Ikoku Meiro no Croisée

[Ryllharu]

(La croisée dans un labyrinthe étranger)


http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/9161/ikokumeiro.jpg

Description: A young Japanese girl, Yune, accompanies a French traveller, Oscar, on his journey back to France, and offers to help at the family's ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar's nephew and shopkeeper Claude reluctantly accepts to take care of Yune, and we learn how those two, who have so little in common, get to understand each other and live together in the Paris of the late 1800s. (Source: ANN)

Genres: Historical, Slice of Life, Culture Shock
Links: AniDB (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=8180), ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12222), Official Page (http://ikokumeiro.com/)

[Ayako] Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - 01 [720p] (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=225449)
[Ayako] Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - 01 [400p] (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=225450)

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While I really enjoyed this, I have to admit this made me feel like a bit of a pervert. I mean a Ryuugu Rena (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL1HA4tCxU4) kind of thing. Yune is just so goddamn adorable.

Aside from that, it was a very strong first episode. The pacing was great, the animation is really good (way better than Satelight's average) and the cast was awesome. Touyama Nao (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=creator&creatorid=21312) really made Yune's performance. She's gotten even better since she debuted as Kanon in The World God Only Knows. She sings the ED too. Kondou Takashi (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=creator&creatorid=616) makes Claude sufficiently gruff and unwelcoming, though he eases up nicely toward the end of the episode.

I love a good slice of life series (that isn't about high school girls doing the same things in every series), so this one is definitely a keeper.

[shinta|hikari]

This is excellent. Yune's sincerity got through to me as well. It made me tear up when Claude performed a dogeza.

I wonder why Yune can speak french though.

[RyougaZell]

Aside from that, it was a very strong first episode. The pacing was great, the animation is really good (way better than Satelight's average) and the cast was awesome. Touyama Nao (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=creator&creatorid=21312) really made Yune's performance. She's gotten even better since she debuted as Kanon in The World God Only Knows. She sings the ED too.


Sold. Will download this afternoon. Lately I've been listening to her Kanon 'Birth' album so new songs from her are a must. Plus I was already interested in this series settings.

[Ryllharu]

It was really the clacking of her wooden shoes on the tiles in that first two minutes that sold me on the series.

Something about that scene (for me anyway) imparted so much about her character. Youthful excitement (the pace increasing rapidly), a slightly playful nature (stomping lightly to just to explore the noise it makes). Sound direction should be applauded for that scene alone.

[Kraco]

I was convinced for good the moment she dropped and broke the fancy sign. Hard to describe why, but of course it assumed I knew everything would turn out okay in the end. There's just something very touching about her character and situation when you think about the setting: During those times Japan and Europe might have as well been on separate planets as far as average citizens were considered, and an Asian servant's life would have been worth very little in Europe. Yet she still pulled through after breaking the sign as almost the first impression she gave to Claude. And maintained her lively and joyous personality.

I'm really happy there's a show like this airing this season. Should make a wonderful combination with Usagi Drop.

[Dark_Sage]

Super, super boring. Would rather jam toothpicks into my eyes than watch this.

[David75]

I was afraid by this anime description in the season preview.

I have to admitt production standards are pretty high. Nice animation, nice scenes. I was able to recognize each place in the blink of an eye (except one that might have changed too much since then). They really worked their documents, pictures. I did not see any problems with anything written. They really worked hard to make it very precise.
I'll probably have to rewatch the ep, I almost never do this, but I also want to get a better sound immersion. Thanks for your comment Ryll.

I guess the quality should drop sometime in the season, because the treats we had here are a lot of work->money. But I'm happy they did it.
After all, even Yune in Kimono was magnificent. The butterfly was very nice too. Seems like she could be 7 to 9 years old, that's a bit of a problem for me... Depends on how the story will evolve later.

Edit:
BTW, during the OP, Yune is impressed by a Molière statue. Down that street (on the right) is a Japanese restaurant that opened in 1958 and as such the oldest Japanese restaurant in Paris (even France).
Hard to tell if they did it on purpose, truth is less than 15minutes walk from that point you have lots of nice japanese restaurants.
google maps link
http://maps.google.fr/maps?q=rue+moli%C3%A8re+paris&hl=fr&ie=UTF8&ll=48.865971,2.337041&spn=0.012478,0.033023&sll=46.75984,1.738281&sspn=13.311282,33.815918&z=16&layer=c&cbll=48.865745,2.336822&panoid=UAFSEHPsFMtP1Bqbluw0ag&cbp=12,201.43,,0,3.93

[Kraco]

Btw, I watched the version by IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=225487), not Ayako, and based on what I've seen and read, it should be better.


Seems like she could be 7 to 9 years old, that's a bit of a problem for me... Depends on how the story will evolve later.

I'm not expecting this to go down any such route that would make her age troublesome. Ryll commented on irc this has a lot of Aria staff involved, but even without that I'd say this looked more like a historical wondering and wandering show than any drama. Thus, I actually like it very much she seemed so young. I like stories where a kid is being brought up under unusual circumstances.

[Ryllharu]

According to Divine (who has read the manga) on RandomC, Yune is thirteen. She doesn't look more than eight to me.

[shinta|hikari]

I thought she was 12, though admittedly I have a tendency to highball ages of young girls.

[RyougaZell]

Btw, I watched the version by IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=225487), not Ayako, and based on what I've seen and read, it should be better.


Watched this version too. Yune is way too cute. And like Ryll says... Toyama Nao did a great job voicing her.

[Inazuma]

The Design of the croisé is taken from a croisé near Republique in center North of Paris near Rue de Saint Denis.

This feels - warm and fuzzy but I damn sure want to know where that slice of life is going to go especially with the ultra perverted situations the whole thing can lead to.

Sons of bitches made their homework about the whole setting and scenery - I'm impressed.

[David75]

The Design of the croisé is taken from a croisé near Republique in center North of Paris near Rue de Saint Denis.

I'm interrested in the source for that ;)

After your post, I searched a little and found that they might have been inspired by the "Passage des Princes" too.

Sorry for the link in French, but there are 3 pics there:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passage_des_Princes

List of passages:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passages_couverts_de_Paris

Funny how watching that show entices me into getting curious about Paris :D

Regarding the image I wasn't able to fully recognize, although I had the idea it was at the end of the Pont d'Iena facing the Trocadéro (Tour Eiffel behind you)... it was in fact "Le Palais du Trocadéro" that has been replaced by "Le Palais de Chaillot" .
Le Palais du Trocadéro was built for the Exposition Universelle of 1878 and was detroyed in 1937 for yet another Exposition Universelle.
here a picture:
http://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris16/trocadero/cpa/troc_panorama.JPG

http://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris16/trocadero/cpa/troc_panorama.htm

[Buffalobiian]

Ayako - Episode 02 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=227362)

[Inazuma]

This thing just works. I don't know why - even though I dont like slice of life anime.

