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REVIEW: Rozen Maiden Träumend DVD 3




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PlatinumHawke



Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Posts: 204
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:45 am Reply with quote
I'm pretty sure they were banking on a 3rd season, given the special that aired shortly after the "series" finale raised more questions than anything else. IIRC, it was fairly popular in Japan while it was airing, I think more so than the manga itself.

But then Peach-Pit threw a hissy fit due to an editorial train-wreck and ran the manga gloriously into the ground. They restarted it in a different magazine a while ago, though nothing short of a total reboot would get the continuities straight. That's if they even bother adapting it for a second time...
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JohnnySake



Joined: 22 May 2008
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Location: Auburn Hills, MI
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:08 am Reply with quote
Aside from my opinions of the story, I was grateful that I could see how it played out, train wreck or not. There was a time when I thought I would never see the final two volumes of this series.

And I agree, it seemed like Traumend ended with the potential for further adventures of animated dolls. Especially in light of the fact of the outcomes of some of the final battles.

I enjoyed the series and am glad we (as fans) could see it through to its conclusion.
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Kimiko_0



Joined: 31 Aug 2008
Posts: 1796
Location: Leiden, NL, EU
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:15 am Reply with quote
You throw out some pretty big spoilers there, Carlo. Some of that is unavoidable I suppose, reviewing the last third of a series, but still.

I agree that the ending was disappointing. I hope Peach Pit will make up for it with either a third season or a great new series.
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Dargonxtc



Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 4463
Location: Nc5xd7+ スターダストの海洋
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:44 am Reply with quote
Yet Träumend is ranked higher (7.89[very good]) than the original Rozen Maiden (7.68[very good]) with a difference of a 142 in rankings (275-417).

Also each one has been rated by at least a 1000, giving it a high sample rate.

I admit I didn't read the whole review once I saw it was headed to major spoiler territory because I haven't watched this yet. So I can't really comment on that. But I plan too in the next couple of days since the final disc just came in.

I will say I enjoyed the first series, but I can definitely see how the story could go down hill after the way the last one ended. But I will just have to see for myself if it is as bad as ANN makes it out to be. I hope not, like I said I enjoyed the first one. Neutral

I did read this at the bottom though:
Quote:
Isn't it kind of convenient how there are tons of alternate dimensions so the dolls can avoid causing collateral damage in the real world?

I kind of don't understand the point here. What about the story has ever had to do with reality? The story is about magical dolls. I mean if we are to make this a mark down, pretty much 99.9% of all anime would fail miserably.
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Unit 03.5-ish



Joined: 07 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:24 pm Reply with quote
It sounds like, from what Carlos said about the first show having a serviceable ending, that this was a truly unnecessary sequel, and that there wasn't much intent to continue the story after the first series. It really sucks when that happens, a show that was intended to go only one season has to half-ass reasons as to WHY the second season is even happening.
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CaptainAvatar



Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Posts: 381
Location: Saint Louis, MO
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 12:35 pm Reply with quote
While I agree that the conclusion was disappointing, this seems to be a regular occurrence in quite a few anime nowadays. I did feel there was enough to make it worthwhile, at least for this Rozen Maiden fan. Episode 10 was the highlight for me, and Sherry Lynn put in a magnificent performance in the dub as Hina-Ichigo. I am anxious to see what happens with the manga, as the haphazard half-volume wrap that was done up until now (assuming the US release mirrored the original) left me rather frustrated. To be honest, I have yet to read a Peach-Pit manga released in the US that hasn't disappointed in the end. However, I haven't read them all.
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konkonsn



Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 172
Location: Illinois
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:09 pm Reply with quote
I was actually very satisfied with the ending of the first season, but then again, I don't need all the loose ends tied up to enjoy the end of a series (re: Spiral, though I was and still am pissed that they advertised it the way they did knowing how it would end).

