Rozen Maiden
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Peach-Pit. It was serialized in Monthly Comic Birz between the September 2002 and July 2007 issues. The individual chapters were collected and released into eight volumes by Gentosha. The eight volumes were localized to North America by Tokyopop between March 2003 and June 2007. The story follows Jun Sakurada, a middle school student who withdrew from society after suffering persecutions from his classmates. Following his withdrawal, he is chosen to become the master to a Rozen Maiden named Shinku. Rozen Maidens are seven sentient porcelain dolls who compete against each other to become a perfect doll dubbed as Alice.
Rozen Maiden received a sequel under the series' katakana title. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump between April 2008 and January 2014. Rozen Maiden has spun off anthology manga and novel stories, art books, and four anime series; the four anime series are titled Rozen Maiden, Rozen Maiden: Träumend, Rozen Maiden: Ouvertüre, and Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen. Tokyo Broadcasting System were the producers for the anime with Nomad as the animation studio for the first three series and Studio Deen for Zurückspulen. The anime adaptions resulted in several audio disc releases and three video games.
In 2007, Geneon Entertainment USA licensed the first two anime series for North American release and had later signed Funimation on as a distributor, after shutting down in September 2007. In 2011, Sentai Filmworks acquired both seasons as well as the third series; they made the three series available for streaming on Anime Network. Crunchyroll later acquired streaming rights to the first two series. For the fourth series, Sentai Filmworks had acquired the license for digital and home video release, while Crunchyroll acquired streaming rights.
Tokyopop's volumes of Rozen Maiden have appeared on ICv2s monthly top one-hundred selling graphic novels. Reviews towards the manga were generally positive with reviewers praising balance in drama and comedy. For the anime, reception towards the first series was mixed while Träumend was mostly negative.
Plot
In the 20th century, a legendary doll maker named Rozen created seven bisque dolls which were powered and given sentience with a gem called Rosa Mystica. Since then, Rozen sent the dolls away to find masters and to battle among themselves to gather each other's Rosa Mysticas; this competition is referred to as the Alice Game. When a doll obtains all seven, they are to become a perfect doll dubbed as Alice and will be reunited with Rozen. By order of creation, the seven Rozen Maidens are named Suigintou, [|Kanaria], Suiseiseki, Souseiseki, Shinku, Hinaichigo, and Kirakisho.Rozen Maiden follows Jun Sakurada, a middle school student who has withdrawn from society after suffering persecution by his classmates. He is chosen to become Shinku's master and joins the Alice Game along with the other dolls masters. As the series progresses, Jun also becomes the master to Hinaichigo and Suiseiseki. After Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica is taken by Suigintou, Jun's Rozen Maidens resolve to revive her and to end the Alice Game peacefully; they later befriend Kanaria who shares their sentiments. However, the group is attacked by Kirakisho who absorbs Hinaichigo and traps Shinku and Suiseiseki in the N-field, a plane of consciousness which connects the universe. Rozen Maiden concludes with Jun preparing to enter the N-field to save the dolls.
Rozen Maidens plot is continued in the sequel serialization which uses the katakana title of the series. Inside the N-field, Jun is forced into hiding by Kirakisho and contacts an adult version of himself from an alternate world. The adult Jun is able to free Shinku and unite the Rozen Maidens to defeat Kirakisho. Kirakisho returns and successfully captures all of the Rozen Maidens' masters. The Rozen Maidens pursue her, eventually resulting in the defeat of most of them, except Shinku and Kirakisho. Shinku's sympathy towards Kirakisho's loneliness convinces the latter to surrender her Rosa Mystica. With all seven gathered, Shinku becomes Alice. Using her new powers, Shinku revives her sisters and is put into a coma in return.
