Ani-Mania: FMA OVA & Rozen Maiden

Fullmetal Alchemist Premium OVA Collection

One of the best things about anime is the “omake”, or extras — also known as that stuff at the end of the tape. Long before DVD’s with their menu of special features, in the dark ages of VHS, anime fans were being treated to a smorgasbord of little goodies — from previews to music videos to something as simple as a visual catalog of a company’s other titles — pretty much anything the studio could find to throw on the last few minutes of a video tape. It was one of the things that made anime, well, anime. Lately we’re seeing fewer extras, as the industry and the economy as a whole have been forced to makes some painful cuts to stay alive. But if you’re longing for some of those good old days, not to worry. Funimation is about to release an entire collection of bonus material, and better yet, its for one of their biggest shows ever: Fullmetal Alchemist!

Dubbed the Fullmetal Alchemist Premium OVA Collection, the project reunites the original U.S. FMA cast in four new animated shorts. First on the disc is the “Interactive Experience”, in which the viewer is treated to a sequence of state alchemist training videos, where we learn a number of useful things about living and working as an alchemist, and the dangers of introducing Roy Mustang to your girlfriend. Much of these sequences are done in the first person, and while there’s no actual “interactivity” — no buttons to click or choices to make — there is plenty of humor.

Next up was the live action featurette. This little parody of some of the series’ more serious monologues was shot with a real life mockup of Al’s armor suit placed around various locations in Japan, finally finding his way to Studio Bones in his search for the truth. If this seems weird to you, just remember that this IS the same country that is auctioning off the chance to have your picture taken atop a life size reconstruction of a Gundam.

From live action, things go chibi with the Chibi Wrap Party, a super deformed version of a green room after party for the cast. The dinner turns into something of a roast, as Al finally voices some of his resentment to his scene stealing older brother “It’s called puberty, Ed — maybe it’ll happen to you too, one day”, and Hawkeye gives us some insights into her views about her and Roy’s “relationship.”

Finally, there’s the Kids Short, which shows us what it might be like if some of the main cast had grown up in our world. It all wraps up with credits that scroll over a background of dancing suits of armor — which, incidentally, is the creepiest thing I’ve seen since the dancing anatomical mannequin at the end of The Wallflower.

Strictly speaking, none of this material is completely “new.” Diehard FMA fans may have already seen much of this posted on the net. But it is great to hear the original English cast back together again. With luck, we may get to hear a lot more of them in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the sequel that is currently airing in Japan.

Rozen Maiden

When Geneon got into trouble a while back and halted their release schedule, many great titles were left in the lurch, and along with them, their fanbase. Rozen Maiden was one of these. With one volume of the second season, Traumend, out on the shelves, fans were left to worry if the rest of the series would ever be released. Those fears can now be put to rest as Funimation brings out the complete series of Rozen Maiden Traumend as a three disc box set, and fans of the show can finally see how it all ends.

Describing Rozen Maiden to the uninitiated is something of a challenge. It tells the story of a young boy, Jun, who makes a habit of collecting odd things. This all seems like fun and games, until one day a package arrives for him containing something that is strange even by Jun’s standards. Inside the box is a Rozen Maiden doll. Her name is Shinku, and in addition to being even more valuable than a super rare limited edition one of a kind Dolfie that collectors can only dream about, she has a very peculiar quality: Shinku is alive, and by bonding herself to a human and drawing off said human’s life force (sound like VAMPIRISM, anyone?) she is able to wield incredible powers.

Over the course of the series, we meet more of the enchanted dolls, and learn that they are the work of master craftsman, Rozen, whom the dolls refer to as “Father”, and that they represent his attempts to create the perfect girl. But sadly, all of them are flawed. The only way they can improve themselves is by following their Father’s will, and taking part in the Alice game, in which all of the dolls must fight to the death until only one remains. The victor will become Alice, and get to be with Father. The others will be turned into useless junk.

