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The Rose of Versailles |  |
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The Rose of Versailles | |
For the following episode list, a brief synopsis and a detailed script are available. I would like to thank Bruce Carlson, GenRei, and everyone on the script and subtitling team for making these scripts available.
Episode 1 - Oscar, the Destiny of the Rose (script) (synopsis)
Episode 2 - Fly! An Austrian Butterfly (script) (synopsis)
Episode 3 - A Spark in Versailles (script) (synopsis)
Episode 4 - A Rose, Wine, and Conspiracy... (script) (synopsis)
Episode 5 - Tears with Dignity (script) (synopsis)
Episode 6 - A Silk Dress and a Rugged Dress (script) (synopsis)
Episode 7 - Who Wrote the Love Letter (script) (synopsis)
Episode 8 - Oscar in my Heart (script) (synopsis)
Episode 9 - The Sun Sets, the Sun Rises (script) (synopsis)
Episode 10 - A Beautiful Fiend, Jeanne (script) (synopsis)
Episode 11 - Fersen Departs for the Northland. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 12 - Oscar at the Duel at Dawn. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 13 - The Wind of Arras, Please Respond... (script) (synopsis)
Episode 14 - The Secret of the Angel. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 15 - The Countess of Casino. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 16 - Mother, Her Name is...? (script) (synopsis)
Episode 17 - Now the Time of Encounter. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 18 - Suddenly, Like Icarus. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 19 - Farewell, My Sister. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 20 - Fersen, a Farewell Rondeau. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 21 - The Black Rose Blooms at Night. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 22 - The Necklaces Shines Ominously. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 23 - Cunning and Tough. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 24 - Adieu, My Youth. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 25 - A Minuet of Unrequited Love. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 26 - I Want to See The Black Knight! (script) (synopsis)
Episode 27 - Even if I Lose the Light... (script) (synopsis)
Episode 28 - Andre, a Green Lemon. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 29 - A Marionette Starting to Walk. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 30 - You're the Light, I'm the Shadow. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 31 - A Lilac Blooming in the Barracks. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 32 - The Prelude to the Storm/ (script) (synopsis)
Episode 33 - A Funeral Bell Tolls in the Twilight. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 34 - Now 'The Tennis Court Oath'. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 35 - Oscar Now Splits Away... (script) (synopsis)
Episode 36 - The Watchward is 'Au Revoir'. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 37 - On the Night of Passionate Vows. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 38 - In Front of the Door of Destiny. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 39 - His Smile is Forever Gone! (script) (synopsis)
Episode 40 - Adieu, My Beloved Oscar. (script) (synopsis)
Episode 41 - Series Recap. (script) (synopsis)
| Kusamurani namo shirezu | Flowers without names |
| Saiteiru hana narab | Blooming in the field |
| Tada kaze wo ukenagara | Can just sway in the wind |
| Soyoide ireba iikeredo | |
| Watashi wa bara no | But I was born with a destiny of roses |
| sadame ni umareta | |
| Hanayakani hageshiku | Born to live in glory and passion |
| ikiro to umareta | |
| Bara wa bara wa | Roses, roses |
| Kedakaku saite | (They) bloom in dignity |
| Bara wa bara wa | Roses, roses |
| Utsukushiku chiru | (They) fall (scatter) in beauty |
It has been reported that the opening theme for The Rose of Versailles will be re-released in February '2000, as a cover by a Japanese rock band called Lareine, whose lead singer looks suspiciously like Oscar! Ikeda-san will be doing the cover art, and a special 120 page booklet for the first pressing of this single.
| Ai ga kurushimi nara | If loving is to suffer (a suffer) |
| Ikurademo kurushi mou | I will take any suffering |
| Sore ga kimino kokoro ni | Until it reaches |
| Itsuka todoku made | To your heart someday |
| Kimi wa hikari | You are the Light |
| Boku wa kage | I am the Shadow |
| Hanre rarenai futari no kizuna | A bond that can never be apart |
| Kurushimeba kurushimu hodo | The more I suffer, |
| Ai wa, ai wa fukamaru | the deeper my love gets |
ANDRE: "The more I love you, the more blind I become to you. Ah, Oscar...Oscar!"
The ending theme is now available as a midi file, courtesy of Steven Choy.
This information was provided by James Holman and the opinions expressed are his, as I haven't had a chance to hear the CDs myself.
There are two CDs for Rose of Versailles, the original soundtrack and the 4 CD set for the characters of Oscar, Andre, Fersen, and Marie Antoinette.
"Original Author: Riyoko Ikeda (Shueisha Magaret Comics)"
"Planning: Shigeru Umetani, Souichirou Yamamoto"
"Music: Kouji Makaino"
"Animation Director/Character Designer: Shingo Araki / Michi Himemo"
"Art Director: Ken Kawai, Tadao Kubota"
"Photographic Director: Hirokata Takahashi, Masao Miyauchi"
"Music Selection: Seiji Sezuki"
"Literary Source: Kazuyuki Honma"
"Production Management: Shirou Seino"
"Chief Director: Tadao Nagahama"
(Note: Tadao Nagahama was replaced by Osamu Dezaki as director after Episode
18, apparently due to friction between him and Oscar's seiyuu, Reiko Tajima.)
"Producer: Seiichi Ginya, Shunzou Katou"
"Production by Tokyo Movie New Company" (or "Producted by Tokyo Movie Shinsha")
Courtesy of Hitoshi Doi's seiyuu database
Reviewers for the Shoujo Anime List regard the first half of the series as having lavishly beautiful artwork, but weaker stories than the second half (when the second director took over, see credits), which had an astonishingly dramatic storyline along with dynamic artwork. They conclude that the series is a must see.
I have heard this opinion from several people and feel that it is true to some extent; the latter half of the series, as the Revolution approaches and Oscar finds herself caught between two worlds is certainly very powerful. However, it would not have had the same dramatic payoff without the first half to set the stage, and show the world that Oscar was born into, in all its splendor and well as its faults, all the while forshadowing its eventual fall. I must agree that the artwork is wonderful, especially the rending of Oscar later in the series. She is no clearly no longer a girl, but a women, and an even more beautiful one.
I was drawn to the series due to its drama, wonderful artwork and character design, and due to the characters themselves, especially Oscar (Is there anyone out there who would not fall in love with her?). As I have stated earlier, it is the conflicts within Oscar about her duties and about herself that drives the series. Her greatest flaw was always holding herself to such strict standards of duty and loyality, she kept her own feelings too deeply buried. It's only at the end when she breaks with her old life that she could fully embrace her own passions, only by then...
In some respects, the series reminds me of another favorite of mine, Legends of the Galactic Heroes which features two main characters who experience similar conflicts, as well as much of the intrigue and clash of societies that appears in The Rose of Versailles.
