Let’s start off with the story. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, and heavily implied through the title, this is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Needless to say, it has the same basic plot line. For that plot line, I would give a 5. However, I’m able to move that score up one notch because of the differences presented between this one and the original. I really did like the new setting of Neo Verona, in a sort of future environment, that the Capulets have been almost obliterated. In short, I found the numerous tweaks on the story intriguing and ultimately better than the original (gotta say, I’m not a huge fan of Shakespeare, possibly because of the amount of plays bearing his signature I’ve had to study and will have to study in the future). I add one more point to the score because of the plot twists. No, setting it in a different environment and shaking up the story weren’t enough - we also discover that the natures of characters are not as it may have seemed - they are actually quite complicated.
However, this is another failed ending. While it does include some of the tragedy of the original play, it doesn’t make that much sense. It’s nowhere as confusing as the ending of Kyoukai no Kanata, but it’s still puzzling and kind of disappointing. I would use this to bring the story down by 0.5, but since I’m feeling nice today, I won’t.
Next comes art. It’s quite obvious that this was a low budget anime. The art style isn’t too dreadful, in fact scenery and particularly buildings come out quite nicely, but the characters… Well, they’re not that dreadful. For once, they look much too old, and they do not bear the traditional anime-style traits. I will admit that some characters are cute and/or mildly good-looking (I think ‘mildly hot’ would be a little bit of a contradiction - don’t you?), but the rest, well, I can only say one word - Meh. A big fat ‘meh’. Juliet looks nice, I would say, only in the opening when she has hair up and is shouting. But, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No more than a 6 in my opinion.
Music was okay, I really don’t have much to say about this subject. I liked the first ending theme. Perhaps it’s because I have so little to say about this that I give it a 5.5.
Next comes character. This is perhaps the first time I am criticising character because of a different factor other than development. The character development here was decent, it was okay. No it’s not that which caused me to give this a 5. In fact, I could almost say that it’s because of the character development that I give this a 5. Now I’m starting to sound like someone who is never happy, which is not the case, so let me explain.
I’m aiming mainly at Juliet here. Her character is sometimes so grown up and other times so childish I firmly believe that her age changes constantly between 5 and 30. I watched this anime with my dad, and most of our time was spent yelling at Juliet and laughing at her ridiculous decisions. She may be good in battle, but in strategy, even I, the person who never plans, am better at her in seeing future scenarios. She makes such stupid decisions at times, what are supposed to be dramatic scenes turn plainly comical.
She is also so lovestruck with Romeo, it’s past hilarious. While he is also in love with her, his case is nowhere near as bad.
I also think that too many characters have little or no relevance to the plot. For instance, Regan, or Hermione. And I LIKE Regan, so I’m not being biased her. I also think that Antonio could claim child abuse. I mean, making that tiny, little, cutie-pumpkin fight? It’s criminal.
Romeo is also one of those perpetually lucky protagonists, which is another cliche element that I cannot tolerate.
Sometimes I think that the most decent character in the anime is Cielo - the dragonsteed (a horse with wings). *scoffs*
Really, some characters made this anime comical, which I don’t think was intended.
To conclude, while this was an interesting adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, it did have some confusing elements, okay art, and sometimes ridiculous characters.
Story: 7/10 (would give 6.5)
Art: 6/10
Music: 5.5/10
Characters: 5/10 (I’m being nice here)
Enjoyment: 6
Overall: 5.9/10 (rounded to a 6)
A/N: Thank you to all those who have commented on my reviews! I hope to make them consistently better, and only you can help me do that. Thank you in advance.
