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

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Picture
Rozen Maiden gets the, by now wearyingly familiar treatment for anime. It's a 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer, with the usual NTSC-PAL standard conversion applied. For Rozen Maiden that means a pretty clear and colourful transition to the DVD format, with little of the ghosting or judder associated with such conversions. That said, the bright and shiny animation isn't one to invite such issues, and the more important observation is that despite this disc having a decent six episodes to it, none of them are particularly marred by compression artefacts or the like. Rozen Maiden is an expressive enough animation, although not that full of energy and is occasionally quite static. There is an odd dichotomy with the way that the dolls are depicted in exquisite detail, while the human characters are a lot more rough and ready, simplistically designed, and with bold outlines. It all works well enough for the show however.

Sound
You have a choice between DD 2.0 English and Japanese, with optional translated subtitles or signs. The dialogue is clear, and the opening theme from Ali Project is by equal parts catchy and annoying, but perfectly suits the show. I found the Japanese track to be acceptable but uninspiring, although compared to the English track it's a godsend. Yes, this is one of those English dubs that are best avoided, even by dub fans.

Extras
In the US, the Geneon release came on 3 discs, with 4 episodes apiece, with the occasional textless credit sequence, or promo video. We get none of that in the UK, but we do follow the Australian format of having just 2 discs, with 6 episodes apiece. I know, which I'd rather have, even if it meant no extras whatsoever. Incidentally, all those region 1 extras that I mentioned are actually on the UK volume 2 of Rozen Maiden, so nothing to whinge about at all.

Conclusion
That was fluffy! There's no other word for it. Rozen Maiden is the sort of show that you want when you need something to brighten up your world, and to do so without any major intellectual weight, anything emotionally wearying, or anything even approaching dark and moody. There are comparatively dark elements to Rozen Maiden, it starts off in a gothic vein, the dolls are most definitely from the Anne Rice school of character design, and the whole Alice Game has overtones to it that some may consider as sinister. Also Jun's character has his personal issues that certainly could become emotionally distressing if you let them. He is a shut-in after all, eschewing the outside world. But even with all this, it still feels as if Rozen Maiden is at worst, pummelling you with candyfloss.

Rozen Maiden is as derivative as I opined earlier. It has all those elements of shows like Ah My Goddess and Chobits, as well as plenty of the familiar anime clichés such as the harem and the wimpy male to make it nice and comfortable for anyone who wants an easy to categorise comedy to enjoy. There is much of Rozen Maiden that is safe and predictable. However, it does have two, major points of difference that make it stand out from the crowd. For one, Shinku doesn't immediately adopt the role of subservient and happy to please love doll that typify characters like Chi and Belldandy. On the contrary, Shinku is more master than servant, and her first action after coming awake is to give Jun a belt around the chops. Following that, she's soon lady of the manor, quick to chastise, criticise and torment, while keeping her actual fondness for Jun well under wraps. At the same time, Jun is the shut-in, withdrawn from society, victim of peer pressure and bullying. And rather than play it for laughs, Rozen Maiden actually deals with his situation with sympathy and some tenderness, although certainly not with the dramatic intensity of Welcome to the NHK. If there is a hook, some connection to the real world that makes this show relevant, it's Shinku's gradual rehabilitation of Jun, through understanding and patience. Of course that is wrapped up securely behind reams of fantasy, comedy and utter silliness, but it is there if you choose to look for it.

But foremost is the fantasy; the dolls come to life, the Alice Game, the link between the dolls and their human servants, and the magical adventures that ensue. No doubt you'll have seen countless other anime like this, although if you're new to the medium, there's no reason why you shouldn't try Rozen Maiden, as it does excel at what it sets out to. There are good guys, there are bad guys, there is a tournament style battle for an ultimate prize, it's like Highlander, but with 20-inch dolls. The story is a nice blend of comedy and drama, and the comedy is nice and silly and frivolous, while the drama never becomes too dark or depressing. That said, we do leave the disc at something of a worrying cliffhanger. Fortunately we won't have to wait too long before we find out what happens next.

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