Romeo x Juliet

ROMEO x JULIET. The name itself calls only one thing to mind: Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, the tale of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet. However, if you want to see an anime adaptation, don't bother with this. After the first four minutes, you will see this has very little resemblance to Shakespeare (in fact, one of the characters in the anime is named Willy Shakespeare).

Story -- 6

I hate hate hate how fangirls and fanboys are going crazy over this. This anime was heavily promoted at anime cons, online ads, previews, etc. However, when its name is literally ROMEO X JULIET, you expect...you ... know...some resemblance to the play, at all? Within the first few minutes, they basically show you the only thing in common is that the characters are named after the ones in the play, and that, yes, it is about two noble children that fall in love and are separated. But here's the issue: it's not separation by the families -- no -- its separation due to the fact that the boy's father gruesomely murdered every other member of the girl's family. Talk about a lot to overcome.

The story is meh at best. It is creative, to say the least. It's set in an island floating in the sky, in a place called Neo-Verona (go figure) where it's basically Italy in the 1600s, except with pegasi. However, this anime is SET UP to be a tragedy -- the problem being that, by the end of the anime, you actually are way too attached to the characters to let them die. In fact, because it doesn't follow Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare at all, you have NO idea IF they die or not. And you become so attached to the main characters that you're praying that it basically bastardizes the original work of Shakespeare and allows them to live. (Spoiler: Don't worry, they still die.)

In addition to this, the story skips around a bit and adds in random crap that isn't exactly necessary. Although it makes for more time to show off the awesome amazingness that is the soundtrack and art, the story itself takes a hit to allow that to happen.

Art -- 9

SHINYYYYYYYYYY.

That basically sums up the art. It's high quality. Really, really high quality. Some of the highest quality anime art available with the current technology, I'd go as far as to say. It beats the crap out of any of the mainstream shojo or shonen anime art quality.


Sound -- 10

Warning: Rampant fanboyism ahead

Oh my god. The one thing -- one thing -- that makes this anime remember-able, other than being very, very shiny, is two (well, rather, one) songs that form the soundtrack. I don't even remember the rest of the soundtrack -- but the cover of Secret Garden's "You Raise Me Up" by Lena Park is jawdropping. She even had it transposed for a Japanese song, entitled Inori You Raise Me Up, which also happens to be the opening theme for the series. It does not follow the lyrics of You Raise Me Up at all, but flows very nicely and serenely -- if you had not known it were based off of the tune of You Raise Me Up, you would still love it. Between the sappy romance and the utter gore of Romeo X Juliet, hearing about star-crossed lovers and how one shall always support another in such an inspiring song in both English and Japanese says something. This has to be one of the best, if not the best, soundtracks of any anime. Ever.

Character -- 6

Fair would be, well, fair to describe what the characters are. They are loosely based off their namesakes in Shakespeare's play. There is only one very well done performance in the anime. The performance of Juliet, when she decides to be a rebel and crusade as the Red Zorro...er, rather, the Red Whirlwind* shows a compassionate level of caring not found in most characters, giving Juliet both a strength and a weakness to her character. The other characters are basically static throughout, but show enough emotion to give this a "fair" review. They act believable, which is enough for me.

*No. Really. She is basically Zorro, but with a red hat. Don't believe me? Google it.

Enjoyment -- 6

Enjoyment during "You Raise Me Up" -- 9

Otherwise -- 5.8

Evens out to a 6. Ish. Honestly, the anime is "cute" to say the least, and is entertaining. The enjoyment value again varies on your taste; if you're looking for a refined anime, keep looking. Try Cowboy Bebop. But if you're looking for a very well made, artistically at least, anime with an amazing soundtrack, you will enjoy the anime very much. The characters are meh, as is the plot, but for me, the art and soundtrack make it a worthwhile investment to see.


Overall - 7

The 7 represents the culmination of an average or below average anime which has an amazing budget, aka, making it very very shiny with an awesome soundtrack. It would normally get a 5 or 6 -- not rememberable -- but due to its high budget, hype, well made art, and beautiful soundtrack, it is bumped up to a 7. If you really just want to experience the anime in its fullest, however, just watch episode seven. It has all the music and art in one package.

Have you ever seen Romeo and Juliet? It’s a really popular play written by William Shakespeare. Countless variations of the play have been adapted in different mediums. Movie, book, TV Series, Anime. You name it, they have it. It’s considered by many as probably the best romance story in all of literature. But does it live up to the hype? Is it really THAT good? Is it worth watching when I already know what will happen in the end? If this is a Q&A, I would’ve easily answered that, but this is a review so just find out as you read along. Romeo x Juliet: ... a tragic tale of love and revenge. Is it truly love that can never be?

Story:

Romeo x Juliet like its origin, Romeo and Juliet is a true masterpiece. Not only that it tells the beautiful story of love and revenge, but there’s also a fantasy twist which will just make things much more interesting. Having seen Romeo and Juliet plays for about three times now, I always felt that there is something missing. The original story feels somewhat 1D in comparison to the “remake” though I will never say that one is better than the other. They’re both good in their own ways but it feels like adding something new to the story makes it standout even more. I don’t know. Maybe I was just tired of seeing the same old story over and over again so when a bit of a fantasy element was added, I enjoyed it a lot better. The title in it of itself is enough reason for you to watch this show.

Characters:

Though the series mainly focuses on Romeo and Juliet, it is not right to say that the supporting cast is not that good. You’ll either hate them (Lady Hermoine and King Montague) or love them (William Shakespeare appears in his own creation. lol.) but they are made for you to do so. You’ll hate a character because they were made to be hated. It like professional wrestling: Heels (Chris Jericho is the natural heel in my book) are made to be hated while Faces (Super John Cena) are made to be cheered for. Now, with the supporting cast out of the way, let’s talk about the 2 characters that gave the series its name: Romeo and Juliet.

