Rozen Maiden

Rozen Maiden Discussion Thread

In this thread we can discuss the anime Rozen Maiden.

Short Description:

Sakurada Jun was in the second grade of junior high, but he dropped out of school because he had problems socializing with his classmates. After he quit school, Jun refused to go out, and spent all his time at home shopping on the internet for 'weird' or 'cursed' items. One day, a mysterious box appeared in the middle of his room. When he opened the box, he found a sophisticated doll, which looked so real that it appeared to be alive...

Wikipedia Rozen Maiden Article

Quote:

Rozen Maiden is a manga by the group PEACH-PIT, with an anime series of the same name. It deals obliquely with the pressures placed on children in Japan by telling the story of a student, Jun Sakurada, who cracked under the strain. The series chronicles Jun's reluctant mental recovery through experiences with the Rozen Maiden, a series of enchanted dolls with a mysterious purpose.

The Rozen Maiden 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. Each Rozen Maiden has her own distinct personality, guardian spirit, and supernatural ability. Their purpose is apparently to participate in the cryptic "Alice Game", a lethal competition that promises the winner the right to meet "Father" by becoming "Alice", a being that is supposedly the incarnation of perfect femininity. 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 thing that endows her with the ability to move, thus becoming "junk". The lost Rosa Mystica is then collected and absorbed by the duel's winner. The doll that gains all of her sisters' Rosa Mysticae 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.

Discussorz:
Your favourite doll
Your favourite episode
The Manga
Suiseiseki! <3 (She's so great desu~!
Just anything related to Rozen Maiden! : P

I know I had that avatar but actually I hadnt seen this yet. >.<

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I just finished the first season a few hours ago. I found the series entertaining to watch. But then again, I haven't been watching too much anime.

However, I do want to note that there is a second season of Rozen Maiden called Rozen Maiden: Traumend which is also 12 Episodes. I'm pretty sure that's the end of the series, since I think that's when the Alice game ends.

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having watched the first and second seasons of Rozen Maiden
its a very cool anime
i like the concept and art style a lot (duh peach-pit)

and i plan to buy the manga when it comes to the states this may? ( i think) as the fan-scanners that do the series is slow as hell haha

i loved the member here who had the hina-ichigo avatar/sig combo it was so
dare i say it "cute" :shh:

How ya doing, buddy?

Mmm, I decided to watch this after Dan mentioned it on his Clone Army website. Finally found out who the person was in Lord Styphon's avatar. Anywho, amazing series, I really thoroughly enjoyed it. Immediately after finishing the first set, I went on to watch Traumend as well (wtf does that mean anyways?).

Spoiler:

So is there anything after Traumend? I remember in the last episode Shinku says something about there being two ways to become Alice

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I'm pretty sure that there will be a 3rd season. At least I sure hope there will be, the ending of the second one leaves ALOT of room for more story development.

I think I liked the second season more than the first, the funny episodes seemed more, well, funny, and the dramatic episodes were more intense

Spoiler:

was I the only one that cried like a little girl when HinaIchigo died?

I should also note that EVERYONE whom I've shown this anime to has loved it, even my mom who normally hates anime...

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Originally Posted by David4516

Spoiler:

was I the only one that cried like a little girl when HinaIchigo died?

Spoiler:

lol, it was sure freagin' sad, but I didn't cry. Maybe I was in too much of a shitty mood at the time from life events that I was just like "meh". It sucks that she can't come back though. Yargh =(.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Spoiler:

At least they brought back SuiseiSeki from the dead, she's my favorite character. I thought the cutest moment of the entire series was when she had Jun read that math book to her.

Does Rozen Maiden remind anybody of Highlander? "There can be only One!" LOL...

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by David4516

Spoiler:

At least they brought back SuiseiSeki from the dead, she's my favorite character. I thought the cutest moment of the entire series was when she had Jun read that math book to her.

Does Rozen Maiden remind anybody of Highlander? "There can be only One!" LOL...

Spoiler:

My favorite moment with her has to be in that episode when she stole the strawberry. That whole episode was just pure laughs for me.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Greykin

Mmm, I decided to watch this after Dan mentioned it on his Clone Army website.

Heh, yeah I used to go there a lot. He's a cool guy. I think I'll definately like this.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Hina Ichigo was definitely one of my favorite dolls. Usually I find the happy-go-lucky type anime characters generally annoying, however this particular character seemed to light up the whole mood. She took simple pleasures in "life" and seemed to set a happy mood - (spoiler regarding Hina Ichigo if you haven't finished Traumend)

Spoiler:

besides her "death".

Indeed, all this talk about being chosen as Alice did bring up some notions of "Highlander" and bits of Battle Royale - however a much more comical version, at that.

I think what quickly drew me in were the two OP themes done by "ALI PROJECT" - Kinjirareta Asobi for the 1st season, and Seishojo Ryoiki for the 2nd season. I have to admit, I would absolutely HATE these J-pop songs if I were to never see them with Rozen Maiden, but somehow after seeing them with the OP videos, they have grown on me I really like them now. Oh yes, I watched Traumend first before the first season, and the Seishojo Ryoiki OP theme somehow made me smile immediately, even before knowing anything about this series.

