Story:
Jun Sakurada is a Junior High School student who refuses to go to school due to mental trauma from an embarrassing experience there (Hikikomori). He has taken to locking himself in his room, never leaving the house, and spends the day ordering supernatural goods online. His older sister, Nori Sakurada, does everything she can to brighten Jun's dreary existence, but is unable to change his situation.
One day, Jun receives a letter mysteriously. This letter states to place it in the drawer on his desk and a liason from the spirit world, Holie, will take it to the spirit world. Jun only has to circle agree or not agree. He circles agree and following the instructions on the letter, he places the envelope in his drawer, and a richly detailed wood box wich replaced it appeared. The box contains a strangely lifelike doll dressed in french aristocratic attire. Jun, after a brief and somewhat crude examination of the doll, winds its included key carefully. The doll creaks a bit, stands up on its own, then proceeds to slap him for handling her so indelicately. She introduces herself as, "...Shinku, the fifth doll of the Rozen Maiden."
Shinku is a doll from the unique "Rozen Maiden" collection, and before Jun can fully realize just what he's got himself into, he is attacked by a knife-wielding plush toy that enters through the window. Jun finds himself pledging service to Shinku to save his life, and is thus endowed with the responsibility of protecting Shinku's "Rosa Mystica" whilst she is engaged in intense battles with the other Rozen Maiden.
The Rozen Maidens
(ローゼンメイデン, Rōzen Meiden):
Are a collection of dolls created by a craftsman named Rozen, whom the dolls refer to as "Father". Their primary source of power is a human host—a "medium"—that wears a ring to symbolize their bond with the doll. Each Rozen Maiden has her own distinct personality, guardian spirit, and supernatural ability. Their purpose is apparently to participate in the cryptic "Alice Game", a lethal competition that promises the winner the right to meet "Father" by becoming "Alice", a girl of supreme beauty, "[m]ore sublime than any flower, purer than any gem, and without a touch of impurity" that lives inside of "Father"."Parting (別離 Abschied)." Writ. Tsuyoshi Tamai. Rozen Maiden.
The Alice Game:
Their apparent purpose is to participate in the "Alice Game", a lethal competition that promises the winner the right to meet "Father" by becoming "Alice", a girl of supreme beauty that lives inside of "Father", which is said to be "more sublime than any flower, purer than any gem, and without a touch of impurity".
The game is played through duels in which the dolls fight using both their guardian spirits and respective abilities—such as the manipulation of strawberry vines—as well as the spiritual energy from their medium. The doll that loses the duel loses her "Rosa Mystica", the very thing that endows her with the ability to move, thus becoming "junk". The lost Rosa Mystica is then collected and absorbed by the duel's winner. The doll that gains all of her sisters' Rosa Mystica will become Alice. Shinku, the central doll of the series, is notable in that while she does not refuse to fight, she does refuse to take the lost power and kill a sister doll. A doll can no longer become Alice if she loses her Rosa Mystica, or her ring—used to transfer power from their medium.
Rozen Maiden (first season)
The first season of Rozen Maiden focuses primarily on the psychological rehabilitation of Jun Sakurada. He is a hikikomori, and spends most of his time locked in the safety of his room and ordering items from the internet. However, through a strange order form, he finds himself in possession of an enchanted doll that calls herself "Shinku, the fifth Rozen Maiden doll". Much to Jun's displeasure, Shinku calls on him to create a strange bond with her, and the socially disinclined boy winds up being her "servant". The series follows the two of them as they encounter more Rozen Maidens, dolls that for the most part seem to want nothing more than to drink tea, destroy windows, and draw on his floor with crayons. In this season, five dolls are introduced: Shinku, Hinaichigo, Suigintou, Suiseiseki, and Souseiseki. Suigintou is the primary villain.
Rozen Maiden ~träumend~ (second season)
The second season of Rozen Maiden, subtitled träumend (トロイメント, toroimento) has a slightly darker tone. Träumend is german for 'dreaming.' The episodes are more plot-driven and deal with topics such as "Father" — the Rozen Maiden's creator — and the inevitable conclusion to the "Alice Game." Jun does not yet attend school (he has too much catching-up to do), but studies at home and in the local library, happily goes outside, and seems to have even grown fond of the ever-present dolls. Shinku has been changed due to the events of the previous season, but she is generally as aristocat-like as ever, lecturing and punishing Jun at every opportunity. Several new non-doll characters have been introduced. These characters include a riddle-spouting, formally-dressed rabbit and two mysterious men that operate a doll shop; one of which, a dollmaker, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Rozen. The final two dolls are introduced in this season: Kanaria and Barasuishou.
Detective Kunkun – Duell Walzer OVA
Duell Walzer OVA is a 7 minute Detective Kunkun episode. The show is presented as an opera performance with curtains, showtime buzzer and stage. The story is about how Detective Kunkun foils the evil cat's plans to steal a beautiful gem from another character. The story may be short, but the means Detective Kunkun uses to solve the crime is brilliant and well thought out. This episode portrays watching Detective Kunkun's show from a Rozen Maiden doll's perspective.
Rozen Maiden ouvertüre OVA
This two-part Rozen Maiden special was aired on the December 22, 2006 and December 23, 2006 on TBS in Japan. It is a brief prequel to the events of the TV series. ouvertüre (オーベルテューレ, ōberutyūre), German for "opening", is set at some point during träumend (most likely between episodes six and eight) and answers critical questions about Suigintou's past, particularly those pertaining to the rivalry she holds with Shinku. The majority of the two episode special is told by Souseiseki and takes place as a flashback to the nineteenth century in London. Ali Project once again lends their talents for the opening song. As with the series, Kukui sings the ending theme.
