So during the last Saturday Night Synopsis, I binged-watched the entire Romeo x Juliet series.
Romeo x Juliet is a fantasy romance anime that can be found on two different kissanime sites: on KissAnimeRU, and KissAnimePLUS, in which I would advise against KissAnimePLUS because of their pornographic advertisements...
Anyway, and to be completely honest... I have really mixed feelings about this anime.
Like most Romeo and Juliet variations, it tries to take a new twist on such an old classic, and I'm under the impression they do this because it is an attempt to keep things interesting.
So the question remains... if whether or not they were able to keep things interesting.
In a way? Yes, they were, but from a story-telling perspective and the world they developed, I feel like they fell short in certain areas, which what made the anime (dare I say) mediocre.
I'm not saying they didn't try, because they did, but it was how it was all executed was how it felt so mediocre to me. Then again, I suppose it's because it's pretty bland in relation to other dramatic fantasy animes, such as Attack on Titan, at least in regard to animation.
Something else too... this was supposed to also be a romance...
Which, I'm really sorry to say... this anime didn't have enough of.
I mean, it's freaking Romeo and Juliet!
I feel like they spent too much on doubling down what was at stake than any real romance on these two, and it stinks that the way they double down on the stakes wasn't always the best in my opinion.
They focus so much on how they were always apart that I don't think they made the most of the opportunity that they had together... but then again, it might be because of the culture at the time that I'm missing that would explain the lack of hugs, or at least the kissing of the hand.
Look, it's really hard for me to explain, but I'll try.
I wanted more than just typical romance between Romeo and Juliet... I wanted to fall in love with the couple so much so that when the end came, I would be pissed at whoever drove them apart, but that's not what happened in this anime. I didn't feel any of that, and it's because I didn't feel it is exactly why I frown at the results.
As for doubling down on what was at stake... I mean, think about this universe...
There were certain things Juliet, under realistic circumstances, shouldn't have avoided but did.
Anyway, I made a reference to Attack on Titan before: if Romeo x Juliet had a reboot with the same animation, depth and length of milking drama, dark atmosphere and heavily emphasizing what made Romeo and Juliet's romance work, then I would have had a better opinion of this anime, but that's not what happened.
I mean, if you're going to imply from the beginning with the freaking theme song that this anime was going to be a sad one, then you should've at least tried to imply that through the animation too, and not just with the dark color choice.
Then again, Romeo x Juliet was done in 2007, so I suppose I can't be too critical of something made so long ago.
