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is a manga by the group Peach-Pit, with an anime series of the same name.[1] The story centers around Sakurada Jun, a young hikikomori boy that finds himself indebted to a living doll by the name of Shinku. Jun's sometimes comedic, sometimes dramatic, experiences with Shinku--as well as the other six dolls of the Rozen Maiden--slowly bring him out of his depression and back into the world that he had abandoned.
In TV Asahi's "Top 100 Anime Ranking" polled in 2006, Rozen Maiden was ranked 9th on the list. [2]
Background information
Story
Jun Sakurada is a Junior High School student who refuses to go to school due to mental trauma from an embarrassing experience there (see Hikikomori). He has taken to locking himself in his room, never leaving the house, and spends the day ordering supernatural goods online. His older sister, Nori Sakurada, does everything she can to brighten Jun's dreary existence, but is unable to change his situation.
One day, Jun receives a letter claiming he has won a prize. The letter asks whether or not he will "Wind" (まきますか？) or "Not Wind" (まきませんか？). It states that after he has made his decision, he must place the letter in the drawer of his desk, and a supernatural liaison will take it to the spirit world. Despite his skepticism, he follows these instructions, and discovers soon after that the envelope has vanished. Moments later, he realizes that a richly detailed wood case has materialized within his room. The box contains a strange realistic doll dressed in French aristocratic (synonymous with Gothic Lolita) attire. Jun carefully winds up the doll. The doll creaks, stands up on its own, then proceeds to slap him for handling her so cruedly. She introduces herself as, "...Shinku, the fifth doll of the Rozen Maiden."
Shinku is a doll from the unique "Rozen Maiden" collection, and before Jun can fully comprehend the weight of his new situation, a stuffed clown plushie attacks. Shinku promises that she will save Jun's life, but only if he will vow to her Rosa Mystica to serve her. Thus, Jun becomes endowed with the responsibility of protecting Shinku's "Rosa Mystica" whilst she is engaged in a centuries old fight with the other Rozen Maiden dolls for the title of "Alice"...
The Rozen Maidens
The ''Rozen Maidens'' are a collection of dolls created by a craftsman named Rozen, whom the dolls refer to as "Father". Their primary source of power is a human host (a "medium") that wears a ring to symbolize their bond with the doll, although certain dolls have been shown to act without a medium. According to Shinku, she can only be at full power when her medium is present. Each Rozen Maiden has her own distinct personality, guardian spirit, and supernatural ability.
Characters of Rozen Maiden
The Alice Game
Their apparent purpose is to participate in the "Alice Game", a lethal competition that promises the winner the right to meet "Father" by becoming "Alice", a girl of supreme beauty and perfection that lives inside of "Father", which is said to be "more sublime than any flower, purer than any gem, and without a touch of impurity".[1]
The game is played through duels in which the dolls fight using both their guardian spirits and respective abilities — such as the manipulation of strawberry vines as well as the spiritual energy from their medium. The doll that loses the duel loses her "Rosa Mystica", the very essence that endows her with the ability to move. The lost Rosa Mystica is then collected and absorbed by the duel's winner. This Rosa Mystica contains the doll's memories and emotions. The doll that gains all of her sisters' Rosa Mystica will become Alice. Shinku, the central doll of the series, is notable in that while she does not refuse to fight, she does refuse to take the lost power and kill a sister doll. Supposedly, a doll can no longer become Alice if she loses her Rosa Mystica or her ring (which is used to transfer power from a medium), but there have been exceptions to this rule....
Manga
The manga currently has 8 volumes in print, and was continually serialised in Monthly Birz Comics until the March 2007 issue. At that point, publication stopped for several months. Some speculated that the editorial department lost Peach-Pit's draft, while others said there was some kind of disagreement between Peach-Pit and the editorial department.[4] The finale of Rozen Maiden was serialised in the July issue of Monthly Birz Comics.
