Rozen Maiden: Ouverture
Rozen Maiden Ouverture is a 2-part OVA that seemingly takes place during Rozen Maiden Träumend.
When Jun comes home with a new brooch, Shinku seems hostile towards his kind gesture. So Souseiseki takes it upon herself to tell Jun why. Back in nineteenth century London, when a round of the Alice game is taking place, Suigintou’s love for her father brings her incomplete body to life and through the mirror of a little girl’s room, which happens to be the home of Shinku’s medium. Out of pity for the poor doll, Shinku helps the emotional Suigintou but her kindness ends up having severe consequences for their friendship and the Alice game.
The first episode of the OVA disc is pretty much a throwaway; it purely serves to gives cameos to the main characters of the second season (which you could easily have done without as they don’t play a part in the flashback or get any character development) and reveal Suigintou as the first doll, which any Rozen Maiden fan would already know. The second episode however fares a lot better; it’s nice to see Suigintou in a more vulnerable state and her friendship build with Shinku. Admittedly it’s mostly over a montage but it’s still sweetly done, and adding a new dimension to one of the anime series’ antagonist is appreciated. The second episode also reveals how the incomplete doll received her Rozen Mystica and her sudden turn from broken to vengeful doll.
There are a few plot conveniences thrown in to make the plot work, and the character Sarah merely exists to dish out exposition to the audience that may need reminding of what they’re watching, but overall the OVA does its job: fleshing out some of the back story that was murky before. The animation is also better than the previous release and I personally enjoyed my brief trip back into the world of Rozen Maiden. Obviously its content will vary in mileage amongst fans and those who just want anything relating to the anime will appreciate the completely new episodes even more.
It would have been nicer if the disc had been included in the Rozen Maiden Träumend series box set as a bonus disc (as happened with the release of Season 2 of Black Butler) because the single disc of less than an hour of content may not seem worthy of a purchase for some. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of the series, this disc will make a nice little stocking filler.