[Buffalobiian]

The feel's definitely change now that Yune's actively participating and talking - neither for the best nor worst.

The dude really does suck at managing his store. It's not only prices that are luring his customers away.

[shinta|hikari]

That's where his new kanban musume comes in.

This show succeeds at creating a unique atmosphere, just like Aria did, and I think it is what separates it from other SOL anime.

[David75]

Some spelling/French mistakes.
Also, cheese is odd for breakfast. You would have it in the morning in a "collation" mid-time between breakfast and lunch for people who get up very early and/or have a very demanding job.
I was also disappointed to have things from the "marché" spoken with their English names.

The department store "Au Joli Temps" is in fact "Le Printemps". They had to change that because of the brand name and also because they do criticize a little, don't they?

Regarding coffee, I'm a little surprised of the process they showed, because instant coffee did not exist at the time and something does not feel right.

The "café au lait" scene was a tad misleading in what café au lait is, but no big deal for something so trivial.

I was happy to see some "Baguettes" for bread, they might even be "Pains" which are the larger/heavier version of baguettes for people needing to eat more (and generally less expensive for the same mass). Why? because "Petits Pains" are a lot more expensive and do not fit with the tight budget.
I liked the scene where Yune refuses to enter the "Papeterie" when she realizes that a single sheet of paper is more expensive than the piece of meat they wanted to buy and had to cut in half for budget reasons.
Oh, and I hope they do not use "bacon" for "Pot au feu" because you'd find bacon in "Potée"


Pot au feu is with beef
http://recettessimples.fr/images/Pot%20au%20feu2.jpg



Potée with pork
http://recettessimples.fr/images/Potee%20au%20Chou.jpg


Now I need to appreciate the show... and I admit I'm more into details and the image of Paris reflected, than into the characters and the story.

[Ryllharu]

...
Regarding coffee, I'm a little surprised of the process they showed, because instant coffee did not exist at the time and something does not feel right.
...
Now I need to appreciate the show... and I admit I'm more into details and the image of Paris reflected, than into the characters and the story.I really like your details, particularly about the scenery. Keep them coming as far as I'm concerned.

As for the coffee, I figured it was a percolator. They have been around (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percolator#Inventor) since the late 1700s. The tip-off was the grandfather putting it back on the stove after he added the coffee.

[shinta|hikari]

It's too bad they made mistakes in the food aspect. It wasn't anything major, but had they gotten it right it would have been awesome.

[David75]

I really like your details, particularly about the scenery. Keep them coming as far as I'm concerned.

As for the coffee, I figured it was a percolator. They have been around (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percolator#Inventor) since the late 1700s. The tip-off was the grandfather putting it back on the stove after he added the coffee.

For the coffee, I guess I was a little intrigued at the way he poured it and the granularity that seemed to be too high. Then that percolator really seemed like old milk or water kettles found in France, but since it is about 120 years ago, I have to be cautious.

Regarding sceneries, I started to search for every places I know of. But this is incredibly time consuming and it's very hard to find the right angles in maps or other sources that match the scene in the anime.

For example, very first image of first ep isn't "Notre Dame" but "La Trinité"
http://maps.google.fr/maps?q=eglise+saint+trinit%C3%A9+Paris&hl=fr&ie=UTF8&ll=48.876937,2.332277&spn=0.025092,0.066047&sll=48.851077,2.335753&sspn=0.012552,0.033023&z=15&layer=c&cbll=48.876726,2.332345&panoid=KQL8Y2tDgnv8t2d3_pmzFw&cbp=12,289.86,,0,-15.77

Later in the intro you have a very short shot of "L'école Militaire"
Ecole Militaire
http://maps.google.fr/maps?q=Avenue+Emile+Deschanel,+Paris&hl=fr&ll=48.854113,2.305198&spn=0.012481,0.033023&sll=48.850682,2.311721&sspn=0.025105,0.066047&z=16&layer=c&cbll=48.853954,2.304963&panoid=PJBiDBKo_uvjadvL3zDdtA&cbp=12,202.14,,0,-3.22
In the shot, the view is cut higher, like you are on a high platform bus... pretty much the position Yune seems to be.

[Kraco]

Episode 2 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=227663)



Also, cheese is odd for breakfast. You would have it in the morning in a "collation" mid-time between breakfast and lunch for people who get up very early and/or have a very demanding job.

While personally I don't see anything odd about cheese for breakfast and while I don't really know the French culture so much, but it's obvious this particular family really loves cheese. Even the geezer said in Japan the lack of cheese was troublesome.


I was also disappointed to have things from the "marché" spoken with their English names.

Yeah, that was surprising in a sad way.

A very entertaining show. Claude is too rough to serve the store well, but at least it creates a nice contrast with Yune and leads to interesting scenes. In just two eps he has had to check his behavior multiple times, which should eventually lead to him getting better at handling people (customers, that is). Of course I hope Yune will also work as a kanban musume.

Is the blond girl in the picture the big department store's owner's daughter or granddaughter?

[David75]

Well, my kind of breakfast and the one we have at hotels in France is on the sugar side. Croissant, pain au chocat, milk, coffee, jam, honey etc... You get ham, eggs and such things in hotels with more international customers. So I've always had the impression that a sugary breakfast is more traditional. But thing is it might vary a lot depending on your social class. Also it might change over time.
The thing that felt right was butter and bread.

Regarding their love for cheese, well I was a hardcore cheese lover, but never felt it right to have some for breakfast first thing in the morning.
They didn't give poor Yune "maroil" or blue cheese - the later shown on the table-.
With maroil, she wouldn't even enter the room harharhar.
The cheese they give her could be cantal cheese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantal_(cheese)
It's not that strong, somehow someone liking Natto should be able to adjust to the taste. But maybe Yune is too young to like Natto...
Somehow, the fish preparation she mistook that cheese for might be a strong taste too. I don't remember well, will have to check that whenever I have access to a real computer.

[Kraco]

Well, my kind of breakfast and the one we have at hotels in France is on the sugar side. Croissant, pain au chocat, milk, coffee, jam, honey etc... You get ham, eggs and such things in hotels with more international customers. So I've always had the impression that a sugary breakfast is more traditional. But thing is it might vary a lot depending on your social class. Also it might change over time.
The thing that felt right was butter and bread.

Regarding their love for cheese, well I was a hardcore cheese lover, but never felt it right to have some for breakfast first thing in the morning.

Generally speaking sweeter stuff being cheap enough to eat aplenty among the masses is later development, like exactly during the 19th century when sugar began to be shipped from South America in larger quantities, so it's without a doubt that eating habits have changed. Besides, Claude is doing physical work so it makes sense he would like to eat something a bit heartier.

