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ローゼンメイデン 
January 24, 2005 | 
25 Comments
Please be aware that reading this recap prior to watching the episode will ruin your enjoyment of the story
Once upon a time, there lived a nameless monster.
The monster was dying to have a name so badly.
So the monster decided to set out on a journey to find itself a name.
But the world was such a large place.
So the monster split into two and went on to two seperate journeys.
One went to the East and the other went to the west.
The monster that went to the east found a village.
There was a blacksmith at the village entrance.
"Mr.Blacksmith, please give me your name" said the monster.
"I can't give you my name" replied the blacksmith.
"If you give me your name I will jump inside you and make you stronger in return." said the monster.
"Really? I'll give you my name if you can make me stronger.", the blacksmith told the monster.
The monster jumped inside the blacksmith.
The monster became Otto the blacksmith.
Otto the blacksmith was the strongest man in the village.
But one day he said:
"Look at me! Look at me!"
"The monster inside of me has grown this big!"
*Chomp, chomp, munch, munch, gobble, gobble, gulp*
The hungry monster ate Otto from the inside out.
The monster then went back to become a monster without a name.
Even though he jumped inside Hans the shoemaker....
*Chomp, chomp, munch, munch, gobble, gobble, gulp*
He went back to being a monster without a name again.
Even though he jumped inside Thomas the hunter.....
*Chomp, chomp, munch, munch, gobble, gobble, gulp*
He still went back to being a monster without a name.
The monster then went to a castle to find a wonderful name.
Inside the castle, there was a very sick boy.
"I'll make you stronger if you give me your name" said the monster
In reply, the boy told him "I'll give you my name if you can cure my illness and make me stronger."
So the monster jumped inside the boy.
The boy became very healthy.
The King was delighted.
"The prince is well! The prince is well!" said the King.
The monster became fond of the boy's name.
He also grew fond of his life inside the castle.
That's why he endured even when he became hungry.
Every day, even when his stomach became very empty, he endured.
But then he became so hungry....
"Look at me! Look at me!" said the boy.
"The monster inside of me has grown this big!"
The boy then ate his father, servants, and everyone.
*Chomp, chomp, munch, munch, gobble, gobble, gulp*
Because everyone was gone....
The boy left on a journey
He walked and walked for days.....
One day the boy met the monster that went west
"I have a name" said the boy.
"It's a wonderful name."
And then the monster that went west said...
"I don't need a name."
"I'm happy even if I don't have a name."
"Because we're monsters without names."
The boy ate the monster that went west.
Even though he now had a name....
There was no one left to call him by his name.
Johan.
It is a wonderful name.
This episode begins with Nina reading the picturebook above. Upon reading the book, Nina realises that the book reminds her of something but it seems she can't remember the details. Lotte tells Nina that for some reason she gets a horrible feeling everytime she reads the picture book. It feels as if all of the murders that have happened lately are related to Johan. Because of this, she asks Nina to explain her relationship with Johan. In reply, Nina asks Lotte if the man that Lotte knows has similar physical traits to her to the point that they can be twins. When Lotte confirms the answer, Nina decides to go after Johan who according to Lotte is now attending Schuwald's speech inside the Munich University library.
Meanwhile inside the library, Tenma tries his best to pull the trigger on his sniper riffle. He, however, seems to have problem doing this, especially after Johan looks towards his way as if knowing that there's someone trying to shoot him. While Tenma tries to muster his courage to pull the trigger, however, another interruption comes in the form of Roberto. The psycho proceeds to beat Tenma up and then takes his sniper riffle and aim it towards Schuwald. At the same time downstairs, Roberto's 'wife' is seen talking to Johan and then makes her way to the back of the shelves while carrying a gasoline. Johan himself then proceeds to make his way to the stage to help Schuwald walking towards the podium to deliver his speech.
