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anime: Rose of Versailles, eps 1-9
Dec. 15th, 2008 01:08 amRose of Versailles is, I’m told, one of the more influential shoujo manga/animes from the 70s, particularly regarding the ever-popular genderbending genre. It was originally recced to me (aside from my love of, you know, heroines who get to be the star and girls with swords and such) based on the fact that I loved the first season of Revolutionary Girl Utena and the approach of a heroine who wants to be the prince because she wants to be the one doing the saving, not being the one getting saved, but that the series got weirder and weirder for me until I was pretty much wailing “But I don’t understand what I’m supposed to be getting from this!” at the TV screen by the end.
The series is set in the years leading up to the French Revolution, focusing on Oscar Jarjeyes, the leader of the Royal Guards, and protector of Marie Antoinette. After six daughters, General Jarjeyes was determined that his next child would be a son. When it was yet another daughter, he named her Oscar, and announced that he would raise her as a son. He does, and by the time Oscar is in her teens, she’s known in court for her swordsmanship enough that Louis XV wants her to lead the Palace Guards and be Marir Antoinette’s personal protector. I’m unclear as to just how well known Oscar’s true gender is. The king obviously knows, and other members of the court have commented on it, but there have also been instances where members of the court are surprised to learn she’s female, even after knowing her for a while.
Oscar herself seems to view the subject as rather irrelevant, focused instead on her role as a soldier. So far, the series seems to support her in that, not portraying her as strictly male or female, but taking a hard line with the androgyny of the character, with the people surrounding her seeming to have a stronger impression of her gender than Oscar herself does. Most characters seem to either treat her as a man, or as an oddity due to her upbringing, but so far, everyone accepts her as a soldier. Marie Antoinette appears to have romantic feelings for Oscar, but for Oscar as a man in the role of loyal bodyguard, despite knowing that Oscar is a woman. Oscar’s childhood friend, Andre, is obviously in love with her, but there are no indications that Oscar returns his feelings, or that this will ever be an issue. I have no problems with Andre or the idea of Oscar/Andre, but have a feeling involving Oscar in a romance won’t work well for me. Oscar also has an extremely strict idea of nobility that's interesting to see, and is very devoted to her role as a stoic soldier and guard. And we know about me and stoic heroines.
Most of the episodes so far have focused on Marie Antoinette’s early days at court, and especially her conflict with Madame du Barry, the king’s mistress. Oscar herself is largely in the background for most of this. The focus on Marie Antoinette was interesting at first, but is being dragged out a lot. The parts that are “French history through Oscar’s eyes” are much more interesting than the parts that are “French history with bits of Oscar.” I understand, though, that the original manga was about Marie Antoinette initially, before switching to Oscar later on.
The animation is incredibly dated, and I have no idea if the animation qualities are considered good or bad by the standards of the times. I was warned in advance of the shoujo sparkles, and they are, indeed, overwhelming. Really, you have no idea until you watch. Not only that, but dramatic moments are showcased by still frames of the characters and background in interesting shades that manage to simultaneously be dark, garish, and tepid. Other dramatic moments are showcased by negative imaging, images shattering like glass, and lightning bolts. All these effects also come in combinations. Somehow, though, all these things become oddly addictive. Also addictive are the opening credits, which are concerningly entrancing after you’ve seen them a few times:
So, interesting premise, awesome lead, a bit slow at times, and odd cinematography. Aside the Duke of Orleans, our apparent antagonist, none of the historical figures are portrayed as being strictly positive or negative. Marie Antoinette is alternately annoying and sympathetic, and du Barry, though initially shown as an eeeeevvvvviiiilllll woman using feminine wiles to get what she wants, is shown in an increasingly sympathetic light. I don’t care if the series is almost as old or older than I am, or that it's following French history close enough that it doesn’t mind spoiling future events based directly on history (it regularly drops future plot/historical details when characters come and go) spoil me and I will come up with a creative punishment. Though I wouldn’t mind knowing what good pausing points are, as far as episode count goes.
The series is set in the years leading up to the French Revolution, focusing on Oscar Jarjeyes, the leader of the Royal Guards, and protector of Marie Antoinette. After six daughters, General Jarjeyes was determined that his next child would be a son. When it was yet another daughter, he named her Oscar, and announced that he would raise her as a son. He does, and by the time Oscar is in her teens, she’s known in court for her swordsmanship enough that Louis XV wants her to lead the Palace Guards and be Marir Antoinette’s personal protector. I’m unclear as to just how well known Oscar’s true gender is. The king obviously knows, and other members of the court have commented on it, but there have also been instances where members of the court are surprised to learn she’s female, even after knowing her for a while.
Oscar herself seems to view the subject as rather irrelevant, focused instead on her role as a soldier. So far, the series seems to support her in that, not portraying her as strictly male or female, but taking a hard line with the androgyny of the character, with the people surrounding her seeming to have a stronger impression of her gender than Oscar herself does. Most characters seem to either treat her as a man, or as an oddity due to her upbringing, but so far, everyone accepts her as a soldier. Marie Antoinette appears to have romantic feelings for Oscar, but for Oscar as a man in the role of loyal bodyguard, despite knowing that Oscar is a woman. Oscar’s childhood friend, Andre, is obviously in love with her, but there are no indications that Oscar returns his feelings, or that this will ever be an issue. I have no problems with Andre or the idea of Oscar/Andre, but have a feeling involving Oscar in a romance won’t work well for me. Oscar also has an extremely strict idea of nobility that's interesting to see, and is very devoted to her role as a stoic soldier and guard. And we know about me and stoic heroines.
Most of the episodes so far have focused on Marie Antoinette’s early days at court, and especially her conflict with Madame du Barry, the king’s mistress. Oscar herself is largely in the background for most of this. The focus on Marie Antoinette was interesting at first, but is being dragged out a lot. The parts that are “French history through Oscar’s eyes” are much more interesting than the parts that are “French history with bits of Oscar.” I understand, though, that the original manga was about Marie Antoinette initially, before switching to Oscar later on.
The animation is incredibly dated, and I have no idea if the animation qualities are considered good or bad by the standards of the times. I was warned in advance of the shoujo sparkles, and they are, indeed, overwhelming. Really, you have no idea until you watch. Not only that, but dramatic moments are showcased by still frames of the characters and background in interesting shades that manage to simultaneously be dark, garish, and tepid. Other dramatic moments are showcased by negative imaging, images shattering like glass, and lightning bolts. All these effects also come in combinations. Somehow, though, all these things become oddly addictive. Also addictive are the opening credits, which are concerningly entrancing after you’ve seen them a few times:
So, interesting premise, awesome lead, a bit slow at times, and odd cinematography. Aside the Duke of Orleans, our apparent antagonist, none of the historical figures are portrayed as being strictly positive or negative. Marie Antoinette is alternately annoying and sympathetic, and du Barry, though initially shown as an eeeeevvvvviiiilllll woman using feminine wiles to get what she wants, is shown in an increasingly sympathetic light. I don’t care if the series is almost as old or older than I am, or that it's following French history close enough that it doesn’t mind spoiling future events based directly on history (it regularly drops future plot/historical details when characters come and go) spoil me and I will come up with a creative punishment. Though I wouldn’t mind knowing what good pausing points are, as far as episode count goes.
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