Romeo and Juliet review: A moving animated version of Shakespeare's classic

Romeo and Juliet: A Story of Love and Revolution

The TV anime series "Romeo x Juliet", which aired in 2007, is an original story based on William Shakespeare's masterpiece "Romeo and Juliet", and has captivated many viewers. This work is set in a magnificent fantasy world, with two themes at its core: love and revolution. Below, we will introduce detailed information and reviews of this work, as well as recommended points.

Overview

"Romeo x Juliet" was broadcast on Chubu Nippon Broadcasting (CBC) from April 4 to September 26, 2007, and was also broadcast on TBS and AT-X. It consists of 24 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was produced under the direction of Ozaki Fumitoshi, based on an animation original by GONZO and Sky Perfect Wellthink. The story is set in the floating city of Neo Verona, and depicts the tragic love story of Juliet and Romeo against the backdrop of the conflict between the Capulets and Montagues.

story

Neo-Verona was once a city ruled by the Capulet family and prospered thanks to the power of mysticism. However, 14 years ago, the Montague family rebelled and was destroyed. The Montague family came under dictatorship, and the gap between rich and poor widened. In this world, Juliet, the only surviving member of the Capulet family, and Romeo, the son of Montague, meet and fall in love. Juliet takes on the banner of revolution as Odin, a beautiful woman disguised as a man, and a story unfolds in which she wavers between revenge and love.

character

The main characters are as follows.

• Romeo : Son of the Montague family. He questions his father's ways and goes out into the city to learn about the lives of the people. He falls in love with Juliet.
• Juliet : The only survivor of the Capulet family. A girl who grew up cross-dressing and has a strong sense of justice. She falls in love with Romeo after meeting him.
• Curio : Juliet's mentor and a top-class swordsman. He has a strong sense of chivalry and is popular with women, but is not interested in them.
• Francisco : A calm and knowledgeable archer. He acts as a strategist, but can also be a bit overconfident and showy.
• Cordelia : Juliet's sister and mother figure. Caring, but shy when it comes to love.
• Antonio : Conrad's grandson and caretaker of the hideout. He is fond of Juliet, but does not know that she is a girl.
• Hermione : Romeo's fiancée. She is attracted to him.
• Montague : Romeo's father and the Archduke of Neo-Verona. He knows the cause of the coup 14 years ago.
• Tybalt : A swordsman who hunts down Montague. A ruthless, mysterious character who occasionally helps Juliet.
• Emilia : The star actress of William's theater. She aspires to be part of the aristocracy.
• Penvolio : Romeo's best friend. An intelligent and sensitive young man.

staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Original story : William Shakespeare
• Original work : GONZO, SKY PerfecTV Wellthink
• Director : Fumitoshi Ozaki
• Assistant Director : Masanori Takahashi
• Series Composition : Reiko Yoshida
• Character design and chief animation director : Harada Daiki
• Production design : Jun Takagi
• Original art concept : Atsushi Yamagata
• Art director : Masami Saito
• Art setting : Ayumi Sugimoto, Maaki
• Color design : Suzuki Toshie
• Director of photography : Naoki Kitamura
• Edited by : Kiyoshi Hirose
• Music : Hitoshi Sakimoto
• Sound Director : Tomohiro Yoshida
• Planning : Takeyuki Okazaki (CBC), Noriaki Ueki, Yasuto Okiura
• Producers : Yoshihiro Iwasa, Daisuke Gomi, Tsutomu Kojima
• Animation Production : GONZO
• Produced by Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, GDH, SKY PerfecTV Wellthink

music

The music was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, and 28 of the 39 songs used in the film were performed by the Eminence Symphony Orchestra of Australia. The opening theme, "Prayer ~ You Raise Me Up," is based on "You Raise Me Up," a song sung by Lina Park and used by Shizuka Arakawa, a gold medal winner at the Turin Olympics, in her exhibition. The ending themes were "Cyclone" (episodes 1-14) and "Good bye, yesterday" (episodes 15-23).

Rating and Recommended Points

Although "Romeo x Juliet" is an original story based on Shakespeare's original work, it brings out new charm with its unique world view and character settings. Below are the evaluation and recommended points.

1. A profound story

"Romeo x Juliet" features a profound story that skillfully intertwines the two themes of love and revolution. The setting in which Juliet takes on the role of Odin, a beautiful woman dressed as a man, and raises the flag of revolution offers a new perspective that differs from the original, drawing viewers in. In addition, the fateful love that begins when Juliet and Romeo meet develops in a poignant yet beautiful way. The portrayal of Juliet's feelings as she wavers in her love for Romeo, the murderer of her parents, evokes empathy from viewers.

2. Detailed and spectacular visual design

The film's visual design depicts a detailed and spectacular fantasy world. The beautiful scenery of the floating city of Neo Verona and the intensity of the battle scenes are expressed using the latest technology that is unique to animation. In particular, the scene where Juliet fights as Odin and the cityscape of Neo Verona are full of visual appeal.

3. Rich sound and musical accompaniment

The music by Hitoshi Sakimoto is an important element in enriching the drama and emotional ups and downs of the film. The performance by the Eminence Symphony Orchestra creates a sense of grand scale, evoking emotions in the viewers. In addition, the opening theme "Prayer ~ You Raise Me Up" sung by Lina Park is a beautiful melody that symbolizes the theme of the story and resonates in the hearts of viewers.

4. Charming characters

Characters with rich personalities such as Curio, Francisco, and Cordelia appear in the story, with Juliet and Romeo at the center. The charms of each character, such as Juliet's sense of justice and revenge, Romeo's kindness and conflict, Curio's chivalrous spirit, and Francisco's calmness, deepen the story. In addition to the love between Juliet and Romeo, the story also depicts the relationships and growth of other characters, drawing viewers in.

5. Social Themes

The film also depicts social themes such as the gap between rich and poor and dictatorship, conveying a deep message to the audience. The misrule of the Montague family and the way Juliet and her friends stand up against it reflect real-world problems and provide viewers with something to think about.

Recommended viewing methods

"Romeo x Juliet" is recommended for those who want to enjoy the two themes of love and revolution. By watching the entire 24-episode series in one go, you can gain a deeper understanding of Juliet and Romeo's fateful love and the story of the revolution in Neo Verona. In addition, we recommend watching it in high definition if possible to fully enjoy the beauty of the images and music.

Related Titles

If you enjoyed Romeo and Juliet, we also recommend the following related works:

• "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion" : A work with themes of revolution and love, with a detailed storyline and characters.
• "Escaflowne" : A story of love and adventure set in a fantasy world, featuring beautiful visuals and music.
• "Full Metal Panic!" : A work that depicts romance and combat, with character growth and interpersonal relationships being its appealing features.

Conclusion

"Romeo and Juliet" is an original story based on Shakespeare's masterpiece, and skillfully depicts the two themes of love and revolution. The detailed and magnificent visual design, rich sound and musical accompaniment, charming characters, and a story that interweaves social themes will captivate viewers. If you want to enjoy a story of love and revolution, we highly recommend watching this movie.