While the anime does tackle themes such as trauma, stalking, and eating disorders its important to note that this isn’t the sole purpose of the series. It explores the theatrical industry as a whole, and these are only one portion of it. That said, when it does delve into these darker themes it does an incredibly good job at it. Each character was properly explored and easy to understand, providing great insight into some of the thoughts and mentalities of people affected by these issues. When stalking is brought up it is able to give reasons for the stalker’s actions without ever justifying the act of stalking itself. The anime never gives off the impression of being dark for the sake of holding the viewer’s attention, rather it just simply addresses problems that you can find in the real world. You can almost feel the severity and impact of these through the screen, with some characters feeling all too real at times.
At first the characters might not seem all that complex, but this changes with each passing episode. Numerous well-paced backstories are placed to help better understand the characters, and by the end it really feels like everyone in the show serves a purpose rather than just existing for the sake of it. Character development is great, and a lot of it is shown through acting and performances which was really impressive. Every character has their own goal with their own reasons for seeking it, and you can see them strive for it through their actions. Characteristics of each girl are also reflected in their performances, and emotional moments are blended in with this brilliantly. Breakthroughs in characters become so much more meaningful when there are passionate voice lines during a play going along with it. Rather than having the theatre school as nothing more than a simple setting it becomes a part of the characters’ growth, adding depth and symbolism to the overall story.
Visuals remained solid throughout the anime, and multiple directing techniques were used to enhance certain scenes. Good camera shots made scenes easy to follow and flow well, and there were some neat uses of subtle lighting at various points, particularly whenever something would take place on stage. Of course, the visuals aren’t breathtaking, but good directing and scene composition makes them stand out despite this. A good soundtrack is used well when it needs to be, and when paired with strong voice acting the entire anime suddenly becomes more impactful. The opening and ending are both great and have managed to stick with me after finishing each episode.
Never before have I been so interested in watching a play about Romeo and Juliet. I found myself wanting to see more of each character perform, and the anime really delivers on this in the last few episodes. There is visible development with each passing episode and it’s an absolute joy to watch.
Solid 9/10, time to go watch the Rose of Versailles
