Review for Rozen Maiden: Volume 1 (Review)
Saturday, 13th March 2010, 18:43

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Introduction
The rate that things are going, Britain doesn't look like it will see an absence of anime any time soon, at least not in the way that jitters are shaking the US industry at the moment. That's because we still have an extensive US back catalogue to plunder, and we'll still be getting titles from companies that have been defunct for years when the next boom cycle starts. Rozen Maiden is a case in point, MVM's latest new series, acquired from Geneon in the US, a company which hasn't distributed anything new there in two years or more. Mind you, it does imply that we've already had the choicest of pickings, and maybe we'll start scraping the bottom of the barrel soon.

That initially seems to be the case with Rozen Maiden, which on the face of it looks so derivative that it may as well be a trailer for a host of other shows. We have a young, wimpy male who develops an unconventional relationship with a living doll (Chobits), said doll arrives when he submits a magical request (Ah My Goddess), and soon he has a harem of cute dolls around him (Every romantic anime comedy ever made), but these dolls like to fight each other, battling for an ultimate prize (any anime ending in -mon). It does pose a 'what are you thinking MVM' question, but then I learned on the Internet (so it must be true) that former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso is a fan of Rozen Maiden. If the leader of one of the world's most powerful economies has time for Rozen Maiden, surely I can spare an hour or two.

Jun Sakurada is the wimpy teen, who after being bullied at middle school simply came home, pulled the covers over his head, and refused to leave the house again. That's despite the best efforts of his sister Nori, who keeps trying to coax him back to school. He's become a shut-in, a recluse, whose only joy is Internet shopping, and only thrill is keeping the stuff for the trial period, and then sending it back before he becomes liable for payment. Then one day he answers an ad that is unconventional to say the least. Instead of e-mail, he has to write a letter, place it in an envelope, and then put it in the second drawer of his desk. As if by magic, a trunk appears in the middle of the room, and within the trunk is a clockwork doll, and a key. After checking for underwear (well he is a boy), he winds up the doll, only for it to come to life and slap him. Shinku is awake now, and insolent though he may be, Jun is now her servant. A whole new world awaits…

The first half of Rozen Maiden is presented on this disc from MVM.

1. Fraulein Rose
Things get exceedingly weird when Shinku wakes up in Jun's room. A talking doll is pretty hard to explain at the best of times, but Shinku insists on chastising Jun for his boorishness, demanding tea, indeed demanding that he cater to her every whim. She's apparently moving in, making herself at home. Jun doesn't have long to contemplate just why, when the window smashes, and a clown doll appears, intent on killing him. He has just one chance, swear fealty to Shinku and become her servant, but as Shinku's new medium, he's entered into a world of battling dolls, where the diminutive homunculi play the deadly Alice Game.

2. Kleine Beere
Tomoe is the class rep at Jun's school, and she pays a visit to drop off the latest class work. But she's obviously sickening for something, practically collapses at their doorstep. Only Shinku recognises another servant who's practically being drained by her doll. Hina-Ichigo 'belongs' to Tomoe, and she's a jealous, possessive bundle of cuteness, who hates it when Tomoe isn't paying her any attention. When Tomoe fails to keep a promise to play with her because of her ill health, Hina pulls Tomoe with her into a fantasy realm where they can be together forever. Shinku sees a chance to get ahead in the Alice Game, but she needs a mirror first, and unlike Hina, she isn't about to insist on Jun's assistance. Understandable really, since Jun couldn't take being seen by his classmate, and has since been sulking.

3. Mercury Lampe
Hina-Ichigo's presence is causing enough annoyance for Jun to make him want to leave the house. Given that he is a shut-in, terrified of the outside world, that's significant provocation, but maybe there's something else at work as well, something achingly close to… sympathy? Nevertheless, Hina and Shinku are left home alone, to get locked in the toilet, while from the other side of the mirror a powerful doll named Suigintou watches and plans.

4. Jade Stern
A suitcase crashing through a window signals the arrival of the latest member of the Sakurada household, a doll named Suiseiseki. The doll with odd coloured eyes takes an instant dislike to Jun, although her reticence to socialise comes from a general apathy towards all humans. But Suiseiseki has a magical gift, she's a gardener, and she can tap into people's dreams. When she takes Jun into his dream world, he's unprepared for the bleak desolate dreamscape that awaits him. Can Suiseiseki nurture Jun's inner tree back to life?

5. Die Treppe
It's getting crowded in the Sakurada household, especially when two of the three dolls just don't get along with each other. It's probably Hina-Ichigo's own fault for being so cute, adorable and easy to tease. Which is exactly what Suiseiseki does, sending Hina running upstairs to sulk. Nori gives her brother an ultimatum; make sure everyone is getting along by the time she comes back, or no supper. But once Jun goes up to check on Hina, the battle lines are drawn, and the stairs become no mans' (or dolls') land.

6. Tranen
Two humans and three dolls are busy playing happy families, but the real world of the Alice Game is about to come crashing in. Suigintou has gotten tired of waiting and has pushed matters forward of her own accord. Reaching out of the mirror, she's kidnapped Hina-Ichigo, and it's down to Shinku to rescue her servant. She'll need Jun's help of course, and despite his nature, Jun has grown fond enough of his doll tenants to venture into a strange and forbidding world. His covenant with Shinku could unleash some unexpected power and abilities, but no one is prepared for the consequences.

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