Les Miserables – the play. the book. the…ANIME?!?!
I recently saw (and love love loved) Les Miserables on Broadway. I decided to read the original book by Victor Hugo, and since the original is over 10 volumes 0_0;, I had to settle for the longest abridged version (600 pages of tiny tiny print). I like it so far!
So, an anime Les Miz recently came out in Japan and some dedicated American fans have subtitled it in English. As long as it’s not licensed in the USA, these fansubs will most likely be on youtube, etc. for some time. I have not watched a lot of it yet, but I was poking around the Japanese website and watching some preview videos. This version seems to be focused on Cosette (the title is “Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette” [Les Miserables young girl Cosette]) and the visual style is very much like shoujo anime (anime for young girls). It appears to trace her life with the Thenardiers as a little girl, her life with Jean Valjean, and her relationship with Marius. So, all gritty details of Fantine’s horrible life aren’t there I suppose….the way they drew Fantine also makes her look waaaaay too clean and pretty for a starving prostitute:
*rolls eyes*
The first episode can be found here:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v740247K3p34nDz
The second episode:
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v778484cEhfPWQC
Let’s hope for another great anime version of French history ( like Rose of Versailles) that doesn’t botch it up too much or add friendly animal big-eyed characters.
**UPDATE (6/1/08)**: I watched the first 2 episodes and was quite surprised to see that the anime adheres very closely to the book, even more so than the musical! It was a nice supplement to reading the book, even though the anime-like mannerisms of the characters kind of annoy me. It’s no “Rose of Versailles” but it’s certainly worth a shot. I may watch some more episodes as they become available. So, if you’re a fan of France, Les Miz, or Victor Hugo, I would recommend checking this out.
March 23, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Ok! I am a theatre JUNKIE, and I am in LOVE with Les Mis! Thanks for finding these vids! Had it not been for you, I wouldnt have seen the eppies! Yay who-ever-you-are!!!! -Paige (Heroes/Adair/Sendhil Fan #1)
August 26, 2008 at 3:22 pm
yes, i was a little shocked at this too… first i saw the film which i loved & it interested me into reading the book. i have not seen the show but from the summary i read it does seem to be true to the book, except of course it is meant for children. as they did with the hunchback of notre dame when the made it into a disney movie, they brightened up a lot of victor hugo’s dark writing. children aren’t going to get it if you tell about what really happened. i hope you like the book! its wonderful
August 26, 2008 at 3:54 pm
but yes, fantine is much too beautiful… she should be in ruins by now, mssing her teeth… and they have added characters: zephine whoever that is and toulon…
December 23, 2008 at 11:28 am
that’s a nice idea
but well Fantine is very very pretty at the beginning, she gets uglier after she leaves Cosette.
However i’ve read the whole book(s) and i gotta say it’s wonderful, finally the anime please me (a lot i gotta say)
January 20, 2009 at 12:23 pm
and fantine isn’t a starving prostitute
March 12, 2009 at 10:13 am
I’m a huge fan of ANIME but
I’ve never herd of a movie
that’s called Les Miserables
be4. I’m gonnas find out if the
Library at my place might or
might not have it.
May 8, 2009 at 6:08 am
Actually Fantine does become a prostitute, q. Malnourished and well… I don’t want to spoil it for the uninitiated. If I remember correctly, and it’s been a bit since I read the book, but I heard the musical again recently, Fantine never married Cosette’s father. Which was the main part of the problem, that she’s had an illegitimate child out of wedlock. Which was, of course, VERY NAUGHTY then. But in this she married him, so maybe I’ve just forgotten? Still, looks very interesting so I’ll probably check it out when I have time.