The Rose of Versailles - Reviews

Alt title: Versailles no Bara

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Rascal's avatar
Dec 24, 2017

*spoiler-heavy review*

Let them eat my sword

I had no idea what to expect from Rose of Versailles except that looking at the cover and judging from that as humans oft do it looked incredibly disney, and no matter what you tell me I'm going to believe that it was somehow disney inspired. The characters look disney and everything is disney. It's settled. The thematic material however is not disney, it's a bit more... history, where stupid people die and stuff. It's actually quite enjoyable if you can get past the production itself which is so dated i'm surprised that anyone was able to actually find and digitize the thing, as it looks like it was drawn on a cave wall.

Rose of Versailles' story revolves heavily around the historical events going on in France at the time of the 1700s. As you might guess, this this is one story that isn't going to hold your hand, and cuddle up next to you, give you some candy, and tell you everything's going to be alright. No, it's going to stand you up, force your neck up against the wall, break your favorite shelf decoration imported from China, force you to watch, and then tell you how much it enjoyed doing that. But until it does that, it's a pretty good room-mate, even though you know how these things will end up because everyone talked about him and warned you.

Basically, the narrative is really good actually. Every event is pretty well set-up and have some depth to it. In the first half of the story we have Oscar's Amazing Versailles Political Adventures, which although they may drag on at times, lead to some pretty satisfying payoffs in the long run, especially the whole Dubarry arc. It has a lot of what you might expect, just Oscar getting wrapped up in some backstabbings and political drama that she has to try and resolve one way or another as Captain of the Royal Guard. There are a few complex moments that are interesting, and then a few times that make you kinda wonder what the point of it all is, especially with Marie and Dubarry being such weak characters.

Once that's over, we move onto a much, MUCH more interesting story arc that has a less satisfying conclusion, the Rosalie and Jeanne spaghetti-shaped mess. I actually loved what they did with Jeanne, she was 100% more interesting to watch than any other character there, and they used her really well. While I found myself growing less and less interested in what Oscar and Rosalie were doing, I kept looking forward to whatever Jeanne and her man-slave who can't get 2016's biggest dance trend out of his head so he just keeps a whip with him at all times, were up to. They did have their moments though; Oscar's duel, Robespierre showing up (we all know who he is). The way that this show transitions from one phase to the next with the swap-out of villains is pretty unique, like the plot revolves around the villains they set up.

There were a few times where it felt lackluster, too. The black knight arc was one of the stupidest things ever, and Oscar's beginning in the French Guard was very slow to start until Alain's character starts developing.

Unfortunately this is 18th Century France, and you just know from the beginning that the French Revolution has to come along and tickle everyone's assholes eventually. And that it does. The story has the lamest attempt at an ending i've seen since the Book Theif. However, Since I'm not huge on tragic endings anyways and am extremely biased against them, BUT totally expected this ending because its the French Revolution, what are you going to do but get Screwed, I'll give that a huge, bitter pass.

The tone is great, and one of the strongest suits of the entire anime. I found myself in awe of some of the scenes such as Charlotte's Suicide, Marie finally talking to Dubarry, Andre's tragedy, ect. These all held a lot of emotional impact, supported by a great atmospheric soundtrack that stood them out from the rest of the narrative, saying "This is what's important, this is what we're trying to tell you." This is one of the many things that I realized while watching this. The story isn't about the events, it's about the characters.

these loaves of bread are literally worth more than my life

Rose of Versailles characters are very of the times which is a good thing and adds to the immersion. There are some that you root for, some that make you wonder why the hell you care, ones that make you wonder why you're watching this anime, and ones that they shove in your face so hard you'd need an entire carton of Neutrogena to get the smell of rancid toxicity out of your nostrils.

