Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
literaturenerd
After putting this off for eons, I've finally decided to review Rose of Versailles. This is an anime that almost everyone has heard of, but fewer people have actually seen. In terms of popularity, Rose of Versailles isn't ranked in the top 1,800. I've yet to convince any of my offline buddies to check this one out because when you recommend this anime to people you're usually met with stuff like "It's so OLD though!" Or sometimes you might hear "Isn't that one of those elitist series? Doesn't that mean it's going to be super boring and pretentious?" These attitudes are unfortunate because I think almost everyone would get something out of this series! Rose of Versailles was made for young girls, but I'm a 32 year old man and I loved it!
Do you like historical fiction with tons of action?…
Read at the sourceRecynon
I might've been a tad less harsh on this show if people praising this show didn't always preface it with, "don't worry about it being shoujo, this is actually really mature and sophisticated". Bullshit. No it's not. Every single time a shoujo or shounen author mixes history or some niche subject into their work, people get fooled into thinking it's suddenly quality writing just because they're able to portray the subject matter with some accuracy (this, Vinland Saga, Descending Stories Rakugo) but the shoujo or shounen backbone still remains the same. A story's ability to portray the subject matter accurately does not make it a good story by itself. If I wanted to learn about Vikings or the French Revolution, or Rakugo, I'd watch a documentary or read a nonfiction book. So I'll just get on…
Read at the sourcektulu007
The Rose of Versailles is an old school anime. It aired from 1979-1980 and was based off of a manga from the early 70s. It was brought to us by TMS, the same studio behind the mediocre Magic Knight Rayearth, the excellent Glass no Kamen & the decent enough Kousetsu Hyaku Monogatari. Is this one a classic worth revisiting? Let's find out.
Story:
In the years leading up to the French revolution, a young woman works as the Captain of the Royal guards, as she was raised like a boy. This is our heroine, Oscar François de Jarjeyes. Can she navigate through the turbulent times?
Okay, I'm going to ignore that this series has about as much relation to actual history as the Abrams films have to do with Star Trek. It's historical fiction, we can forgive it for only vaguely resembling the reality…
Read at the sourceGundroog
Rose of Versailles is a typical shoujo romance set not long before and during French Revolution. It executes both badly. There are gonna be spoilers here.
One of the big problems with this show is presentation, large part of the french revolution revolves around royalty and nobility treating common people like animals and disregarding their rights or wishes despite them making up majority of the population. However in RoV for some reason a lot of time is spent showing her going to balls, spending money, gambling and generally acting deplorably but they way it's shown it's almost as if you're suppose to empathize with her and feel sympathy. Even at the very end when Oscar finally parts way it's said obstacle for their friendship was her being a Queen of France which couldn't be further awa…
Read at the sourcechaiskye
ROSE OF VERSAILLES (Anime TV Series)
After I completed Rose of Versailles, I was trapped in a limbo and wished to stay there.
This 40-episode anime is a good fictionalised version of French history, revolution and of the iconic but ill-fated Queen Marie Antoinette's life. For someone studying this subject, this is helpful in remembering certain points. Note that main characters Oscar Francois de Jarjayes—a girl her father raised as a man— and André Grandier are among the other fictional characters. Oscar and Andre, the very reason why I wanted time to stop.
I like how Riyoko Ikeda masterfully put together the voices of the people and of the crown, showing both sides of the coin for us to sympathise with both—or hate both—and understand deeper whatever it is that's hidden; unlike other c…
Read at the sourceFleure
It’s the eve of the 18th century and France is flailing between hubris and chaos.
The air is stale in Paris; an odious despair engulfs the streets as the common man struggles to eat. The color of the Seine slowly begins to fade. Yet, the scarlet-stained roses of Versailles continue to bloom with such fervor, such elegance, and such nobility. Surrounded by decadence in its purest form, these roses thrive; unaffected and ignorant of the tumultuous tempest that brews, seeping insidiously into the soils of the earth.
One rose, the noblest of them all, with a chivalrous conviction breaks off - known better in the evocative masterpiece by Dezaki as Oscar Francois, or the real “Rose of Versailles”.
With sun-kissed golden tresses, a pellucid conviction, and a regal dominance, Oscar from the get…
Read at the sourceBlerdGirl
If you combined certain elements of Revolutionary Girl Utena with the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, you'd get Rose of Versailles.
