Review Rozen Miaden

Review:



Jun Sakurada is a Junior High School student who refuses to go to
school due to mental issues resulting from traumatic experiences there
(see Hikikomori). He normally locks himself in his room and has a hobby
of ordering supernatural goods online and returning them before the
trial period ends and he has to pay for them. His older sister, Nori
Sakurada, does everything she can to help but is unable to reach Jun.



One day, Jun receives a letter claiming he has won a prize, and
asking whether or not he would "Wind" (まきますか？) or "Not Wind" (まきませんか？).
After putting the letter in his drawer as per the instructions on the
letter, he receives a beautifully crafted box right after Nori comes to
complain about his habits. The box contains a strangely lifelike doll
clad in Gothic Lolita clothing. Jun, after a brief and crude
examination of the doll, winds it up. The doll creaks a bit, stands up
on its own, and slaps him for handling her so indelicately. She later
states, "My name is Shinku, the fifth doll of the Rozen Maiden."



Shinku is a doll from the unique "Rozen Maiden" collection, and
before Jun can fully realize just what he's got himself into, he is
attacked by a stuffed animal that enters through the window. Jun finds
himself pledging service to Shinku to save his life, and is thus
endowed with the responsibility of protecting Shinku's "Rosa Mystica"
whilst she is engaged in intense battles with the other Rozen Maiden.





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 last for 30 minutes
without a medium. Each Rozen Maiden has her own distinct personality,
guardian spirit, and supernatural ability.







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". 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 Maiden, 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.





[edit] Rozen Maiden ~träumend~ (second season)

The second season of Rozen Maiden, subtitled träumend (トロイメント,
toroimento?) has a slightly darker tone. 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 too much catching-up to do), but studies
at home and in the local library, happily goes outside, and seems to
have even grown fond of the ever-present dolls. Shinku has been changed
due to the events of the previous season, but she is generally as
aristocat-like as ever, lecturing and punishing Jun at every
opportunity. Several new non-doll characters have been introduced.
These characters include a riddle-spouting, formally-dressed rabbit and
two mysterious men that operate a doll shop, one of which bears an
unnatural resemblance to "Father". The final two dolls are introduced
in this season: Kanaria and Barasuishou. Barasuishou is the primary
villain.



This series ends in a semi-cliff-hanger. Where the Rosa Mystica of
two of the dolls is still missing. Aswell as the small cameo of the
unexplained Kirakishou



Rozen Maiden: träumend consists of twelve episodes that began airing on October 20, 2005 and ended on January 26, 2006.





[edit] 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 has been ripped from the Rozen Maiden-Duellwalzer PlayStation 2 game disc.





[edit] Rozen Maiden ouvertĂźre OVA

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. ouvertĂźre (オーベルテューレ, ōberutyūre?), 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. Similarly, kukui sings the ending theme.



Rozen Maiden ouvertĂźre consists of 2 episodes that began airing on December 22, 2006 and ended on December 23, 2006.