As he's taken to the podium, Schuwald lets Johan know that he's aware of Johan's plan to kill him. Johan, however, calmly tells Schuwald that there are many people gathered in the building today. Upon hearing this, Schuwald realises that Johan intends to not only target himself but also those who have come to listen to his speech. Back at the top of the library, Tenma and Roberto struggle against each other. Tenma, however, is no match for Roberto, strength-wise. He ends up bleeding in the floor as Roberto prepares to shoot Schuwald using his sniper riffle. However, unknown to Roberto, Johan has instructed Roberto's 'wife' to drop a flaming match into the oil. Quickly the fire spreads to the audiences' area, causing instant pandemonium.
As every visitors scramble trying to safe themselves, Johan makes a harsh but a very true comment how everyone is now behaving like ants. Jumping over each other, trampling on one another, thinking that they're more entitled to safety than everyone else in the room. Schuwald can do nothing but watch the entire mess in horror. Meanwhile, Roberto is seen looking confused because he thought the plan was to kill Schuwald. But after thinking about it, he agrees like a sheep that Johan's new plan is far more brilliant. This situation allows Tenma to grab the shotgun that Roberto brought himself and aims it at Roberto. Roberto, however, tells Tenma that Tenma has no ability to kill anyone and aims the sniper riffle at Tenma. The episode then ends with a gunshot heard echoing around the library.
Impression:
This episode is mysterious as well as action-packed. I really like The Nameless Monster storybook. Even without connecting the story to Tenma, there are some analogy that one can draw from that story. For example, to me this seems to be an analogy about how the monster within a person can often causes the person to desire a success (to have a 'name') at all costs. In the end, however, the person often ends up lonely and has no one else to share his success with. If one connects the story to Johan's background, however, it seems to symbolise Johan's desire to have a family. And yet everytime, Johan seems unable to resist his desire to kill those who have taken him in as a part of their family.
It's also interesting how the monster started out as one but then seperated into two. This seems to be how things are at the moment with Johan and Nina. Not surprisingly, just like the two nameless monsters, Johan and Nina take two seperate paths. One took a path full of murderous intentions while the others see no such need. Anyway, back to the actual story itself, it's quite disturbing to see people in the room behaving as Johan predicted they will: trying to safe no one but their own hide. This brings us back to Tenma. He seems to be such an ideal character. A person who can't even pull a gun to kill a seemingly remorseless monster. The question is, which one is closer representation of humanity: those people who push others to save themselves or people like Tenma?
Great recap Garten! I watched the episode late last night and I was so anxious to find out what would happen in the next second! The tension is building up really nice and the cliffhangers at the end of these last two episodes make the series even more enjoyable!!! I can now practically say that I LOVE Monster! :P It's a shame I won't be able to find the DVDs here in Greece *sob sob* I should probably order them when they're out on region 2.
As for the storybook moment, it made me uneasy and also made me think a lot about people nowadays. If this storybook really existed, I'd be the first one bying it! :P
Having a name, really means a lot. Having a name literally is being recognized by the others as a being. Your personal identity. And sometimes, according to the name they give you, it may also mean something. "Having a name" in society, metaphorically, would mean being respected (and even sometimes feared) by others (like Shuwald, the "Vampire"). It means nothing though if you are the only one left, or disrespect the others, so that noone would love you anymore or noone would care about you. Is there a Monster inside of Johan saturating its hunger by killing others using him? Has the monster become so keen of Johan that it keeps it from killing him and moving on to its next victim (meaning that Johan will get killed in the process because of his actions - his horrid other self, this monster)?
*** SPOILER STARTS ***
So, taking into consideration that Nina is the other half of the monster in the book, what will happen when the twins meet? In the book "Johan" killed his twin.
*** SPOILER ENDS ***
Sorry for posting this twice (one without a name). I forgot filling the blanks before posting unfortunately :(
Kyoshiro, thank you for reposting it the second time with the name. Anyway, I agree that name is important. It allows you to be recognised and sometimes gives you an entirely different identity such as in the case of screen name.
The storybook is brilliant. I was going to go more into analysing it but was afraid that people will think that I'm crazy. I find what the second monster said to be interesting. "You don't need a name to be happy". But seriously, how many people in this world are happy without having some kind of achievement (or 'name') in their life? I have to be honest and say that I can't do that. I need to know that I have achieved something while living.