Characters
Masters
;Motoharu ShibasakiRozen Maidens
A legendary doll maker named Rozen wanted to create a perfect doll dubbed as Alice. His attempts resulted in seven sentient bisque dolls which became known as Rozen Maidens. The dolls' sentient nature are powered by a magical gem called Rosa Mystica. To become Alice, a Rozen Maiden must gather all seven Rosa Mysticas; this contest is referred to as the Alice Game. Each Rozen Maiden has a production order, their own personal suitcase, and are accompanied by an artificial spirit which serves the doll. Rozen Maidens rely on a contract with a human master to supply themselves with power for battle. Since then, Rozen has forgone a physical body and lives within the N-field, waiting for Alice.Other characters
;Nori Sakurada; and
Original work
Rozen Maiden is authored by Peach-Pit and was serialized in Gentosha's Monthly Comic Birz between issues September 2002 and July 2007. Gentosha compiled the individual chapters into eight volumes released between March 2003 and June 2007. These volumes were later recompiled into seven volumes by Shueisha and released between April 2008 and November 2008. Tokyopop localized Gentosha's volumes in English for North America and released them between May 2006 and May 2008. In 2011, Tokyopop's North American division was closed down and their licenses to manga franchises were revoked. Tokyopop's translations were distributed in Australasia by Madman Entertainment. The series has also been localized in other languages such as Chinese, French, and Italian.In March 2008, Peach-Pit published a one-shot titled in the 16th issue of Weekly Young Jump. In the following issue, a serialization for Rozen Maiden was announced. Serialization began in Weekly Young Jumps 20th issue in April 2008 until its conclusion in the issue 8 in January 2014. The second series was published under the katakana for Rozen Maiden, and is a sequel to the first series. The series has been localized in other languages such as Italian, French, and Chinese. Peach-Pit also published a one-shot in the October 2013 issue of Ribon which focuses on the Rozen Maidens' past.
In June 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they licensed the series and the sequel manga; they released them in seven omnibus collector's edition volumes.
''Rozen Maiden Zero''
A prequel to the original series titled was authored by Peach Pit and published in Ultra Jump magazine from 2016 to 2019.Rozen Maiden Zero takes place in 1920s Japan and is focused on the twin dolls, Suiseiseki and Souseiseki forming a detective agency with their masters, and who themselves are sisters from rural Japan reuniting in Tokyo. The central plot of the series revolves around the unfinished Zeroth Doll, whose dreams are threatening to cause an earthquake which would do tremendous damage to Tokyo including the tower Yōunkaku where Hana works as an elevator girl.
Media adaptations
Anime
Rozen Maiden was adapted into an anime, produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System and animated by Nomad. It premiered on Tokyo Broadcasting System and was broadcast between October 7, 2004, and December 23, 2004. It was also broadcast on RKB Mainichi Broadcasting, Mainichi Broadcasting System, BS-i, and Kids Station. Pony Canyon released the series in six DVDs and a box set. Geneon USA localized the series for North America and released it on three DVD volumes. In 2008, Funimation gained distribution rights from Geneon and released a box collection of the series. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in 2011 and included it in the Rozen Maiden: The Complete Collection DVD box release. Sentai also made the series available for streaming on networks such as Anime Network and Crunchyroll. MVM Films distributed the series in the United Kingdom.The second series, Rozen Maiden: Träumend, was first announced in March 2005 and is a continuation of the previous series. It premiered on Tokyo Broadcasting System and was broadcast between October 20, 2005, and January 26, 2006. It was also broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, BS-i, and Kids Station. Pony Canyon released the series in six DVDs and a box set. As for the first series, Geneon USA localized the series for North America and released the first volume before closing all DVD distribution in September 2007. Following Funimation acquiring the distribution rights, Funimation released the series in three DVD volumes and later, released a box set for the series. Funimation later released a box set which included the first series and Träumend on May 4, 2010. Sentai Filmworks later licensed the series in 2011 and included it in the Rozen Maiden: The Complete Collection DVD box release. Sentai made the series available for streaming on networks such as Anime Network and Crunchyroll. MVM Films distributed the series in the United Kingdom.
The third series is Rozen Maiden: Ouvertüre, a two-episode series which explores Suigintou's origins. It premiered on Tokyo Broadcasting System and was broadcast on December 22 and 23, 2006. The episodes were released on DVD on February 21, 2007. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in 2011 and included it in the Rozen Maiden: The Complete Collection DVD box release and as a stand-alone DVD. Sentai made the series available for streaming on Anime Network. MVM Films distributed the series in the United Kingdom.
The fourth series is Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen, referred only as Rozen Maiden in Japan, was announced in November 2012 in Weekly Young Jump. It is an adaption of the second manga series. Unlike the previous three anime series, it is animated by Studio Deen. It premiered on Tokyo Broadcasting System and was broadcast between July 4, 2013, and September 26, 2013. It was also broadcast on Mainichi Broadcasting System, Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting, and BS-TBS. Crunchyroll licensed the series for simulcast followed by Sentai Filmworks who made it available for simulcast on Anime Network and released the series on home video in October 2014.