The storyline between the anime and the manga have significant differences, including different stories, characters and sequence of events. Each volume costs 590 yen (excluding tax).
| Volume | ISBN | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan: 4-344-80212-8 | Japan: 24 March 2003 |
| 2 | Japan: 4-344-80340-X | Japan: 24 December 2003 |
| 3 | Japan: 4-344-80452-X | Japan: 24 September 2004 |
| 4 | Japan: 4-344-80505-4 | Japan: 24 December 2004 |
| 5 | Japan: 4-344-80620-4 | Japan: 24 August 2005 |
| 6 | Japan: 4-344-80691-3 | Japan: 24 January 2006 |
| 7 | Japan: 4-344-80822-3 | Japan: 24 September 2006 |
| 8 | Japan: 9784344810303 | Japan: 23 June 2007[5] |
'Note:' Besides Japanese, it is also available in Chinese, Thai, French, German, Korean, Italian, Spanish and English.
'Manga conclusion'
The conclusion to the Rozen Maiden manga has been somewhat controversial among the fans as it abruptly ends the story.
However the story is left open to continuation.
'TV manga'
A series of manga based on the anime have also been released. It uses the anime storyline, and is in full color with scenes taken from the anime itself and fitted into manga format.
Anime
Rozen Maiden (first season)
The first season of ''Rozen Maiden'' focuses primarily on the psychological rehabilitation of Jun Sakurada. He is a hikikomori, and spends most of his time locked in the safety of his room and ordering items from the internet. However, through a strange order form, he finds himself in possession of an enchanted doll that calls herself "Shinku, the fifth Rozen Maiden doll". Much to Jun's displeasure, Shinku calls on him to create a strange bond with her, and the socially disinclined boy winds up being her "servant". The series follows the two of them as they encounter more Rozen Maidens, dolls that for the most part seem to want nothing more than to drink tea, destroy windows, and draw on his floor with crayons. In this season, five dolls are introduced: Shinku, Hinaichigo, Suigintou, Suiseiseki, and Souseiseki. Suigintou is the primary villain.
''Rozen Maiden's first season consists of twelve episodes that began airing on October 7, 2004 and ended on December 23, 2004.
Rozen Maiden ~träumend~ (second season)
The second season of ''Rozen Maiden'', subtitled has a slightly darker tone. Träumend is German for "dreaming." The episodes are more plot-driven and deal with topics such as "Father" — the Rozen Maiden's creator — and the inevitable conclusion to the "Alice Game." Jun does not yet attend school (he has much work to make up before he can go back), but studies at home and at the local library. He is much more willing and eager to go outside the house, and seems to have even grown fond of the ever-present dolls. Shinku has also been changed, thanks to the events of the previous season, but she is generally as aristocrat-like as ever, lecturing and punishing Jun at every opportunity. Several new non-doll characters are introduced, including a riddle-spouting, tuxedo-attired anthropomorphic rabbit and two mysterious men who operate a doll shop, one of whom bears an uncanny resemblance to Rozen. The final group of dolls also appear this season: Kanaria, the second doll, Barasuishou, who introduces herself as the seventh doll, and Kirakishou, the true seventh doll.
''Rozen Maiden: träumend'' consists of twelve episodes that began airing on October 20, 2005 and ended on January 26, 2006.
Detective Kunkun – Duell Walzer OVA
Duell Walzer OVA is a 7 minute Detective Kunkun episode. The show is presented as an opera performance with curtains, showtime buzzer and stage. The story is about how Detective Kunkun foils the evil cat's plans to steal a beautiful gem from another character. The story may be short, but the means Detective Kunkun uses to solve the crime is brilliant and well thought out. This episode portrays watching Detective Kunkun's show from a Rozen Maiden doll's perspective.
"Duell Walzer OVA" consists of only one episode, and is found on the Rozen Maiden-Duellwalzer PlayStation 2 game disc.
Rozen Maiden ouvertüre
This two-part Rozen Maiden special was aired on the December 22, 2006 and December 23, 2006 on TBS in Japan. It is a brief prequel to the events of the TV series. , German for "opening", is set at some point during ''träumend'' (most likely between episodes six and eight) and answers critical questions about Suigintou's past, particularly those pertaining to the rivalry she holds with Shinku. The majority of the two episode special is told by Souseiseki and takes place as a flashback to the nineteenth century in London. Ali Project once again lends their talents for the opening song. As with the series, Kukui sings the ending theme.
''Rozen Maiden ouvertüre'' consists of 2 episodes that began airing on December 22, 2006 and ended on December 23, 2006.
