1995 winter | Episodes: 33 | Score: 8.3 (18481)
Updated every Sundays at 19:30 | Status: Finished Airing
Type: TV
Synopsis
Romeo is a kindhearted and courageous boy living with his family in a small village in Switzerland. Unfortunately, Romeo becomes the interest of a man named Luini, known as "The God of Death," who is infamous for buying children and selling them as chimney sweeps in Milan. While visiting the village, Luini burns down Romeo's family cornfield in an attempt to have Romeo as his own. With the cornfield gone and his father sustaining a head injury trying to put out the fire, Romeo bravely sells himself to the God of Death in order to help his family afford a doctor. On his way to Milan, Romeo meets a boy named Alfredo Martini and they quickly become friends. Just as Alfredo is sold to a different master, the two boys swear eternal friendship and vow to meet again. As a chimney sweep, Romeo faces many hardships and abuse, especially from his master's family and a gang known as the Wolf Pack. But after reuniting with Alfredo, the two form a fraternity of chimney sweeps called "The Black Brothers," who will learn to fight against the Wolf Pack and help each other in times of need. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Voice Actors
Fujita, Toshiko
Orikasa, Ai
Reviews
Lady-Sara
Romeo and the Black Brothers is a timeless classic that left a deep impression on an entire generation. My parents’ generation grew up with anime like Grendizer and Treasure Island, while my generation mostly had anime featuring talking animals on local TV, such as Maple Town and Konchuu Monogatari Minashigo Hutch. Romeo and the Black Brothers was the first anime I remember from my childhood that featured human characters. The story, based on the German novel Die schwarzen Brüder, is set in the 19th century and follows Romeo, a boy from a Swiss village forced into a harsh life as a chimney sweep in Milan. Theseries beautifully captures the suffering of these children while highlighting moments of friendship and solidarity through the Black Brothers. Many of the characters remain unforgettable to this day—Romeo, the sweet, brave, and selfless child; Alfredo, the wise and loyal leader; Dante, the group’s mood-maker; Giovanni, the charismatic leader whom everyone fears, and many others. The soundtrack, although seemingly ordinary, resonated deeply with many viewers. Watching the series in Japanese for the first time rekindles a sense of nostalgia, especially when hearing pieces like "Romeo no Kodoku," "Kurushikute mo Makenai," and "Bianca wo Sukue!". The original opening song in the dubbed version has left a lasting impact with its hopeful lyrics, evoking a sense of positivity despite the hardships in life, especially this part of the song:: “Life gives us lights at the end of the tunnel that invites us to forget the pain we've lived through." Oh man, all of this makes me so nostalgic and brings tears to my eyes.
whiteflame55
A production by World Masterpiece Theater, a company know producing stories that take place outside of Japan with a classical book/story vibe (often adaptations of said books), this was their last project and, much as I’ve been told they have other great works, this was pretty underwhelming and drastically overrated. There's a good deal of charm to this anime, not just in its animation but in its almost storybook telling. The plucky protagonist bonding with friends along the way to some potentially dreadful adventure and managing to make the most of a difficult situation is always going to be a good time. That being said, this seriesseems to be of two minds about how it wants to present itself. Part of that is the relation and departure from the source material. As long as the two are in parallel, the story is decently dark and has some strong plot progression. When they do depart, though, there's a dramatic shift towards something that looks a whole lot more fantastical than its setting should allow. I almost want to imagine much of that portion as the titular Romeo's retelling of the events to the kids in his classroom, sanitized for their benefit. But it's not just about the changes. Tonally, the story is all over the place, and in some cases, it just leaves whole plot threads dangling for no reason. Long story short, it's a charming mess of a show. Even given no background on the source material or other adaptations, it's a frustrating watch. The early story and some elements of the later story are strong enough to give it a bit of a boost, but it joins a set of anime that just didn't work for me overall, despite having some strong moments.
