Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette

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Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette (レ・ミゼラブル少女コゼッ "Les Misérables: A Girl Named Cosette") is a Japanese anime inspired by Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables. It aired from Jan 7, 2007 to Dec 30, 2007 and was produced by Nippon Animation. The anime ran for 52 episodes. Each episode was 24 minutes long.

Plot[]

Set in nineteenth century-era France, the series begins with Cosette, a 3 or 4 year old girl, traveling with her mother Fantine. Fantine is trying to find a job and a place to live, but has always been shunned away due to most employers being unwilling to hire single mothers.

When her mother is promised with the prosperity of working in the nearby town Montreuil-sur-Mer, Cosette is separated from her in the hopes a local innkeeper named Thénardier will watch over her while Fantine mother earns some money.

Unfortunately, the caretaker is a corrupt man who treats Cosette as a slave. After the death of Fantine, the kind mayor Monsieur Madeleine - formerly a convict named Jean Valjean - rescues Cosette from Thénardier's clutches, and brings her to Paris.

However, Valjean must remain vigilant as he is perused by Inspector Javert.

Differences From Novel[]

Cosette is the protagonist.
Cosette is brought to Montfermeil being three or four years old and remembers Fantine and Paris
Cosette is taught to read by a Bishop in Montfermeil instead of Valjean
Fantine does not become a prostitute; however, she still sells her hair.
In Montfermeil, Cosette and Gavroche are portrayed as friends.
Gavroche and Cosette have a pet dog named ChouChou. ChouChou later saves Gavroche's life at the barricades.
Javert does not kill himself.
Javert later arrests Thénardier after the latter attempts to blackmail Marius Pontmercy.
The two unnamed younger brothers of the Thénardier family do appear and are given names: Hugues and Bressole.
A new character named Alain makes an appearance. He becomes an apprentice to Monsieur Madeleine, and later takes over the running of the M-sur-M factory after Madeline's arrest.
Cosette and Marius have a daughter.
Cosette knows about Valjean's criminal history, and the history of the candlesticks given by Bishop Myriel.
Bishop Myriel replaces the spirit of Éponine in Valjean's death. This also happened in the 2012 film.

Cast[]

Kaori Nozuka as eight-year-old/17-year-old Cosette
- Tamaki Matsumoto as three-year-old Cosette
Masashi Sugawara as Jean Valjean
Emiko Hagiwara as Fantine
Takashi Matsuyama as Javert
Yumiko Kobayashi as Gavroche Thénardier
Masahito Yabe as Monsieur Thénardier
Mami Horikoshi as Madame Thénardier
Yūki Sasamoto as eight-year-old/17-year-old Éponine
- Yūki Ōtomo as three-year-old Éponine
Kurumi Mamiyo as seven-year-old/16-year-old Azelma
- Chihiro Yarita as two-year-old Azelma
Anri Katsu as Marius Pontmercy and Alain
Yūji Kishi as Enjolras
Wataru Hatano as Combeferre
Eiji Takemoto as Courfeyrac
Yoshinori Fujita as Jean Prouvaire
Norihisa Mori as Grantaire
Ryō Naitō as Lesgle
Daisuke Matsubara as Feuilly
Takahiro Yoshimizu as Bahorel
Yūki Chiba as Joly