Really, they're by far the most well thought-out part of this series. Even the characters I didn't particularly like, I must admit were well-explored and developed. Oscar of course takes center stage and her progression with it, but there's actually a lot less there than what goes on around her. Andre is a pretty relatable character later on in the story, and the one you feel sorry for the most. Even tropey characters like Alain get some great character development, and it doesn't go to waste.

Then you have piles of well-polished shit like Rosalie, Dubarry, Cardinal Rohan, and St Just which are really just there for tropiness and to be lame, but you still strangely feel a connection to them despite their many, numerous, imposing, oh-my-God-how-are-you-still-alive flaws.

I also like how most characters have a connection to one another, some kind of chemistry in their relationship. Like, even though he's pretty much the guy responsible for making his life shit, Andre's still buddies with Bernard. And then Bernard marries Rosalie, who was friends with Oscar, who marries Andre. It's all a big circle of coolness. Unfortunately one of the characters who should have been a really strong character, Marie, ended up being such a lame piece of garbage that I was only sad for her sons when she ended up inevitably kicking the bucket. Did I mention that everyone dies? Yeah all these characters that you love die. That's ok though. It's a "Historical" anime.

Oscar is a particularly good female character, so I added her to my list of such characters, if you care to see that. She adds a lot to the story with how cool she is, but she isn't exactly the mary sue you expect her to be.

All of the people in this series undergo a bit of a group progression, where they slowly become less and less selfish. It's pretty subtle though, but at the beginning its totally clear that everyone is looking out for #1, although at the end all main characters care way more about each other. Except for Marie because she sucks.


The animation... It's ok. I say that with knowledge of its datedness. Back then, it looks ok, today it's extremely outdated. There are quite a few things that even back when it was made, they could have done a lot better. I saw a lot of scenes where there was a reflection on the floor, and it looked just like the floor was a perfect mirror instead of just a reflective marble surface, which took me out of it. There were a few key frames and pretty backgrounds which I took special note of, but other than that it was meh in this department. Especially the use of repeated assets. I get the limitations of the times and all, but not everything is excusable.

"Hurry, or how will we make it to the clone convention?!"

Positive end of the spectrum, despite the extremely limited animation, the fight scenes had some good emphasis on certain frames and they conveyed intensity well enough. I liked how they portrayed emotional intensity with symbolism a bunch too, like the aforementioned Marie and Dubarry scene with the stairs.


The sound is the worst aspect. This is a show that wants your eardrums, I'm convinced. And I'm not talking about the soundtrack, that was fine, just the SFX and Voice Acting. They sucked. They ranged from barely any inflection on certain characters to downright screaming bloody murder at scenes that didn't require it, and it was one of the most jarring things i've ever experienced. Made Black Clover seem like ambiance you could sleep to. Some good SFX, but unbalanced by all of the mediocre.

It was a trip all things considered. I'm thankful to my Secret Santa for being so thoughtful with this one, I really did enjoy it, but it really is too dated to give it a great score. Some things just don't hold up. Still would reccomend it.

SECRET SANTA REVIEW

8/10 story
6/10 animation
3/10 sound
9/10 characters
6.4/10 overall
SadisticTendencies's avatar
Nov 22, 2011

The everlasting dilemma when you choose a historical setting for your story; is it more beneficial to aim for historical accuracy or inaccuracy? Pretentious historians would most likely point at "accuracy" and label it obvious while I personally think that a tone of creative liberty allows the narrative to soar into more admirable levels of grandeur. Rose of Versailles is not only famous for being among the first titles ever produced in the Shoujo genre and its strong female lead but also for the fact that it takes place before, during and after the French revolution using non-fictional characters like Marie Antoinette and Maximilien Robespierre as key figures. The inevitable ending is thus spoiled by one's standard knowledge of history, but the ride itself and the terrific characterization is more than enough to still make the 40 episodes an entertaining ride.