I didn't bother to watch the second series because of how much I liked the first, and your review sort of continues that sentiment...
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kadian1364



Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Posts: 60
Location: Indiana
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:40 pm Reply with quote
Reading this review, I am vividly reminded of my younger, open-eyed, more naive self watching this series some years ago, loving the wild battles, the unexpectedly bittersweet Hina Ichigo episode, and building towards a climactic finale, then seeing the whole proceeding crash and burn like some tragic funeral-procession-and-bus-full-of-orphans traffic accident. It was all such senseless waste. Crying or Very sad
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jr240483



Joined: 24 Dec 2005
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Location: New York City,New York,USA
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:03 pm Reply with quote
JohnnySake wrote:
Aside from my opinions of the story, I was grateful that I could see how it played out, train wreck or not. There was a time when I thought I would never see the final two volumes of this series.

And I agree, it seemed like Traumend ended with the potential for further adventures of animated dolls. Especially in light of the fact of the outcomes of some of the final battles.

I enjoyed the series and am glad we (as fans) could see it through to its conclusion.


Same here. ANN is underestimating the series in the worst way.Sure the ending leaves something to be desired,but with peach pit doing a third version of the manga,i'm preety sure the anime version might have one as well. Not to mentioned just like nanoha,it's still popular to those Japanese otakus.

Probably cause of the goth loli complex.Too bad it doesn't have much fanservice though i doubt the creators would allow it.
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Dorcas_Aurelia



Joined: 23 Jul 2006
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Location: Philly
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:12 pm Reply with quote
Kimiko_0 wrote:
You throw out some pretty big spoilers there, Carlo. Some of that is unavoidable I suppose, reviewing the last third of a series, but still.

Some? He tells us how it ends. About the only spoiler he didn't give is that spoiler[Bara-suishou isn't really the seventh doll.]

Granted, you have to bring up the non-ending at least somewhat, although this does make spoiler[Rosen slightly less of a bastard as we find out the dolls don't have to eliminate their sisters to become human, showing that he does care about them at least a little.]
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jenthehen



Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Posts: 835
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:31 pm Reply with quote
Hmmm ... maybe it's just me, but I really like the Rozen Maiden anime - all of it. It isn't PERFECT, but it's enjoyable - and that's all that matters, right? Sometimes I feel like reviewers take entertainment WAY too seriously for their own good Smile

The ending was open, but oh well. If that doesn't bother you, then there really isn't much to complain about. The final battle sequences are amazing, and episode 10 is heart-wrenching. Shinku also gets very INTENSE which is amazing to see. Yes, Jun becomes less important, but this second season was really focussed more on the DOLLS, after all.

And I think that, compared to the manga, Barasuishou (sp?) makes a much better character/villian than that other one ... kirkawhatever from the manga Smile
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konkonsn



Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 172
Location: Illinois
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:45 pm Reply with quote
jr0904 wrote:
Probably cause of the goth loli complex.Too bad it doesn't have much fanservice though i doubt the creators would allow it.


I, as a fan, wouldn't allow it. I understand the...use...of fanservice in other shows for whatever reasons, be they comedic or because the series is supposed to appeal to a certain subset of male (and lesbian) audiences. But there is nothing that fanservice would have added to Rozen Maiden; only detracted.
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Bluebeard



Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 267
Location: Massachusetts
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:36 pm Reply with quote
Ouch, a little harsh with all the Cs and Ds in the rating of it, but you were right on about Episode 10. Traumend Ep. 10 is one of the hardest episodes I've ever had to watch matched only by the end of Makoto's arc in Kanon. If you aren't moved by that episode, I'm surprised you even still watching the series this far in.
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Richard J.



Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Sic Semper Tyrannis.
PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:12 pm Reply with quote
Ever since I've read this review, this section:
Review wrote:
why is "Father" so intent on having his creations fight each other to the death? How exactly does the Rosa Mystica work in giving a doll life? Isn't it kind of convenient how there are tons of alternate dimensions so the dolls can avoid causing collateral damage in the real world?
Has been driving me nuts.