Pokitaru
I've been an anime fan for almost a decade now, and I've had the pleasure of experiencing a wide variety of anime that have captured my attention and left me with a sense of appreciation. I've seen many stories that have resonated with me, characters that I've grown to love, and worlds that I've become fully immersed in. Despite all of this, there have only been a handful of times when an anime has truly moved me to my core, evoking a level of emotion that I rarely experience. I rarely come across a piece of media, be it anime or any other form ofentertainment, that has such a profound emotional impact on me that it completely immerses me in its world. But when it happens, it's a magical feeling. And I'm excited to say that the masterpiece called "Romeo no Aoi Sora", alternatively referred to as "Romeo and the Black Brothers," or as I prefer to call it "Romeo's Blue Skies", is one of those rare cases. From the first episode to the last, I was completely captivated by the story, the characters, and the world that was presented to me. Watching this anime was one of those rare and unforgettable experiences that I will cherish for a long time. World Masterpiece Theater: Before I get into details, I have to mention the World Masterpiece Theater. It was a long-running anime program that was first introduced in Japan in 1969. It is known for its adaptations of classic children's literature into anime series. The program was initially created as a way to educate children and foster a love for reading classic literature. The anime adaptations of these literary works aim to stay true to the original stories while also adding new elements that make them more appealing to a younger audience. The animation style is usually more traditional and less flashy compared to modern anime, which makes it a bit more appealing to viewers who prefer a more classic and timeless style of animation. Despite its long history and popularity, the World Masterpiece Theater is, unfortunately, relatively unknown among younger anime fans. One noteworthy aspect of the World Masterpiece Theater anime adaptations is that they tend to feature similar themes and characteristics. These include the main character coming from an orphaned or single-parent family, the presence of an animal character, the setting in a real city, and the era being set between the 19th century and the end of World War II. And of course, Romeo's Blue Skies is no exception to this. Anyway, enough with that. Let's jump into the anime itself. At first, I thought of this anime as just another "anime for kids", but as the series progressed, my perspective began to change. Although there is nothing in the anime that makes it unsuitable for children, I believe it would be more fitting to call it "family-friendly" instead. The main difference between a show "for kids" and a "family-friendly" one is that the latter can be watched by children without any issues (such as the use of mature themes, violence, nudity, or language), but its primary audience is not limited to children. For instance, while the story and characters may appear simplistic and light-hearted, there are underlying themes and messages that can resonate with viewers of all ages. It manages to balance its elements of humor and emotion in a way that is enjoyable for both children and adults. It's not just a show that aims to entertain children, but rather a show that aims to entertain and engage viewers of all ages, making it perfect for family viewing. Story, pacing, and characters: The storytelling is probably the biggest highlight of the series. The show is a historical drama that explores themes such as social justice, poverty, family, friendship, solidarity, child labor, and discrimination. What I liked about the series is that does not shy away from the harsh realities of life for chimney sweeps during this era, such as the dangers of their work and the societal stigma associated with their profession. However, the show also offers a sense of hope and optimism in the face of these challenges, depicting the resilience and determination of its characters. So, despite dealing with such heavy themes, it does it in a way that is both honest and poignant, and by the end of the series, I was left with a sense of hope and inspiration, despite the hardships that the characters faced. The pacing of the series is also worth mentioning, because it made the anime very easy to watch, and it is exactly what it needed to be. The anime falls into the "semi-episodic" category. Compared to fully episodic or linear narratives, semi-episodic series strike a balance between the two, providing some freedom for creativity and exploring different stories while still keeping a clear direction for the main plot. This approach is particularly effective for this anime, as it allows for a deeper exploration of the characters' everyday lives, struggles, and their development, making them feel more relatable and engaging. Another thing that stands out in this anime, is the characters. Each of these characters has their own unique personality and motivations, and their interactions with one another drive the plot forward. They all play an important role in the story and contribute to the overall themes of friendship, solidarity, and standing up for what is right. Even the secondary characters are also well-made, further enriching the narrative's unfolding and aligning with the anime's central themes. Art, animation, and music: As previously mentioned, anime belonging to the World Masterpiece Theater are not particularly known for their top-notch production value. Nonetheless, this does not imply that the anime is lacking in terms of visual or auditory quality. The visual part is very