One of the best aspects of the anime is the plot, which revolves around the years leading up to the French Resolution. Not only is the historical aspect of it based on real events (with some creative liberties taken), but also real people such as General Francois de Jarjayes (who inspired the main lead character Lady Oscar).
Another great aspect of the plot is that discusses classism (discrimination btw. classes), gender roles, power struggles, and justice in a way that entertains the viewer, pulls at their heartstrings, and makes them think. There is a LOT of death in this anime, some of it so cruel and tragic that you'll want to stop watching, yet ke…
Read at the sourcePowerUpOrDie
They make magnificent cheese in France, and Japan can make a magnificently cheesy anime set in France. It's best to approach 'Rose of Versailles' the same way one would approach a Rafael Sabatini novel or the Errol Flynn 'Robin Hood' movie from the 1930's, as swashbuckling adventures, melodramatic romances, and cackling villains abound (oh, and somebody spilled a truckload of shojo glitter). This legendary anime is a grand old time.
'Rose of Versailles' is licensed by Nozomi Entertainment and can be legally streamed on Crunchyroll.
-Story-
Melodrama done right. I know I've lambasted other series for being melodramatic, but those cases involved situations where there were inexplicable tone shifts and all the scenery-chewing ham came from nowhere. 'RoV' incorporates its over-the-top emoti…
Read at the sourcevegetablespirit
It's without hesitation that I'd consider Rose of Versailles to be the definitive masterpiece of the shoujo genre. Clearly defined, ambitious, and relentless, it accurately dramatizes the period of instability leading up and into the French Revolution, all the while developing memorable and unique characters. Thanks to this grace, it has had an influence on anime and manga to this day.
Our main character, Oscar François, is one of a strange background. Born a woman, raised a man, the series chronicles her life as she vows to relentlessly protect Marie Antoinette. She's among the most well-portrayed female protagonists in the medium, never faltering to the standard set of tropes implied by her status. If anything, she's unpredictable, and that's her strong suit. Ranging from cold and calc…
Read at the sourcewhitelynx17
I loved this Anime! it had such drama, the kind that current anime doesn't have for some reason. The Anime itself (Rose of Versailles) was made in the 70's which explains alot about the artwork that doesn't resemble the anime we recognize today. But overall the bacground art and character designs are quite exceptionable for the time it was made! I enjoyed it nonetheless. other than the art I would say the story was a masterpiece! a story centered around the life of Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, Marie Antoinette, and how it all boils down to the French Revolution! It kept me on the edge of my seat between the subtle romance, and the plots to ruin the French Dynasty, and the uprising. I really enjoyed it I can say I wouldn't have ended it differently although the ending is sad. I guess thats h…
Read at the sourceLydiia
Wow, what a story. I can't believe I haven't watched this anime until now. No, I can't believe what I just watched. I'd always thought that the forbidden love romance between Romeo and Juliet was tragic... I'd always thought that Shingeki no Kyojin was epic. I'd always thought that stories like Clannad and AnoHana were masterpieces. But wow, Rose of Versailles puts all of these shows to shame. Who knew that an anime, which some people (idiots) call "cartoons", could portray such a realistic, romantic, tragic, and captivating historical story about the events leading up to the french revolution - 1700s. Rose of Versailles is truly a hidden gem that deserves more recognition. My favorite anime of all time.
The setting is in France, before and during the French Revolution. The story is about…
Read at the sourceRandomChampion
-Spoiler Free Review-
Rose of Versailles is a historical drama that was made in the 70's. That's right - the 70s with its distinct shoujo character designs, dated animation techniques, and some music with hints of disco. In an age flooded with 1080p productions employing the use of advanced computer animation, this anime's age might be a turn-off for those looking for the latest eye candy. However, this anime excels in the holy trinity of visual narrative; that is, characters, plot, and direction. Anybody who values these aspects should not miss this anime, as they lead the way to a powerful experience rarely achieved by fiction.
The historical drama is set in pre-Revolution France and primarily delves into the events taking place in Versailles, the palace of the royal family and high no…
Read at the sourcedublincore
Age hasn't necessarily treated it well, but Rose of Versailles remains a compelling and gripping viewing experience for even modern, jaded audiences, as long as they enter into it equipped with a bit of patience, a fondness or tolerance for heavy-handed sentimentality, and open-mindedness with regards to their entertainment.