I have always eaten bread and cheese for breakfast (plus something else usually). Don't underestimate it!

[Buffalobiian]

It's not that strong, somehow someone liking Natto should be able to adjust to the taste. But maybe Yune is too young to like Natto...
Somehow, the fish preparation she mistook that cheese for might be a strong taste too. I don't remember well, will have to check that whenever I have access to a real computer.

If fish paste is what I think it is, then it's pretty much mince fish patty. It doesn't have a strong taste. It tastes like bouncy fish, sort of.

[David75]

If fish paste is what I think it is, then it's pretty much mince fish patty. It doesn't have a strong taste. It tastes like bouncy fish, sort of.

I just checked Kamaboko
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaboko

It is indeed a soft taste.

About the detailed searches and so on, I was wondering if it is ok to let them coming as it is now, or if I should just regroup them in my first posts and try to structure it a bit. There's the idea of having something neat but with potential spoilers early in the thread...
I don't know if I'll keep at it, but there are several pieces of information I'd like to gather and show, because I think it might enrich the experience a bit.

Regarding the story up to now, that second ep had me think there's a contradiction in Claude behavior when he sold Yune's Kimono.
After all he is a fine worker, almost an artist when you see the work of art he did with the metal/glass buterfly. So he should have known better the high value the Kimono had. He only reacted to the 500 Francs he got from this, a thousand times the bacon he bought in that second ep.
Eventhough he might know nothing about clothes, his artistic side should have reacted to the colors, the finely assembled pieces of cloth, the texture and overall magnificence of the thing. Being poor as he is, he should have known no ordinary girl his class get that in France.
So he is very careful with his budget, workplace and belongings, even how Yune might be a bother.
But he never really took the time to think a little before selling the thing. And now he hopes he'll do fine enough to be able to buy it back?
Those 500 Francs he got, huge sum of money at the time, should also have had him react a lot more.
But ok, I understand they need some plot device between him and Yune.

Also, I'm a bit surprised by the grandfather. He has enough power/money to travel to Japan and back and frequents a lady who probably engulfs lots of his money in restaurants/gifts/anything... yet Claude works hard for his living. So I'm wondering about their family structure. I'm also waiting for a detailed explanation of how he came to come back to France with Yune.

[Kraco]

You are forgetting that despite being an artist of a talent, Claude is still a businessman as well. If Yune really wanted to sell the kimono, like she insisted against his initial word of caution, then who was he to deny it? He only began to regret it when he learned it was a memento, which was well explainable by how he was attached to the light fixture created by his own dad. So, it was only at that point he knew Yune wanted to sell the kimono not as a simple financial compensation and to aid the store, but out of insecurity and fear of being rejected and left alone in a foreign country.

But yeah, he probably shouldn't have been so eager, especially when he was dealing with a kid.

[Ryllharu]

Regarding the story up to now, that second ep had me think there's a contradiction in Claude behavior when he sold Yune's Kimono.
After all he is a fine worker, almost an artist when you see the work of art he did with the metal/glass buterfly. So he should have known better the high value the Kimono had.
...[snip]...
But he never really took the time to think a little before selling the thing. And now he hopes he'll do fine enough to be able to buy it back?

I was under the impression that he simply disregarded everything about Yune up until he finally realized how valuable the kimono was, both in terms of sentimental value and actual craftsmanship value. He works with iron, and Japanese clothing was utterly foreign to him. He sees Yune in fairly elaborate kimono most of the time, not realizing how much time it takes to actually weave one, particularly like her mother's. To him, they probably seemed what pass for "ordinary" in Japan. The 500 francs seemed like a large sum for such an "ordinary" garment from exotic Japan.

So I don't think being an artist would have helped him. He knows next to nothing about Japan (as he finally considers studying up in episode 2). Everything he knew about Japan at the moment he agreed to sell it was what he's seen from Yune. Her equally elaborate kimono from their first meeting, her not-exactly-plain one she uses while working around the shop, etc. She had been dressing to impress since they met. He also actively ignored her. The shock came to him when he found out it was a keepsake, and a very expensive one at that.

I'm certain the kimono sold for many, many times the value Claude got for it.


He has enough power/money to travel to Japan and back and frequents a lady who probably engulfs lots of his money in restaurants/gifts/anything... yet Claude works hard for his living. So I'm wondering about their family structure. I'm also waiting for a detailed explanation of how he came to come back to France with Yune.Very good questions. I share each of them. He does seem rather eager to spend money where Claude seems like he is struggling.

[Buffalobiian]

So, it was only at that point he knew Yune wanted to sell the kimono not as a simple financial compensation and to aid the store, but out of insecurity and fear of being rejected and left alone in a foreign country

I didn't think it had anything to do with being insecure at all, but that Yune deems that she needs to compoensate for something she brike, and can only do so with something of equal value.

Since it's the monetary value of the sign that Claude "lost", she felt that it's only fair to give him an equally important keepsake of her own. At that point, it was Claude who decided to sell it since he had no wish to keep it.

[David75]

I stumbled upon a french thread in an animation forum from people that seem to have participated in the project. There are 3D sketches uses by satellight for the anime.
I will post that tonight, if not too tired since I'm currently burning out...

[Kraco]

I didn't think it had anything to do with being insecure at all, but that Yune deems that she needs to compoensate for something she brike, and can only do so with something of equal value.

Since it's the monetary value of the sign that Claude "lost", she felt that it's only fair to give him an equally important keepsake of her own. At that point, it was Claude who decided to sell it since he had no wish to keep it.

She seemed to be awfully moved when Claude promised to get it back. If she considered it a mere financial compensation, nothing more, I think she would have insisted it was a fair trade and Claude doesn't need to strive to get it back. I admit I might have used too strong expressions, but I deem at that point she was far from sure if she's allowed to stay or not. The last words from Claude were that she should return to Japan. So, she obviously went for her most precious possession. Besides, she's still a kid.

In reality people were still being treated like dirt in the 19th century, so I'm happy this show necessarily isn't all that realistic and Yune gets pretty friendly and gentle treatment, making this a joy to watch.

[shinta|hikari]

Really cute and cool pic:

Dress a loli (http://www.zerochan.net/659903)

Click the kimono options on the left to see her change!

[Buffalobiian]

She seemed to be awfully moved when Claude promised to get it back. If she considered it a mere financial compensation, nothing more, I think she would have insisted it was a fair trade and Claude doesn't need to strive to get it back. I admit I might have used too strong expressions, but I deem at that point she was far from sure if she's allowed to stay or not. The last words from Claude were that she should return to Japan. So, she obviously went for her most precious possession. Besides, she's still a kid.

In reality people were still being treated like dirt in the 19th century, so I'm happy this show necessarily isn't all that realistic and Yune gets pretty friendly and gentle treatment, making this a joy to watch.