characteristic of the time period in which it was produced, with hand-drawn animation that is relatively simple and traditional compared to modern anime. While it may appear somewhat dated by modern standards, it is very effective in conveying the story's themes and setting. This simplicity contributes to the series' charm and overall aesthetic, and the animation remains effective in conveying the story's themes and emotions. Yes, it does look simple, but in my opinion, that's why it's good. The character designs are distinct and realistic, with clothing and hairstyles that are typical of the era in which the series is set. The backgrounds are also noteworthy, featuring detailed depictions that reflect the story's setting, particularly Milan's narrow streets and rooftops. The backgrounds are not just flat and static, but rather they are designed with depth and dimensionality. This attention to detail creates a vivid and immersive world that enhances the story. The creators did a pretty good job at creating a cohesive atmosphere throughout the series by using soft, muted colors that further give a sense of realism, contributing to the overall aesthetic of the show. The music part is probably the one I have the least to say. It may not be the most notable aspect of the series, but it is still well-crafted and effective in enhancing the viewing experience. The background music is fitting for each scene and effectively complements the emotions and mood being portrayed, whether it's intense or emotional. There are some pretty good and memorable soundtracks, but most of them won't leave a lasting impression. Nevertheless, the music still does its job, creating a cohesive and immersive atmosphere for the story. Other stuff: Before I go into my feelings regarding this hidden gem, I have to point out something. If you're planning to watch this anime, it's important to approach it with a different mindset than you would for most anime. What you're watching is essentially an old fairytale, with its own unique flavor and tone. And this is not an exaggeration. It really is a fairytale, and the fact that there's narration gives more depth to this. You'll often encounter the use of a narrator, which brings out more of this fairytale vibe and it makes it easier to approach it like this. Despite its emphasis on realism, there may be certain inconsistencies in the story or aspects that may seem illogical. However, it is crucial not to let these minor details detract from the overall experience. After all, this anime is primarily intended for a younger audience and should be appreciated for its intended purpose, rather than critiqued solely for its imperfections You should also avoid expecting to see an anime that looks and feels like all the others. This is not your typical anime that has over-the-top action, flashy animation, edgy comedy, or heavy doses of fan service and waifu-bait stuff. Instead, this anime offers a more subdued, contemplative experience. The story unfolds slowly and deliberately, allowing you to get to know the characters and become invested in them. There are no cheap thrills or gratuitous scenes designed solely to appeal to certain types of viewers. While this approach may not be for everyone, I believe it's refreshing to see an anime that takes its time and doesn't rely on tired clichés and stereotypes. If you're looking for something different, something that will challenge your expectations and broaden your horizons, then this anime is definitely worth a watch. Overall experience and conclusion: As I mentioned earlier, this anime has deeply resonated with me and will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is truly a one-of-a-kind anime that is difficult to find these days. The show reminded me of why I fell in love with anime in the first place. Its story and characters are a testament to the power of animation as a medium for storytelling. In a world where flashy and shallow anime series are often prioritized, this one stands out as a shining example of the potential of the medium to create meaningful and impactful stories. It is a rare gem that I feel lucky to have discovered and experienced. Watching this series reminded me of the magic and wonder that can be found in anime. All in all, "Romeo's Blue Skies" is an unforgettable anime that left a lasting impression on me, and I will always cherish the experience of watching it. Thank you for reading!
Shuusaku
This is my first time writing a review so please bear with me. I wanted to write a review cause I have learnt something from the anime. Romeo at the beginning of the story is just another one of the chimney sweepers in unfortunate circumstances who can’t read and write like the many others of his age at that period of time. But his will to learn regardless of his circumstances has made him able to read and write. Which is why I wanna task myself with the challenge of writing a review even if I might make some mistakes! Romeo who seemingly has endless hardshipsbut gets through them with his spirit is truly inspirational and you’ll notice it as the story goes on. The anime has this realism to it, which is what makes it a true masterpiece! It goes over all the aspects of life and gives a wonderful chance to grow as a person along with Romeo and the black brothers. The story at times feels very tragic and unfair but bear with it as it is just as rewarding to see the result! And as you know the reality is often not ideal. I can’t recommend enough to watch this masterpiece as I strongly believe every child and adult could take away something from it. You’ll not be the same person as you were before watching the anime. It still breaks my heart that not many know or have seen this masterpiece. I know, I have said "masterpiece" quite a few times but it won't suffice. I hope I didn’t do a very bad job throwing some light, thank you. :)
