was referred to me for viewership... Through the internet, via a small community of dedicated fans, whose voices eventually reached me over the sounds of an overwhelmingly mediocre public reception. You may have also heard these whispers on the wind.
"Cossette is a masterpiece."
"Cossette is the only anime to have ever changed my life."
Such musings may have been what led you to consider this anime, and by proxy this recommendation. Whether that may be the case or not, such earnest, impassioned proclamations of greatness are ve…
Read at the sourceDrakestalker
To the degree that you have a logical mind and like things that make sense and are explicable in some sort of way, Le Portrait de Petit Cossette will exhaust you.
It would not be in the realm of hyperbole to suggest that the entire story could have been told in 5 minutes. The basic premise is that a kid working in an antique store finds a Venetian glass among the shop’s newly delivered merchandise. Unbelievable as though it may sound, whenever he looks inside the glass, as if spying through a looking glass, he sees the daily life of a mysterious blonde girl living in a strange world. Though doubting his own sanity, as he is the only one who can see her, he finds himself unable to relinquish the glass and ends up falling in love with the maiden. Weird shit happens. If the first episode did…
Read at the sourceSeanInTheFlesh
It's a visual mess, shot much a indie film. A non linear timeline, a bit of a confusing story with non fleshed out characters. But in it's shortness, it does captivate the watcher, it's interesting to say the least. The aesthetic, the characters, the plot, the way its shot, it's an interesting piece. I ended up crying in the last 10 minutes, and for that, I think it deserves praise. However, would I recommend it? Not neccessarily. This a bit of a laborous watch due to it's non-linear storyline, but it really DRAWS out emotion ;)
I would only recommend this to those who enjoy art and analyzing it, which is quite fitting considering the plot.
Much love.
Read at the sourceSgtSalamander
Le Portrait de Petite Cossette is an ambitious attempt at high-minded horror which falls flat on its face. It is a bland, overwrought mess, and even at 3 episodes is a genuine waste of time. Beginning with the story, there is little to say in its favor, as it's broadly bad. Though, at the very least the concept upon which it is built is interesting. There's nothing wrong with the idea of haunted antiques attached to an 18th century murder, but the real problems come with how the show chooses to execute that idea. The 'twists', if you can call them that, can be seen from a mile away, and the main story upon which the plot relies is so barren and anemic that all the various fever dream sequences that this show subjects you to serve no other purpose than to pad for time. This lazy approach to…
Read at the sourceRanunculusR0se
This show is a visual marvel. I would see snippets on AMVs for years and be blown away. I was surprised it was only 3ep Long. That length is perfect since the story is told in an abstract & disorganized fashion.
Ironically this show's message is lost on those who need it most. You could replace the antique cup with a Crunchyroll subscription & maybe people would understand it better.
The concept is that there is a decent young man who gets quickly & unhealthily obsessed with a beautiful little girl. Much like how many modern anime fans have unhealthily obsessed with Lolita characters. He starts out almost normal and quickly descends into madness. He puts her on a pedestal and treats her as if she's ethereal, a goddess. His constant talking, thinking, and moving as though she is in the ro…
Read at the sourceuragreth
Non-spoiler review
Some warnings before you watch-
It has some blood/gore
There are flashing lights
We follow the story of Eiri, a young man who works in an antique shop. He comes across an old Venetian glass, and sees visions of a young girl, Cossette.
He falls in love with the girl, and becomes obsessed with the visions.
It becomes difficult to separate reality from these vivid visions of Cossette.
Eiri, bewitched by Cossette, now becomes cursed by her. It has 3 episodes, each around 30 minutes.
Though it is short, it has a satisfying plotline, and enough things to keep you from getting bored.
The anime has a beautiful soundtrack as well.
Read at the sourceFotsuan
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS
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Usually, I tend to watch anime for their plot and characters. Cossette no Shouzou is the perfect example of a show that does not need them to succeed. It may follow a main story, but what's most important is its artistic ingeniousness. And I do not mean its art or animation; I mean everything about this fictional work. The music, the animation techniques, the simple story with its thrilling portrayal, and last but not least; the fact that it revolves around art itself. Truly, Cossette no Shouzou is not an easy watch for everyone. It's a niche piece of art, full of risks and pretentiousness. But it knows very well what it is, and that's what makes it…
Read at the sourceYM_Industries
As other reviews have mentioned, the story is very simple. The characters are bland and shallow. You have to believe in love at first sight, because certainly there are never any reasons for the characters to fall in love.
The art style has moments where it's excellent, but the animation is frequently very lazy. Even by OVA standards, the budget here feels low. Even when the art style is at it's best, to me it feels like a SHAFT wannabe.
