Romeo × Juliet

Posted on Jul 10 in Animationby adminPrint

Romeo × Juliet (ロミオ×ジュリエット Romio to Jurietto?) is a TV anime series, very loosely based on William Shakespeare’s classic play, Romeo and Juliet, along with numerous references and characters from other Shakespearian plays. Though the anime borrows from Shakespeare’s story, the manga adaptation differs greatly from the original. Romeo x Juliet was broadcast in Japan on Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting between April 4, 2007 and September 26, 2007. In 2009, Romeo x Juliet was dubbed into English and released by Funimation Entertainment.

In the fantastical aeropolis of Neo Verona, the noble house of Capulet had ruled peacefully for generations – until fourteen years ago, when the ancient grudge held by the rival house of Montague led to a mutiny, and the Capulets were deposed and all wiped out in a bloody coup. Now, as Neo Verona suffers under the thrall of its new masters, the fates of two star crossed lovers are about to become tragically entwined… As the citizens of the city suffer, the Capulet clan struggles to strike a blow against their enemies, and the Montagues tighten their grasp on power, an unlikely love blossoms between Romeo and Juliet – but in the face of such adversity, this ill-fated love may be doomed from the outset. Triumph or tragedy; only fate knows what awaits Romeo and Juliet…

A young girl, Juliet, is the only member of her family to escape the massacre of the Capulet family at the hands of Leontes Montague. Fourteen years later, Lord Montague rules the land of Neo-Verona with an iron-fist as Juliet helps the common folk in a Robin Hood-like fashion, and Romeo Montague protests his father’s cruelty. Juliet and Romeo meet by coincidence at the Rose Ball and fall in love at first sight. However, when Juliet turns sixteen and learns the truth of her past that has been hidden from her for fourteen years, her love becomes conflicted between revolution and devotion.

Romeo and Juliet face many challenges and adventures together which strengthen their love. Juliet resumes her role as The Red Whirlwind to start a revolution against Prince Montague. Meanwhile, Romeo has been banished and sent to work in a mine. He frees the criminal miners and begins to start a new village with them. He then returns to Neo Verona to face off Prince Montague.

Tybalt, Juliet accompanied by Fransisco, Curio, and the rest of her force, and Romeo storm Prince Montague’s chambers. They all wish to arrest him but are stopped by an insane Mercutio who stabs Prince Montague in the back with a poisonous blade.

After the village celebrates Juliet goes away to sacrifice herself to Escalus, which had been keeping Neo Verona as it was until the rule of Montague corrupted it. Romeo tries to stop her but Ophelia captures her. After a small battle between Ophelia and Fransisco, Curio, and Tybalt, Romeo breaks through Escalus to free Juliet. he succeeds but Ophelia kills him. The Earth continues to shake and Juliet stays with Romeo. She says all will be well, and forces the others to leave her. The others fly away on their dragon steeds. Juliet perishes in the ruins but she and Romeo are reunited forever it what may loosely be called a form of heaven. Neo Verona is moved to become an island paradise where the surviving characters live happily ever after.