Story: 8/10

The story takes a closer look on Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes, a tragic character born as a woman but raised as a man in an environment of fencing, horseback riding and responsibilities. I'd never dream of calling Rose of Versailles story driven in comparison to the amazingly portrayed characters, but the narrative still boasts a pretty impressive combination of twists, melodrama and dialogue. Many historical events like the infamous diamond necklace affair are used as plot devices, though in slightly altered ways, ranging from heavily changed to slightly modified.

 My interest for history aside, the excellent transitions between accuracy and inaccuracy are one of the reasons that I derived so much entertainment from this watch. You could argue that the show dwells a little on its melodrama, or that a few repetitive scenarios (like Rosalie crying in front of Oscar while stuttering her name) turns the task of watching it into a tedious one, but if you look for a somewhat educational, though not entirely trustworthy, story about the tragic life of a woman pursuing honor and the fundamental facts about the revolution, then this might be right for you.

Animation: 6/10

Compared to its temporary opponents like Galaxy Express 999, Rose of Versailles radiates extremely high production values for its time. It has since then faded into insignificance, but the relatively detailed character designs as well as a few decent moments of action are definitely impressive. Keep in mind though that this is more than thirty years old, and that you cannot expect the same quality as it's natural to do in modern times. Most moments of a more swifter haste tend to be slowed down to the point of abnormality in attempts to lower expenses so it takes several seconds for the apple Andre throws to Oscar to reach her hands and whenever someone jumps a longer distance the same phenomena can be found.

Another aspect of the visual frontier that I relished was the creative and occasionally beautiful art direction. Chocking revelations are followed by equally dramatic facial expressions complimented by metaphorical cracking mirrors that burst onscreen. In each episode there are at least more than two dramatic close-ups (though likely many more) and while this reaches serious depths of annoyance on a few occasions, you'll get used to it.

Sound: 7.5/10

The opening theme was designed to be used in the show as well in a variety of instruments and works equally well in all cases. Worth to bring up though is that the show usually makes sure to decapitate the melody right before the chorus is about to make its entrance which seriously ruins the mood it has been so eager to establish. The soundtrack in itself is also good though nothing that deserves to be praised. What does deserve an endless amount of compliments, on the other hand, is the voice acting of Reiko Tajima who portrayed the protagonist Oscar. Her voice radiates the kind of authority and dignity that will have women and men alike experience delight and appreciate the powerful potential in her character. Other voice actors are competent in most cases, but nobody is near the most impressing vocal performance of Reiko.

Characters: 8.5/10

In the initiating paragraph of this statement, allow me to emphasize that I'm by no means a feminist. Not only has feminism reached the state in my nation where it's associated with the bizarre will to place women on pedestals and oppress men, but I also doubt that the female gender has as much to complain about as it does. No offense intended, but that's how it is.

However, if there's one thing that gets to me in Anime it's when female characterization is successfully made. Shows like Kino's Journey, Haibane Renmei and Rose of Versailles where female protagonists exist for purposes that do not include fanservice or anything alike. And that's why I heavily enjoyed watching Oscar develop throughout this show. She struggles to live her life in honor and masculinity, confronts her womanhood and attempts to oppress it in favor for her military and patriotic way of life and ultimately ends up falling in love. Likewise, the rest of the show is heavily influenced by powerful, yet usually malicious, ladies who yearn for nothing more but power and wealth. Rose of Versailles explores corruption in its most unpleasant form and does so through a large variety of characters. Not to mention its infamous portrayal of queen Antoinette who's luxurious and wasteful ways attracted public hate which made the bloody revolution possible.

Overall: 8/10

 Historically significant and a prime example of strong female characterization, Rose of Versailles entertained me while simultaneously making me realize that I should watch more shows from this era. It enjoys spending its time observing flowers, sparkles and beautiful dresses, but fulfills its grander ambitions by exploring the many obstacles of royalty, the struggle of sexual identification and most fundamentally; love. On its way it throws in characters who long for democracy and glory, only to end with the inevitably grisly revolution followed by the executions that we all know lie in the future. A most pleasant watch!

