To Top
[ Books | Comics | Dr Who | Kites | Model Trains | Music | Sooners | People | RVC | Shows | Stamps | USA ]
[ About | Terminology | Legend | Blog | Quotes | Links | Stats | Updates | Settings ]

Movie or Show Details

R.O.D the TV
Television; Anime
1 Sep 2003 - 16 Mar 2004
Bloody Violence; Bad Language; Nudity
Japan
Japanese
Read or Die: the TV
Read or Dream
ROD the TV
The Papers Have Landed
From There On
Stereo
Same as Read or Die OVA.  I like to watch all of a particular show so I rented these after watching ROD on Watch Now Netflix.
Anime; Science Fiction; Adventure; Comedy; Drama; Mystery; Shounen
See Description
R.O.D -THE TV- is a 26-episode TV anime series, animated by J.C.Staff and produced by Aniplex, directed by Koji Masunari and scripted by Yousuke Kuroda, about the adventures of three paper-manipulating sisters, Michelle, Maggie and Anita, who become the bodyguards of Sumiregawa Nenene, a famous Japanese writer. Featuring music by Taku Iwasaki, the series is a sequel to the Read or Die OVA. Its official title, written precisely, is "R.O.D the TV". This is a catch-all acronym referring to the inclusion of characters from both the Read or Die manga and OVA and the Read or Dream manga, which revolves solely around the Paper Sisters. Promotional material for R.O.D the TV displays the show as revolving around the three sisters from the original "Read or Dream", however, Nenene is generally accepted as being the protagonist of the series.

R.O.D -THE TV- first premiered across Japan from October 1, 2003 through March 16, 2004 on pay-per-view satellite television platform SKY PerfecTV!. It was later aired across the terrestrial Fuji Television station from October 15, 2003 through March 18, 2004. The series spanned a total of 26 episodes.

The complete series was broadcast worldwide by the anime satellite television network, Animax.

The series starts in 2006, five years after the "I-Jin" incident detailed in the Read or Die OVA. Yomiko Readman (AKA The Paper, agent of British Library Task Force) has supposedly gone missing, and Nenene Sumiregawa, her former student and best friend, is still in Tokyo after her parents moved to the USA. Nenene has not written a book since Yomiko disappeared, as she has become lonely and frustrated that her sensei has never read her last book, and she feels she can't write again until she hears Yomiko's reaction to the book, so Nenene often disappears for long periods of time searching for Yomiko, and has been periodically doing so ever since her "disappearance".

During a trip to Hong Kong, Nenene meets the three sisters, Michelle, Maggie and Anita (from the Read or Dream manga), who are supposed to take care of her during her visit. However, the hotel at which Nenene is supposed to stay at is bombed, and at a press conference Nenene is briefly held hostage by a jealous rival in her industry. The three sisters end up becoming her bodyguards and join her back to Tokyo.

Each sister has paper manipulation skills similar to Yomiko, although significantly less powerful and more focused in scope. After the initial action-filled adventure, the first several episodes take on the feel of an odd-couple comedy which focuses on tension between Nenene and the sisters, who move into her apartment and mooch off her, all while dealing with various crazies and psychos in their everyday lives. The sisters also perform odd jobs as agents of the Dokusensha (ostensibly a Chinese publishing company, but more like an Illuminati-type organization focusing on the collection of rare and powerful documents). This eventually puts them and Nenene in direct conflict with the British Library (the protagonists from the OVA series and manga; Dokusensha is established as the British Library's rival in the manga).

Events grow more serious as the series progresses as, in typical anime fashion, atrocities are committed by both sides, thrusting the main characters into the middle of a conflict between literary superpowers, the British Library and Dokusensha, who are both trying to collect ancient artifacts (books, of course) to control the entire world and even rewrite history. After a horrific collision between the two superpowers, Nenene and the Paper Sisters set out to find the missing Yomiko to learn the truth about the conflict and save the world from literary terrorism.

- From Wikipedia
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

After 12 Episodes
R.O.D. is a fun-spirited detective story about Nenene Sumiregawa, a promising author who's been suffering from writer's block since her best friend, Yomiko Readman, disappeared four years ago. Luckily, Nenene's last novel was quite a success and she's been living off royalties ever since. Unfortunately, someone who isn't impressed with her world view wants her dead.

The story begins with Nenene traveling to Hong Kong to drum up some publicity for the new movie based on her novel. Once there, she is picked up by the Paper Sisters, Michelle Chan, Maggie Mui, and Anita King, and driven to her hotel. Fortunately, the girls were a few minutes late - just as they pull up to the hotel, a bomb goes off in Nenene's assigned room and blows out the windows.

Of course, Nenene can't stay there now that it's blatantly obvious that someone is trying to kill her, so she stays with the Paper Sisters, sleeping amidst stacks of books in their cramped little apartment that doubles as their office. Michelle and Maggie are thrilled to have her around, but little sis, Anita, immediately wants her gone, so the tension builds between the four.

Also of note, which you might have been able to tell from their last names, the sisters aren't actually blood sisters. They all found one another at one point and decided to become sisters. They also all share the ability to manipulate paper in some way - like Yomiko did in the OAV series - which comes in handy when their employer gives them missions to retrieve rare books from the baddies.

