Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - Episode 2

Now that we've established that Yune speaks French, thus removing the sole irritation present in its opening episode, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée can get on with letting our adorable fish out of water run free in 19th century Paris.

Well, perhaps "running free" is a little too much to ask of Yune at this juncture, as she still comes to terms with some of the simpler cultural differences between Japan and France such as the use of a spoon or simply delicacies like coffee and cheese, the latter of which it seems no amount of attempts will please the palate of Yune.

This episode also gives our adorable companion a chance to explore the outside world a little, whether it's queueing for bread at the nearby bakery or a trip further afield to a local market and yet more wonders that Yune has never set sight upon before.  If it's a contiguous plot you're looking for, then this instalment also reveals the eventual destination of the kimono of Yune's which was sold last episode - an on-going headache for Claude it seems, as it's been bought by the owners of a nearby department store which threatens the livelihood of numerous business in Claude's vicinity.

I can only really find one word to sum up Ikoku Meiro no Croisée so far - delightful.  Our tour of 19th century French culture, architecture and so on is beautiful to look at and soothing to watch, while Yune is, let's not beat about the bush here, absolutely adorable in pretty much everything she says and does.  This must be the most relaxing anime series I've watched in a long, long time, and boy does it massage out the stress of a long, hard day with its period aesthetic and enjoyable characters.