Theme songs
; Opening
: by Ali Project (Season 1)
: by Ali Project (Season 2)
: by Ali Project (Ouvertüre OVA)
; Ending
: by kukui (Season 1)
: by kukui (Season 2)
: by Kukui (Ouvertüre OVA)
Episode titles
Unresolved issues (in the anime)
; Kirakishou : Barasuishou is actually ''not'' the seventh Rozen Maiden, but rather a copy of one. The true seventh Rozen Maiden, Kirakishou, is shown very briefly towards the end of the final episode of ''Rozen Maiden träumend'', watching Laplace no Ma dance with two Rosa Mystica in his hands. Nothing more about Kirakishou has been revealed.
; Laplace : At first, he seems to support Enju and Barasuishou in the battle against the Rozen Maidens, but in the final episode of ''Rozen Maiden träumend'', he slips away after Barasuishou's destruction, declaring that his amusement has come to an end for the time being. Later on in the episode, he is shown dancing with Kirakishou, holding two Rosae Mysticae, most likely those of Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo. When appearing in the Ouvertüre OVA, it seems that he controls the duration of the Alice Game, since he can force the dolls to return to their suit cases when the current Alice Game participants terminate their contracts with their mediums.
; Father : At the end of ''Rozen Maiden träumend'', Enju turns out not to be the man known as Rozen, or "Father", but rather a jealous apprentice of his, who seeks to eclipse Rozen's art. To accomplish his goal, Enju created Barasuishou to destroy the Rozen Maidens and thus become Alice. Barasuishou succeeds in defeating most of the Rozen Maidens and acquires all six of their Rosae Mysticae, but because she is not a true Rozen Maiden, she is unable to contain the Rosae Mysticae and crumbles away in Enju's arms. The true "Father" appears afterwards, and resurrects all of the Rozen Maidens except Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo, since they were defeated by genuine Rozen Maidens. He then tells Shinku that there is another way to become Alice, without playing the lethal game, and that it is up to her to figure out how. He also entrusts her with "finding a solution" regarding Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo. The series ends shortly after, with no solution to either puzzle.
; The Magical Power : It is known that Enju and Rozen have the ability to bring dolls to life, and Shirosaki, or more precisely, Laplace, can change his appearance and move to and from the N-field at will. At the end of ''Rozen Maiden'', Jun was able to magically reattach Shinku's arm. Suigintou notes that apparently only Rozen possesses this sort of power, though Shinku notes that in Jun's world, he can do whatever he wishes he can do. Clearly, Jun is not Rozen, but his sewing expertise was able to restore a doll to life earlier in the series, which would suggest that Jun may have latent magical power with the potential to equal Rozen's.
CD Media
Main articles: Rozen Maiden Albums
A variety of CDs have been released for Rozen maiden, largely involving Drama CDs, or original soundtracks. Rozen Maiden OST and Rozen Maiden Drama CDs
Anime and manga differences
Story and characters
★ While the anime's first season portrays Shinku as extremely serious and composed, in the manga she is often shown in compromising and amusing situations using a simplified version of her face.
★ In the anime, Souseiseki's master is an old man who uses her as a surrogate for his long-dead son. In the manga, Souseiseki's master is a wealthy and bitter old man who wants to exact revenge on the woman who eloped with his twin brother many years ago; on the day they eloped, they were unfortunately caught in a disaster at sea that the twin brother did not survive. Souseiskei's master thus blamed his brother's fiancée for his twin's death.
★ In the first episode of the anime, and the first chapter of the manga, Suigintou sends a doll to kill Jun when Shinku first arrives. In the anime, the doll is a clown doll, but in the manga the doll is a teddy bear named "Bu Bear" (クマのブさん ''Kuma no Bu-san'') or "Booh Bear" in the English translation (most likely a reference to Winnie-the-Pooh).
★ In the manga, Suigintou tears Bu Bear apart after it has failed its mission, but leaves the remains in Jun's room. In the anime, the clown doll is torn apart when it protects Shinku from an attack by Suigintou. In both cases, Jun is able to restore the dolls.
★ Barasuishou, Enju, the Shibasakis, Shirosaki, Sarah and Yamamoto-kun do not exist in the manga.