At first, we have Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet (No google. Fuck yes!) who is not your typical damsel in distress. Throughout the series, Juliet is always fighting. Not just for herself, but for everything as well. As Odin, her “superhero” alter ego, she fights the system for the right of every citizen of Neo Verona. While as Juliet, the rightful heir to the throne of de Capulete, she fights not only for her right for the throne, but for her love as well. In the course of 24 episodes, Romeo and Juliet had too little screen time together because they we’re always apart. This in turn made Juliet a little weaker but not helpless. She is a fighter down to her core. Shows a feminine side often but produces testosterone higher than even Simon, the personification of testosterone (in my book) himself. Okay, that’s enough. lol. What I’m trying to say is that, she may be a damsel in distress but she is definitely not that helpless. She’s just madly in love with Mr. Perfect, Curt Hennig, I mean Romeo.

Then, we have Romeo Candorebanto Montague (I googled that! Fuck yes!), a noble gentleman (Like yours truly) who died a virgin (Like you. Haha, burn! Just kidding! lol. )… Or did he? I think. Probably. Lesson? Be a gentleman but never abandon your perverted side. Be like me, I mean like Sanji. He’s a good example. lol. Anyway, back on topic. He, like me (*grins*), treats women really good (right Hermoine? *winks*) and does anything for the one he loves (aka. Andres de Saya. It’s an expression in my country. Send me a PM or comment if you want to know what that means. lol.). The personification of chivalry and that’s about it. I have nothing much to say about his character other than that. He’s not a bad character but I didn’t give a shit about him that much. He’s just a bit perfect for my taste. I sometimes imagine him walking and the words noble, gentleman, handsome, and perfect will simultaneously pop on top of his head. You know, like that one in Seitokai Yakuindomo (Fun show. Go watch it.). lol. I’m getting a little sexist but that’s fine, right? I’m a man after all so I think it’s natural that I care about Juliet more than him. In all seriousness though, I feel like he’s a male nadeshiko, perfect, just too perfect for my taste.

Animation:

Romeo x Juliet was animated by Gonzo back in 2007. But if you’re familiar with Gonzo, you know that they are a bit hit and miss. Though they can make amazing stuffs like Full Metal Panic, they can also do things like Gantz. It’s as if they flip a coin and be like: “If its head then let’s put all our effort in it, but if its tails then let’s just fuck it”. Well, going back on topic. In Romeo x Juliet’s case, I think it’s safe to say that the coin landed on its head. The animation is nothing too fancy but definitely still worthy of praise. I don’t remember seeing any CG which is like Gonzo’s trademark. I just might not have noticed it but I’m pretty sure they didn’t wave their 3D cocks in this series. Not much bombastic scene other than the few battle scenes and the “thing” in the end so the animation was a little stale but I think it’s not enough to deter future viewers. Overall, the animation is pretty polished for a Gonzo show.

Sound:

If I can marry a voice actress, it would probably be Brina Palencia. She’s got the looks, the voice, and the wits (Go check out her con-session videos with J. Michael Tatum on Youtube, it’s really cute). So when I heard her dub for Juliet, I was seriously fangasming. Just like how Crispin Freeman is the embodiment of Alucard, Brina is the only one meant to play as Juliet. She nailed both her damsel in distress persona as well as her Odin alter ego. In regard to Chris Burnett who played Romeo, it’s a real good dub; however, I think there are other ones who are much more suited for the job. I can’t really think of a name, but I just felt that his dub was not as powerful as Brina’s. And because I have only seen the dub, I don’t really have anything to say about the sub. I’ve never seen the Japo dub line up as well, so I can’t predict if it’s a good dub on their part. So, if you plan on watching it for the first time, it’s only obvious that I suggest that you watch it dubbed. It’s a Funimation dub so it’s really good.

The soundtrack is really good too, specially the different variations of the original “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban. Though repetitive, I wouldn’t say I was unhappy about it because it was always used at the right moment. One perfect time when it was used was at episode 7. Oh my god, I swear to God (even if I’m an atheist), my testosterone level have never been so low my entire life. I was about to squeal but I was watching it with my friends so I had to hold back a little. Anyway, yeah, at that time when a certain event happened at episode 7, the way they used You Raise Me Up was just godly. To this day, every time I watch it, I still get goosebumps. All I can say is, well done. There’s also this instrumental version of the song (I really suck at identifying sounds. It might be a guitar or a piano or neither) and when I hear that, I naturally sing along with it.

Verdict:

If there’s one “flaw” in this series, I would say it was its ending. Though technically not a flaw, I feel like as a human being, you have already been spoiled even before you watch this show (If you don’t know how Romeo and Juliet ends then you, my friend, have been living under a rock your whole life. And since I’m a bit generous today, here’s a gift: Romeo and Juliet both die in the end. You’re welcome). Though the means differ in both mediums, the tragedy is still present and may deter some people because they know what will happen. No offense to those who have that mindset, but I personally thinks that’s a stupid reason for not even touching the show. Romeo and Juliet is a true masterpiece in any medium and we should all watch it at least once in our lifetime. Do not be deterred by the spoiler, even if they both die, their trials and hardships are what make the story incredible. “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”.

With all that said, after some random computations, I’d gladly give Romeo x Juliet an overall score of 9.06 out of 10. As a true masterpiece made by the one and only William Shakespeare, no human being have the acceptable excuse to not watch it. It is a beautiful story of love and revenge that I’m sure 95% of viewers will really like. The other 5% probably have poor taste or just men with really high testosterone level. If you have not seen it yet, you have my full pledged recommendation in doing so. If my reviews have somehow helped you in the past then this one will surely end up to your liking as well.

Alternate Anime Recommendation:

For alternate anime recommendation, why don’t you try Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo? Both series centers around love and revenge that somewhat led to a tragic end. Though do not be deterred as both series have an outstanding journey in between them. And funny enough, both series was made by Gonzo back in the day and both of them are adaptations from really popular stories; Romeo and Juliet for Romeo x Juliet and The Count of Monte Cristo for Gankutsuou.

