Rozen Maiden

Rozen Maiden
Original title	ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン
transcription	Avoid Rozen
genre	Fantasy
Manga
country	Japan
author	Peach pit
publishing company	Gentōsha Comics
magazine	Comic Birz
First publication	July 30, 2002 - May 30, 2007
expenditure	8th
Manga
country	Japan
author	Peach pit
publishing company	Shūeisha
magazine	Weekly Young Jump
First publication	April 17, 2008 - January 23, 2014
expenditure	9+
Anime television series
title	Rozen Maiden Rozen Maiden: Dreaming Rozen Maiden: Overture
Original title	ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン ト ロ イ メ ン ト ロ ー ゼ ゼ ン メ イ デ ン オ ー ベ ル テ ュ ー レ
transcription	Avoid Rōzen Avoid Rōzen: Toroimento Avoid Rōzen: Ōberutyūre
Country of production	Japan
original language	Japanese
Year (s)	2004-2006
Studio	Nomad
length	23 minutes
Episodes	26 in 3 seasons
Director	Ko Matsuo
music	Shinkichi Mitsumune
First broadcast	October 8, 2004 - December 24, 2006 on TBS
Anime television series
Country of production	Japan
original language	Japanese
year	2013
Studio	Studio Deen
length	23 minutes
Episodes	13
Director	Mamoru Hatakeyama
music	Shinkichi Mitsumune
First broadcast	July 8 - September 27, 2013 on TBS
synchronization

Rozen Maiden ( Japanese ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン Rōzen Meiden ) is a manga series by the artist duo Peach-Pit , which was published from 2002 to 2014. Building on the manga series, which switched from Comic Birz magazine to Weekly Young Jump in 2008 , a whole franchise of adaptations was created. They included various radio plays, music publications, two anime television series from Studio Nomad and a remake from Studio Deen , as well as computer games.

action

Eighth grader Jun Sakurada became a hikikomori some time ago . He spends most of the time in his room and even closes himself off to his sister Nori. Their parents work abroad, so Jun's life consists of buying the most absurd things on the Internet and sending them back shortly before the exchange period expires.

One day Jun receives a mysterious letter about a lifelike doll, where he has to choose between raising and not raising . He ticks Open and puts the letter in a drawer on his desk as described, from which it disappears without a trace. A little later, out of nowhere, a large suitcase appeared in his room. When Jun opens the doll inside with the enclosed key, it comes to life and introduces itself as Shinku, "the fifth doll of the Rozen Maiden dynasty". Jun has to swear by Shinku's rose ring to become her medium and thus also her servant.

This makes Jun part of the Alice game, a competition among all Rozen Maiden dolls. The point of the game is to become the perfect doll Alice and to return to the doll maker Rozen, called father by the dolls, whose dearest wish is to find Alice. The Rosa Mystica plays a major role in the Alice game. She is the spirit that gives every Rozen Maiden the ability to feel, think and move independently. If one doll loses to another, it has to hand over its fragment of the Rosa Mystica to the winner. All dolls were made from the complete Rosa Mystica and a piece of the Rosa Mystica was broken off for each doll, which is why the aim of the Alice game is to collect all the fragments.

Characters

The Rozen Maidens are a collection of dolls created by the doll maker Rozen. Your primary source of energy is a human host (called a medium) who wears a ring as a symbol of his alliance with the doll. Even without such an alliance, the dolls can survive. However, they then only have a fraction of their strength. In addition, each Rozen Maiden has its own personality and a spirit that watches over them. The dolls also have a German name in the original, although the Japanese translation is usually used.

Jun Sakurada ( 桜 田 ジ ュ ン , Sakurada Jun )

Jun is a traumatized boy who withdrew to his room, closed from the outside world, after he was unable to cope with the pressure of the exams at school. This illness, called Tōkō Kyohi , causes him to refuse school and also lead the life of a hikikomori . During his crazy purchases on the Internet, he unintentionally enters into a contract as a medium for the Shinku doll.

Nori Sakurada ( 桜 田 の り , Sakurada Nori )

She is Jun's older sister who is an avid lacrosse player. She has been looking after her brother since her parents left, but first has to get used to this responsible task. She is supported in this by the Shinku doll, who is always at her side with good advice and assistance. From this a very friendly relationship develops on her part with the dolls who live in her house.

