Rozen Maiden

Drama / Fantasy / ActionTV12 EP/8 Oct 2004

Oshimeter

8.0
114 Ratings
— Want to Watch
— Watched

Synopsis

A middle school shut-in named Jun Sakurada spends his days ordering stuff online just to return it before the trial period ends. It's a weirdly specific coping mechanism for whatever went wrong at school, and it paints a picture of this kid's headspace right away. Then one day a mysterious note shows up asking if he wants to wind something, he circles 'yes' without thinking, and a box arrives containing Shinku, a porcelain doll in full Victorian dress who proceeds to wake up, start talking, and immediately boss him around like she owns the place. Shinku is one of the Rozen Maidens, a set of living dolls crafted by a legendary artisan, and they're locked in a battle royale called the Alice Game where they fight each other for supremacy. Jun gets roped in as her energy source, which is a rough deal for a guy who just wanted to stay in his room and avoid people. The dynamic between Jun, Shinku, and his well-meaning sister Nori carries a lot of the show's charm. If you liked the gothic atmosphere and servant-master tension in Black Butler, or the way Chobits explores what it means when artificial beings have real emotions, this hits similar notes. The Victorian-inspired designs are gorgeous, and the soundtrack has this haunting quality that sticks with you. Underneath the supernatural doll battles, it's really about a kid slowly being pulled back into caring about something. Twelve episodes, tight pacing, and it knows when to be funny and when to hit you in the gut.

Episode Guide

Oshimeter0-5960-7980-100Upcoming

Characters

Suigintou

Strong-willed Rozen Maiden, driven by a desire to win the Alice Game and gain her father's attention; cruel and ruthless but capable of strong affection.

Strassman Karen

Suiseiseki

Timid yet devious Rozen Maiden; wields plant powers, loves teasing, and values sisterhood over the Alice Game.

Forstadt Rebecca

Shinku

Stoic, aristocratic 5th Rozen Maiden doll; protective of Jun and her sisters, yet desires to become Alice.

Lee Mela

Souseiseki

Souseiseki, Suiseiseki's twin, is a rational, combat-ready Rozen Maiden doll devoted to her master and the Alice Game.

Morinaga Rika

Hinaichigo

Naïve but well-intentioned sixth Rozen Maiden doll; uses strawberry vine attacks, loses Alice Game to Shinku.

Lynn Sherry

Jun Sakurada

A reclusive, skilled boy caught in the Alice Game, serving Shinku, despite his arrogance and hidden caring nature.

Marshall Mona

MANGA BRIDGE

This season covers Chapters 1-24 of the manga. Continue reading from Chapter 25.

Manga cover

Community Feed

Someone and 2 others rated 9.0
EP 1
bluethorn★★★★★VerifiedEP 12

The battle against Suigintou is intense and causes great damage, but Jun has grown stronger, so much so that he's able to give Shinku strength when she needs it most. It's heartwarming to see Jun improve more and more, so much so that seeing him comfort Shinku makes the Jun from the first episode seem like a completely different person. It was a pleasure to hate Suigintou so much, who has behaved so badly from the very first moment we see her, but in this episode, we not only learn her motivation for being this way, but also her greatest pain. It becomes quite moving, and for a moment, you can empathize with her, even feel sorry for her. The ending feels like a great reward after a difficult journey, with surprising twists and sweet scenes. I absolutely loved this anime from beginning to end.

3
bluethorn★★★★★VerifiedEP 11

Shinku decides to confront Suigintou alone, but Suigintou, being so cruel and ruthless, wasn't going to let Jun get away unscathed if it meant leaving Shinku more vulnerable. Jun's internal injuries weaken Shinku, and the other dolls are worried. But neither Shinku nor Jun are alone; their caring friends will do their part to help them see the light, even if it means being knocked out with a single blow. It's an emotional and rewarding episode because we understand a little more about why Jun felt so pressured in the past. Perhaps it's not a huge trauma, but it's still hard for a particularly sensitive child. The fight with Suigintou feels agonizing because she always seems to have the upper hand. A very exciting and emotional episode.

2
bluethorn★★★★★VerifiedEP 10

This episode begins with a challenge to a duel. The rest of the episode is lighthearted, setting us up for an eventual tragedy. The scenes are heartwarming; Suiseiseki and Souseiseki return to spend time with their other sisters and help Nori rehearse the play she's in. There are some very sweet moments, and others that are rather strange... someone seems to be developing agalmatophilia, and someone else has some rather questionable dreams. Jun and Shinku connect in a one-on-one conversation where we learn more about the origin of the dolls and how they feel when they are unwound. This episode is clearly the calm before the storm.

2
bluethorn★★★★★VerifiedEP 9

Having seen the previous episode, you know this one is going to be a hard blow to the emotions. Suigintou is a formidable threat, having already captured Souseiseki spirit Lempicka, now she's after Suiseiseki's. Jun keeps surpassing himself with each episode, becoming more proactive, and in the midst of searching for the old woman's tree, he realizes that Kazuki's case is far more similar to his own than he initially thought.. There are intense and emotionally charged moments, and the ending is sweet in its own way.

2