If you don’t like classic literature that much then we have… hmmm… *checks list* Ah! Got one! Nisekoi! I know what you’re thinking: “WHAT A SHITTY RECOMMENDATION FOR ROME X JULIET!” I know! I should probably punch myself. Though in defense, let me give some obvious comparisons. Both series have family feuds, romance (hahahaha!), and tragedy (because Nisekoi is a harem! Hahahahaha!). Though be warned that even if both series are somewhat comparable, they could never be much more different. I just couldn’t find another anime in my list that had the same premise so, yeah, fuck me! Hahaha!

And that’s it for me! Thanks for reading! Bye!

There are lot of ways to go wrong when you write an anime based on a famous work. Especially when that particular work is widely disliked by your target audience. Who wants to read a play about two young teens who kill themselves because they think the other is dead (practically right after they met)? It sounds silly. But Romeo X Juliet takes the brilliant parts of Shakespeare's play and turns them into a truly fantastic anime.

Story: 10
For a plot that was (loosely) based off of a previously written work, this was done remarkably well. Each episode makes you eager for the next.

Art: ... 10
Not your conventional art for an anime, but once you get past the first few episodes, you get used to it. Some of the backgrounds are especially beautiful.

Sound:9
The music is very fitting to the atmosphere of the anime and adds much to it. The OP version of "You Raise Me Up" made me fall in love with the song. I also liked the ending songs.

Character: 10
The character development in this anime is phenomenal. Almost all of the major characters go through some sort of change, and I'm not just talking Romeo and Juliet. Even the more annoying characters get more likable.

Enjoyment: 10
I thoroughly enjoyed this anime. It always keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you just have to see what happens next. The end of each episode is just too tempting. If you like a good romance (and a tearjerker) I would highly recommend watching Romeo X Juliet.

Maybe it's because I'm a theatre buff, but this really doesn't tickle my fancy. They might as well have changed the character's names and not given any credit to Shakespeare- honestly that's as far as the similarities go. Even if you haven't seen the play, or worked on it as I have, you'll know the basic outline of the play. Apparently those who created this didn't. Had this been an original anime I may have enjoyed it- perhaps watched the rest of the series, but simply because they killed a classic I can't bring myself to finish it. The animation and score are good, ... perhaps the only redeeming qualities there.

In short, if you're expecting an anime mirroring the play, as I was, you'll be disappointed.

I went into this anime really wanting to like it. And I did - fo about half the show.

The story is focusing on the classic romance between Romeo and Juliet, and mixes in fantasy elements.

Juliet starts out as a vigilante-type character who opposes the oppressive rulers, the Montague family, and is in the beinning really cool and driven, who eventually finds out she is the last Capulet - the former rulers of the nation.
Romeo is the heir of the Montague family and is a compassionate, kind young man who wants to grow up to do the best for the people.

Now, this ... sets up a very cool scenario about freedom-fighting and forbidden love, and it really works - in the beginning.

When the characters inevitably fall for each other it feels like they just don't care about the fight for the people anymore and the plot feels a lot flatter after about the halfway mark...
And I won't spoil anything, but what the heck was up with that ending? It just felt very rushed and forced.

I would reccomend this anime if you're just looking for a romantic anime, and not much else.
But if you came to this anime because you heard it was a cool romantic story about classisism, family feuds, freedom fighting and an interesting, unique twist on a classic story you should maybe not waste your time on this.

Is this truly... a love that can never be?through love....and death...


I know and we know the story of Romeo x Juliet Shakespear's version with the strange " oh art thou" well no of that is in this sweet touching loving story.
The whole reason why I wanted to watch this was for the of the characters not talking weired,I read the story I seened the play and if you didn't understand the story there like I didn't I decided to watch the anime see if they are the same. A total twist of fate for me because I never thought I would love this version better ... than the play.

I enjoyed seeing sword fights,the romance Romeo and Juliet had for each other.The art made the love scenes so mesmerizing and not so cheesy.The story I somewhat different then the original Shakespeare version I mean she's the last Capulet hoping to change the way of Montague's reign of poverty and wealth.ofcourse you meet Romeo and how he met Juliet and how deeply he loves her and the emotion is shown throughout many of the episodes there love is shown,lots of drama,fear,sorrow and heartredfrom the both houses.

The opening and ending songs are awesome the begining song is still stuck on my head the ending too Lena Park and 12012 steal the opening and ending!!
The story is different in some ways how it ends is up to you,I for one the sub and dub both made me feel happy they met and up to the end was perfect sweet ending but a tragedy.
Makes you think about your love...are you happy to have the joy to love someone?
I hope you do because this touching story that makes you cry because it sure made me the final things they said to eachother T^T

I just hope you enjoy 10/10

Many people will detest this low score, but read me out before chewing me out. Romeo and Juliet was originally about two teenagers of two opposing houses who accidentally fell in lust (I don't believe in the lie of love at first sight) with each other. This story spans all of two weeks and shows just how hormonal we teenagers really are!

The anime was barely different.

Now sure, I'll be the first to admit that Romeo and Juliet was not my favorite Shakespeare play which makes me mildly bias, but I watched this because of the amazing reviews from friends. I was thoroughly disappointed. The story ... was changed and became an overused tissue of a plot. Boy meets girl (that he can't have) boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl make promise of staying together forever, boy, girl, or both, dies. (SPOILER:::::::: Well technically she turns into a tree and he's turned into a human shish kebab, which is ridiculous in itself.)

Anyhow- this art was fabulous but was not enough to change my mind. As for sound- I see the pun within the main song "Wind Beneath My Wings", but they play it three or four plus times every friggin' episode, making me detest the song!! And I love that song...The characters- ooo, the characters. I actually really liked that they pulled names from Willy's other plays AND even had him as a character. He, Curio and the doctor (bless his soul) were probably the only reasons I kept watching.

All in all, if you're looking for an anime with a predictable plot, silly ending and broken record music (With great art and interesting side characters), then by all means, watch Romeo x Juliet.

First of all- I haven't read Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet (Yes there are a few rare insects in this whole wide world who are too ignorant or lazy to do what I just said :P) So I would like to share some views based on only the anime version which I have watched.