Indeed, the fact that Yune was pleased when Claude said he'd get it back confused me, and seemed to go against my thoughts.

I just can't see why Yune would compensate for monetary reasons though.. It wasn't like he broke something that he couldn't fix, and the client certainly didn't charge anything for it. Unless the coal, time and manual labour involved was worth as much as 500 franc.

[Kraco]

I just can't see why Yune would compensate for monetary reasons though.. It wasn't like he broke something that he couldn't fix, and the client certainly didn't charge anything for it. Unless the coal, time and manual labour involved was worth as much as 500 franc.

That seems a bit strange, but when you consider it from her point of view it makes more sense: She only just got there, received a dubious welcome at best (from Claude), tried hard to prove her worth - only to end up breaking Claude's treasure. So, even if Claude did fix it in (mere) hours, I'm sure she was desperate to do something to contribute positively. And being a kid, it was a reckless thing she did and caused only more trouble and anguish for Claude in the long run. But it did prove quite exquisitely her dedication and goodwill, and that got through to Claude.

[David75]

From that thread in french:
http://www.catsuka.com/interf/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7157&start=15
It seems the guy was part of a team working with satellight during spring of 2010 for Ikoku Meiro no Croisée.
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[David75]

Mandatory double post because of the 6 image limit per post:
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[David75]

And now Triple post:
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Yes, they had french words for the "marché"...
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Now, in that thread I learn there is a 4.5 ep as a bonus and we even get chibi Yune eps. Here's an example with a minor spoiler in it (do not watch if you do not even tolerate minor spoilers!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz9jnA6v7NM&feature=player_embedded

And picture from 2 of the seiyus:
785http://forums.gotwoot.net/gotwoot4/misc/pencil.png

If you have questions....

[Buffalobiian]

Talk about detail..

[Kraco]

Indeed. I wonder how much of this lineart was adapted from photos, though. Some of the grander Parisian places outdoors were, yes, but I guess the smaller things, especially the inside of the shop, can't be.

[David75]

From the thread, the guy explains he studied every page of the manga where the workshop is and worked from there with other sources of information to have the correct tools for the job/era.
Regarding the galerie, he tells us the mangaka created it from multiple ones, the guy doing the lineart for the anime recreated it from that source and completed it with books about galeries and again tried his best to exclude anything anachronistic.

For outdoors, he worked from postcards/pictures around the time the anime takes place. They had to remove some monuments/buildings at times... Well they tried their best.
I think it's great a japanese team decided to have a french team work on such important parts. Even if it can not be perfect in the end, at least the quality level clearly improved.
With that thread, I learnt those guys work for other japanese projects.
Thing is, France is the second Japanese Manga market after Japan... it's not unnatural to see joint project I guess. It's just that with that anime, it becomes a lot more concrete to me.

[Kraco]

Episode 3 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=229060)




- - - - - --





There were definitely some Aria vibes in this episode when they left the store, wandered in the rain sightseeing and then watched the sunset. Otherwise pretty standard and unsurprising France-Japan comparison. I guess it couldn't be avoided in a story like this to keep thing believable, but I wouldn't really call the humour that smart. Though it led nicely to the letter papers.

Looks like the next ep will place the rich girl and Yune face to face. And the rich girl, of all the things she could do, will most likely boast of having acquired an authentic kimono...

[Buffalobiian]

but I wouldn't really call the humour that smart.

What humour? I was smiling throughout the episode, sure, but nothing popped up to me as being "humours"..

Alice's impulsive attitude so far's been pretty fun for me, which is surprising. I guess it's because even though she's a princessy, self-centered bitch still, she's not really doing anybody any har at this point. Next episode's about to change that thought for sure.

Like we've said earlier, the Gramps spending pattern contrasts with their situation so much. Furthermore, he asks about whether they should go to Japan if they had to close down as if the trip would cost no money at all.

The fact that the music store bought the sign was ?? for me too. Maybe the guy lided the foreignness of it or something. It's certainly not something someone in Paris would be able to identify as a music store, nor a sign that can be easily described to refer to people with (unless you use "that sign that you can't easily describe").

Lastly, rolling paper under your jackets, from my experience, would crease it - as well as dampen it even if it's "covered" from the rain.

[Buffalobiian]

Ayako - episode 04 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=230966)

[shinta|hikari]

Claude turned into a lolicon, and I can't really blame him with Yune as the cause.

[Buffalobiian]

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1475/ayakoikokumeironocroise.jpg

Don't Do This.

It's the one wrong they've done to Yune's design. It works for the mischevious types such as Alice, but it just looks wrong on Yune.

[shinta|hikari]

I did not notice that. I am amazed... at your ability to spot such things.

[Buffalobiian]

I did not notice that. I am amazed... at your ability to spot such things.

It's a pet peev of mine. I can't help but notice it.

On a related note, Yune looked awfully depressed when she mentioned how she didn't have nice blue eyes. It felt a bit strong of a reaction than just your normal jealousy of other people's nice features, which made me wonder.

Not that I can't relate to that. Damn you, blue-eyed ppl!

edit: oh, and the comment that it will take Claude years to save up to buy that Kimono back. Where did Claude do with the 500 franc that he got from the sale? Or was it like another poster said (Ryll, from memory), that it would have sold for much more than the 500 franc that Claude got for it.

If Alice wanted to be really mean, she could have just outright refused sale and told Yune the only way to get it back would have been to stick with her. Fortunately, even Alice isn't that much of a bitch.

Her sister's laugh worries me though. It's the laugh that shrugs off unwanted attention. The laugh that tells you she knows more than she lets on. The laugh that means she's not above underhanded tactics if she has to use it.

[shinta|hikari]

I really felt for Claude when Yune chose to talk with Alice. He really is a nice guy to still be thinking what is best for Yune after seemingly being abandoned like that.

[Buffalobiian]

I really felt for Claude when Yune chose to talk with Alice. He really is a nice guy to still be thinking what is best for Yune after seemingly being abandoned like that.

Yeah. By giving Alice a chance (which wasn't wrong), it was pretty much ignoring Claude's warning that Alice is a bad person.

It just goes to show that he doesn't understand business in the slightest. He seems to have some sort of expectation that a business should be open, and customers should always come - and anybody who disrupts that is "bad".

edit: wouldn't dipping cheese in soysauce make it even saltier?

[Ryllharu]

I too noticed Yune's fang the first time it appeared back in the first episode, seemingly out of nowhere (ref 2:01, Ayako ep1 v2). Yaeba, a girl having a snaggletooth, is pretty popular fetish in Japan. It's seen as cute. Yune having one is meant to increase her cuteness factor exponentially. It's weird...but whatever.