8/10 story
6/10 animation
7.5/10 sound
8.5/10 characters
8/10 overall
jasonaw2's avatar
Nov 7, 2015

I am a sucker for anything history espcially European History. When I heard that there was an anime about Marie Antoinette I got very exicted. Since I have not seen many European historical anime's this was going to be a special treat. I can see how this show and manga was ground breaking for the time. Thanks to Rose of Versailles shoujo is the way it is today. To my suprise the show stayed pretty acurtate to history around 90% of the time. The characters where strong and very memorable. This anime did not decpict Marie Antoinette as the famous "let them eat cake" but as a young girl who had no idea of the trouble of France and then a woman who had live with it. 

The animation style is old fashioned, but it is beautiful with the usual still frame shock faces and dramatic music. I am picky when it comes to the costumes of historical shows and for the most part the court fashion felt stuck in the 1760s and 1770s whilst in history it changed a good deal during the 1780s and 90s. Other than that, Rose of Versaills needs more praise and attention in America. I feel like everyone should try this show once. It is a great story with one of the best female characters in anime, Lady Oscar. 

10/10 story
9/10 animation
9/10 sound
10/10 characters
9.5/10 overall
narcy22's avatar
Dec 5, 2019

is this anime not avaible anymore? i can't watch in online

?/10 story
?/10 animation
?/10 sound
?/10 characters
10/10 overall
MrChearlie's avatar
Jul 7, 2013

Mi bad english, mi fix errors as soon as mi notice them.

I just finish it, so I'm still a little speechless, not because I don't have anything to said, but the opposite, I don't know where to start, I just want to talk a lot about it, there are so many things on it and many that are rarely treated nowadays on anime in this way.

Funny thing that many shows I have loved, have a premise or something that doesn't attract me much; the life of a hikkimori, or the life of space garbage men, in this case it was the year it was made, 1979, but recommendations where all good and now I am very glad I finish it. I pretty much can said that if you have no experience with old anime the first episodes are going to be hard, but if you keep the rhythm of Rose of Versailles, is one of those stories where things get better and better and better starting from why the fuck am I watching this, and ending... just speechless.

Animation (Good) 

I think I only laugh 2 jokes they made, it isn't a comedy, but I laugh every episode. It has over-dramatization, thing I hate, and thing I mock and laugh everytime it happens. For example, they open their big beatiful eyes with a spark and give a shiny smile, here I don't have problem, but then it goes the zoom, and then they erase the background and put another full of colours, now the sparkles are not only in the eyes but all over the screen, but look now! bubbles floating in front of your eyes, if that isn't enough to make you know that I am happy how about a rainbow behind me, meanwhile in the other side of the screen -"is she happy?...oh rainbows! she is happy"-. I could go on a mock of this but that description truly happens, I also did pretend to notice she was happy when the rainbow appear, it was just exagerated I couldn't avoid reacting the same, so sometimes it was hard to take it seriously for this same reason. Although the animation wasn't bad, the characters were often still but when there was movement, it was to express what was happening and that is all I ask, they did a good job, it is not spectacular it has some flaws, but the horses are better than spice & wolf that's for sure.

Sound (Good) 

The audio was decent, many sounds were odd but you not even notice when they do things off, the voice acting is also nice, Oscar did the best imitation of a monkey screaming in the second episode, wich it is the funniest part of all, if you don't laught you don't have sense of humor. So yeah, screaming is not the thing of the characters, which is weird since Japaneses shout a lot, or maybe I was told wrong, also Oscar manly woman voice was somehow strange at times, but beside those the voice acting is enjoyable, it manage to portrait the characters as they should. And the music, it is cheesy and old, I like cheesy so that's a plus. The repertoire was not big enough but they work with it just sweet, it is repetitive enough so you recognize the songs, but not to the point that you get tired of them. They also use variations of the opening, and they did it so well that I am now I am in love of that 80's music opening, the melody most precisely, they really made it something symbolical in my point of view.

