Opening Songs
OP 1 - Watashi no Bara wo Haminasai (Ali Project)
Ending Songs
ED 1 - Alternative (Annabel)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Episodes: 13
Now this is a pleasant surprise, never would I have thought that "Rozen Maiden" would be getting a brand new anime...especially years after the original 2 seasons ended. "Rozen Maiden Zuruckspulen" or just "Rozen Maiden 2013" overall is the anime adaptation of the "Rozen Maiden II" manga, which is apparently a manga with a story line that's similar to that of the original "Rozen Maiden", but focuses on a brand new character...along with a few tweaks to the lore. I won't be going too deep into that here, but I'll just say this upright. "Rozen Maiden 2013" is NOT the "Rozen Maiden" of old. It is different in almost EVERY aspect and you should NOT expect it to the more of the same, nor should you expect it to even feel similar. Its completely different, just as time moves forward, "Rozen Maiden 2013" shows you that it the franchise has moved forward as well. It is a completely different experience overall, but not a bad one by any means. If you can embrace change... this new season will easily suck you into its well written story.
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| The series's two main heroines, as always. |
I'm surprised they got Ali Project back to sing for "Zuruckspulen", and overall, it's been a long long while since I heard anything new from Ali project. Thankfully, they haven't quite lost their touch, "Watashi no Bara wo Haminasai" is SO Ali Pro, and listening to it just reminds me of their songs of old. Its a nice step up over any of the old "Rozen Maiden" openings except for the opening of "Traumend", "Seishoujo Ryouiki". The ending theme is "Alternate" by Annabel, and as we all know by now, Annabel's songs are mostly ballads, which this one is. Fortunately, its one of the better ballads that I've heard. It does well for an ending theme.
Rating: 7.5/10
It's a very different series as far as I'm concerned. The "Rozen Maiden" anime seasons of old had some sort of a mini doll harem with Jun. They would screw around, have fun, make stupid jokes about each other, and sometimes they'd fight battles, be it with the 7th doll or Suigintou. It's very different from what "Zuruckspulen" has to offer. It talks about the Jun who did not wound Shinku...in another time. A life without the dolls...you already know that it's going to be fairly different. It deals with different themes, it still bears the fantasy feel with the dolls and the battles...but it put those aside for the most part. The anime goes for a more realistic feel in the eyes of a man whose life hasn't been the best. It's a different feel and perspective, but its also interesting to look at it from this view...as the dolls we all know and love ARE a part of this. How do the dolls with such vibrant personalities fit in this world? You'll just have to find out.
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| DESUUUU~ |
In a world where Jun didn't wound the key...lies Jun himself, whose life hasn't changed at all without the influence of the dolls. He remained a shut in since middle school, and climbed himself to university, where he lives himself in a sad little apartment. He has a part time job in a book store where he is mistreated by the manager, and he doesn't mix well with the other students in his university. To say the least, his life is in the dumps, however, one day, it all turned around. His bookstore received a book "How to Make A Girl" featuring a set of instructions on how to make a doll...a Rozen Maiden. The manager told him to toss it out, but Jun took it home to study up on it. "Maybe my life could change..." he thought. He started receiving mails from his past self, telling him about the fight between the dolls and the 7th doll that's wrecking the competition. He also starts receiving more books on how to make the dolls from his past self, and he eventually completes his first doll....Shinku.
The 2013 adaptation of "Rozen Maiden" is a pretty good one, despite being completely different from what we have all been expecting. I'd like to give it a higher score, but the ending left a lot to be desired. I'm not a fan of cliffhanger ends, but this series' ending just told us to "shut up and wait, there's more". As much as I (or anyone for that matter) would want to see the continuation to the series and dive deep into the lore once more, we'd just have to wait patiently for another season....WHY?!?!
Peace.
