Jun Sakurada is a young teenager who lives with his older sister and refuses to go to school. He frequently orders things over the internet and one day immediately after ordering something a case flies through his window; inside is an exquisite doll and when he winds her up she comes to life
literally! She is Shinku; one of seven Rozen Maiden dolls. She explains that they were made long ago by Rozen and given life with 'Rosa Mysticas'; each of them is condemned to take part in the 'Alice Game' where they must battle to take the others Rosa Mysticas then the sole survivor will become Alice; the perfect doll that Rozen, their 'father' wants. Over the course of the series we are introduced to the other dolls, not all of whom want to fight
two of them certainly do though and ultimately there will be a confrontation and one of them will win.
At first I wasn't sure what to make of this series; in the opening moments it looked distinctly shoujo, then it looked as if it might turn distinctly creepy and then there was comedy. Equally I thought Jun might prove to be an annoying protagonist as he was frequently moaning about just about everything but over the course of the series his relationship with Shinku, his sister and the other dolls that end up living with them improves. The other characters are likable; especially Hina Ichigo; the most childlike of the dolls introduced in the first season. Surprisingly even to antagonists aren't entirely unsympathetic. For much of the series there are plenty of laughs to be had but as the end of the second season approaches and the Alice Game begins the tone turns darker and the comedy gives way to sadness and possibly tears. Overall I'd certainly recommend this series to anime fans; it has some scary moments but nothing too unpleasant so all but young children can enjoy it.
These comments are based on watching the first two series, but not the two part OVA, in Japanese with English subtitles.
At first I wasn't sure what to make of this series; in the opening moments it looked distinctly shoujo, then it looked as if it might turn distinctly creepy and then there was comedy. Equally I thought Jun might prove to be an annoying protagonist as he was frequently moaning about just about everything but over the course of the series his relationship with Shinku, his sister and the other dolls that end up living with them improves. The other characters are likable; especially Hina Ichigo; the most childlike of the dolls introduced in the first season. Surprisingly even to antagonists aren't entirely unsympathetic. For much of the series there are plenty of laughs to be had but as the end of the second season approaches and the Alice Game begins the tone turns darker and the comedy gives way to sadness and possibly tears. Overall I'd certainly recommend this series to anime fans; it has some scary moments but nothing too unpleasant so all but young children can enjoy it.
These comments are based on watching the first two series, but not the two part OVA, in Japanese with English subtitles.