Story [10/10]: Even though this is a love story its also a story where both the protagonists have a purpose for their existence and their struggle to achieve their goal. The story evolves wonderfully. Love at first sight. Then a struggle to pursue that love no matter what. But the protagonists love their country ... as well as its people just as much is what really caught my attention to watch this anime. It sort of makes them the heroes of their masses. Continuity of the story is good. Both Romeo and Juliet struggle to release the people of Neo verona from the clutches of the Dark King Montague who only desires power to rule all things in his grasp and beyond. Conflicts of strong emotions of love, compassion, anger, sadness are beautifully shown throughout the series. The way Neo Verona is uphead as a floating mass of land and its story is intriguing. I personally would have loved if the anime detailed some bits about how that floating continent came into being and the tree of life associated with it. Would have added a whole chunk of fantasy to the already plum plot of the series. The tragedy which follows in the end of the story just highlights the need for existence of both the protagonists and their struggles.

Art [10/10]: The art of the series is definitely not mind-blowing but is very good nonetheless. Both the protagonists are nicely drawn. And their emotions rightly conveyed through the illustrations and animation together. Ruins inside the Neo Verona city or its outskirts have been aptly drawn, like the ruins of a church like structure in one of the episodes, or the where Romeo and Juliet meet on her birthday, etc. The castle exterior and interior are grand. Flowerbeds in the garden and forest landscaping is beautiful.

Sound [10/10]: Hitoshi Sakamoto has done an excellent job on giving amazingly melodious Piano and Violin pieces. Deai, Kakki, Kimi no Iru Sekai are my favorites. The OP Inori- You raise me up is beautiful and the rocking ED cyclone. Voice actors of all characters have done a great job.

Characters [10/10]: The tender hearts of both Romeo and Juliet have been brought out beautifully through their characters. I think the way the characters have been drawn also add to this. King Montague's past which has led him to become such a tyrant is very believable. His last words really add a lot in understanding his complex character in the end. Characters of all the colleagues of both protagonists are well built.

Enjoyment [10/10]: It was a complete package really. It has bit of all things that attract a viewer to any anime romance, drama, action, adventure, fantasy. Never was a boring moment.

Overall [10/10]: Full marks for a very entertaining show.

Romeo and Juliet the famous story of William Shakespeare about love, sex, tragedy and death received a lot of adaptations in the media through TV series and a live action film directed by Moulin Rouge director Baz Lutherman. Romeo X Juliet was heavily divided by many Shakespearian fans with other fans saying that it's a solid adaptation to it's source material and the other fans saying that it's bombastic and nonsensical to it's original story. To be honest, I really liked this series and sure there are some crucial changes to the original Shakespeare story, but somehow it manages to stay true to the spirit ... of the original story without being nonsensical.

In the original story of Romeo and Juliet, it's was basically about two star crossed lovers in which their deaths unite their families, who are both rivals, but in the anime series of Romeo X Juliet is the exception of the plot: The members of House Capulet, including Juliet's parents, are murdered by Prince Leontes Montague and cut to years later in Neo Verona, Juliet is now sixteen and dresses herself as a boy with the name Odin and she is also known as "The Red Whirlwind" as she fights off Montagues forces to protect the innocent people that suffer through Leontes rule. During the annual Rose Ball, both Romeo and Juliet meet in the fountain and they fall in love very quick. As both Romeo and Juliet try to be together, Capulet royalists like Francisco and Curio are planning a rebellion against Leontes and in the couse of the series, Romeo and Juliet's love get stronger and a secret in Neo Verona is waiting to be revealed.

Let's talk about the good things about Romeo X Juliet, cause, to be honest, there are tons of good things about the series. The animation by Gonzo is top-notch, with beautiful art and creative setting that stays close to the setting of the original story, but with fantasy elements mixed in (like the flying horses and the floating city of Neo Verona). The chemistry with Romeo and Juliet is great and while it does take a few moments for them to actually fall in love, it works and they share a pretty good chemistry like they fly on the horse together, they talk about their past lives, fight off a bunch of thugs together, they share food and even Romeo and Juliet make an oath on an abandoned sanctuary and that part did made me cry. The main villain Leontes Montegue is frightening, because deep down, the character has so much hatred and despair in his heart that you know why noblemen fear him in the first place.

Juliet as a stronger and independent character is a welcome change, allowing the character to be more heroic and confident than the original story.. Side characters like Francisco, William De Franese, Curio, Cordelia, Conrad, and Antonio are fun to watch and they provide some decent moments that provide a nice change of tone. The music by Final Fantasy 12 composer Hitoshi Sakimoto is gorgeous. This is one of the most underrated soundtracks ever made and it a damn shame cause it really brings a sense of love, passion and tragedy that fits perfectly well to the series.

The English dub in Romeo X Juliet by Funimation is perfect. It's better than the Japanese dub and it delivers top-notch Shakespearian dialogue and referencing some quotes in other Shakespeare plays like Hamlet and The Tempest. The cast did a great job with their performances with each giving character roles. Brina Palencia was perfect for the role as Juliet, capturing both the weak feminine and the strong willed side of the character, while Chris Burnett performance as Romeo is less impressive in the first half of the series but his performance improves later on in the second half of the series when things go chaotic. Sean Hannigan's performance as the main villain Leontes is terrifying and every-time he speaks, it gives me chills through my spine.

Now for the major flaws of Romeo X Juliet is that there's no rivalry between House Capulet and the Montague Nobles, cause they basically killed everyone from House Capulet and it's a shame too, since the family rivalry played a major role in the original Romeo and Juliet story and It also lead them to accept forgiveness and being united again cause of the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet. The side character villains are mediocre and there basically there to be evil bastards and side characters like Elizabeth and Emilia are completely forgettable and unneeded in the story. As for the ending of the series, I like it and felt like a nice closure to the series. However, if you're a fan of the original play, be aware that the ending of THIS adaptation is completely changed from the original and if you don't like that change, then you might be pissed at it.

