Japanamania: Romeo x Juliet

Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008:

Romeo x Juliet (anime)
Status: Aired in Japan; Unlicensed

You may think that since you read Romeo and Juliet in high school, you don’t need to read this description, but I guarantee that you do. Gonzo’s Romeo x Juliet is like no version you’ve ever seen before. Set on the floating island of Neo-Verona, home to many pegasi, RxJ is a fantasy take on the tale.

While the series is unlicensed, Gonzo has made noise against fansubs of the series via FUNimation, which has not announced the series as being licensed- leading fans to speculation on Gonzo’s release plans. In any case, the series features a rather strong, sword-fighting Juliet as the only remaining member of the house of Capulet, which was destroyed by the leader of the Montague house years before. Montague is now the Duke of Neo-Verona, while the Capulets lay in the dust.

Juliet, who frequently defends the townspeople using the name The Red Wind, is given the task of restoring the family honor by defeating Montague, but not until after she’s already met and fallen for Romeo. The decisions that she makes will alter the lives of those around her irreparably- and in more ways than any of them imagine.

Below: The opening titles for Romeo x Juliet.

Gia Manry is a Portland, OR-based professional writer specializing in pop culture/entertainment writing. Read up on more of her work at giapet.net or hire her at GiaManry.com.