Review for Rozen Maiden: Volume 1

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.

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.