Nippon Animation’s anime adaptation of Les Miserables currently does look good. It’s definitely targeted towards kids, there’s no denying that. But I’m very sure it’ll be good enjoyment for adults. Even the first episode was well done.

We’re introduced to fantine and her daughter cosette. They’ve moved from Paris after Fantine’s husband died, and are trying to look for a job in a new town. However, each time on the mention of Cosette, Fantine would get rejected. It’s tough for a single mom with a child to find a job.

In the end, they meet a couple who own an inn. The couple offer to take Cosette in and look after her, while Fantine looks for a job. For a small fee of course. Fantine reluctantly agrees, leaving Cosette in their care. Unknown to her though, the couple are mean to treat Cosette as a slave.

Thus Fantine leaves for Montreuil, where she heard from the baker earlier that there’s a factory with lots of jobs. Arriving at the town, Fantine hears of Madeleine, who arrived 3 years ago and set up a very prosperous factory. Madeleine is now the Mayor of the town as well.

Suddenly, a boy appears stealing a loaf of bread. He is chased by the store owner until he bumps into a big sized man, who saves him from being beaten. The man turns out to be Madeleine, who forcibly brings the boy back home. There, the boy is offered bread, as well as bread for his family. Madeleine asks the boy to return the next day, and ends up reflecting about a past, where his name was Jean Valjean.

Fantine does get a job at the factory, however, we see how Cosette is now mistreated.

Thoughts

My heart ached abit actually, thinking about how tough life was in the past, especially for someone of Fantine’s status. The decisions that one had to made are often so cruel as well.

If this is the type of anime the series is going to be, I think I would like it a lot, touching on many different social issues. (sorry, I totally have no idea what the Les Miserables story is about)

The scenery is animated very colorfully. Cosette is incredibly cute as well. Quite lovely really, looks like something that can be recommended based on the first episode alone. The ED was quite touching for me as well, as someone who lost his mom when young too.