Originally Posted by Greykin

Finally found out who the person was in Lord Styphon's avatar

I'd hate to admit it, but before I watched "Elfen Lied", another great anime series, I thought that that particular character (.i.e. Sugintou) was in fact, Number 35 from EL. LOL.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I really hope that a 3rd season comes out. I haven't seen the first season yet, but I've already finished the second. Logical, yes. Great drama mixed in with lighter scenes. The music was also very nice, especially the ending theme!

Originally Posted by David4516

I think I liked the second season more than the first, the funny episodes seemed more, well, funny, and the dramatic episodes were more intense

Spoiler:

was I the only one that cried like a little girl when HinaIchigo died?

I did, but then again, I can cry at just about anything. I actually liked her, though, which is strange, since I generally can't stand loud, annoying characters.

Actually, I liked all of the dolls, including Barasuisho.

Spoiler:

That was after I saw the last episode where she finally acquires all the Roza Mysticas. The scene where she's talking to her "Father" actually made me sympathize with her for some reason. I also really liked how her "death" was shown. Disturbing, yet powerful--sort of like the scene in one of the earlier episodes where the puppet versions of the Rozen Maidens were hacking each other apart.

Quote:

I should also note that EVERYONE whom I've shown this anime to has loved it, even my mom who normally hates anime...

Same here!

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I do have to say that I can't stand Hina Ichigo. Her childish ways, but that is her character and I accept that. I guess she's a good character to put on the show for those lighter moments. I think I enjoy the fighting scenes and the man vs. himself conflicts in the first season.

Of the dolls, I've seen so far, Shinko is definitely my favorite, even though she is very arrogant at times. I truly do enjoy the series for the character development, even if the focus is the development of the dolls.

Note to self: Watch the second season so I can read the spoiler tags and actually follow the discussion.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I finished this and Traumend as well.

At first I hated Hina Ichigo, but she became to cute despise, what with her elephant watering can and hiding under Jun's bed.
I also like Kanaria a lot. Using a violin to conjure wind and attack with sound is wicked. My favourite part was in Traumend:

Spoiler:

Kanaria played the violin so vigorously that she managed to rip an arm off of Barasuisho before she died!

The lighthearted episodes are hilarious. I like Shinku's obsession with Detective Kun Kun, and the "stairs" episode a lot.

Jun is highly dislikeable to the very end of the first season, but I changed my mind after starting Traumend.

I was also confused about Styphon's signature, not knowing that it was Suigin Tou ("~Mitsu-kete!~"), as well as Acer Bandit's shifting Hina Ichigo.

I though this was ecchi upon first ever hearing the title and seeing that there were lots of girls, but I was totally wrong. It easily became my favourite series!

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At first I HATED Kanaria with a passion, but I think she redeemed herself at the end of the series.

Spoiler:

I thought it was very moving how she died trying to protect SuiseiSeki, in that moment I went from thinking "man I wish they'd kill off Kanaria" to thinking "Please don't die Kanaria"

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Originally Posted by David4516

At first I HATED Kanaria with a passion, but I think she redeemed herself at the end of the series.

Spoiler:

I thought it was very moving how she died trying to protect SuiseiSeki, in that moment I went from thinking "man I wish they'd kill off Kanaria" to thinking "Please don't die Kanaria"

Traumend spoiler

Spoiler:

For awhile I didn't even know she died. Just suddenly you see her blank face. I was just like "What? What just happened? Did she stab him? What?"

also....... my question

Spoiler:

I probably just wasn't paying attention, but why is it that all the people who were killed by Suigin Tou couldn't get revived at the end of the series?

Suigin Tou's voice actor is also Koyomi's from Azumanga and Lacus Clyne from Gundam Seed, which is pretty cool I might add.

FELIPE NO

That question makes we wonder too.

About Barasuishou at the end:

Spoiler:

Dude, she got absolutely annihilated by the "warmth" of being "ALICE", and seemed to have suffered more than Suigin Tou's "death" at the end of first season. How come Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo, which had pretty much intact bodies, "die"? I remember about Hina Ichigo not having a contract with a host since she almost sucked out all life of her previous servant, and had to depend on Shinku for energy, but I'm still quite surprised that she's "dead".

And what about Souseiseki? Other dolls got their crystals taken out from them, but they got theirs back, why not Souseiseki? Perhaps I missed a crucial detail here and there.

Kanaria was an annoying bitch, ten times worse than Hina Ichigo.
Well at least Hina seemed fun and happy whenever eating cake and ichigos, so that added to the cute factor, but Kanaria was just all around annoying.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Spatula

Spoiler:

I remember about Hina Ichigo not having a contract with a host since she almost sucked out all life of her previous servant, and had to depend on Shinku for energy, but I'm still quite surprised that she's "dead".