I expected Alice to be a lot more malicious frankly. I was happy to see she is just an obsessed maniac about everything Japan. She didn't lord having the kimono over Yune, she tried to use it as a bribe to get an even bigger prize (Yune herself). Moreover, she only resorted to it when trying easier, simpler things didn't work (buying Yune outright initially (omochikaeri!), the good quality of her teas, the potential to bathe every day, etc.).

Alice did seems to change her tune a little bit when Yune complimented her, her sister, and Claude's eye colors. Alice does have enormous eyelashes (ref. 5:31, Ayako ep4). There was a brief flicker of recognition that Yune thinks of them as unique and as wonderful as they view her, she's just far more polite about it. Camile seemed to realize it with a bit of amusement, while Alice went right back to fussing over Yune.

Luckily, Alice couldn't withstand Yune's dogeza, and still got to eat Yune's cooking. I think it was a win for all involved this episode.

[RyougaZell]

I too noticed Yune's fang from episode one. I have no problem with it.

[Buffalobiian]

It was around since the beginning?!

[shinta|hikari]

It seems some people are even more perceptive, even without caring about it at all.

It seems your pet peeve and my lolicon tendencies were easily beaten.

[Buffalobiian]

I too noticed Yune's fang the first time it appeared back in the first episode, seemingly out of nowhere (ref 2:01, Ayako ep1 v2).


http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/1628/ayakoikokumeironocroisew.jpg


It seems some people are even more perceptive, even without caring about it at all.

It seems your pet peeve and my lolicon tendencies were easily beaten.

EASILY beaten?? I don't think so. >_>


I too noticed Yune's fang from episode one. I have no problem with it.

Yeah, I didn't have a problem with that ^, lol.

[shinta|hikari]

Out of nowhere indeed. It really was almost nowhere.

I don't know if I should praise the people who saw it or not.

[RyougaZell]

Well... sometimes I end up catching the strangest details without looking for them. Like when I saw a cactus giving 'the finger' in a Fairy Tail background. Meh.

BTW... I found Alice really annoying. Sadly it seems she'll become a regular =/

EDIT:
Here's a fang on episode 2
http://randomc.net/image/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee%20The%20Animation%20-%2002%20-%20Large%2004.jpg

[Buffalobiian]

Well... sometimes I end up catching the strangest details without looking for them. Like when I saw a cactus giving 'the finger' in a Fairy Tail background. Meh.

BTW... I found Alice really annoying. Sadly it seems she'll become a regular =/

EDIT:
Here's a fang on episode 2
http://randomc.net/image/Ikoku Meiro no Croisee/Ikoku Meiro no Croisee The Animation - 02 - Large 04.jpg (http://randomc.net/image/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee%20The%20Animation%20-%2002%20-%20Large%2004.jpg)

I got an access-denied when clicking that, so here it is, 4th pick down:

http://randomc.net/2011/07/10/ikoku-meiro-no-croisee-the-animation-02/

That's fine too, since it's an out-of-style kind of expression.

[David75]

I'm sure you could find that fang in ep 3 too. I admit it did bother me a lot in ep 1, I even vented some frustration out loud on how they couldn't do that when they put so much effort in everything else. But we have to do with it. They did some effort, got a French team to help them having a better cultural environment... But in the end the story prevails and must adhere to the inspiration coming from the manga I guess.

My problem is with that anime, that the pace is way too slow. I understand this is a slice of life in a very unusual setting, and maybe they needed to create a bound between Claude and Yune before they go quicker. But this is really slow.

As I thought, global quality dropped a bit here and there. It's not that much important now. In contrast, nice view from the Monceau Park. Just getting pleased by these little gift is enough for me to keep watching that show, I might find something else later in the 8 remaining eps.

[Kraco]

Episode 4 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=231565)

The fang didn't bother me from the beginning. It's just a part of her character design, probably for the reasons Ryll mentioned. It's not like it was always a mark for mischievous personalities either, though most of the time it likely is - or for some animal nature.

Alice was much like I expected, even if I misinterpreted the last preview thinking she wouldn't know the kimono was from Yune. Her interactions with others surely showed she's spoiled beyond redemption and has very little sense of the real world and the circumstances of people below her station - or those thinking completely different from her. Meeting Yune and being forced to interact with Claude (and others) might help her a lot in the long run. Hopefully. I didn't particularly hate her, possibly because at the moment I don't believe this story will have too much nefarious elements (like Bill seems to think), and thus I don't think she will make Yune or Claude suffer too much.

[Buffalobiian]

http://files.nyaa.eu/ab16 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrents&cats=3_16)[ASL]_Various_Artists_-_Ikoku_Meiro_no_Croisee_OP_ED_Single_-_Sekai_wa_Odoru_yo_Kimi_to_Koko_kara_Hajimaru_Mono gatari_[MP3].rar (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=229800)
http://files.nyaa.eu/ab35 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrents&cats=33_35)[ASL]_Various_Artists_-_Ikoku_Meiro_no_Croisee_OP_ED_Single_-_Sekai_wa_Odoru_yo_Kimi_to_Koko_kara_Hajimaru_Mono gatari_[FLAC].rar



(http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=229799)http://files.nyaa.eu/ab16 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrents&cats=3_16)[Nipponsei] Ikoku Meiro no Croisee OP ED Single - Sekai wa Odoru yo, Kimi to. [Youmou to Ohana & Touyama Nao].zip (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=230108)
(http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=229799)

[Buffalobiian]

Ayako - Episode 05 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=232943)

[shinta|hikari]

Claude is such a player. Yune should be like putty in his hands after this episode.

[Ryllharu]

I love slice of life shows, but this episode was dull even by my standards. Yune getting all scared of people because of something Claude said was trite. Her trust in others getting burned by the urchin was one thing, but spontaneously becoming afraid of all others was not. I also couldn't understand how she could get lost in the Gallery. While it was certainly bigger than I had thought, she has been there quite a few days or even a week or two. She shouldn't have to leave the Gallery just to orient herself.

This episode was a complete miss for me.

[shinta|hikari]

While this wasn't my favorite episode, I don't think it was that bad.

Yune was stuck inside the store the whole time. Not everyone has an amazing sense of direction. I know I don't, and I probably would have gotten lost as well.

I can also understand why Yune was scared. Her belief was shattered, and she suddenly realized that the trust she has held on to does not really apply to that foreign place. It only takes one event to cause general distrust. It happens all the time, especially with children.

[Inazuma]

This episode would have been better with a Gens d'arme kicking the boy in the gut with no warning. Then Yune would maybe see the reality of the old Paris outside economical considerations of the gallerie.

This episode lacked pacing.

[Buffalobiian]

I can also understand why Yune was scared. Her belief was shattered, and she suddenly realized that the trust she has held on to does not really apply to that foreign place. It only takes one event to cause general distrust. It happens all the time, especially with children.