Shinku ( 真 紅 ) / pure ruby

She is the fifth of the Rozen Maiden and embodies a Victorian aristocrat . She is very strict and demanding, which often leaves an impolite impression. She loves teaching Jun, beating him and abusing him as her medium. Despite this cold-looking shell, she has a soft core that is very worried about her sisters and Jun.

Suigintō ( 水銀燈 ) / Mercury lamp

She is the first Rozen Maiden and has a very strong will to win the Alice game. She is mainly driven by the idea of ​​getting Rozen's attention. Your personality is sadistic, malicious, and arrogant. In this way, she avoids making contact with the other dolls and is particularly bad at speaking Shinku. After meeting her medium, the young woman Megu, this attitude gradually changes when she feels a strong attraction for someone other than her father.

Publications

The manga Rozen Maiden was drawn by the Japanese artist Dous Peach-Pit . It was published from July 30, 2002 (9/2002 issue) to May 30, 2007 (7/2007 issue) in the monthly magazine Comic Birz , which was published by Gentosha Comics . The individual chapters were referred to as the "phase", of which around 43 were published. In March 2007, the publication unexpectedly suspended for a few months, which led to various speculations. It was alleged, for example, that the publisher had lost the drafts or that there was a dispute between Peach-Pit and the editors. Eventually it became known that the manga would end with the 7/2007 issue. The exact reasons for the termination were not known.

The individual chapters were summarized in eight anthologies ( Tankōbon ), with the last instead of about 175 pages as the previous one, only 92 pages because of the breakup. After switching to the Shūeisha publishing house, the manga was reissued in seven volumes as Rozen Maiden Shinsōban (Rozen Maiden 新装 版 , "Rozen Meiden: New Edition "). The manga series was published in German from July 2005 to June 2008 by Tokyopop in eight volumes.

#	Japanese		German
	Gentōsha Comics	Shūeisha (new edition)	Tokyopop
1	ISBN 4-344-80212-8 , March 24, 2003	ISBN 978-4-08-877455-8 , April 25, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-281-1 , July 1, 2005
2	ISBN 4-344-80340-X , December 24, 2003	ISBN 978-4-08-877456-5 , May 26, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-282-8 , September 1, 2005
3	ISBN 4-344-80452-X , September 24, 2004	ISBN 978-4-08-877457-2 , June 26, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-283-5 , October 1, 2005
4th	ISBN 4-344-80505-4 , December 24, 2004	ISBN 978-4-08-877458-9 , July 25, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-284-2 , December 15, 2005
5	ISBN 4-344-80620-4 (normal) ISBN 4-344-80621-2 (limited), August 24, 2005	ISBN 978-4-08-877459-6 , August 26, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-285-9 , May 1, 2006
6th	ISBN 4-344-80691-3 (normal) ISBN 4-344-80690-5 (limited), January 24, 2006	ISBN 978-4-08-877460-2 , September 26, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-466-2 , January 1, 2007
7th	ISBN 4-344-80822-3 (normal) ISBN 4-344-80804-5 (limited), September 24, 2006	ISBN 978-4-08-877461-9 (normal) ISBN 978-4-08-908092-4 (limited), November 28, 2008	ISBN 978-3-86580-467-9 , February 21, 2008
8th	ISBN 978-4-344-81030-3 , June 23, 2007	-	ISBN 978-3-86580-468-6 , June 19, 2008

After the manga was adapted by two television series, four anime comics were published based on this, which were put together from the scenes of the series. They were published by Gentosha.

Rozen Maiden Film Comics :

• Vol. 1: ISBN 4-344-80630-1 , September 24, 2005
• Vol. 2: ISBN 4-344-80651-4 , October 24, 2005
• Vol. 3: ISBN 4-344-80661-1 , November 24, 2005

Rozen Maiden Entr'acte :

• ISBN 4-344-80650-6 , November 2005

Continued in Weekly Young Jump

In March 2008, a single chapter entitled Shōjo no Tsukuri-kata was published in the Weekly Young Jump , which briefly summarized the creation of Shinku. Shortly afterwards, Peach-Pit announced that Rozen Maiden would be reprinted in a magazine. This was confirmed with the 20/2008 edition of the magazine published on April 17, 2008. In November 2013, it was announced that the manga would end in January 2014. The last chapter appeared in the 8/2014 issue of the magazine published on January 23, 2014.

