Kanaria is the second doll created by the mysterious artisan Rozen, making her an older sister to most of the other Rozen Maidens. Her name draws from Kanarienvogel, the German word for canary, a bird known for its bright song. This connection is fitting, as her primary weapon and tool is a violin, from which she can generate powerful and destructive sound waves capable of deafening enemies, hurling objects, and even creating cyclones. Her artificial spirit, which assists her in battle, is named Pizzicato, a reference to the technique of plucking the strings of an instrument.

In personality, Kanaria is defined by an amusing contrast between her lofty self-image and her actual track record. She constantly proclaims herself to be the genius among the Rozen Maidens and frequently talks about obtaining her sisters Rosa Mystica to win the Alice Game. Despite these bold claims, her schemes are almost always comical failures, making her a primary source of lighthearted moments. This cheerful and somewhat arrogant disposition is paired with a genuine fondness for stealth; she often spies on her sisters from a distance, typically using a pair of binoculars to observe their activities before making her own grandiose, yet bumbling, entrances. Her speech is marked by the distinctive habit of ending her sentences with kashira, a Japanese phrase that roughly translates to I wonder or maybe. She also refers to herself in the third person and has a well-known love for tamagoyaki, the Japanese rolled omelet, though she is frequently seen having this food stolen by opportunistic birds.

Her role in the story, particularly as depicted in Rozen Maiden Ouvertüre, is that of an overconfident antagonist whose ambitions are tempered by her incompetence. In this prequel OVA, she makes a brief but memorable appearance attempting to infiltrate the home of the human Jun to steal the other dolls Rosa Mystica, only to fail in a humorous fashion. This dynamic establishes her initial status as a rival to her sisters. However, her motivations are not purely malicious. Her relationship with the younger doll Hinaichigo is especially significant, as they develop a close friendship and playful rivalry, often bantering about which of their human masters is more appealing. Kanaria is under the stewardship of a devoted doll enthusiast named Mitsu, whom she affectionately calls Micchan, and she is often accompanied by her master in her various adventures.

While she begins as an ineffectual schemer, Kanaria does exhibit notable development. She eventually abandons her quest to steal the Rosa Mystica of her sisters, choosing instead to live in peace with them and frequently visiting the Sakurada household to play. Her character arc reveals a capacity for genuine loyalty and courage. In later storylines, when faced with the powerful artificial doll Barasuishou, Kanaria abandons a chance to flee and instead chooses to return and protect her sister Suiseiseki with her violin, ultimately sacrificing her own Rosa Mystica in the process. This act shows that beneath her boastful and comedic exterior, Kanaria is a caring sister who, despite her many failures, is a capable and brave fighter when the situation truly demands it.