Romeo X Juliet is a great series that people can easily get into. Those who can accept the changes of the original play will find a series that adds new elements to make the story feel new again. If you're a fan of the original story then by all means, watch this series. It's a solid adaptation to the play and it's 10x better than the live action film Romeo + Juliet that came out in the 90's.

I discovered this anime by listening to the theme song on an anime playlist I have saved on Youtube. The song is called "Inori" - which is the Japanese version of "You Raise Me Up", one of my favorite songs. This wasn't the first time I fell in love with a song from an anime that lead me into watching it ("Angel Beats!", "The World is Still Beautiful", "Uta no Prince Sama"). I dove into the anime and thought "what could go wrong?"

A lot of things apparently. 

First off, I had a really hard time keeping up with this anime because there were some times where it bored me ... half to death or a character did something pretty stupid. The only character I really enjoyed was Francisco who was one of Juliet's bodyguards. Another thing, Francisco and Curio were far better looking than Romeo, I'm surprised Juliet didn't fall in love with one of them before she met her forbidden lover. 

If anyone knows the original "Romeo and Juliet", you know that the two lovers are together at almost all times after they meet. In this spinoff, there were only about five episodes out of the twenty-four where Romeo and Juliet were actually together. That really annoyed because EVERYONE knows Romeo and Juliet as a ROMANCE TRADEGY, but it is very hard for the show to be romantic in any way if the two lovers are always separated. 

On top of that, the two characters who were supposed to be the comical relief characters weren't funny at all, just plain annoying. 

The ending was the worst of all. I know the creators wanted the anime to be a little different from the play, but I just thought the idea of what they came up with was pretty lame. We all know that in the end, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, but the ending when they DID die was so rushed that I had no idea what was happening. The creators must have put zero thought into the ending given that everyone knows that both Romeo and Juliet die in the end. 

Romeo X Juliet- Not to be confused with Romeo and Juliet, of course. It was a good anime... in its own way. However, if you are looking for the perfect anime adaptation, you will be sorely disappointed. The only striking similarity between the two is the names. Having said that, I did enjoy this anime. It was a touching love story. Here come the numbers-

Story-6 (Fair)
Good, quite fast-paced in the beginning. Exciting, even. But then came the middle... it became so boring that I quit watching for a while, and valiantly returned some time later, to find that at the ... end the pace picked up again. But it some points it seemed very random. Not all ends were tied up. So it was decent, but nothing great.

Art- 6 (Fair)
I personally liked the art. However, I am not an artist. My sister, who is, says that the art was painful to her.I thought that the animation style was inconsistent. But they had great backgrounds, like in the fields of flowers. So I gave it a 6.

Sound- 8 (Very Good)
The opener was really great. I loved it. The rest of the music is... forgettable. But I loved the opener so much that I found it to be quite redeeming in the score for music.

Character-5 (Mediocre)
Slightly cliche. The tragic heroine, the brave hero, the evil tyrant, etc., etc. But there were some good side characters whom I really liked. Side characters make a series, and I personally liked the side characters more than the main ones. The main characters were very weak.

Enjoyment-7 (Good)
Yeah, I enjoyed it. It was my first romance anime. It was nice. Nothing great, though.

Overall-7 (Good)
It was pretty good, actually. The end was confusing- they didn't tie up many of the ends. I was slightly disappointed with how loosely interpreted the storyline was from Shakespeare's version. But I did like it.

So, in short, it was a decent anime. I liked it well enough. It was worth watching, but I wouldn't watch it again or buy it. A nice love story.

When I went into this one, I really had no idea what to expect and what to receive. It's Shakespeare... as anime.
This would either be the best thing ever, or the most painful.

Story - to begin with, this isn't really Romeo and Juliet. The anime adds a lot of completely original elements, like (Neo-)Verona being a floating city in the sky, the existence of Dragonsteeds (which should be self-explanatory), people in oppression, a "La Résistance"-esque group of vigilantes and most importantly changes the morality from grey-and-grey to black-and-white. And that's this anime's biggest flaw. Capulet and their allies are pure and good and Montague are ... pure evil and rotten to the core, with the exception of Romeo who is almost ridiculously kind.
There are also the problem that every major character seems obligated to, at one point or another through the story, act like a complete and utter moron! It's impossible to count how many things could have been avoided if the characters just stopped to think once in a while. Sure, it's a way to get them from point A to point B, but there were much better and smarter ways of doing so.

Art - the art and animation are mostly good, especially in the first half of the show before getting sloppier for a while, most likely saving itself for the finale. Character designs are nice, body proportions in particular, and the backgrounds and colors are very nice to look at. CGI do appear and while it isn't glaringly obvious it does look a little odd mixed with the traditional art. Drawbacks are thing's "side-mouths", which happen quite often, and walking animation, which can look a little stiff from time to time.

Sound - simply brilliant. There are two ending themes, the first a rock-song and the other a ballad, both very good. The opening theme, a cover of "You Raise me Up" by Lena Park, is even better and is actually sung once in English in ep. 7.

Characters - all major characters and even a few minor from the original play makes appearance and are aided by several original one's. The complexity varies but most of them are sadly simplified from their theatre-counterpart. Romeo and Juliet's "feminine boy, masculine girl" dynamic are exaggerated into making him shy and sweet and her a hot-blooded Action Girl. Tybalt is angry and brooding, Benvolio is nothing but Romeo's voice of reason and the most similar to his original characterization. And then there's Mercutio.
Oh god. Mercutio.
From being probably the most beloved - a charming, boisterous jokester - he's made into a smug snob with more connection to Montague than to Romeo. I found myself shutting my ears off whenever he appeared on screen.
However the original characters, Conrad, Curio, Francisco, Cordelia (the "nurse") among others, I actually found myself enjoying.

Overall, while there are some interesting aspects brought forth, in the end this anime fails as an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. As just another animated show, however? It's pretty damn good.
Despite stupid decisions on the characters part, despite botching of beloved characters and despite the change from "is anyone actually in the right?" to a "simple" tale of good-vs-evil I still enjoyed myself thoroughly while watching. Every episode brought at least one laugh and the finale even some misty eyes.