★ In the manga, Jun withdraws from school in humiliation after he is revealed as the designer of a special occasion dress for the class beauty; he had previously denied adamantly that he liked designing girls' fashions. In the anime, Jun withdraws from school after everyone in his class started whispering behind his back about how he did poorly on a test — most likely, an entrance exam for a competitive junior high school. This was traumatic for Jun because he had been previously regarded as an academic genius.
★ In the anime, Hina Ichigo loses for good in the Alice Game when "Father" terminates the link between Shinku and her; Shinku had established the link after she defeated Hina Ichigo previously so that Hina Ichigo could use Jun as her medium. In the manga, Hina Ichigo's body is forcefully taken and consumed by Kirakishou in the N-Field. In both versions, Shinku receives Hina Ichigo's Rosa Mystica.
★ In the manga, Suigintou steals Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica after she sacrifices herself for the good of her master. In the anime, Suigintou defeats Souseiseki in battle and wins Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica outright.
★ In the fifth volume of the manga, "Father" is revealed to be the Count of St Germain. The anime, to date, makes no revelation as to "Father"'s true identity.
Video games
'Rozen Maiden: Duellwalzer' is a visual novel game developed by Taito. It was released in Japan for Sony's PlayStation 2 console on 27 April 2006. Two versions were marketed for release: a "normal" one, which only included the game, and a special edition which also included a Rozen Maiden handwatch, similar to the one Shinku is seen using. There are currently no plans to release this game outside of Japan.
CERO Rating: A
★ Normal version: 7,140 yen (excluding tax)
★ Special version: 9,240 yen (excluding tax)
'Rozen Maiden: Gebetgarten' is the second official Rozen Maiden game which was released in March, 2007. Like Alibat, it is a 3-D fighter, but made by Taito with cel-shaded graphics. It will also be for the PlayStation 2 console.
CERO Rating: A
★ Normal version: 7,140 yen (excluding tax)
★ Special version: 9,240 yen (excluding tax)
'Rozen Maiden AliBat (Record of Rozen War)' is a 3-D fighting doujinshi game. Alibat, short for "Alice Battle", was originally released at Comiket 69 (and also through the internet) as a basic demo, where only Shinku, Suigintou, and Suiseiseki were playable characters. The latest version included Hina-Ichigo, Kanaria, Souseiseki, Kirakishou and Barasuishou as further playable characters. There is also one secret unlockable character, Detective Kun-Kun. As it is a fan-made game, the available abilities and graphic design are basic.
Terms
Jun's dream world.
; Dream worlds
: These places are mirrors of a soul, containing elements from old memories or representations of important items. Both humans and dolls have them. For example, Suigintou's dream world is an abandoned snowy city, Jun's dream world is flooded with broken computer monitors, and Shinku's dream world is a cozy Victorian house. The dream worlds of all living beings are connected via an enormous tree, and the gardener Rozen Maidens, Suiseiseki and Souseiseki, can traverse this at will using their artificial spirits. The more closely related two people are, the closer their "branches" on this tree are located. A person may be locked inside their dreams by Sui Dream or Lempicka, but the gardeners never do this as it would lead to insanity.
Jun's soul tree.
; Soul trees
: A special tree within an individual's dream world. Their size and growth reflects a person's lifeforce or mental state. The growth of soul trees can be assisted through the power of Suiseiseki's watering can and Souseiseki's scissors. This is demonstrated on Jun's tree in the anime to some extent by Suiseiseki alone, but the growth is hampered by weeds. She and her sister offer to fix Jun's tree, but it is determined that allowing him to grow on his own would be a far better choice.
Suigintou's N-Field.
; N-Field
: The N-Field (n のフィールド) (possibly "nth Field", due to mathematical references such as Laplace) is a region of space that is the domain of a Rozen Maiden, and contains elements that are characteristic to the doll it represents. It can only be accessed via some object that "has fragments of life" — often, this is the mirror in the storage room of the Sakurada residence, but various other objects have been used, such as Jun's computer screen. Every Rozen Maiden has an N-Field of her own, and she has a sort of home court advantage in her own Field, which can be offset by the power of a Medium. When a Rozen Maiden loses her Rosa Mystica, her N-Field is shut down, and the things within vanish from sight.
Detective Kun-kun.
; Detective Kun-kun
:A puppet-based television series about a dog that solves crimes. The dolls that live with Jun are positively hooked on it, and Shinku's (formerly Jun's) shelves are crowded with the show's merchandise. This series-within-a-series appears to be satirizing such popular anime fare as Detective Conan (Case Closed) and Kindaichi Case Files.