Rose of Versailles tells the story (with a few deviations) of four people, living in the years leading up to the French Revolution. Two of them, Marie Antoinette and Hans Axel von Fersen, are fictionalized but nonetheless fairly 'real' portrayals of their historical counterparts. The other two, Oscar Francois de Jarjeyes and Andre Grandier, are (almost) wholly fictional characters who serve as sort of the emotional anchor for the series. Much of what happens, whether…
Read at the sourceSolemnmind
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 in itself and the terrific characteriza…
Read at the sourcekekekeKaj
As a general rule, I'm not into shoujos - joseis yes, but not shoujos. "Rose of Versailles" is a shoujo.
And it's also one of my favourite anime.
"Rose of Versaille" is an old fashioned telling of an old story. The oldness is all too obvious in its painfully outdated presentation (such as the overuse of panning, static frames), the agonizing lack of finesse (such as the over the top and often random dramatisation), and the poor quality sound production. And yet, right from the start, I could sense potential underneath its crappy exterior.
I was not disappointed. It took me a few episodes to get used to the laughably bad production gimmicks, but by episode 10 it already has the markings of a great tragedy, and I was engrossed.
"Rose of Versailles" is a story with historical settings -…
Read at the sourceSeabury
70’s. Somehow, the ‘70’s-ness made this show better. The ridiculous sound effects crack me up every time, and that's good because otherwise the show might just be too heavy. The animation is at times downright shabby by our standards, however what do you expect, some three decades later? To enjoy this show, you have to accept that it has a lot of faults, and that despite that it entertains quite strongly.
At times I felt like this show was too dramatic, it felt a bit silly and predictable. Many times, I felt that I wasn't in the mood to watch another episode, but I put it on just to be sure, and sure enough, I would be wrapped up in minutes. What really got me excited every time was the opening theme song, which suffice to say, kicks all kinds of ass. The closing song is beautiful, and e…
Read at the sourceohtori_akio
Before you read this I will ask of you to not judge it solely on the high ratings. I feel like I have explained the reasons for giving them quite well. Please in your rating, let me know the way to improve on it and I will promptly do so. The high animation rating is based on what could be accomplished at the time the anime was made as I realise that it would be sub-standard if it were made nowadays.
This anime is one of my favourite and I have seen many in 15 years but only a couple have managed to come close in delivering like this one does.
The animation is not the best nowadays but I am giving it a high mark because for its time, it is a remarkable achievement. I am sure that many people will agree with me on this, some of the budget episodes of Sailor Moon or Pokemon and Naruto look…
Read at the sourceRobdeFR
[This review is spoiler free]
The first thing that you naturally notice when you start watching Rose Of Versailles, are the marvellous character designs done by Shingo Araki, the man did a lot of character designs on the seventies for some famous titles but here he was in his best shape and developed his trademark style, which he later also used on Saint Seiya for instance.
Not only the character designs but the style and the peculiar 70s filled directing approach are very appealing and are added with a consistent and clever animation for ’79, and dare I say that some scenes are so well animated with the character movements that they even defy the commodity of modern animation from these days. Some examples being shown when there is a dance scene and in some crowd scenes where most of the…
Read at the sourceMagEarwhig
Story
It’s based on the French Revolution, though that doesn’t mean the story is completely unoriginal, the author added few original characters like Oscar Francois de Jarjayes, who happens to be the main character. A bulk of the first half of story focuses on Marie Antoinette and certain nobles trying to take advantage of her or trying to oppose her due to her being young and impressionable. While the second half focused on planting the seeds of the historic Revolution with the Royal family sort of fading in the background in favour of Oscar, Andre and other characters that where somehow involved in the upcoming revolution.
The story is nicely paced; there was mostly no wasteful episode, so each event had an effect on the overall story.
Animation
It’s unfair to say that the animation is…
Read at the sourcemistress_reebi
Since when did history become interesting? Lady Oscar (The Rose of Versailles) may seem like it came from the French Revolution judging by the animation style, but the storyline is extremely well written. There is an excellent cast of characters each with their own personality. Lady Oscar is a classic and should be viewed by every anime fan, especially those who are into shojo.It's similar to the Hollywood movie, "Marie-Antoinette," however, it shows the events going on inside and outside of Versailles with a plot that is more enjoyable. (It isn't an anime showing the day and the life of Marie-Antoinette partying. Also, her personality is kinder in Lady Oscar.)
The characterisation is perfect with a strong female lead. Though Marie-Antoinette's character is childish, she isn't a cookie-c…
Read at the source