Even after nearly half a century, this title still has surprises in store for you.
In 1983, the young artist Michiyo Akaishi began work on the historical manga Alpen Rose, about the adventures of a girl named Jeudi searching for her parents during the troubled times when the threat of World War II was looming over Europe.
Two years later, the Tatsunoko studio released the series Flaming Alpine Rose: Jeudi & Lundi for which Joe Hisaishi, a regular composer for Takeshi Kitano and Hayao Miyazaki, wrote the music.
What Is Flaming Alpine Rose: Jeudi & Lundi About?
In the early 1930s, a plane crash occurs in the skies over Switzerland, in which a girl survives but loses her memory. She is helped by a boy named Lundi, who discovers the girl in the Alps and names her Jeudi.
Jeudi grows up and one day, on her way to meet Lundi, meets Count George, a powerful man who becomes obsessed with her and takes her to his castle. Lundi helps Jeudi escape. However, the man continues to hunt for the girl in order to imprison her on the estate at any cost.
During the escape, Jeudi and Lundi decide to go on a dangerous journey to find her parents. The only clue they have is a song about an alpine rose. There is also a portrait of a woman on the wall of the Count's estate who looks very much like Jeudi. Could this be her mother?
Flaming Alpine Rose: Jeudi & Lundi Is a Good Old Shojo Title
Flaming Alpine Rose can be classified as one of those old shojo anime where the plot develops dynamically against the background of important historical events and the heroine has to face difficult trials.
The German resistance movement, to which Jeudi's parents are probably connected, is in the foreground. The main character meets people who oppose the fascist regime and help her find her relatives.
Some of the Episodes Are Still Impressive Today
Although the anime is old and some events may seem exaggerated, it has absolutely brilliant episodes.
For example, in one of the episodes, a famous pianist is forced to organize a concert for the Nazis, but instead of the expected propaganda compositions, he suddenly starts playing Alpen Rose – the anthem of the anti-Nazi movement, and the people in the audience support him.
Flaming Alpine Rose: Jeudi & Lundi Ends Too Abruptly
The series is so captivating that you don't even notice how much you want the heroine to find happiness with Lundi and be reunited with her parents.
There is one problem – the anime ends rather abruptly at episode 20. Originally, Tatsunoko Studio planned 52 episodes, but the number of episodes was shortened, so the anime does not contain everything that made the original manga so famous. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth watching.