If you're a hard-core Shakespeare fan, you probably shouldn't watch this unless you're out to anger yourself. If, on the other hand, you're a bit more relaxed, don't care for the original to begin with or just want a new show to follow this is one definitely worth contemplating.

By the title of this anime, Rome x Juliet, you already know that this is a story about two people that fall in love, but it's different. There's soo much more and a whole new thought in this storyline. There's a reason behind everything!

The story was well written. It is a bit cheesy compared to Shakespears version. But I liked how there's more action and some fighting scenes. Also the fact that Romeo and Juliet are actually spending time together. It gives them an even more reason to want to be with each other. There's Romance, Tragedy, Drama, and Fantasy.

The opening theme( You Raise Me ... Up- by Lena Park) was beautifully sung and really set the mood. I really enjoy this song :] The ending theme (Cyclone- by 12012) wasn't that bad either.

Some of the characters might have been unnecessary, but in the end they played their part just fine. No one in this story stuck out more then the main characters, Romeo and Juliet. They did, however, help us understand the true warm-hearted personalities of these two lovers.

Overall I really enjoyed it. The entire story was well thought out, Love at First Sight, the Rose and Iris, Escalus, and the fact that it took place on a floating island. Like I said earlier, the story is somewhat like the original play. The falling in love and tragic fate, but the episodes aren't predictable. Each one has a shocking twist to it which is awesome because in the end it all ties together. Basically everything has a meaning to it. Definitely worth watching.

Romeo x Juliet, is it Romeo and Juliet? no.
This anime is based very loosely on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet so, if you happen to be familiar with the English classic (most of us are) prepare to be surprised.

Story:
If you've seen the 2004 film Troy (starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom) it may be easier for you to understand the premise of the story - how an inspiration becomes a legend.
Romeo x Juliet follows two young nobles Romeo, the son of the despotic Montague Ruler and Juliet, the only surviving daughter of the slaughtered Capulet family, come to ... grips with their identity, love and society around them and what the struggles that they take when trying to instigate change.
While the setting is nice, those of you who are turned off by high fantasy be warned. Like the sword of akashe in Code Geass, there were some things that i just didn't get the first time through and if this is not your thing, know that it is present. I would've given the story an 8 if it weren't for this.

Characters:
Characters are what i feel really bring a story to life in anime and personally, the characters in romeo x Juliet really took a while to grow on me.
A key element in the story of this anime is the growth of romeo and juliet from young naive youths into capable and responsible adults. While their development eventually fleshes out their characters, this did make the first few episodes really hard to press through for me.
The side characters also fulfilled their roles capably, although i did wish for more fleshed out backstories, so don't expect Angel beats.

Art:
The art in Romeo x Juliet is very... clean. If you like anime in general, you should have nothing to complain about Romeo x Juliet. One thing that i did notice was that, the artwork did not have any of the hyper-sexualisation present in a lot of anime that I've seen lately. None of the characters are particularly 'hot' in my opinion, but all of them have a nice simple artwork that doesn't scream big-boobs or fan service but allows down-to-earth characters and human personalities to shine through.

Sound:
The voice actors all do a fairly good job and sound believable although the hyper 'Willy' William Shakespeare may be slightly annoying at times.
Appropriate music highlights some of the more epic or moving moments in the show, building a nice environment that really had me immersed in some of the more touching moments of the show.

Final verdict:
My friend recommended this show to me and i was skeptical at first, but give the show a go and you might be surprised.

This is my first review so please bear with me but I felt like there were some things about this anime that I had to discuss even though I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Story - 6
I thought the story was a sweet, fresh take on Romeo and Juliet, adding some themes of magic and more of fairytale-like feel. The fact that it was hardly an adaptation at all of Romeo and Juliet is what really ruined the story. There were a lot of differences in Romeo x Juliet than the original with the setting being in Neo-Verona; a floating island in the sky, creatures called dragonhorses ... which is literally a pegasus with a dragon tail, Juliet and a few loyal members being the last of the Capulets and not to mention a few other smaller changes. I was deeply disappointed in the balcony scene in the anime as it is one of the most famous scenes of the story of Romeo and Juliet and they screwed up the other most famous scene; the deaths of Romeo and Juliet too. I felt like they couldn't adapt any of the true parts of Shakespeare's work into the anime at all turning this into a story of it's own. I enjoyed the first 22 episodes but the last 2 episodes I felt went away from the story a bit and became too magical for my liking, they were unnecessary to the anime as a whole making me put it down a point. I sort of wish they stuck to the original idea of Romeo and Juliet's demise than the ending they did which felt like too much.

Art - 7
The art was nice, it was pretty and simple and I liked the continuous use of flowers. I did like the look of the ruins of buildings covered in flowers, the church being my favorite. The dragonhorses were beautiful also. The settings were nice and pretty but the character designs could have been better.

Sound - 8 (Japanese subbed)
The music was lovely, it matched the tone of Romeo x Juliet very well. The opening song ("You Raise Me Up" in japanese) was enjoyable and I felt it was a perfect start of each episode. The voice actors were great but I felt like Juliet could have had a better voice actor, after all she has been through in the anime I think I would have liked her to have a stronger, more determined voice but that was alright. I don't have anything to say about the english dub voice actors because I generally find them to sound cheesy so i didn't bother with that.

Characters - 6
In the beginning I did take a liking to Juliet but her character started to annoy me as I felt like she became two different people; the strong, righteous character we are first introduced to and admire and then the pathetic Juliet whom continuously cries due to love. I know that is the true essence of the story; the heartbreaks and pain of loving someone whom you can not be with but it annoyed me in how weak she was when concerning Romeo. She also was clumsy at times doing stupid mistakes, when we had seen her doing magnificent acrobatic work and fighting as the 'Red Whirlwind' so that was a bit annoying. Romeo was alright, I didn't like him that much because he was so sensitive all the time and a little boring, he was a very typical princely love interest so I found him rather dull. I really didn't like how selfish Romeo and Juliet became in the last couple of episodes especially after being portrayed as selfless throughout most of the series, It annoyed me. I did get tired of Romeo and Juliet always uttering each other's names in a pathetic, whiny voice but maybe that's because I wasn't too enthusiastic with their love. The other characters were well done and some were developed nicely. We got to see the background of a few of them which was done well (except maybe Montague's background which wasn't really elaborated and was a bit far fetched), I wish we got to learn more about how Francisco and Curio came into service with the Capulets though. I also liked how Mercutio became in the end showing that there was more to him than I had thought and it made me pity him rather than hate. Putting William Shakespeare as a character was risky but they did a good job with him so I was pleased. The characters were realistic, as the anime went on I got a true feel of each character in the anime giving them their own individual identity. The only reason why I put a low score for the character's was due to the main two character's being quite frustrating.