The story, so far, has been very smooth. Some episodes focus on the overall interaction between the sisters and Nenene, while others focus on rare book retrieval missions they do to pay the bills on the side. Both tracks converge around episodes 11-12 when we learn more about the purpose of the books and how Nenene is involved.

So far, R.O.D. has been lots of fun to watch. It's just the right mix of comedy and espionage action to keep you wanting more.

Animation:

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

While the animation isn't as high quality as the OAV was (but what anime really is, right?) this anime looks really good. This anime is vibrantly colored and the sisters are animated to fit with their personalities. For instance, Maggie is an introvert, so they've drawn her a good 6 inches taller than Michelle - she moves sluggishly and rarely shows emotions - while Michelle is high spirited, so often her movements are exaggerated to accentuate her dramatics and happy nature.

Music:

My Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

The music of R.O.D. is excellent. Composer Taku Iwasaki creates a jazzy score to highlight the detective/spy-thriller feel of the show.

Character Design:

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Overall, it's the characters that make R.O.D. as entertaining as it is, and their personalities match how they fight in battle. Maggie is the defense and uses her paper familiars to transport and protect her sisters. Michelle is the backup, ready to jump in and fight if something unexpected happens. And Anita is the attacker.

When not in battle, Maggie is quiet and reserved, choosing to isolate herself and read, while Michelle is giddy and air headed much of the time, unless something happens between Anita and Maggie - then she's the glue that tries to get them to resolve their differences. And Anita is a spunky, outspoken girl who hates books and can't understand her sisters' obsession with them. They actually spend some time developing Anita's character by having her interact with classmates and make friends.

Animetique

Seasons / Episodes
5
22-Sep-2003
6
29-Sep-2003
7
06-Oct-2003
9
20-Oct-2003
10
27-Oct-2003
11
03-Nov-2003
16
08-Dec-2003
17
01-Jan-2003
18
01-Jan-2003
19
01-Feb-2003
20
01-Feb-2004
22
16-Feb-2004
23
01-Mar-2004
24
01-Mar-2004
26
16-Mar-2004
Songs
Opening Theme
Title: R.O.D (2003)


Ending Theme
Title: Confidence (2003)


Japanese Lyrics:

natsukashii kaze no nioi dokoka sabishikute...
modorenai hibi wo hito ha itoshiku omou yo

toki no chikara ha ooki sugite
hitori kiri tada nagasarete mo
shinjiteiru tadoritsuku saki
kawaranai egao no basho he

futatsu ni wakareta yume demo
tookute mienakute mo
kitto tsunaideru kokoro ha tsuyoku
kanarazu mata aeru

naita fuyu mo warai au natsu mo
kokoro wo azukerareta
me wo tojita toki ni
kanjirareru yo
ano koro no nukumori

tasogare ni kaze ga kieru tojita me wo hiraku
ima wo sasu jikan no hari gofun sugiteita

arukuhodo deai ha arukedo
sono tabini dare ka wasureteku
dakedo hikaru omoide no naka
wasurenai sugata ga mieru

kimi made todokete hoshii yo
kodoku ni mayou toki mo
hoka ni kawaranai taisetsu na mono
itsudemo sobaniaru

negau yoru wo kanaeteku asu he
wakaru yo chikaduiteru
onaji michi no ue surechigatte mo
kono te de tsukanderu

futatsu ni wakareta yume demo
tookute mienakute mo
kitto tsunaideru kokoro ha tsuyoku
kanarazu mata aeru

negau yoru wo kanaeteku asu he
wakaru yo chikaduiteru
onaji michi no ue surechigatte mo
kono te de tsukanderu
ano koro no nukumori
Ending Theme
Title: Moments in The Sun (2003)
Japanese Lyrics:

taisetsu ni shiteita mono ha
itsumo koboreochite yuku
demo kimi to no omoide dake ha
kono mune no oku ni tsuyokuaru
suzushiku natte kita umi
hashaideta futari no kage
kimi no sukoshi yake sugita hada to
shizunde iku yuuhi ni toketa
kono te wo zutto hanasanai mama
otona ni natte iketara ii no ni

hizashi no naka de oikaketa
kimi no sugata sagashite
koi ga owaru yokanshite
yorisotta yone

sukina kimochi ha itsudemo
setsuna sa tsurete shimau kedo
dakedo kimi ga ita bun dake
mae yori yasashiku naretan da
kimi ga nokoshita kabe no rakugaki
tokidoki yubi de nazotte miruyo

hizashi no naka de mitsuketa
futari no basho oboeteru?
ima ni mo kikoeteki souna ano waraigoe

saigo no yoru ha otagaini tada
damatta mama de senaka awaseta

hizashi no naka de oikaketa
kimi no sugata sagashite
koi ga owaru yokanshite
yorisotta yone

hizashi no naka de mitsuketa
futari no basho oboeteru?
ima ni mo kikoeteki souna ano waraigoe

futari dake no natsu no owari
oboete iru yo
Added: 05-Jun-2007     Last Update: 17-Oct-2007







Presented: 06-Apr-2025 04:00:10

Website design and original content
© 1996-2025 Type40 Web Design.
Contact: webmgr@type40.com
Server: type40.com
Page: shwDetails.aspx
Section: Shows

This website uses cookies for use in navigating this site only. No personal information is gathered or shared with anyone. If you don't agree, then don't use this site.