HanezeveAbyss
Romeo's Blue Skies is a work of fiction created to inspire and educate young boys about the world we live in. It is a story of a young boy named Romeo who willingly sold himself into slavery in Italy in order to provide for his impoverished family in Switzerland. In his way to Milan, he met a well-mannered boy named Alfredo who he immediately becomes friends with. Working as a chimney sweep, he experiences cruelty and hardships, but also gained friends in the process and together, they formed a faction named Black Brothers. The general atmosphere of the series is heavy because it's dealing with topicssuch as child labor, violence, and destitution. Although, life is not always like that for Romeo, because sometimes he'll see a beam of light in a form of a person, an object or sometimes, a cause. Even though he's always tested by unexpected obstacles, he always manages to persevere as a person and learns from it, with the help of the people around him. He's the type of person who confronts every hurdles in his path head on. In every episode, there's always a new realization acquired by him. The appeal of the show comes from the camaraderie between the characters especially the one shared by Romeo and Alfredo. Alfredo is filled with charisma and shrouded in mystery; he's definitely the most interesting character of the series. The first time they met, they both helped each other, and since then, they shared the same mutual trust and bond. Seeing the development of their brotherhood is fascinating to watch. It is also a great slice of life anime. Even the simplest of activities like reading a book or studying are portrayed in an optimistic manner that by the end of it, I can't help but smile. Some good moments are when unexpected rapports are formed. Majority of the characters are projected as just 'humans with different motivations' without having someone portrayed as 'evil' except in the last couple of episodes. The art style is simply beautiful; it conveys the mood of a given scene effectively; the colors are dominantly bright and lively signifying 'hope' even when the characters experience dire situations. The music is intense most of the time; it's the type of sound that hypes you up for a big scene. The pace is a bit slow but it's appropriate due to the nature of the story. The character designs notably fit their demeanors and personalities. Overall, it is a valuable experience. It delivered magnificently in almost areas - characters, story, presentation, writing, music and art style.
LiaNF
Romeo no Aoi Sora is, without a doubt, one of the most genuinely heartfelt shows I've had the pleasure to watch. As most of the series from the World Masterpiece Theater, Romeo no Aoi Sora (Eng: Romeo and the Black Brothers) is also an adaptation of a famous classical children’s book, “Die schwarzen Brüder.” It came out in the winter of 1995 when this particular TV staple was on its final years and when there was a huge resurge of interest in mecha anime. At the same time, psychological and heavy action-centered shows were more popular than ever. Romeo no Aoi Sora seems almost obscure inthe midst of all that and it’s understandably easy to overlook it today due to its rather ordinary and straightforward premise like other WMP works, often snubbed as “a children’s show” on top of its outdated style and animation; and honestly, it is quite a bit of a shame since it is a fantastic coming of age and slice of life anime that has aged pretty well and can certainly still be appreciated regardless of who and how old you are. Story and Execution – 8/10: It’s a story of a young boy who was forced to sell himself as a chimney sweep in Milan during the 19th century to aid his impoverished family. The show depicts his struggles and triumphs as he attempts to overcome the cruelty of the world, protect the ones important to him, and somehow still pursue his dreams as he gain and lose allies along the way. Romeo no Aoi Sora is both a slice of life and an adventure series and while the setting seems mundane, there are exciting little adventures incorporated as we follow him and his friends. Even though the story isn’t particularly groundbreaking nor unique, there is a pretty solid portrayal of the themes it touches upon – bonds, friendship, hardship, tragedy, hope. It also conveys a subject that is highly relevant to its targeted audience: the importance of education. Of course, this show isn’t without its shortcomings. There were some situations where they seemed a little bit exaggerated for full dramatic effect, at times too cruel, and the pacing may feel rushed in the last few episodes. Characters – 8/10: The characters are pretty straightforward with both flaws and merits. They are sympathetic and aren’t particularly complex, but they do have their own charms. The antagonists are pretty one-dimensional and can be described as classically evil. That said, the most compelling aspect of the show is the protagonists’ character dynamics and their relationships with each other. Amidst all the superficial and fan-pandering character connections we see in a lot of anime today, Romeo no Aoi Sora portrays such with utmost sincerity. Animation and Sound – 7/10: Sure, the visuals and sound can barely compare to modern animation and certainly not to any Ghibli films (in which works from the WMP are sometimes likened to). However, it looks good for the time of its production and seems to have aged well. I rewatched it not too long ago and I was impressed by how decent it still looks. Enjoyment – 8/10: Watching it again more than a decade later, I’m reminded why this show is special. Even amongst all the good anime of the same genre I’ve seen over the years, Romeo no Aoi Sora is one of the very few that still stands out. Despite some of its flaws, it was created with a lot of heart and has a good message to send. Overall: 8/10