Spoiler:

If I remember correctly (having finished the series 3 days ago) Shinku tells Jun that the Father was tired of watching them go on like this and wanted the Alice game to begin. Which I don't really get, because the Father seemed to be all compassionate in the end and stuff.

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Originally Posted by Greykin

Spoiler:

If I remember correctly (having finished the series 3 days ago) Shinku tells Jun that the Father was tired of watching them go on like this and wanted the Alice game to begin. Which I don't really get, because the Father seemed to be all compassionate in the end and stuff.

Spoiler:

Watch the last episode again -- whoever set up the final battle (and indeed, led them on for the whole season) wasn't the real Father, just an apprentice who impersonated him. "Barasuishou" is a fake as well, which is why she couldn't handle all the Rosa Mysticae. The real Father shows up eventually and basically resets all the dolls that were taken out by the imposters. They briefly show the real Barasuishou with Laplace at the very end, who is holding two Rosa Mysticae (presumably belonging to Hinaichigo and Souseiseki, which is why they haven't come back to life).

More Megu in third season please, they didn't develop her character much (as opposed to Jun in the first season).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Bigblah

Spoiler:

Watch the last episode again -- whoever set up the final battle (and indeed, led them on for the whole season) wasn't the real Father, just an apprentice who impersonated him. "Barasuishou" is a fake as well, which is why she couldn't handle all the Rosa Mysticae. The real Father shows up eventually and basically resets all the dolls that were taken out by the imposters. They briefly show the real Barasuishou with Laplace at the very end, who is holding two Rosa Mysticae (presumably belonging to Hinaichigo and Souseiseki, which is why they haven't come back to life).

More Megu in third season please, they didn't develop her character much (as opposed to Jun in the first season).

So does this mean:

Spoiler:

There were two Barasuishos all along? So Laplace's Barashuisho was behind the curtain in the one scene while Enju was making a doll?
Could someone explain the Laplace thing from the little info we have so far? I remember he let them ecape to the real world at the start of the series, and Shinku seems to recognize him for some reason.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Third season --> yes please.

Though...perhaps it'll be one MASSIVE tea party.

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Originally Posted by Spatula

Spoiler:

How come Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo, which had pretty much intact bodies, "die"? I remember about Hina Ichigo not having a contract with a host since she almost sucked out all life of her previous servant, and had to depend on Shinku for energy, but I'm still quite surprised that she's "dead".

And what about Souseiseki? Other dolls got their crystals taken out from them, but they got theirs back, why not Souseiseki? Perhaps I missed a crucial detail here and there.

Originally Posted by Greykin

Spoiler:

If I remember correctly (having finished the series 3 days ago) Shinku tells Jun that the Father was tired of watching them go on like this and wanted the Alice game to begin. Which I don't really get, because the Father seemed to be all compassionate in the end and stuff.

Spoiler:

Hinaichigo did have to break her contract with Tomoe in order to not kill her by sucking too much energy from her, but when she did, she forfeited her fight with Shinku. Shinku, being the merciful character she is, made Hinaichigo her servant, tying her to Jun for energy rather than take her Rosa Mystica. When she first appears in the next episode, Suigintou comments on how Shinku has perverted the Alice Game like this by not taking the Rosa Mystica.

This setup lasts until Episode 9 of Traumend, when Suigintou beats Souseiseki and takes her Rosa Mystica. At that point, the Alice Game began in earnest, and Father wasn't willing to overlook Hinaichigo being alive when she should be dead. He therefore cut off the link and awarded her Rosa Mystica to Shinku.

At the end, Souseiseki and Hinaichigo weren't revived by Father because, unlike the dolls who were revived, who had been defeated by Barasuishou, the fake doll, they were defeated by and had their Rosa Mysticae lost to legitimate Rozen Maiden, Suigintou and Shinku respectively.

Not being a legitimate Rozen Maiden is also why Barasuishou was destroyed by the combined Rosa Mysticae; she wasn't one who could become Alice in the first place, and the power overwhelmed her.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Haha! I loved this scene in episode 6 where Jun and Shinku are sitting on Jun's bed looking out the window and Shinku notices Jun is looking at her and says to him

What are you looking at?
Jun: N- Nothing. What are you talking about?
Shinku: I see. That's too bad... Don't you see? My true feelings...
Jun: Sh- Shinku... (kinda dreaming and stunned)

Then Shinku slaps in out of it and says

"I'm kidding. Don't get yourself in the mood! (in such a calm and matter of fact way as usual)

HAHA! Priceless scene!!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Also. I finished the first season a few days ago. I gotta say apart from Suisuseki the highlight of this anime seems to be the "relatioship/chemistry" between Jun and Shinku. I didn't know it would develop as it did and I look forward to seeing more when my Traumend torrent finally finishes. ;___;

Very good anime!

FELIPE NO

Did you get to the nekkid buttsecks part yet? Yeah oh yeah!

Spoiler:

watch Jan start fapping already

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Who subbed Traumend and did a decent job of it? I remember watching one, and the english was shite beyond all belief I had to turn it off. Plus it was in realplayer format which I really didn't appreciate.

Jam it back in, in the dark.