Attack of the Anime Toys! - Rose of Versailles

Rose of Versailles
Japanese stuff Takara Lady Oscar Once upon a time, way back in the 1970s, there was a shoujo-to-top-all-shoujo romance called "The Rose of Versailles." It was set in pre-Revolutionary France, and concerned a sword fightin' girl, who'd been raised as a boy by her dad. She basically pranced around Louis's court, dressed in drag, and served as Marie Antoinette's body guard. (And, one might argue, not a terribly effective one, considering what subsequently happened to Marie Antoinette. My husband still jokes as to whether the line will include a guillotine playset.) Anyway anyway, a way back when, a company called Asahi-Toy made RoV dolls, big and small. So, I was ever so slightly anticipatory when Takara announced that it was bringing out an anniversary edition Lady Oscar doll. They done good! The packaging is beautiful. Here's a shot of the front of the box. Here's some artwork from the back. The doll itself is pretty stunning too. But, look at her face. Is it just me, or does Lady Oscar seem a bit pissed off? Large Marie Antoinette Dig this amazing, large-scale Rose of Versailles Marie Antoinette doll Corky & Ardith found me on a recent trip to Japan! This box is over 23" high, and the doll inside is around 21", meaning she could probably go a few rounds with My Size Barbie. (Here's a picture of Big Marie compared to a Barbie-scaled Marie doll. The manufacturer is listed as "Asahi Toys." Here's a close-up of her face, so you can see those wonderful shoujo starry eyes. Here's some artwork from the back of the box. 1:6 Scale Marie Antoinette Just for comparison, here's the Barbie-sized Marie doll. Just so's you'll know, although Big Marie wears red boots, little Marie is dressed in tastebul little white sandals. Here's a close-up of the doll's face, with them big ol' shoujo manga eyes. The artwork on the box is different from Big Marie, although it's similar to that used for the Italian Rose of Versailles dolls. Speaking of which, here's a picture of an Italian Lady Oscar doll (the manufacturer of which, I believe, is Ceppi Ratti) next to the Asahi Marie Antoinette RoV keychans Very nice likenesses of Oscar and Marie on these tiny keychains. Italian dolls Lady Oscar in red Here's an 8" scale doll from a company called Ceppi Ratti that apparently dates from the first showing of Rose of Versailles on Italian TV, back in the 70's. Dig those great RoV graphics. Here's the back of the box, showing Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette. Lady Oscar in blue Another 8" scale Ceppi Ratti doll, this one featuring Oscar in a blue coat. 1:6 scale Lady Oscar For whatever reason, Ceppi Ratti made at least three different scales of Rose of Versailles dolls. This is a 1:6 scale (ie, Barbie-sized) version of Lady Oscar. 1:6 scale Marie Antoinette A companion doll to the 12" Lady Oscar, here's Marie Antoinette in her really big dress. A close-up of her shoujo eyes. Big and scary Oscar and Marie dolls If you'll believe, 24" scale dolls of Oscar and Marie (and if you don't believe, I have a Jenny doll standing there for scale). In addition to being able to stomp Tokyo, these dolls also walk and sing! They have tiny record players in their bodies. Kinda like a Twilight Zone episode, huh? Other stuff and nonsense Korean Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette Hey, you've seen this flourescent Marie Antoinette before, but now she's mine mine mine! And even better, look at the groovy sticker fun book Anna included in the package! Dress up Marie in her favorite earrings! But don't give her those tacky gloves, she'll chop off your head. hahaha.... Japanese Lady Oscar doll photos These pictures are taken from the Licca Encyclopedia, which I found thanks to my buddy Corky. These are Japanese RoV dolls, and that one Lady Oscar looks nearly identical to the Italian doll, save for a few markings on the box. Japanese Drama Doll photos Marie Antoinette and Lady Oscar "Drama Dolls." These pictures are also from the Licca Encyclopedia. These dolls appear to be of a bit larger scale than the other dolls, but I can't be sure.

