Requiem Of The Rose King has been a cult-favorite manga ever since it launched in 2013. And now, the anime version produced by J.C.Staff allows more people to enjoy its unique take on Shakespeare. Requiem Of The Rose King is based on two of Shakespeare's plays, Henry VI, Part 3, and Richard III. However, this is not the only anime to present a unique version of William Shakespeare's plays, and one of the most fascinating takes on the bard's work comes from Romeo X Juliet.
Romeo X Juliet was an anime that launched in 2007. The series was produced by legendary animation company Gonzo who had previously made, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. Which was also an anime that presented a unique take on a classic literary work. Romeo X Juliet is set on the fantasy floating continent of Neo Verona. On this continent, two families, the Montagues, and the Capulets are engaged in a blood feud. In the newest salvo of this feud, Leontes Montague leads a bloody coup where he kills all members of the ruling House Capulet. During this coup, the heir to the throne, Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet, escapes.
Fourteen years later, Juliet emerges from hiding with one goal; to kill Leontes Montague and end his rule. Juliet dons a mask and dubs herself The Red Whirlwind. She then starts to fight back against the tyrant. However, while at the Montague's Rose Ball, Juliet sees Prince Montagues' son, Romeo, and she falls head over heels in love. However, while Romeo also wants to end the tyrannical reign of his family, the pair's love soon gets them into trouble as tensions in Neo Verona rise and secrets get revealed.
The series may be based on the original Romeo And Juliet, but it subverts the original play in many ways. Most obviously, the floating setting, full of Dragon Steeds and magic, makes the story feel very different from the more grounded original. It also plays on gender expectations. Romeo X Juliet gives Juliet a much more active role in the story and turns her into an action heroine working to bring down the other family. Also, in this anime, Romeo is the one who is part of an arranged marriage organized by his parents rather than Juliet. While this is small, it casts the lovers in a very different light and changes their dynamic quite a bit. The series also diverts from the story of the original play more as time goes on, with several new characters becoming key to the show's lore.
Also, much like Requiem Of The Rose King, the show has a unique visual aesthetic that makes it stand out from the crowd. Romeo X Juliet features Gonzo's trademark blending of 2D and 3D animation. However, while the 3D animation has dated somewhat, the 2D animation is outstanding. The hand-drawn fight scenes look fantastic and are worth watching the show for as they are a masterclass of how to portray combat in the medium.
Romeo X Juliet was acquired by Funimation. The platform offers the series as both a sub and a dub. A tie-in manga was released around the time of the anime's release. However, this manga differs from the anime quite a bit, especially in later chapters. This manga was translated and brought to America by Yen Press.
Romeo X Juliet is a lot like Requiem Of The Rose King. Both offer a unique take on Shakespeare and transform the story by subverting the audience's expectations. This creates something both familiar and recognizable yet unique. However, despite having fantastic animation and an incredible pedigree Romeo X Juliet is unfortunately overlooked by the anime community.