Anime inspired by classic literature may be uncommon, but some of the most beloved and renowned series have this feature. The Fate series takes ideas from the stories of King Arthur and Netflix's hit Castlevania has links to Bram Stoker's Dracula. A new shojo title from the Winter 2022 anime season is the latest to have these roots.
Inspired by William Shakespeare's plays Henry VI and Richard III, Requiem of the Rose King takes place during the historic Wars of the Roses, an English civil war from the 1400s. The story follows Richard III, the Duke of York, and his struggle to make himself heir to his father's throne over his older brothers.
Even with just one episode, those acquainted with the plays can see mangaka Aya Kanno took artistic liberties with the story, much like Shakespeare did with the actual history. One of the most striking changes she made is Richard's condition. In the play, he's portrayed as a hunchback who is demonized by his family because of his obvious deformity. Kanno's version of Richard doesn't have this trait, but he is still an outcast because of his appearance. Requiem of the Rose King quickly makes clear to the audience that Richard's body is "neither a man's nor a woman's." This means Richard III is intersex, someone whose sex characteristics are not definable as male or female.
Though Richard is not obviously deformed like in the play, his otherness is showcased in his character design. While his parents and brothers are all light-haired and keep their faces unobscured, Richard is the opposite. His dark hair hangs over one eye, hiding his heterochromia. Wardrobe choices also reflect this as he wears almost all black in contrast to everyone else's brighter, more colorful attire. This makes it clear to viewers that Richard is the character to focus on, while also showing he isn't truly part of his family circle.
He is excluded for a reason, though. During the medieval period, anything that differed from the norm was shunned. Disabilities, birth defects and other conditions were seen as either God's punishment on the family or the work of the Devil. Richard's mother clearly thinks his condition is due to the latter because she calls him a demon child every chance she gets.
That said, while Requiem of the Rose King's version is still in the same general place as the Richard from Shakespeare's play, the nature of it is so different that it will affect everyone else's interactions with him. Those who are unaware of Richard's situation will treat him differently than those are because his "flaw" isn't as visible. To outsiders, he's on the same level as his brothers. When other characters do find out -- like Edward of Westminster has -- is when treatment of him will change. This single aspect being altered means the relationship Richard has with every character is subject to change.
Richard's ambiguous anatomy also creates the opportunity for him to have love interests who are both men and women. In fact, the anime is already going down this route. Richard shares an intimate moment with a young man who is later revealed to be Henry VI, and seems to have caught the eye of a younger girl. This young Lady Anne shares her name with the real Richard III's wife; she is also portrayed as such in Shakespeare's version, so their relationship is one to keep an eye on.
Potential love interests aren't the only queer aspect of the series, though. Depending on how in-depth the source manga explores Richard's status as intersex, Requiem of the Rose King could provide good representation for an overlooked portion of the LGBTQ+ community. Intersex characters in anime and manga is a rare thing, with the last being Luca from Astra: Lost in Space in 2019.
Richard just may be the first intersex anime protagonist, so his portrayal means everything. He's seen as one of Shakespeare's most evil characters, but Kanno's portrayal of him has the potential to be seen as a queer icon in anime. It all depends on how Requiem of the Rose King's story plays out.