Rose of Versailles

Japanese stuff

Takara Lady Oscar: Once upon a time, way back in the 1970s, there was a shoujo-to-top-all-shoujo romance called "The Rose of Versailles." It was set in pre-Revolutionary France, and concerned a sword fightin' girl, who'd been raised as a boy by her dad. She basically pranced around Louis's court, dressed in drag, and served as Marie Antoinette's body guard. (And, one might argue, not a terribly effective one, considering what subsequently happened to Marie Antoinette. My husband still jokes as to whether the line will include a guillotine playset.) Anyway anyway, a way back when, a company called Asahi-Toy made RoV dolls, big and small. So, I was ever so slightly anticipatory when Takara announced that it was bringing out an anniversary edition Lady Oscar doll. They done good! The packaging is beautiful. Here's a shot of the front of the box. Here's some artwork from the back. The doll itself is pretty stunning too. But, look at her face. Is it just me, or does Lady Oscar seem a bit pissed off?
Large Marie Antoinette: Dig this amazing, large-scale Rose of Versailles Marie Antoinette doll Corky & Ardith found me on a recent trip to Japan! This box is over 23" high, and the doll inside is around 21", meaning she could probably go a few rounds with My Size Barbie. (Here's a picture of Big Marie compared to a Barbie-scaled Marie doll. The manufacturer is listed as "Asahi Toys." Here's a close-up of her face, so you can see those wonderful shoujo starry eyes. Here's some artwork from the back of the box.
1:6 Scale Marie Antoinette: Just for comparison, here's the Barbie-sized Marie doll. Just so's you'll know, although Big Marie wears red boots, little Marie is dressed in tastebul little white sandals. Here's a close-up of the doll's face, with them big ol' shoujo manga eyes. The artwork on the box is different from Big Marie, although it's similar to that used for the Italian Rose of Versailles dolls. Speaking of which, here's a picture of an Italian Lady Oscar doll (the manufacturer of which, I believe, is Ceppi Ratti) next to the Asahi Marie Antoinette
RoV keychans: Very nice likenesses of Oscar and Marie on these tiny keychains.

Italian dolls

Lady Oscar in red: Here's an 8" scale doll from a company called Ceppi Ratti that apparently dates from the first showing of Rose of Versailles on Italian TV, back in the 70's. Dig those great RoV graphics. Here's the back of the box, showing Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette.
Lady Oscar in blue: Another 8" scale Ceppi Ratti doll, this one featuring Oscar in a blue coat.
1:6 scale Lady Oscar: For whatever reason, Ceppi Ratti made at least three different scales of Rose of Versailles dolls. This is a 1:6 scale (ie, Barbie-sized) version of Lady Oscar.
1:6 scale Marie Antoinette: A companion doll to the 12" Lady Oscar, here's Marie Antoinette in her really big dress. A close-up of her shoujo eyes.
Big and scary Oscar and Marie dolls: If you'll believe, 24" scale dolls of Oscar and Marie (and if you don't believe, I have a Jenny doll standing there for scale). In addition to being able to stomp Tokyo, these dolls also walk and sing! They have tiny record players in their bodies. Kinda like a Twilight Zone episode, huh?

Other stuff and nonsense

Korean Lady Oscar and Marie Antoinette: Hey, you've seen this flourescent Marie Antoinette before, but now she's mine mine mine! And even better, look at the groovy sticker fun book Anna included in the package! Dress up Marie in her favorite earrings! But don't give her those tacky gloves, she'll chop off your head. hahaha....
Japanese Lady Oscar doll photos: These pictures are taken from the Licca Encyclopedia, which I found thanks to my buddy Corky. These are Japanese RoV dolls, and that one Lady Oscar looks nearly identical to the Italian doll, save for a few markings on the box.
Japanese Drama Doll photos: Marie Antoinette and Lady Oscar "Drama Dolls." These pictures are also from the Licca Encyclopedia. These dolls appear to be of a bit larger scale than the other dolls, but I can't be sure.

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