Romeo x Juliet. Options

[Noriko]

"In a time long ago, the place, a land where memory is long forgotten - the floating continent, Neo Verona. The great power, floating in the sky, doth sustain the breath of life and the prosperity of its people. But at times the foolishness of worldly passions doth surpass all bounds. The story now told is of a love, ever-fresh and full of sorrow, cruelly toyed with by fate in the midst of war." - prologue to episode one.

Romeo x Juliet is both a remake to Shakespeare's well-known classic and a completely independent spin-off series. The beginning shows Sir and Lady Capulet being killed by Sir Montague and power of the kingdom shifting to him. Juliet and Cordelia, who acts as her sister, escape from the guards upon being rescued by a noble on a draco-pegasus.

GONZO has no problem throwing in fantasy elements to spice up the play a bit, but they actually fit rather well in this adaption - if it's taken for what it is. This is a separate anime that is not intended to be the same old play with different characters, but that would indeed get old after a while - it already has, in my opinion. The art and animation for this are excellent (though I'm certain they will falter occasionally, as GONZO has a reputation for doing), and the seiyuus are nicely chosen as well.

Additional characters from other Shakesphere plays also make appearances. Curio, from Twelfth Night, and Franciso, from Hamlet, play as two of Juliet's caretakers. Cordelia is from King Lear and the sister that fled the Capulet palace with young Juliet. Antonio could refer to a number of Shakesphere characters, but this one is probably the young sea captain from Twelfth Night. Hermione, from Winter's Tale, is betrothed to Romeo and I find that more likely than all the nonsense about him being in love with someone right before meeting Juliet then suddenly forgetting ALL about that girl because Juliet is there. Emila from Othello, a friend of Juliet and Antonio. Portia, from Merchant of Venice, will also be there, but has yet to appear or have announced character details.

But, most interestingly - William offers comic relief in his own spin-off anime. He is also voiced by the same person that does Kakashi from Naruto... I'll never look at William Shakespeare the same way again. Heh.

Opening: Inori ~You Raise Me Up~ - Lena Park | Video
Ending: Cyclone - 12012 | Video
Trailers: First | Second

If it strikes your interest, Umai fansubs is subbing it and the first episode is out right now. The quality is quite good, but I'm unsure how reliable they will be as many subbers have dropped projects for them before. We'll just have to see.

Offical site | LJ fan community | Wikipedia entry