I agree. Right at the beginning of the episode Yune was already in conflict as Claude's teachings of how Paris works contrasted with her own. To her, a smiling person is a nice person who will help you. Over here, a smiling person is someone who wants to do something bad to you.

She decided to go with her own beliefs, and had the little guy steal on her. With her own beliefs shattered like that, along with the fright of being lost in the gallery - it makes total sense for her to rely on the only other thing she knows.

ie what Claude told her.

[RyougaZell]

Thanks for the link Bill. More Toyama Nao goodness to hear :D

I spotted the fangs this episode when Yune was surprised at the mention of Oscar's 'Mistress'

[David75]

Warning, slightly off topic, but for Paris lovers ;)

Last saturday, I was shopping with Pascaline in Paris.
I decided I would take some pictures for you all.

You might recognize the first one:

822

It's not exactly the view we had in the show, as the larger one is restored as of yet and it might take months.
So I had that view you might find similar.


Then I had the 2 pics below

821820

You would never know...
These are Galeries Lafayette, almost touching le Printemps, they are tough competitors. That department store is really gorgeous to another level compared to Le Printemps (Au bon temps in the anime). Le Printemps is rather bland inside.

Both Department stores have a Terrace on their last floor, creating an incredible view of Paris.
Le Printemps terrace has the best angles, you almost have a 360° view of Paris. But the terrasse is not that interresting and snacks are awful there. You can't really enjoy being there.
The Galeries Lafayette terrace has some wall blocking a little part of the view, but it's tidy and you have a nice café there. Prices are really high for a brunch/snack but Pastries are just over the top from a top pastry artisan (Pierre-Hermé) and Tea also high-end. So even if it's very expensive, you get to have your tea in a magnificent view with top notch scnacks.
If you do not want snacks, getting to the Terrace is free, like it is at Le Printemps.

I did 3 little videos to show the panoramic view, but I hesitate posting them on youtube.




Regarding the ep, I'm in the camp of those finding it a little bland. This time they really had us understand Yune is a Child.

[Kraco]

Episode 5 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=233666)

There's no doubt she would have found the store in 10 minutes had she calmed down - it's just a city block after all - but she was in panic and, as we saw, couldn't coherently go anywhere.

While I admit this ep was a bit stretched, I didn't consider it bad. It had sufficiently things happening all in all, and some breaks like the talk about the old man's dalliances. I can't say I'd be happy about Yune becoming more cynical, but realistically speaking it had to be only a matter of time. Maybe the effect won't be that severe and lasting.

[Buffalobiian]

IB - Episode 06 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=235511)

[Ryllharu]

I was rather surprised where this episode went in terms of character development and content. Here I was thinking it would just be a fun dress-up episode, but through most of the episode, Camille slyly comments on her own melancholy.

I can't help but wonder if Camille is living vicariously through Alice. According to Alice, Camille has been mature for a long time, but Alice gets to indulge and rampage (so to speak) all over town. I suppose Camille is considerably less than pleased that as the eldest daughter, she will be expected to marry some rich oaf from another prestigious family. Hence all the talk of birdcages and it getting more comfortable the longer one wears it. She's started to accept her burden, but that doesn't mean she's happy about it. Her constantly calling it a cage, showing a gloomy expression every time Alice mentioned how elegant she was or that she has "a future."

We all know Claude has a huge chip on his shoulder about department stores ruining small businesses, but his disgust at photographers was total bullshit. He made the claim that photographs ruin the demand for painters, but then went on to say that only the rich can afford paintings. There are photographs on the shelves at his home! Photography allowed a much larger percentage of the population to have images of loved ones and family. Obviously the rich like the Blanche family has albums of them, but it doesn't change that it dramatically increased access to images as keepsakes. Plus, it was quite difficult to get a photograph of any substantial size. Paintings did (and still do to a degree) dominate the larger scale portrait.

I guess it also isn't too hard to see that Claude has had quite a bit more interaction with the Blanche family than he has yet let on to Yune. Claude's relieved expression when there was no one from the Blanche family in the garden and Camille's expression out the window toward him certainly shows that more is going on than we know about.

[Kraco]

This episode certainly painted a more plausible picture of Camille's psyche than the earlier impression, which might have suggested she's sly with possibly nefarious intentions. She's simply unhappy about her own situation and responsibilities, and, like Ryll said, has a dualistic view of Alice's freedom: one part of her is happy her sister's fate isn't set on stone, yet another part is tortured by Alice's obvious lack of understanding and the consequent glib compliments and misplaced envy.

What comes to the whole photo/painting scene, I think Oscar was correct and Claude had no idea what he was talking about due to trying to skirt the core issue that bothered him. If he indeed has had past unpleasant dealings with the Blanche family, that would make even more sense.

[Buffalobiian]

The last scene might even suggest that Claude and Camille know each other. My first guess was some sort of (developed or undeveloped) romantic attraction towards each other...

Being the eldest child and the expectation of being all proper and perfect sucks I tell you.

[Buffalobiian]

Ayako - Episode 07 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=236885)

[Ryllharu]

Oh no, the return of the deadly Japanese fever! It must have been from when Yune went out in the rain.

[Buffalobiian]

Oh no, the return of the deadly Japanese fever! It must have been from when Yune went out in the rain.

Did Claude get that when he was out? I can't remember.

When I was watching the episode I was trying to figure out whether they were living at a time where any illness could result in death, or whether they had gotten over that already. late 1800s... my world history is so poor, lol.

It amused me to see Claude's porridge look so thick, like western porridge.

I'm looking forward to next episode where the hinted that the older pair (Camille and Claude) knew each other, as suspected. Their characters are more complex, and I'd like to see what their (more mature) thoughts are on the differences in social class, since we've already had a fair bit of culture clash from France/Japan already.

[Ryllharu]

Did Claude get that when he was out? I can't remember.No. He's European. Only the Japanese get immediately sick from getting wet. :p

Jokes aside, I rather liked this episode. Yune seems to have finally made an impression on the little thief, and Claude might have realized that while some people can't be trusted, that does not mean that you should judge everyone the same. Yune's trust was betrayed before, but she wasn't wrong in the long run.

I particularly liked Alice's little scene of showing off all the Japanese things she had just purchased. It strikes me as such a typical Western European example of how the "orient" was viewed. Things were remarkable just because they were from THE East, not for what they actually were. Alice actually deserves quite a bit of credit, so far, most of the stuff she has really is Japanese, not some random mix of Chinese, Korean, French Indochinese (Vietnam et al.), and Japanese lumped together and labeled "Oriental."


