"Berusaiyu no bara" (1979) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

10 October 1979 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Pedophilia | Horsemanship | Love | France | Based On Manga

Cast

Reiko Tajima

...

Oscar Francois de Jarjayes (unknown episodes)

Also Known As:

The Rose of Versailles

Runtime:

Japan:24 min (40 episodes)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Company:

Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS)

Movie Connections:

Remade as Lady Oscar (1979)

Soundtrack:

Ai no Hikari to Kage

French history lessons with a twist?

Osamu Dezaki was one of the most prominent Japanese animationist, recognized for a visual style that aims to give the viewers a sense of 'static movement'.

Considered to be one of his best works, "The Rose of Versailles" features a young heroine, Oscar, seeking to find her role in a world that falls apart around her in the most violent way possible - the French Revolution. She commands a battery of soldiers, protecting the King of France and his wife, with the help of her faithful attache.

This series doesn't focus on her alone, as backstabbing politics that occur inside the confines of the Versailles give the viewers compelling reasons to watch. Without wanting to give away anything, I advise anyone wishing to see this series that Osamu Dezaki represented a phase in the history of Japanese animation in which his works reflected the social psyche of a tumultuous Japan before its meteoric rise in the 80's.

Even with a female lead, it's best that kids under the age of 12 understand first what the French Revolution was like.

If you liked this series, perhaps you may find other works of Osamu Dezaki also appealing, such as the boxing series 'Hurricane Joe' and 'Treasure Island'.