deskolta
One of the reasons because i watch anime is the diversity of the stories. Some can be dramatic, romantic, comedic, etc. But some of theme are just beautiful. In terms of story, characters, the lesson that teaches when you watch it. Romeo no aoi sora is one of those. Story: 9 The story is about Romeo. A kid who needs to be a chimney sweeper for one year to pay his sick dad treatment. In the course of the story, Romeo will know other chimney sweepers, and will make a group named the black brothers. This story could be quite real. As people back in those years boughtkids to do some jobs. The story makes a very good environment of how was the epoch. Almost everyone had to move walking, only the aristocats had carriages to move from place to place. Woman were the housekeeper and did errands. But as a kids anime, it couldn't demonstrate the severe treatment that chimney sweepers had. They made them work all the day and just give bread and water for ate. In overall the story is well written, beautiful, attractive and innovating. It also teaches the symboligy of people's freedom, friendship and trust. Art: 8 As a 1995 anime it can't have the best animation quality, but the art is good and simple. The city's are well drawed with good detail in some structures. Also the transitions in fight scenes are very well done. Sound: 10 As a music lover i can assure that the music has very good quality in the anime. The opening makes you think of romeo, that from circumstances of life, his freedom was stolen. The ost's are very well made, they combine perfectly in the scenes where they sound. The ed is not the best but it makes me think of the optimism that the chimney sweepers had. Characters: 8 The characters are all likeable, but some of them are spoiled. Each with they own personalities, like the crying boy, the strong boy, the intelligent boy, etc. The final antagonists are well written too, they have a good motive for being bad that almost every single human felt in one moment, envy. But the thing that stands out in characters in the anime is the optimism. Despite the situation, the black brothers were able to stand up and surpass the situation. The MC, Romeo, is a good character, but sometimes he is a bit immature. Enjoyment: 8 It was very relaxing to watch, because its a tranquil journey of chimney sweepers that have to surpass life difficulties. It could be a little slow, and sometimes boring, but in the end is a beautiful anime with a lesson to learn in some episodes. Overall: 8,6 In overall Romeo no aoi sora is a very good historical slice of life anime. Good story, music and characters. ¿Should i watch it? The answer is yes. It a unique gem in the topics, a tranquil journey and a satisfying story course.
Dyor
I'm watching anime for more than 20 years. I'm a bit picky, which means that I tend to choose certain genres, art styles, plots and all that. Yet, I often watch anime of a kind that would appeal to my much younger self. Sometimes I bump into series or movies that I missed earlier. Romeo no Aoi Sora is one of those. What can I say... Probably, had I have an opportunity to watch that when I was of appropriate age (that was slightly before it appeared), or maybe during the actual first airing it would greatly influence me in a positive way, as intended. Of courseyou should not judge that series at the same level as complex seinen stuff, not even Hunter×Hunter 2011 that starts like an easygoing motivational thing for middle-schoolers but develops into something way more serious and deeper than that. Romeo no Aoi Sora was intended for younger audience, 11–13 yo boys, was kept in line with that targeting and produced much earlier. You should also forgive less-than-realistic depiction of 1860s Italy and Switzerland in terms of muddy streets and dimly lit interiors (for that, go watch 2013 Swiss/German movie Die Schwarzen Bruder based on the same book — that I would like to translate into Russian if I manage to get my hands on an English edition), as well as some “deus ex machina” moments and plot shortcuts. Yet, I could barely stop myself from watching all 33 episodes in one go, stretching the process into three days. I imagine how restless I would become if that series would air in 1990s Russia and I would face a probability of missing an episode (and, well, to wait for a week for the next episode would be a torture). There are very few titles (and books in general) that are equally appropriate for boys of said age... And for many adults. This is a must-watch. I can't wait for my nephews to grow up to show them this thing (among others). Why a must-watch? Values. Friendship, trust, good-natured stubbornness, kindness, openness, fair judgement — things that our real world woefully lacks throughout all of its history. Also, sheer emotional power: even being closer to 40 than to 30 and witness to too many things I would rather not even know about, I could barely contain tears during certain moments (call that sentimentality of an aged boy, or whatever, but...). I think that a twelve-year-old myself would weep and wail, despite that even then a book, a movie or an animation had to be much more than a melodrama to get that kind of compassion from me towards characters. Bottom line. If you want to watch an anime that can make you better as a person, this is the right choice. If you have a cynical young teen (or a tween that can become one) in vicinity, make him watch it.