When I was watching the episode I was trying to figure out whether they were living at a time where any illness could result in death, or whether they had gotten over that already. late 1800s... my world history is so poor, lol. This was my worry as well. Medicine wasn't that bad by the late 1800s, but it certainly depended entirely on where you were. Europe was probably better than most, but I imagine that out in the country, it was more like the (well documented) state of U.S. Civil War Medicine. For the most part, Yune probably would have been fine provided she didn't require surgery.


I'm looking forward to next episode where the hinted that the older pair (Camille and Claude) knew each other, as suspected. Their characters are more complex, and I'd like to see what their (more mature) thoughts are on the differences in social class, since we've already had a fair bit of culture clash from France/Japan already.Ditto.

[Kraco]

Episode 7 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=237337)


This was my worry as well. Medicine wasn't that bad by the late 1800s, but it certainly depended entirely on where you were. Europe was probably better than most, but I imagine that out in the country, it was more like the (well documented) state of U.S. Civil War Medicine. For the most part, Yune probably would have been fine provided she didn't require surgery.

In a place like Paris sponsored by the Blanche family Yune might have even survived a simple surgery.

I liked this ep as well. Claude is quite a hasty and prejudiced fellow, so his opinion of street urchins was expected, but during those times Japan was surely even more a class society than France, despite the shogunate having disappeared already, so it's anybody's guess why Yune treated the thief so kindly. I reckon she's just infinitely kind by nature.

Hopefully the next ep will reveal more of Camille and Claude's past connection. This episode verified Camille does know something about Claude, enough to be surprised by his actions. As bound as she apparently is by her station, it'll be interesting to see how she plans to entertain herself at Claude's expense...

[David75]

The part of Paris were Claude is, is not the medieval part of the city. It's a part renewed by Haussman in the mid 1800 (1850-1870 roughly). So they had access to fresh water in house and proper sewer system vastly improving health for the populations living there.

They probably had access to in house gas and stores upperclass families had gas lighting and Paris started it's electric transition in the late 1800s (roughly from 1880)

Regarding Claude's store, they seem to use petrol lighting, candles. But they have access to in house water etc... so it's a healthier place to live. Moreover, the gallery is another layer of protection against cold/humidity.

All of this also explains Claude's comment about germs... That little boy probably lives in a less comfortable environment, exposing him to lots of potential diseases he might be resistant to... but not the people touching/approching him. Also, he might not have access/education to personal hygiene.

Now I do not have a clear view of what doctors could do at the time, but given the environment and help from Blanche family, there's no reason Yune would be in danger from a cold or even flu.

Regarding Yune, I also find it strange she's so friendly towards that kid.
After all, she probably comes from a high class japanese family, her kimonos, the way she speaks, her ability to learn French, the fact she knows how to write and read, she already pictures taken with her sister, the flashback showing a typical mansion... all of these details might indicate she's more of the level of the blanche family.
But at the same time she's very young and might not have had many contacts with the outside world back in Japan. In a way, she was bound to live like Camille, stuck in her class boundaries. Coming to Paris was a way to escape that social prison, even if she did not do it for that reason.

[Kraco]

Episode 8 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=239133)

[Buffalobiian]

I really want to know what went on between Claude and Camille now, though the general gist must be that Camille ended up choosing high-class society over Claude. She sees her dream in Alice, who is both in a position to do as she wishes, but also has the guts and spunk to do what she wants. Camille on the other hand chooses the safe side and decided to be the classical eldest daughter over the radical one. From what she says, she must think that "suits" her the best, but she's not at all happy about it.

[Kraco]

Camille is sure full of melancholy and regret.

I don't know if she had that much choice, though. Likely she didn't just realise that when she was as young as in the flashbacks. But it's true that she no doubt partially bent and conformed to the expectations willingly. And now regrets it yet still thinks it was the only way. Pressure on Alice was likely a lot lower, so I don't think Alice being more free is only due to their personal choices.

Growing apart from Claude was perfecly natural development when they grew up following their respective ways. In the end Claude is worlds apart from the Blanche family. I'd actually like to know what kind of circumstances allowed Camille to play with Claude at all. Camille and Alice's parents must be fairly progressive.

[David75]

Camille is sure full of melancholy and regret.

I don't know if she had that much choice, though. Likely she didn't just realise that when she was as young as in the flashbacks. But it's true that she no doubt partially bent and conformed to the expectations willingly. And now regrets it yet still thinks it was the only way. Pressure on Alice was likely a lot lower, so I don't think Alice being more free is only due to their personal choices.

Growing apart from Claude was perfecly natural development when they grew up following their respective ways. In the end Claude is worlds apart from the Blanche family. I'd actually like to know what kind of circumstances allowed Camille to play with Claude at all. Camille and Alice's parents must be fairly progressive.

I wonder if Camille thinks she could have a chance going to Japan with Alice and Yune like in Alice's story.
It sure is a fairytale, but Yune appearing in their lives at a point when Camille destiny is to be sealed through marriage must really have her dream again. But it will remain a dream as she clearly understand the rules of her culture and accepts them.
The cat example shows that eventhough she prefers stray cats, she can accommodate having her house cat...

Little details:
As free as Alice is, I very much doubt she's have the right to climb on her bed shoes on. She probably wouldn't even think of doing it.
When Yune changed footwear, I realized she doesn't change goind outside/ coming back. We did not have a scene when she would find that strange.

Windows open in the inside in France, you wouldn't imagine how strange it is to see windows open the other way :D

[Ryllharu]

I don't know if she had that much choice, though. Likely she didn't just realise that when she was as young as in the flashbacks. But it's true that she no doubt partially bent and conformed to the expectations willingly. And now regrets it yet still thinks it was the only way. Pressure on Alice was likely a lot lower, so I don't think Alice being more free is only due to their personal choices.In that flashback where Alice was telling her story, I felt that Alice seemed to actually be the more mature of the two. Considering their age difference, it seemed very odd. Camille was very much entranced by the concept and idea of Alice's little story. I wonder if the harsh truth about her social position hit her not soon after.

It's rather startling to see someone who was so very much like Alice was when she was younger turn into someone so bitter and spiteful. The way she holds her fan makes it even worse, like she's always sneering behind it. I was frankly stunned at how cruel she was being to Yune when the two of them were alone. Claude has been brusque or blunt with Yune before, but he's never cut her down the way Camille was doing. Of course she was just as sarcastic and disparaging to Claude when the two of them were alone.

[Kraco]

Despite those moments, I still can't see Camille as malicious. She's just so full of regret and the dualistic envy I believe I mentioned earlier that she can't help but utter those cruel comments every now and then. I think she was even taken aback just a little after some of the things she said to Yune, who is so innocent and shows nothing but goodwill. It's also rather interesting she was giving Yune the same advice Claude did, but her reasons might be the opposite: Not to protect Yune but to crack a little Yune's freedom and happiness to bring her closer to Camille's (and actually Alice's as well) own level.