First, anyone who has watched any of Rozen Maiden already should know the answer to the first question, assuming they actually paid any attention whatsoever. By having the dolls fight, gathering the Rosa Mysticas into one doll, the perfect girl Alice will be born. This is the girl that "Father" is obsessed with the creation of. The ending of this season indicates spoiler[that maybe he's had a change of heart since he informs Shinku that there are other ways to become Alice or maybe he didn't know them back when he made the dolls. (It has been a lot of years since then.)]

The second question about the Rosa Mysticas themselves. How do they give the dolls life? Magic. Really, it's that simple an answer. Kind of like with Gundum00 and GN particles. How the hell does a GN drive make a flying mecha move like that? Super-science which is basically magic.

The third question about the alternate realties. Each doll has an N-field, a pocket dimension they can fight in. There are also dream dimensions, one for basically every person alive, as the first series explained. In other words, the dolls are just like people in that they have a personal dimension but unlike people they can drag others into to them. It is convenient but then every story ever told has certain conveniences. Kind of like how every place a great detective in fiction goes there just happens to be a murder only they can possibly solve.
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leoncloud



Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 15
PostPosted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:34 am Reply with quote
Richard J. wrote:
Ever since I've read this review, this section:
Review wrote:
why is "Father" so intent on having his creations fight each other to the death? How exactly does the Rosa Mystica work in giving a doll life? Isn't it kind of convenient how there are tons of alternate dimensions so the dolls can avoid causing collateral damage in the real world?
Has been driving me nuts.

First, anyone who has watched any of Rozen Maiden already should know the answer to the first question, assuming they actually paid any attention whatsoever. By having the dolls fight, gathering the Rosa Mysticas into one doll, the perfect girl Alice will be born. This is the girl that "Father" is obsessed with the creation of. The ending of this season indicates spoiler[that maybe he's had a change of heart since he informs Shinku that there are other ways to become Alice or maybe he didn't know them back when he made the dolls. (It has been a lot of years since then.)]

The second question about the Rosa Mysticas themselves. How do they give the dolls life? Magic. Really, it's that simple an answer. Kind of like with Gundum00 and GN particles. How the hell does a GN drive make a flying mecha move like that? Super-science which is basically magic.

The third question about the alternate realties. Each doll has an N-field, a pocket dimension they can fight in. There are also dream dimensions, one for basically every person alive, as the first series explained. In other words, the dolls are just like people in that they have a personal dimension but unlike people they can drag others into to them. It is convenient but then every story ever told has certain conveniences. Kind of like how every place a great detective in fiction goes there just happens to be a murder only they can possibly solve.


Well we know that father wants to create Alice, but why, is the
answer we are all still lacking. Like is it to teach the dolls a lesson,
or like Pinocchio, he wants to make a real girl. Also in S1, there are flashbacks of Shinku's early days, and that alternate figure, which looks exactly like her. Whats with that, is it fathers rl daughter, is he trying to re create something he lost? Still many unanswered questions dont you say? So far i think having the dolls fight is just being anal on father's part, if so he should just make gundams instead. As for other way(s) of becoming Alice, ???, ...,
orz, S3? It would also be nice to know the workings behind the Rosa Mystica, how those things come about, to made the dolls tick, and how are these people able to transcend time and mortality. Maybe Isaac and Miria slipped something in father's coffee. Lets hope there is a underlying reason for Jun becoming
the chosen one and not end up as background decoration like S2.

Sadly like most if not all sequels S2 simple did not do the franchise justice. It felt like a Bleach/Naruto filler with a slap dash
spur of the moment ending. Season 2 just made the over rated show worst. Honestly right now, the best we can hope for is S3, and that S2 wasnt an end but a finale. If there is ever a S3, without further plot development, the series would just be a flop.
I liked the show, and loved how they gave the dolls life and colorful
personalities, but lack of plot development limits the shows true potential.
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