Enjoyment - 7
Although I got tired of the romance between Romeo and Juliet, I did enjoy the anime a lot. There was some humour that made me laugh a couple of times and there was a good amount of tragedy but also light heartedness. The fact that Romeo and Juliet were in love when they had hardly said anything to each other except each other's names and how hard it is to be together made me enjoy it less than I would have and I felt like I was forcing myself to watch the scenes with the two of them together. I was hoping to hear Juliet yell "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo" at some point but maybe that was hoping for too much considering how little they followed the actual story. By the end of the anime I felt happy and sweet although disappointed a little with the last two episodes.

Overall - 7
If it followed the original Romeo and Juliet at all I feel like this could've been much better although saying this I did like how original it was and the new direction it went in (which mostly away from anything of the original). Overall I give Romeo x Juliet a 7 which would have been higher if they had cut the last two episodes and had more development of the revolution ending it a more traditional sense of Romeo and Juliet, and Juliet and Romeo had more depth to their relationship. If you're looking for an anime that stays true to Shakespeare's work, I would definitely not recommend this but if you don't mind at how loose this adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is then I say you may as well give it a try!

As a big Shakespeare fan and an even bigger fan of "Romeo and Juliet", I have been wanting to watch this series for quite some time. In order to do this, I had to overcome my initial wariness of all the deviations from the original work.

From the noble origins of the main characters to their ties and relationships with all the other characters as well as the names for some new questionable characters (see Lancelot, Ophelia and even... Hermione!?), I was willing to overcome these changes and additions as they would seemingly make for a more interesting and far more developed story than Shakespeare's ... original work.

Nevertheless, this story was far from being truly original itself, for it not only borrowed from Shakespeare, but also from many other well-known tales such as Robin Hood, Les Misérables, and many others. This could, again, be easily ignored for the sake of entertainment, but as the story progresses, more and more random elements come into play, making the anime drift off farther and farther away from the source material. This becomes truly annoying towards the end, where something like "The Tree of Life" from Avatar suddenly appears along with a Mayan-style theme concerning sacrifices.

This could, again, have been easily ignored if it actually made sense and turned the story into an outstandingly fresh piece of work, but, unfortunately, it didn't.

As if that wasn't enough, at least 3 characters are spared from dying like they did in the original work, for seemingly no purpose whatsoever.

Additionally, the design of Neo Verona itself is also a mix of a bunch of Italy's best sights along with some influence from other countries. Nevertheless, the art and architecture are generally well executed and enjoyable to look at. Although the animation overall is not outstanding, it is definitely pleasant and fits the overall tone of the story pretty well. The only downside to this would probably be the CGI (ugh, those flags!), but thankfully its use is fairly limited.

The terrible CGI is compensated with some lovely music, where the opening song is used both in Japanese and in English (though I personally prefer the English version and would have liked to see it played more often throughout the series). The ending songs are also nice, and, while nothing memorable, they give a nice look and feel to the show. (Despite people being "surprised" about the first ending since it is kind of a rock song, it's perfect for the large amount of action as well as the darker themes that appear in the series). The soundtrack is also well executed, and, again, while nothing outstanding, it certainly does its job pretty well.

Another strong point of this anime is definitely the voice acting, for it is of great quality (at least in the original Japanese version). Although I was not familiar with any of the seiyuus' work before, I was pleasantly surprised at what they did with Romeo x Juliet and how it all came together so well. This may also be thanks to the pacing, which, for me, was virtually perfect. Neither too fast nor too slow, this anime takes the right amount of time to develop its story and characters (although Tybalt could have certainly used some more time for his backstory and character development).

Despite its mishaps, this anime is definitely enjoyable and one well worth watching. Two pieces of advice, though: try to forget that this has anything to do with Shakespeare and watch out for developing an inevitable addiction! Now, what are you waiting for? Go and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Neo-Verona, where I'm sure you'll be in for a real anime treat!

Romeo X Juliet, though the story borrows mostly from the Shakespeare’s story it is presented in a remarkably different way. The story has been changed a little in order to remove overly used cliché moments by making it a somewhat opaque. Due to the fact that this is an anime adaptation, it has been moulded to fit it, by offering mythical beast such as flying horse called Dragon Steeds.

Story: (9/10)

The story revolves around our two main characters Romeo and Juliet who are bounded by love but separated by fate. I am impressed on how the story is altered not entirely but in some parts to ... give it a fresh tone. Each episode ended with a cliffhanger, and each episode felt fairly good. Although it doesn't carry the same tragic feelings on all parts, you can still feel the pain of separation and tenderness.

Characters: (9/10)

Though I haven’t really read the original play so I can’t compare, the characters were very well built, each having their own personality. The complexity of each character was splendid. Many of the supporting characters have names from other Shakespeare plays too!

Sound: (10/10)

This is where the show really shines. The background music blended perfectly with the scenes, the emotions in them really stood out. As for the ending and opening sequences, I never skipped them; they were just too touching and poignant in some ways. One more thing, the dub, this is first show I would recommend watching dubbed, the English lines are much more related to the old English. The fluid talks and use of old English in some scenes really merged well.

Art and Animation(7/10)

The only downside of the show, tough personally it wasn't much of a bother but still the art feels a little bland. But still the brushed out colours matches the setting perfectly. The animation is not so smooth in some part and I felt drop in quality after 15 episodes, but still it didn't took away from the show.