Mesopotamian
Ill start by saying this,i consider myself lucky, to be one of the few people who successfully unearthed this treasure. Am not overrating this anime it simply deserves this. Nowadays almost all animes are based on supernatural powers aka things that would never encounter us in real life. Its sad to say, but people prefer those animes over things like Romeo no Aoi Sora. People completely forgot about even strong powers..... such as love, faithfulness, trust, hope, following ones dreams ,friendship and determination. All these elements and much more are all expressed in this anime thats why its one of a kind. Forgot to mentionthe fact that it made me cry, although i have a heart made of stone, meaning that most animes would fail to crack it open, but this one succeeded, so i highly recommend watching it THAT WAS A LONG INTRO AM SORRY As for now ill speak about the anime it self so continue reading at your own risk cuz SPOILERS ALERT...... Now i wont go on the story in details since its avalable on this website https://myanimelist.net/anime/2559/Romeo_no_Aoi_Sora and ill just go through the important stuff that many people where annoyed of. For instance, some of you didnt like the fact that romeo married bianca simply cuz there wasnt any real feelings between the two, if u paid close attention alfredo before his death asked romeo to achieve the dreams he couldnt accomplish and one of them was protecting bianca when he becomes an adult, and so it was a must that romeo marries bianca thats the only way he keeps her close and fulfilled his friends request, also in episode 26 alfredo tells bianca that he thinks that she will grow to like romeo someday, then bianca blushed denying this. As for the second point i wanna discuss is how angeletta wasnt mentioned in the ending episodes, this upset some of you and i agree because now we dont really have an idea for what actually happened during that time skip of 10 years.The last thing we knew was that she was still in paris. I think that she actually died from her sickness because it was heart related issue which is kinda complicated and difficult to cure. Also angeletta fulfilled her dreams and met her grandmother so now she just have one final wish which is meeting her parents in "heaven". I must say that for me this anime broke my heart with its ending, especially Alfredo's death which actually made me cry. Only few animes have this ability to make u shed tears..... unless you are a crybaby like Michaelo.
CaptainSkate
Romeo no Aoi Sota is my favorite anime television show of all time (not just my favorite anime of all time) and there’s no quick answer to that. The main reason why I tell people to watch the show is because of the relaxing and simplistic atmosphere that the show has, but while saying that I think that I don’t do justice to my relationship with this show and taking into in consideration that I’ve dedicated most of my latest days to write about my favorite shows and the one I hate the most, I’ve decided to write another essay explaining in detail why Ilove this show so fucking much. Explaining the appeal of something is quite hard for me, not because I don’t find the words to tell that person why Romeo is an amazing show that deserves attention, the appeal of the show has to do with the person which is watching it and what kind of personal relationship the viewer is able to form with the show that he watches. Slice of Life shows more than a medium of entertainment are an experience for the viewer, slice of life shows should display the mundane life of the characters and how much a viewer can relate to those experiences. The most important aspect of Slice of Life shows or elements beneath the show is that they should portray human experience in a realistic light making the viewer feel what those characters are feeling. The most ridiculous criticism of Romeo no Aoi Sora that I was able to find (there wasn’t too many critics of the show because I’m quite literally the only person in the internet outside of sites like My Anime List or Hummingbird that writes essays about this show or at least mentions it in his work. Going back on track ì don’t believe in this notion that kid’s shows are necessarily bad and most of them are actually are fun and entertaining another complain that I see against Slice of Life shows in general are that nothing interesting happens in them (most of them called this kind of shows slice of nothing) and the episodic nature of the show could be a turn off for some people but the show is just great at what it does. I get that anime fans watch anime for the continuous narrative that many of the shows have and they’re often turned off by episodic shows, I by the other hand enjoy episodic shows like Mushishi but I don’t see Romeo no Aoi Sora as an episodic show in the same way that Mushishi is an episodic show, Romeo is a cohesive sequence of events that start in and ends at a determinated point. The simplest way to put it out is that the show is great from start to the end. The first episode of Romeo no Aoi Sora in my opinion perfectly summarizes the appeal of the show and gives the tone for the rest of the show, in the first episode of the show you’re able to take the basis of the show (like every great first good episode, something that many shows don’t do at all after all great first episodes are hard to find in my opinion), the quiet life of a young boy with cheerful music, a vivid color palled and an easygoing atmosphere, but at the same time with an underlying soberness to all with some not-so-obvious-but-not-that-evident foreshadowing. Even the voice acting is very good from the start (people that watch long running series will see that most of the voice actors need a time to stick with their characters) but this could