Romeo x Juliet
I've never been a big fan of romantic movies or TV series, but I gave Romeo x Juliet a shot probably because it’s anime and I had some free time on my hand. I wasn’t nearly as disappointed as I thought I would be. However, romance may come to mind when you hear the name Romeo x Juliet, the anime adaptation of this epic tale has so much more to offer, particularly in terms of the main character Juliet.
Gonzo’s Romeo x Juliet begins like any other action-packed adventure, with the Red Whirlwind fleeing from the guards. While it is partly based on the original Romeo x Juliet, I would give this anime an 8.5 for narrative. Romeo has no idea who Juliet the Capulet is. However, as observers, we will notice that the Red Whirlwind is Juliet, the heiress of the Capulet family. Let’s dive into the storyline together.
The anime does not follow the plot of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet to the letter. There is only one powerful family in (Neo) Verona, and that is the Montague family. They took control of Neo Verona 14 years ago by slaying the entire reigning family, the Capulets. The rightful successor to the throne, Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet, was one of the few survivors of that night, and loyalists later secreted her with the hope of one day overthrowing the Montagues and assuming control of Neo Verona.
The plot of Romeo and Juliet is linear, predictable, and at times baffling. Francisco and Curio, for example, plan to ride winged horses straight into the castle to rescue Juliet using only a crudely hand-drawn map as information, and they miraculously succeed because Lord Montague places only a dozen soldiers and about two winged horses to guard his most crucial prisoner, and they miraculously succeed.
The story of Escalus, the sacred tree, and Juliet's seed is entirely out of place. This subject arises in the last episodes, and the anime quickly shifts in a new direction. This conclusion differs not only from the original material but also from the anime's own plot. The anime, like Juliet in the original story, physically kills itself with this finale. All of the characters are one-dimensional and underdeveloped. The good guys are flawless and perfect, whereas the bad people are flawed and imperfect.
The romance was, of course, an essential element of the plot, and while it was as clichéd as I imagined, it was nonetheless enjoyable. Their relationship may appear to be love at first sight, but you can see how it progresses throughout the anime. It's not rushed or forced, and as cheesy as it is, I have to confess that I enjoyed it for the most part.
Perhaps the story's apparent problems could have been overlooked if the characters were more sympathetic. The two central characters, on the other hand, are only moderately likable as it is. Furthermore, certain minor characters act utterly out of character; Lady Hermione, in an instance, acts in such an unpredictable manner that I believe Gonzo simply did not know what to do with her. Overall, the characters are neither bad nor good; they are simply underwhelming.
Here is my take on Romeo and Juliet and another main character:
Romeo
In contrast to his father, Romeo is submissive and kindhearted and frequently criticizes his family's tyranny. Except for his friend Benvolio, he is shunned by the nobles. At first sight, he is smitten by Juliet. He meets and falls in love with Juliet during a masquerade event.
Juliet
Juliet is a skilled swordswoman who also disguises herself as the Red Whirlwind (Akai Kaze?) to aid the people enslaved by the opposing Montagues. She unintentionally falls in love with Romeo, which causes her numerous problems during the series.
Leontes Montague
born and raised in poverty as an illegitimate Capulet offspring and the son of a prostitute, Leontes Montague has a violent animosity towards the Capulet name. He desires to become the Duke has his mother dies. He treats everyone around him with coldness, as though he only cares about the Great Tree Escalus.
It's fascinating to watch the evolution of anime animation design from the 1990s to the 2000s and then from the 2010s to the present. You can roughly guess what year an anime is from just by looking at the design, not the animation quality. What I despise about Romeo x Juliet is the anime's dreary colors, not the animation quality.
I have the impression that the creators reduced the saturation of the entire anime. Nonetheless, I must point out that the anime contains many lovely sequences and settings, particularly the flower beds, which I particularly enjoyed. The character design was also excellent; thus, the animation and styling as a whole were quite lovely.
The series' opening theme is a great relaxing melody that fits the tone of the show perfectly. The first ending theme, on the other hand, is entirely ridiculous. For Romeo and Juliet, a hard rock song? What were you thinking! The voice-over acting is commendable. Seiyuu, for Romeo’s voice, deserves praise.
Despite certain flaws, Romeo X Juliet is an action-packed film that may be entertaining enough if the audience does not think too hard about it. The animation and art direction are both very appealing. The original score is lovely, but hearing the song 'You Raise Me Up' in romantic scenes is odd because the English lyrics don't match what's on-screen.
I would argue that Basilisk, an earlier Studio Gonzo animation, is a more authentic rendition of Shakespeare's play than Romeo X Juliet. Even though it is set in Japan and revolves around two Ninja clans, Basilisk's themes of futile hatred and tragic story are significantly more in line with the original Romeo and Juliet play.
Romeo X Juliet is uninteresting and forgettable because it is derivative, predictable, and one-dimensional. If you are a fan of Shakespeare’s original Romeo and Juliet, this one might be a disappointment for you. Overall, it’s a good narrative.