For me the saving grace of this show is the soundtrack. The first episode in particular has a wonderfully emotive soundtrack that perfectly accompanies the events of the episode. The soundtrack alone elevates this show from a 5 to a 7 for me.
Read at the sourcehe110-wor1d
Kind of complicated procedure. My first time commenting anyways. I have gone out of my way and made an account and everything just to review this anime. This is how good it is. First of all, this is definitely not for everybody, so if you dont like what you are watching plz drop it and watch something else. This series doesnt deserve 6 as an overall rating. This is a crime. It is a work of art. More like a portrait a drawing, some people will like what they see and others are turned off or even disgusted by it. It is understandable that not everyone likes the same thing. But for me, it is a portrait that bewildered me, that put me in a state of awe. A portrait that I rare and crave to gawk at a second time. The color scheme the nuances and shades of colors the mosaique of shapes, simply th…
Read at the sourceDesiSkorm
Let me start by saying it took me a week to finish this, or more like make myself finish it. There were some details and scenes I liked, but most of the time I simply wasn't invested enough in the story to actually care.
I don't claim it's bad, because it actually isn't.But it's not that good either. It's more of a 50/50 watch. You either like it, or you don't.
Compared to some anime titles I've wasted my time on and regret ever touching, this was actually a fair watch. The soundtrack is definitely something you wouldn't want to miss out on.
Read at the sourceVishvarupa
Worst love story with a lot of girls and no plot.
The characters have no depth or logic to them. They are all just like mmorpg classes and they all have random abilities for no particular reason. Characters pop in and out. The guy called Eiri in the anime is a pathetic loser like one of those guys who will do anything for a girl even though she wouldn’t even try to remember his name. The girl called Cossete sounds like a manipulative egocentric narcissist who believes the world turns around her or something.
The art is oke and it has some good music.
Read at the sourcebullitbaby
AND THE AYES HAVE IT!!!!!
…....errrr rather I mean THE EYES HAVE IT. As in EYEBALLS. This anime is OBSESSED with closeup shots of eyeballs. You will see 100s by the end of the 3 films so get ready.
Think I'm exaggerating?
OVA 1 has (I counted for you) EIGHTY close up shots of eyeballs, eyesockets of skulls, eyeglasses reflecting another person talking, and random meaningless handrawn sketches of eyeballs, eyes with blood dripping out, egyptian OSIRIS style eyes, a cat with a letter A in the eyeball, and eyeball with a red heart for the pupil and a flythrough sequence of an human eye then a skull socket, then a screen of skulls, then another skull eyesockets to finally Cossette standing in the skull eyesockets.
Now that we've covered eyeballs and eyeball close-ups …
…..Howdy folks, Greeti…
Read at the sourceKrunchyman
The elegant flow of luxurious hair contours gracefully along the pristine crown down the petite collar of the unsurpassed delicate flower. Golden locks glisten under the flicker of a saffron flame. The soft, supple facial features radiate pure ineffable beauty, displaying no discernment of imperfection. She is the stimulus that evokes profound imagination, via the means of simply existing. Her fortuitous, biological circumstances have destined her to inject inspiration into the psyche of the perceptive virtuoso, to invigorate him to produce marvelous portraits of exquisite splendor. She is the beacon that guides his creative spirit towards its fullest potential, realizing the end goal of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
She is Essential. She is Beautiful. She is Perfection. She is a Muse.
If…
Read at the sourceRyanSpring
It is absolutely incomprehensible to me that some people are giving this anime a 9 or a 10. I couldn't disagree more. I didn't like this anime at all, and that's not at all because I don't like the genre. Quite the opposite, actually- creepy dead girls, dark, bloody and loads of symbolism is 100% my jam- but this anime was just bad.
This anime was very, very weird. It wasn't actually creepy or scary at any point- just weird.
The story was strange and has basically zero twists. If you read the back of the box the DVD comes in you know the whole story.
This anime is quite graphically dated and it shows. It hasn't aged well and looks like crap compared to any remotely modern anime.
The English voice acting is mediocre and the well below average writing doesn't do it any favors.
But the w…
Read at the sourceLeAdmiral
This is the first review I've ever written, but this anime kinda forced my hand, so please bear with me, even if this review is far from perfect.
First of, how did I get here? The anime is, by now, almost 14 years old and almost nobody talks about it, so it flew completely under my radar up until now. I "met" it by chance, if you want to put it that way, while listening to random Soundtracks. I listened to the first bits of the soundtrack, and immediatly knew I had to watch it.
Now, seeing that I gave this anime an overall score of 7 you may think I was disappointed, but that would be too easy. Still, as it needs to be done, I will walk through the categories, and tell you why I rated it the way I rated it:
Story (6)
The story wasn't bad, but in my opinion it tried to be deeper than it…
Read at the source