also be accredited to the very experienced voice actress that played the kids in this show. I very easily was able to buy into the Romeo no Aoi Sora keyfabe. While watching Romeo no Aoi Sora I get lost in the story and characters forgetting that this is a story written by someone else and not just the exact same experiences that someone else could have in that time period, let alone the fact that these are 2D characters. When I see the show I see the city of Milan depicted in a realistic manner with real locations and landmarks that the city has, I see kids wearing clothes that could’ve existed in this time period (XVII century Italy). All of these small details (I’m all about small details) give a deep sense of immersion, which allows me to buy into the idea that these characters actually exist inside of this world. From this point forward I’ll be giving small spoilers about the show so… watch the dammed thing, it’s fucking good but if you don’t mind some minor spoilers let’s keep going. Understanding the full appeal of the show in the few first episodes is almost imposible by only watching some few episodes of the show, you may be able to understand what you’ll get by watching the show but the full appeal of this show is only understood by experiencing the whole thing. Form the moment that Romeo sings his contract and decides to go to Milan you don’t know what will happen to him just as Romeo doesn’t know what will happen to him as a chimney sweeper in Milan. We’re only aware of the reason why Romeo decided to go to Milan and that it was his own choice and not from anyone else. Even if we do enjoy the first couple of episodes of Romeo we need to understand that what we see is all that Romeo experiences and we share his lack of understanding of his own situation. From the moment in which Romeo blames himself for the fire of his father crops he is obligated to make choices that a simple child wouldn’t be able to make and because of his choices (and still behaving like a normal kid would do) Romeo decides to firm a contract that dictates that he will work six months In the city of Milan as a chimney sweeper. Romeo isn’t an audience surrogate but we as I think that is very important that we discover Romeo’s true nature as the series progresses; but the experience of getting to know Romeo and all the characters that inhabit in his world watching how they interact with one-another is the narrative of Romeo no Aoi Sora. That’s why the relationship that the viewer develops with the show is so important when it comes to understand the appeal of the show; it’s only through experiencing first-hand the life of Romeo in his six months in Milan we can completely understand Romeo and his friends as characters- and its because of this that the later episodes of the show become so emotional and meaningful, well at least for me. We can learn a lot about Romeo in the first episode of the show, there’s this quote from Hayao Miyazaki that I use a lot in my blog and it’s that we learn a lot about characters when we can see them in their calmest, that’s why I think that slice of life elements are important for a show because we need to see our characters breath and get to know something about them. In the first episode we can see the daily routine of Romeo, we see him waking up late and going to the church in order to do his job of bringing the bell while he awkwardly steps into a Virgin statue almost making it fall but he rapidly puts the statue in his place while presenting his respects to the statue of the Virgin Marie, these small acts are the ones that can tell us about a character without the need of giving exposition, not every single character needs to say “I’m Luffruto and I want to be the King of the Soul Society” (excuse me for the terrible joke). Looking at the actions made by Romeo in this opening scene we can tell that Romeo is kind of lackadaisical but a very respectful kid that was raised in a religious family. Romeo no Aoi Sora is a show that you should experience by yourself, like every single Slice of Life anime you need to get invested in the characters and setting in order to get the full experience and I’d like to write why the show is great in a episode by episode basis and someday in the near future I will once I’ve made enough people watch the show to fully understand my future blogs, but my intention with this blog is to make you want to watch this show and understand why this is my favorite anime of all time. One of the most important aspects of this show and the main reason of why this show is able to connect so well with me, is for the way in which I’m able to find aspects of my life, I don’t want to imply that I was chimney sweeper in XVIII century Milan is that just in the little slice of life aspects I’m able to find a great amount of relatability in this show, let’s say in the cast of characters or just in the life-lessons that this show gives to you. I spend my early childhood growing up in a farm (family traditions) under the surveillance of my father; the first couple of episodes were able to mimic in some ways the relationship that I had with my dad in the way in which Romeo interacted with his dad. You’ll see that farm is a very special place to me, I’m not a sentimental guy and I’m often a rude person but that place is like the closest thing to a safe haven for me and during my troublesome puberty that place was the only place in which I could feel some sense of comfort and a uplifting feeling, I cannot think of another piece of art that is able to trigger those uplifting memories. The show doesn’t trigger any kind of sense of escapism, it’s just comfort. That somehow makes me feel all emotional and nostalgic at the same time, unlike other of my favorite anime that helped me on having the