[shinta|hikari]

I think your description of her is pretty malicious already.

[Kraco]

Perhaps, but if I judge her character correctly, there's still the difference that for a wholesome person her words and actions wouldn't really mean that much, at most they would just alienate that person from her, making Camille herself the only victim. She has shown no indication she would actually be plotting against someone. She's simply so sad and weak she lashes out at people she's envious of.

The more I see of her, the more I'd like someone to save her. Naturally I don't expect that to happen; this is a historical show, after all, and history is full of shitty human destinies. But on the other hand, she's apparently old enough to join the high society, which means she'll soon be old enough to get married. Her own children might be her saviors.

[Buffalobiian]

IB - Episode 09 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=241390)

[Kraco]

I think it's pretty hard to say exactly how Camille views Claude. Did she really like him, or was it all due to the fact Claude was likely the only playmate she had and thus beyond precious. Not to mention those aspects don't need to be mutually exclusive. What's a bit more puzzling is how their relationship became more rotten. Was it only due to growing up and adapting more to their roles in the society, further separating them. What's undebiably true is that their relationship now is a lot worse than it was at the end of the flashbacks, and not only in the sense of growing apart and becoming strangers - in fact it didn't seem like that at all.

But then again, nothing can really happen between Camille and Claude, so in the end it's all the same.

[Buffalobiian]

[Nipponsei] Ikoku Meiro no Croisee Original Soundtrack.zip (http://tracker.minglong.org/torrents/%5BNipponsei%5D%20Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee%20O riginal%20Soundtrack.zip.torrent)

[Ayako]_Ikoku_Meiro_no_Croisée_-_04.5_[H264][400p][B8BCFBA2].mkv (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=torrentinfo&tid=242669)

[David75]

You've seen that place numerous times in the anime, now you get a glimpse of what it looks like nowadays:
http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&ll=48.869775,2.352233&spn=0.012477,0.033023&sll=48.86143,2.360408&sspn=0.024958,0.066047&vpsrc=6&z=16&layer=c&cbll=48.869775,2.352233&panoid=z2f5YeePjc_FHMopyXi68A&cbp=12,251.3,,0,-6.84

Ep 4.5 was nice.

[Buffalobiian]

Ayako - episode 10 (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=243214)

---------------------------------------







Episode 4.5 was indeed nice. It pretty much confirms that Claude/Camille's attitude at each other largely results from each believing that the other wasn't prepared to move out of their own "zone" to further their relationship, even though they themselves refused to budge.

I suppose the thing that interested me most there was that Yune's sister had the same sky blue eyes as most French depicted in this anime. Yune herself doesn't have "pitch black" eyes, though it's still a dark green that might as well mean black by anime standards.

[David75]

Well, for some reason you get lots of blue eyes in that show, when France really is more of a melting pot and has always been since it borders so many countries/regions filled with so many cultures and phenotypes.

But I admit I did not pay much attention to that detail, and should have as your point may lead to the idea that Yune's could be the daughter of a foreigner (or grandchild). That would explain their open-mindedness towards foreign culture and why Yune would come to Paris. That added to the songs they share with Anne (or was that Annette?), which doesn't sound like a common name for European Gypsies btw.

[Kraco]

Episode 11 - IB (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=245767)


- - - - - --




Claude certainly has more than one man's share of personality issues on the human relationships front. He's lousy at business and probably only able to continue running a shop due to inheriting his dad's name and customers, in addition to the artist's skills he obviously has. It also seems like he has huge troubles dealing with women - and perhaps even any strangers. He also seems very unforgiving and prejudiced. At least he does have an ability to reflect on his own behavior if really pushed and he's not inherently wicked.

Luckily Yune seems to bend easily without cracking. She surely needs that attribute to live with Claude.

[Buffalobiian]

A large part of that was supposedly due to his dad, and they never even got around to talking about it this episode.. it makes it feel half done.

[Ryllharu]

I never have an urge to watch an episode until I actually start watching it, then I do ultimately enjoy it. But it isn't like the other series I'm following where I really look forward to them each week. I don't hate the series...but I'm not excited by it either. It's weird. I sometimes feel like I'm only watching Ikoku Meiro for Alice. Her crazed behavior always brightens up her segments of the episode. It's clear why Camille lives vicariously through her.


Regarding this episode, I'm glad that Yune's behavior keeps shaming Claude into becoming a better person, someone ultimately less bitter than his past had made him.

He disallows Yune to go places that he finds distasteful (I mean it was a stretch for him to even allow her to initially visit Alice) and then implies that she should stay out of his past, only to turn around and demand she tell him about her own tough memories.

I've had a feeling for a while that something bad happened to Yune's sister, and I'm glad that she hadn't died. Fittingly, Shione's even more selfless behavior shamed Claude even further. Enough that he might open up to Yune about his father.

Perhaps in doing so, his change in attitude will also soften the relationship he has with the Blanche family. Alice technically owns his gallerie after all, doesn't she? Even if Camille stays cold toward him, perhaps he can at least enjoy a friendly adversarial relationship with Alice.

[David75]

The "Assemblée Nationale" (~Parliament) in a google street view:
http://maps.google.fr/maps?q=Assemblée+Nationale,+Paris&hl=fr&ie=UTF8&ll=48.863051,2.319344&spn=0.001563,0.004128&sll=48.860773,2.318357&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&vpsrc=6&fll=48.860628,2.321141&fspn=0.006254,0.016512&z=19&layer=c&cbll=48.862883,2.319222&panoid=dZF5BzHTAmC679bbmy6tiQ&cbp=13,181.53,,0,5.32

Again, I do not feel much from that ep. Still I'm watching.

[David75]

[IB] Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - 12 END [720p] [10bit] [5D5FDC63]​.mkv (http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=download&tid=247161)

[Buffalobiian]

Ah.. at least they got around to a bit of explaining before they finished the show.

[David75]

So Claude's father died working on the Galerie Lafayette Cupola. Now you have pics some posts before :D

[Kraco]

Not an awesomely strong series as a whole, compared to some other slice-of-life shows. I think this story suffered from the same thing Claude himself suffered: It was oft too awkward, it failed to communicate enough (connect with the audience), it didn't have many friends, and it shut itself inside the familiar four walls too much. I hoped for much more based on the first eps, but at least this single season lenght didn't provide enough opportunities for the characters to really develop. Unfortunately I also felt like they failed to really tap into the possibilities the interesting historical setting would have provided.

It was a nice enough series but will not rank particularly high on my list. Au revoir.

[shinta|hikari]

This show lacked content. It just repeated what was already done in the first few episodes, and repeated stuff already explained in the middle as well. I think taking just 3-4 episodes from the entire show is enough to get the full enjoyment out of it.