Anime: Ie Naki Ko Remi

Hector Malot classic "Sans famille" was made in anime 3 time. The 1970 Toei version was a childish family movie feature sillyness and talking animal. The 1977 TMS Osamu Dezaki / Akio Sugino an absolute dramatic masterpiece close to the novels that majesticly portrait the harshness of poverty, abuse, injustice violence and death in pognant mesmerizing fasinating way. This 1996 WMT version lies in between: The animation is quite good, what you could expect for Nippon Animation. The mellow symphonic OST fit the mood perfectly and Horie Mitsuko does a wonderful job in her interpretation of Remy (just like the rest of the cast). However, the story is really below what is usually expected for WMT. They're drastic change from the original story (most notable is the gender change of Remi/Remy), many event are changed / fused or ommited and the dramatic part are significally water down. So with most of harshness, cruelty and tragedy element taken way the ending product feel way more simplified, less deepth and almost childish. That said the serie remain quite enjoyable as the character are so well portrait and lovable. The japanese was pretty harsh toward this series as it low rating (lowest in WMT history mark the end of the WMT until the 3 years revival back in 2007. So recommended even if it's not as a masterpiece as its 70's counterpart.