Conclusion: (9/10)

I am not a fan of Shakespeare’s work but this adaption really amazed me, the story, characters, sound all blended beautifully to provide and exceptional and lasting impression for me. Though the story deviates from the original and the introduction of fantasy elements might turn away some but if you are not a die-hard fan of Shakespeare and don’t get bothered by change, please watch the show. It is just too good to be ignored.

"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.."

Well, somewhat.

Now, at first glance, one would think that this was just another adaptation of the tragic/romantic play.

However, dear viewers, not all is what it may seem. The creators of this show (and the manga, of which I figure there is one) takes the story and twists it into more of a sort of Hamlet adaptation than a Romeo and Juliet. The forbidden, star-crossed love is still there, but there is now a revenge plot to reclaim what was lost.

Even so, the story was still entrancing, as were ... all of the characters. As a Shakespeare fan, I did appreciate a lot of the dialogue as well as the certain nods and nuances to the Bard's play and several characters from his works. Not to mention the Bard himself makes a hilarious cameo.

The most endearing and appealing part to this show (as well it should be) though, is definitely the two leads. Their interactions are quite heart-felt and incredibly sweet. I will give this show a nod, as it really fleshes out the romance far more than the play ever did. The two characters talk and get to know each other a bit more than the originals did in the entirety of the three days that they knew each other. Even their deaths (oh come on, you knew it would still happen) was far more heartbreaking than it ever was in the play. The play has stupid teenagers not thinking through things. The anime has two young adults sacrificing themselves for the good of all and for love.

Another creative touch they added to this adaptation was the role reversal of the two leads. It's not Romeo who sneaks into a party, it's Juliet. It's not Romeo who flees to Mantua. It's Juliet. It's quite interesting and a new way to look at the story. I couldn't help but think it made the show far more interesting to see how they would twist the narrative around further.

My only issue I really had with the show was the way some of the characters were twisted around to benefit the story of this loose adaptation. Sadly, we no longer have the fun-loving witty Mercutio or the villainous, crazed Tybalt. Mercutio was the character I really mourned for. There was a lot of wasted potential on his part. Also, there was a definitive lack of play dialogue. I really was missing one of them saying the famous,

"My only love sprung from my only hate!!"

Wasted opportunity there, man.

In the end, this show is definitely worth a watch, even I would say, for those who love Shakespeare or the play. While it's not a faithful adaptation - heck, it's hardly an adaptation at all - it still retains the spirit and the romance of the play. You still love the characters and you still wish for happiness for the two leads. It's well worth the watch. And you'll definitely either tear up or feel your chest tightening a teeny bit.

Romeo X Juliet

Synopsis:
The story is an excessively exaggerated remake of the popular Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet filled with happiness, strife, an ambitious evil emperor, and the drive for love. The plot itself is about two lovers who were never meant to be together because of their opposing families, but love cannot keep them apart. They will find a way to live together even if it means defying their family name.

Besides the beautiful story line, I did have a few pet peeves with the overall style of the anime. Yes, the action can be intense at times with sword-to-sword battle, but being allowed to jump/fall ... from the top of building and still land perfectly is beyond realism. It's great that we don't have to watch the main characters sit in a hospital for numerous episodes, but seriously not even bearing a scratch or bruise.. it's too much for me to bear. It hurts me to see those things.

There are other story elements that I'll try not to judge too harshly such as hosting a wedding in the middle of wartime immediately after the commander stating that the soldiers are prepared to go to war. Things like this are what is allowed in animation, and I'll leave it to you if you think that's okay, but it lacks a realistic scenario.

It's really hard to judge this anime harshly while listening to the opening song on repeat.

And now with the ratings:
Story - 6 - Numerous elements of the story line were flipped from the original Shakespeare story, as if the director was given a list of names to include in the play with a very vague memory of what was suppose to happen.
Graphics - 8 - Pretty modern graphics here. Nothing too exciting. Very bright colours. Most everything was in high quality, but few things were finely detailed.
Sound - 7 - Touching music at certain points, but I never felt totally enthralled at any moment due to the killer situational musical atmosphere.
Character personas - 7 - The mad king was played very well and the old english dialect kept me smiling. Otherwise, Romeo and Juliet just weren't exciting.

Overall - 6 - When I think about it, it all boils down to the entire play lacking humour, detailed action scenes, and witty commentary, which are all very compelling human characteristics to be missing.
Recommended - I kind of got the 'meh' feel from this new remake. It had it's moments, but they were few and far between. In a hard answer, I would have to say, "No, I would recommend a different anime with more depth."

"Till death do us part."

Romeo x Juliet, based off of the infamous play by William Shakesphere, tells the heartrending tale of two young nobles, in love, whose country is plagued by war, hatred, and suffering. It is a show that will build you up, break you down, make you laugh, and make you cry. A show that doesn't hesitate to stab you in the emotions, and twist the knife just to make sure.

The two main characters, after which the show is named, are Romeo and Juliet. Just like the play by Shakesphere, the two meet and fall in love. Unfortunately, their love is that which ... was never meant to be. The story follows this couple as they try to bring peace to their country, and end this horrific reign of corruption and death.

A brilliantly paced and executed show, Romeo x Juliet is definitely a must watch for lovers of the romance/history/drama genres. This emotional rollercoaster will constantly keep you at the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.

While the art/music isn't anything to write home about, I couldn't think of a better way to have approached it. A Japanese/English rendition of "Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, coupled with beautifully written violin and piano pieces, fit the general tone of the show. The art gives the characters a youthful look, without giving them that "moe" (overexaggerated eyes) look that we see in countless shows today.

If your definition of a romance show is one that contains ecchi/comedy/harem, look elsewhere. You won't find any of that here. Those of you going into this show should know that this is a serious romance that tells the tragic tale of two lovers whose first love was destined to fail the moment they met.

Would I recommend this show? You bet. If you are still debating whether or not you should watch this show at this point, just watch it. Trust me, you'll be met with a show that not-your-typical overrated romcom show.