I agree that it is interesting that the nameless monster in the book didn't eat the little boy Johan inside out while it devoured everyone else. I can only guess why if I connect the storybook to the story of Monster itself. In that case, I guess the cover of an innocent little boy is far more pleasant to use for the monster to use than that of older people. After all, who'd have guess that a seemingly innocent child can commit such unspeakable acts? Similarly, who'd have guess that someone as good-looking, proper, and polite like Johan could commit such unspeakable acts? It's the whole package within the boy: the name and the image that the boy projects.
I still sooooooooo regret that I ruined Monster for me on a weak day, when I marathoned all 18 volumes in one setting.
(Yes, I did. No, don't ask.)
I can see that you're approaching what I consider the best phase of Monster - where serious progress about the main story is made.
Enjoy it ^_^
Do you remember this?
"On the penultimate superfluous year
the Thursday boy will come to this area.
Books will become engulfed in flames
and the world will become engulfed in sadness."
This is from episode 25, minute 7 or so. Another reference to posterior events, but this time it seems the author did it for play with the reader. I haven't remembered that sentence, so I was surprised with the events. :)
BTW, good review from this awesome episode.
I want to express my appreciation towards this blog, I've been following it for awhile now; not only is it informative about each episode's plot, but the Impressions are always very interesting to read.
Does anyone know another anime blog that follows Monster up to the current episode count? It makes my heart bleed that I can't find another.
The story book seems to be available as a special item:
http://myhome.hanafos.com/~hidecurry/monster_home/monster/monster5_2.htm
I guess that "Obluda" as seen on the cover is the title of a czech tale that it's based on.
It seem that Johan initial plan is to let schuwald son (Forgot the name) to take over the position of schuwald while the mudurer is
none other than tenma. Johan on the other hand control him like a puppet.
That was his first part of the plan.
I think I can understand what johan is trying to do.
But the manga did not show it because certain event took over that made johan changed his mind, changed his plan.
That event was when Johan had read the story book. That was the time where johan plan was written all over the book.
Someone knows about it.
Someone else knew what Johan is trying to do and as what Garten has said, an innocent boy who commited unspeakable acts.
Johan change his mind and plan at that last minute. Roberto, obviously was not informed abt it.
On the next eps, you will understand why he needed the fire for. Johan need confusion and distraction.
Fire will create confusion. When there is great confusion everywhere, that will be the best time to ..... ?
Garten. You don't need a name to be happy.
Neither do you need to fear for a "name" when you study and analyse the storybook.
What kind of truth will we get if we accept some while reject others ?
It may suit your mind, your ease of not going to be called crazy and your belief. But does it suit the facts ?
A jigsaw puzzle can never be completed with lots of missing pieces. Oftenly those missing pieces are the ones where people label them as crazy, stupid or some other name in the hope that you will never complete the puzzle.
Go for it.
Analyse the storybook.
excellent analysis. I have to say I was impressed by the storybook in the beginning. I liked the way it was animated, very cool, and the story itself.
I wonder if the story was used in some sort of way to "program" Johan (and Nina?) when they were young. After all, why WERE they wandering out around the Czech border, alone, near East Germany...
This series is great. I can't believe that it's gone on so long though, giving time to develop the characters. that's good, but at the same time it's hard to get anyone else in to this series since they'd have so much to watch to get up to speed.
but then again that's why I like it so much!
January 26, 2005 | Chris wrote:
I guess that "Obluda" as seen on the cover is the title of a czech tale that it's based on.
- actually, "Obluda" is one of ways how to translate "Monster" in czech language :o)
One of the best Anime i've ever seen. Johan is the most outstanding Evil Char of these years.
U got to SEE this anime.
So... is the storybook real?
Do you know the book "another monster". I've read that it gives extra information about "Monster". I'm looking for the book to buy it through internet but I can't find it I don't know the publisher. Can you help me?
i too was very impressed by the picturebook. after spending a lot of time searching on the internet, i still couldnt find any refference about the book being real. if anybody knows anything that could lead me closer to finding a copy of this picturebok (i still havent lost hope that it exists), please let me know...
i.malek@post.sk
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