A Rosa Mystica that has been ejected from a doll.
; Rosa Mystica (plural Rosae Mysticae)
: Rosa Mystica play an essential role in the Alice Game and are vital to the existence of every Rozen Maiden doll. They can be likened to a doll's soul. When a doll is defeated in battle, the Rosa Mystica will be ejected from the doll's body and that doll will be unable to move. Another Maiden can then absorb the Rosa Mystica, gaining the defeated doll's attack abilities and even the memories and thoughts of that doll. A defeated doll can also be revived by returning their Mystica to them. The original Rosa mystica was divided into seven pieces, afterwards giving a piece to each doll.
Pizzicato, Kanaria's artificial spirit.
; Artificial spirits
: A companion entity that every Rozen Maiden has. It is in the form of a glowing speck of colored light that can fly around and assist the doll in battles. Only Suiseiseki and Souseiseki's artificial spirits have powers that can be used to help enter dreams and take physical shapes such as the watering can and the scissors. Others can also manipulate/repair material objects. Artificial Spirits can't talk but they do seem to understand orders when their master doll speaks to them and the dolls in turn seem to understand what they say. They can also transmit their master's voice on occasion, as shown in volume 6 of the manga with Hina-Ichigo's Berrybell. When their original master is defeated, the artificial spirit will join the winning doll. These spirits can also be given to another doll, as seen in the anime when Suigintou took them from Suiseiseki and Souseiseki.
International distribution
DVD
Geneon has licensed Rozen Maiden,[6] and the first DVD was released with a DVD containing 4 episodes on May 29, 2007 officially dubbed in English. The special edition DVD comes with a velveteen artbox. Tokyopop Germany has released German dubs of all episodes of the first season on DVD, and the first Träumend has been announced for January[7]. Kaze, an anime publisher in France, has licensed the anime and has completely released the first season.
Trivia
★ The Gothic Lolita subculture plays a significant role, and it can be said that Rozen Maiden is a series founded upon it. As well as the obvious character design inspiration, the central themes in Rozen Maiden — elements of Alice in Wonderland and a fondness for the style/habits of Victorian era aristocracy — are also key to the Gothic Lolita subculture.
★ The popular internet "desu" meme originates from Suiseiseki's habit of appending the word — which is rarely grammatically correct, and is nothing more than a copula — to the end of every sentence. Kanaria and Hinaichigo share a similar speech habit, using "kashira" and "nano" as a sentence suffix respectively, but this has not seen a fraction of "desu"'s success.
★ The Rozen Maiden license was announced through a unique "Guess The Geneon License" contest through Anime News Network. This contest was conducted through a scavenger hunt held in the form of a podcast. Listeners had to discover various clues that were littered throughout the podcast.
★ Taro Aso, the Japanese Foreign Minister known to be a passionate manga fan, was witnessed reading a Rozen Maiden manga volume. This has garnered him the nickname "Rozen Aso".
★ Both Fashion doll companies Jun Planning and Volks have released a series of Rozen Maiden dolls. The Planning dolls are based on their Pullip and Dal Doll models.[8] Volks' Rozen Maiden-inspired designs are released as Super Dollfies. [9]
References
1.
2. tv asahi's top 100 anime ranking for 2006
3.
4. Rozen Maiden Serialization Suspended
5. http://www.manganomori.net/list.asp?listid=50
6. Geneon Licenses Rozen Maiden
7. http://www.tokyopop.de/vorschau/vorschau_01_2008.php
8. Rozen Maiden, Pullip, and Dal Doll Collaboration
9. [1]
External links
Official sites
★ Peach-Pit The creators of Rozen Maiden
★ Rozen Maiden Official anime website of the first season
★ Rozen Maiden träumend Official anime website of the second season
★ Rozen Maiden ouvertüre Official anime website of the ouvertüre OVA
★ Rozen Maiden Duellwalzer Official website of Duellwalzer (PlayStation 2 game)
★ Gentosha Comics Publisher of Birz Comics
★ Tokyopop English language manga publisher
★ Geneon Official Rozen Maiden Anime Website
★ Tokyopop German language anime and manga publisher
Databases
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