This premise is well established by the end of the first season. Traumend, the second season of the show, starts off with Shinku still living with Jun and his sister, Nori. For now, the Alice game has been put on hold, and there is an uneasy calm. Shinku is haunted by the memories of defeating Sugintou in battle, and determined that from now on, she will live in peace with the rest of the Rozen Maidens. These are idyllic days, and we are treated to some heart warming and humorous moments. But then, the mysterious Barasuishou arrives, intent on restarting the Alice game and becoming the perfect girl.

My initial reactions to Rozen Maiden were mixed, to say the least. I first learned of it when a friend of mine from our local anime club tried to get me to sit down and watch the first season. I think my first response was something on the order of, “Heck no, you keep your creepy doll fetish away from me!” My friend, who bears a striking resemblance to Shuichi Takamizawa, gets this kind of reaction all the time, and so thankfully was not the least bit put off. But after watching Traumend, I honestly have to say this series has a lot going for it.

It is weird though. Watching leaves me wondering exactly who the target audience is. It’s a show about dolls — is it for girls? Then again, Jun has something of a doll harem going for him. Is it a harem show? A doll harem show? A show for boys who secretly collect ball jointed dolls? I’m confused. That’s no wonder, since Rozen Maiden comes to us from Peach Pit, the same creative team that gave us DearS, Shugo Chara, and Zombie Loan. If you know anything about Peach Pit, you’re probably clapping your hand to your forehead and saying, “that explains everything!” If you don’t, Peach Pit is known for their strange mix of beauty and dark, twistedness, kind of like muffins made with arsenic instead of blueberries.

There are gothy overtones, both in style and in substance. All of the Rozen Maidens are dressed in more or less goth/lolita fashion — sweet lolita, to be exact — and goth/loli fashionistas are VERY exact — all except for Souseiseki, who is more of a dandy (your humble author is sure he is making points somewhere with someone just for KNOWING this kind of thing, but is unsure of whether those points are positive or negative). The term “darkly cute” comes to mind, to borrow a phrase from Fred Gallagher.

There’s substance under all the frills, though. The whole premise of the Alice game and the unswerving allegiance demanded by Father has religious overtones. It raises all kinds of questions about loyalty, identity, fanaticism — pretty heavy stuff. But some of the best parts of the show are the light-hearted ones, where we see Shinku’s developing friendship with Jun and with the other Rozen Maidens, as they attempt to function in a human sized world that can be, at times, less than doll-friendly. The characterization is surprisingly good, showing unexpected depth, even in some of the supporting cast.

The show may be about dolls, but some of the cast are giants in stature in the voice acting world. Mela Lee of Higurashi and Fate/stay night fame provides the voice of Shinku, with Tara Platt (Fate/stay night, DearS) as Barasuishou, Julie Ann Taylor (Code Geass) as Souseiseki, Karen Strassman (Last Exile) as Sugintou, Reba West (Higurashi When They Cry) as Suiseiseki, and Sherry Lynn (Wolf’s Rain) as Hinaichigo. Christina “Vee” Valenzuela, whom AniMania recently had the pleasure of interviewing at NatsuCon , plays the part of Kanaria, the self proclaimed “brainiest of the Rozen Maidens.”

My friend (the Takamizawa-esque one) took great pleasure in pointing out that Mona Marshall, the voice of Jun, is also the voice of Love Hina’s Motoko Aoyama. I’m going to have to kill him for that. Incidentally, Dorothy Fahn, the voice of Jun’s friend, Tomoe, is another Tokyo-U alum; she played the part of Love Hina’s feisty heroine, Naru Narusegawa.

The art is beautiful, especially the opening animation, which is set to the tune of “Seishojou Ryouiki” performed by ALI PROJECT, who also did themes for Code Geass and Princess Resurrection. “Hikari no Rasenritsu”, the show’s softer ending theme, is performed by Kukui.

Admittedly, Rozen Maiden isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you like your tea with a spoonful of gothic cuteness, this show may be for you. That’s all for now. Tune in again next week for more reviews, fetishes, and other items of otaku interest.

(Edward Douglas still loves Motoko, and will try his best to repress any mental images of Jun in a miko outfit.)