The chapters of the second row were called "Tale" and, contrary to the name of the magazine, appeared at monthly intervals, as before. The manga was also titled Rozen Maiden and is an alternate narrative, with the age of the protagonist Jun were raised, who was now a student. Ironically, the plot alluded directly to the previously published chapter Shōjo no Tsukuri-kata , which is read by Jun and in the course of which he creates a Rozen Maiden. Once again, Jun's life and his problems dealing with the dolls, especially Shinku, are taken up. At the same time, many unspoken facts of the first series are examined, which could no longer be discussed because of the termination.

So far (as of November 2013) the chapters have been summarized in nine anthologies. The tenth and final anthology is due to appear in April 2014.

• Vol. 1: ISBN 978-4-08-877566-1 (normal), ISBN 978-4-08-782198-7 (limited), December 19, 2008
• Vol. 2: ISBN 978-4-08-877702-3 , September 18, 2009
• Vol. 3: ISBN 978-4-08-877811-2 , February 19, 2010
• Vol. 4: ISBN 978-4-08-879029-9 , September 17, 2010
• Vol. 5: ISBN 978-4-08-879119-7 (normal), ISBN 978-4-08-782375-2 (limited), May 27, 2011
• Vol. 6: ISBN 978-4-08-879214-9 , November 18, 2011
• Vol. 7: ISBN 978-4-08-879370-2 , May 18, 2012
• Vol. 8: ISBN 978-4-08-879575-1 , December 19, 2012
• Vol. 9: ISBN 978-4-08-879563-8 , July 19, 2013

Adaptations

Anime

Rozen Maiden

Studio Nomad adapted the manga in 2004 as an anime television series that was animated under the direction of Kō Matsuo . It should be noted that the post of director changed from one sequence to the next, but Kō Matsuo held the relevant function. The animation was directed by Kumi Ishii, who also designed the character design. The artistic direction was taken over by Chikako Shibata, while the soundtrack was provided by Shinkichi Mitsumune. The series has 12 episodes and was first broadcast on Japanese television on TBS from October 8, 2004 to December 24, 2004 after midnight (and thus on the previous television day ) . In Germany the series was published by Tokyopop on four DVDs.

Rozen Maiden: Dreaming

The second season Rozen Maiden: Träumend ( ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン ・ ト ロ イ メ ン ト ), the title of which was borrowed from the German language , was also animated by Nomad. The staffing remained almost completely intact. The series also had 12 episodes and was retransmitted first on TBS from October 21, 2005 to January 27, 2006 after midnight. The second season should also be released in German by Tokyopop in the course of 2007. However, the publication was suspended stating economic reasons.

Rozen Maiden: Overture

The special Rozen Maiden: Overture ( ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン ・ オ ー ベ ル テ ュ ー レ ) was a prequel to the two series and was shown in Japan on December 23 and 24, 2006 after midnight parallel to the current second season on television. It consisted of two episodes which were also produced by Nomad and the same workforce. In terms of content, the episodes clarified the background to the character Suigintō and his rivalry with Shinku.

Rozen Maiden (2013)

The second manga series was adapted as an anime series by Studio Deen in 2013 and is also called Rozen Maiden: Rewind . Mamoru Hatakeyama was the director. The first broadcast of the 13 episodes took place from July 5 to September 27, 2013 after midnight on TBS, as well as with an offset of up to one week on MBS , CBC and BS-TBS. In South Korea it was simultaneously broadcast on Aniplus. A simulcast with English subtitles was done by Crunchyroll , while Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for North American DVD release.

synchronization

The same speakers were used in Japan for the first anime series in 2004 and 2006 and the second in 2013. The German version was produced by TV + Synchron Berlin.

role	Japanese speaker ( seiyū )	German speaker
Jun Sakurada	Ryōta Ōsaka (older), Asami Sanada (young)	Fabian Hollwitz
Nori Sakurada	Noriko Rikimaru	Uschi Hugo
Shinku	Miyuki Sawashiro	Luise Helm (1st season) Tanja Schmitz (2nd season)
Suiginto	Rie Tanaka	Maria Koschny
Hinaichigo	Sakura Nogawa	Rubina Kuraoka
Souseiseki	Rika Morinaga	Dascha Lehmann
Suiseiseki	Natsuko Kuwatani	Marie Bierstedt

music

In the course of the anime conversions, numerous singles and soundtracks were created , the music of which was used within the anime and then released as individual CDs. All singles, albums and soundtracks were released under the Mellow Head record label .