Story (Superb) 

As for the story, well what can I say, it's beyond beautiful, it is sublime, it is suberb, yes I am hyping a little bit, but maaaan, watching something like this, is hard to find, and more in anime, I really didn't expect this. There aren't fillers to begin with, it starts slowly, but it doesn't waste any time, it builds up a lot every minute, and they deliver everything just right, (except for Andre), if there is a character on screen it will develop, (except for the nanny and Andre), it is mostly dialogues and few action actions scenes, but trust me when I said this, the dialogues sometimes were so good that they are a lot more worthly than most of action scenes of shounens nowadays, It is like rule of cool in words.

The sense of honor, dignity, love and power are the most important and magnificent aspect of Rose of Versailles, those are the adjetives to describe what this show is about, honor of being part of the royalty or the nobles which is not always by doing the right actions. dignity of following your principles, love of almost every type, family, friends, romance, the country were you live. Power of money and reputation, or the opposite, being almost in complete misery, all of this adjectives are represented in grand scale. This and a lot of other aspects that a revolution can have, and you see everything of what 40 episodes can show you including a beautiful planned story in the same package.

Another thing that was just refreshing was how fearless this was, there were so many things that I was like... wow they truly present us something like that? so refreshing that I was supposed to be sad or angry or scared, and I felt happy (thing I am not to happy about), not a single bit feeling of shock factor for the sake of it, they just present harsh things with the moderation to take it seriously, just like it should be.

There are a lot of things I would like to talk, I really do, but I would spoil, things that are better to go in without knowing what is coming, It is a complete solved puzzle no deny, I could said that I wish it was made on this days, but I take a look of nowadays shows and said, nope it is just perfect where it is.

*whisper* every episode ends with a "it will continue" and you will want to watch more.

Characters (Great)

As an atheist I hope that heaven exist and that there is a section of manly people, in there Oscar-sama will be sitting next to Clint Eastwood, dear god that woman was truly heroic, she has more dignity than all the animated women characters in this year together. Not only she, all women had tons of it, it was the main focus for almost 30 episodes, women. Even Rosallie has a cool sense of dignity, if made nowadays she would be just a silly shy moe girl for the fan service. Maria Antoniette was also truly awesome even when she was pretty despicable, but beside Oscar, my favorite is with no doubt Jeanne, she is one of my favorite villains of all times (of my long 18 years). 

In general all the characters were developed enough to understand what is going on with them and I take off my hat for that, but there is one that truly get my nerves, and it was Andre. It start nice, he had development, things happen, he reacts, but there is a point where he do the same thing all the time, let's ride Oscar, let's go to a bar Oscar, Oh Oscar is in danger I need to help her, I get to the point of thinking he was just an imaginary friend of Oscar along with the nanny, but the nanny is the nanny, just for the fact of noticing her name you know you can't expect much of her, but Andre? he is like one of the most important characters on the story! and for almost 20 episodes you give me that shit of , Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. They barely focus on what he is thinking compared with all the panorama of character development that was happening with the others, I really was about to give up and consider him a waste of character, but then a pull-ass mess comes and Andre gets back and create some personality, it was actually really good but after so many episodes of him being Link saying "excuse me princess", the damage was done, so I could barely take him seriosly, but they at least give a more complete perspective of him, so even he get his part on the party.

Enjoyment (Great)

I would recommend this to anybody, but there is a warning, it is hard to watch, I watch anime on nights. Me is tired, me wants brainless entertainment, so watching this was actually hard, but if you finish it, you won't regret it, If you don't finish it, it's understandable, it has over-dramatization, it is almost an animated soap opera half of the time, and it is not brainless entertainment, every episode has lot of information and dialogues going on so is very slow-paced, but it worths giving it a try, no doubts.

Overall (Great)

10/10 story
7/10 animation
7/10 sound
9/10 characters
8.4/10 overall