Rozen Maiden Zurückspulen

Anime Review

© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT
© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT

Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen is an anime which is challenging to review as there are three different ways people could be entering into it: having read the source manga up to Volume 8, having watched the previous anime adaptations or having no experience with the series whatsoever. The complication stems from the fact that this adaptation covers events starting from Rozen Maiden Volume 9 (or Volume 1 of Rozen Maiden II) – meaning that those who have not read the original manga are likely to be left confused as the original anime adaptation deviated considerably from its source material (With Barasuishou’s arc being anime-exclusive). Therefore, I strongly recommend reading the now out-of-print manga before diving head-first into this anime, or risk not being able to appreciate the finer details of this series. Although originally publishing it in Australia, Madman Entertainment no longer seem to hold manga rights in Australia.

To give the production team credit, Episode 1 of Zurückspulen attempts to patch together key events from the first eight manga volumes to provide an average-at-best attempt and heavily edited synopsis of what happens leading up to where Episode 2 begins. It is definitely possible for those familiar with the previous anime series and even newcomers to get a general gist of what took place, however I wouldn’t go into this series expecting the same level of understanding or emotion as one familiar with the events. Congratulations if you come out of it not the slightest bit confused however.

© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT
© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT

Most scenes and episodes in Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen take place within an alternate reality where Jun Sakurada chose “not to wind” — therefore never coming into contact with the Rozen Maidens during his Middle School years. Now a University student, he is able to leave the house and hold a part-time job, however still remains very anti-social and maintains a negative demeanor towards others and life itself. Things change however when a mysterious series of packages arrive titled “How to Make a Girl”, purportedly allowing him to produce the Rozen Maiden doll Shinku. With guidance from his alternative self (The Jun who Wound – henceforth known as Young Jun), he is able to create Shinku and give her life in his world. With Shinku now possessing a temporary body and catching the attention of Kirakishou, Jun finds himself drawn into the Alice Game.

A very different approach is taken in this series compared to earlier anime adaptations. Rather than featuring the dolls partaking in comical activities or battling it out for one reason or another, the character development is heavily focused on Jun. The episodes see him dealing with the stuck-up boss of his part-time job, becoming acquainted with his co-worker Saitou and ultimately trying to break out of his shell and ‘change the world’. With only three dolls (Shinku, Suiginto and Kirakishou) present for a good chunk of the series, this enabled more focus to be put on Jun whilst still continuing the more serious “Rozen Maiden” storyline. Characters including Tomoe, Megu and Nori on the other hand make very occasional appearances, while Kanaria and Suiseiseki are regressed to secondary character status.

The writing of this season, while potentially confusing given they crammed eight manga volumes into one episode, tended to be a lot more serious and detailed than earlier anime adaptations. In my opinion, this is the defining feature of this season. While some episodes in RM and RM: Traumend came with some decent battles and a few laughable episodes, it was much easier to feel attached to the troubles facing Jun and the Dolls in these episodes. That is not to say there were not any satisfying battles in Zurückspulen however, with a number of decent battles (Especially around the final few episodes) and comical scenes (Mostly toying with the relationship between Shinku and Suiginto) present. All that being said, given this series is called “Rozen Maiden” for a reason, it would not have hurt making Shinku and co. more prominent in these episodes.

© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT
© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT

As you will have likely noticed from the screenshots above, Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen has received a significant visual overhaul compared to prior anime adaptations, putting it more in-line with the manga artwork originally designed by PEACH-PIT. The more sophisticated visuals in my opinion are distinct and aesthetically pleasing, extending into both character designs and environment designs.

The visuals are complimented by a satisfying compilation of instrumental songs, which complement most of the scenes they are used in. The Rozen Maiden anime adaptations have generally maintained high quality when it comes to its soundtrack, and Zurückspulen is no exception. This might be in no small part because of their decision to maintain composer Shinkichi Mitsumune, who has worked on Rozen Maiden since season one in 2004. Rozen Maiden veterans ALI PROJECT were also retained for this anime, contributing the fantastic opening theme titled “Watashi no Bara wo Haminasai”, a dark and fast-paced song complemented by strong animation.

When Sentai Filmworks dubbed the two-episode OVA series Rozen Maiden: Ouvertüre, the company opted to retain the original “Geneon Entertainment” cast. Rather than retain that cast, Sentai Filmworks chose to recast every character role with a number of familiar voices. These include Shannon Emerick (Young Jun), Corey Hartzog (Jun), Luci Christian (Shinku), Jessica Calvello (Suiginto) and Margaret McDonald (Saito) among others. The new voices are more subdued in tone and volume, and in my opinion complemented each character very well. While both dubs have their strong cast members, I would definitely say the new dub is stronger.

© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT
© PEACH-PIT•Shueisha/Rozen Maiden PROJECT

In terms of extra content, Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen doesn’t deliver much in the way of on-disc goodies. Bonus content is pretty much limited to Clean Opening and Ending sequences and trailers. Just for the record, trailers in the Australian release include: a somewhat distorted trailer for Fantasista Doll, Hetalia Season 5, Samurai Bride and Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash. Nothing special in this set unfortunately.

Overall, there are two flaws with Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen that keep it from being a fantastic anime adaptation of a pretty good manga. The first is that unless you have read PEACH-PIT’s original manga, you would have little idea about the canon events which led to viewers needing to meet Adult Jun in the first place. It would have been better in my opinion, putting resources into a 26-episode anime season, which would allow the production team to base events off potentially the entire manga series (At least up until the point of production). Given the original anime quickly went off on its own tangents, it wouldn’t have been a simple repeat of episodes already made. The second is that this anime does not conclude the Rozen Maiden storyline – and there is no indication of another season being in the works. Therefore, there is a real risk that without more episodes, some may have watched Zurückspulen without receiving either a proper beginning or end to what has proven to be a long-running and successful franchise. It seems like Rozen Maiden may have once again fallen into the same “unfinished” trap faced by Rozen Maiden: Traumend, Kamisama Dolls and Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They.

As someone who owns and has read the original eight manga volumes of Rozen Maiden, I found that Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen proved to be a competently produced anime. Although the storyline and approach to character development might not appease everyone; the greater balance between developing Jun and the plight faced by the Rozen Maidens delivered a more sophisticated yet still enjoyable experience. Therefore, despite my qualms with the decision to start the anime mid-manga, I nevertheless consider it a very satisfying series.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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