The title Kinjirareta Asobi ( 禁 じ ら れ た 遊 び ) by Ali Project was used in the opening credits of the first anime . The single of the same name was released on October 22nd, 2004. It was also the first single by Ali Project to be released under the Mellow Head label. The credits used the title Tōmei Shelter ( 透明 シ ェ ル タ ー , Tōmei Sherutā ) by refio + Haruka Shimotsuki . The single for this was released on October 25, 2004.

In the opening credits of the second season Rozen Maiden: Dreaming , Ali Project was engaged again. The title Seishōjo Ryōiki ( 聖 少女 領域 ) was released as a single of the same name on October 26, 2005 on CD. This reached number 6 on the Oricon charts and stayed there for 33 weeks. In the credits, the title Hikari no Rasenritsu ( 光 の 螺旋 律 ) from the short album of the same name, which was released on November 23, 2005, was used. The intermediate piece Utsutsu no Yume ( 現 夢 ), which was recorded within the anime, also comes from the same album . The titles were interpreted by kukui, a group founded by refio and Haruka Shimotsuki.

Rozen Maiden: Overture used Baragoku Otome ( 薔薇 獄 乙 女 ) by Ali Project in the opening credits and Leer Lied by kukui in the credits. The opening credits single was released on December 6, 2006 and reached number 11 on the charts, and the opening credits single on April 25, 2007.

The second series from 2013 used Watashi no Bara o Haminasai ( 私 の 薔薇 を 喰 み な さ い ) by Ali Project as the opening credits and Alternative by Annabel in the credits . The opening single was released on July 24, 2013 and reached number 20 on the Oricon charts. The credits single was released on August 7, 2013.

reception

The manga was able to win over a larger readership. One of them is among others the 59th Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso , who was nicknamed "Rozen Aso" awarded after being on the Tokyo airport while reading one of the books of comic Birji was observed. He noted that the manga "although it looks girlish, impressed him with its deep plot". It should be noted that Tarō Asō has already admitted his sympathy for Manga several times.

MangasZene magazine describes the anime as a mixture of “mystery, drama and humor with a pinch of action and lots of Gothic Lolita charm.” The character design and music are praised; the gloomy mood for a long time is loosened up by comical elements.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Rozen Maiden to End in Comic BIRZ July Issue. In: Comi Press. April 28, 2007, accessed October 6, 2009 . 
2. ↑ PEACH-PIT Apologizes for Rozen Maiden Incident. In: Comi Press. June 26, 2009, accessed October 7, 2009 . 
3. ↑ Rozen Maiden Manga to End in 3 Chapters. In: Anime News Network. November 22, 2013, accessed November 23, 2013 . 
4. ↑ 「ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン」 完結！ 最終 巻 は 4 月 、 画集 の 刊行 も 決定 . In: natalie.mu. January 23, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014 (Japanese). 
5. ↑ References Synchron. (No longer available online.) TV + Synchron, archived from the original on August 13, 2009 ; Retrieved January 19, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ↑ 「聖 少女 領域」 ALI PROJECT . In: Oricon Style. Retrieved November 23, 2013 (Japanese). 
7. ↑ 「薔薇 獄 乙 女」 ALI PROJECT . In: Oricon Style. Retrieved November 23, 2013 (Japanese). 
8. ↑ 「私 の 薔薇 を 喰 み な さ い （初 回 限定 盤）」 ALI PROJECT . In: Oricon Style. Retrieved November 23, 2013 (Japanese). 
9. ↑ Tarō Asō: 自由 と 繁 栄 の 弧 . ISBN 978-4-344-01333-9 , や っ ぱ り 読 ん で い た ん で す ね 直 撃! ロ ー ゼ ン メ イ デ ン 疑惑? , S. 296-305 (edited by Ryota Ishizuka).
10. ↑ 再 び 「ロ ー ゼ ン 麻 生」 首相 期待 で ア ニ メ 関 連 企業 企業 の 株 価 上昇 . IT Media, September 2, 2008, accessed October 6, 2009 (Japanese).  
11. ↑ MangasZene No. 31 p. 22

Web links

Commons : Rozen Maiden  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Young Jump Manga Series website (Japanese)
• TBS website for the first anime series (2004-2006) (Japanese)
• TBS website for the second anime series (2013) (Japanese)
• Manga and anime in Anime News Network (English)