perspective that I have now Romeo no Aoi Sora makes me reflect on the person that I was, that I’m and that I’ll become. Power of friendship kind of an overused meme in anime, and as cliché it may seem in Romeo no Aoi Sora; the friendship between Romeo and his gang (The Black Brothers) is one of the most important aspects of the second half of the show. The main purpose of The Black Brothers is to help each other when needed, what makes them move forward is not the simple fact that they have friends, what makes them move forwards are their friends that are pushing their backs and helping one-another to become a better person and always trying to best each other. The friendship between Romeo and the co-protagonist Alfredo is the best example of this, the two of them started not as insta-besties unlike many other anime, Alfredo was kind of a jerk and Romeo was kind of stupid; but the experiences that the two of them spend together make the two of them realize that they needed each other in order to survive and their relationship quickly evolves into my favorite bromace in all of anime. A friendship based of mutual improvement, just like when I my friends in this app started to make bigger and better blogs I felt the need to improve my content, coming to the point that I’m now where every new blog that I made I feel that is better than the last one. The true central theme of the show is not the one of education and loss of potential; despite having a big importance in the central narrative those themes aren’t the ones that are present in the whole show. The theme of acceptance is the one that plays a central narrative point in the show. Every single character of the show that is troubled in some way or another is for their lack of acceptance of their situation, Romeo himself goes through this situation twice in the show but at the end he accepts what is happening to him without giving up and trying to become a better person and this show made me realize that I needed to get in terms with the situation that I founded myself in, with the things that I’ve done and the person I was and probably I’ll become. Because I don’t love this show for being a consensus masterpiece, for that matter I would’ve give Legend of the Galactic Heroes a 10/10 without hesitation and not the 9/10 that I ended up giving to that anime, I don’t look for my 10/10 shows to be the best of the best, I give that score to shows that have done something useful for me and I love Romeo no Aoi Sora because it’s a consensus masterpiece, I love this show because it makes me feel better about the person that I’ve become.
Margarette12
this anime is one of the first series that I have ever watched (that was like 13 years ago) and is undeniably the first to made me cry like a brat kid in a department store (wasn't lying tho haha bc Alfred huhuhu) The storyline itself is a kickstart, and will make you cringe everytime whenever tragedy occurs (which is very prevalent in the show I must say) but is actually a reality in life. The storyline just keeps on progressing. The art is outstanding with regards to its background and scenery, not much far from the real terrain of the story (I think it was basedfrom a European story) esp the mountain ranges thingy. The art style for the characters were simple, yet you'll be able to comprehend each and everyone's differences. The theme song is very tear jerking, I always wanna grab some tissues when the opening song is playing (very exagerrated tho haha) but no, really, it gives me goosebumps everytime. You might wanna play it over the youtube sometime. I don't know it just brings back memories from childhood bc of its theme. As for the characters, they were very realistic esp the meanness of the antagonist in the series. You just wanna punch them in the face. The children (protagonist in the series) were very well characterized. To be honest I really didn't enjoyed it that much bc of too much sad scenes and happenings in the storyline. Again, i always get this feeling to punch the villains in the face. For this show, however, hope is always around the corner which will make you enjoy it eitherway. Sacrificial moments are around the corner, too. Overall this series is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (prepare some tissues tho) You'll enjoy the series, however bc of certain happenings, it will leave some blank space in your heart. Enjoy :)
Jodyqt
Romeo's Blue Skies is one of the shorter and more recent additions to the collection of World Masterpiece Theatre series produced and animated by Nippon Animation. Once again it is an adaption of a work of literature originating from Europe, this time based on the novel "Die schwarzen Brüder" written by Lisa Tetzner. It tells the story of a young boy sold into slavery and bought into a world that he must survive that is far more desolate than that he had ever experienced in the past. It is a look into the life of the poor and oppressed in the face of an unfairsociety. Showing us the hardships that children sold into slavery and forced to work in far away cities experience, unaware of the inhabitants they will find; but most of important of all this show elaborates on the repercussions of being forced apart from your family. This thematic concern is implemented into the story structure of Romeo's Blue Skies. The show is essentially divided into three distinct arcs and are developed with an epic sense of storytelling where the events of one arc ultimately contribute and effect the events of the next until the story reaches its ultimate conclusion. Throughout these arcs, the underlying theme and tone is always about the repercussions of being forced apart from those who you love. To keep this from becoming a thematically repetitive bore-fest the series does the liberty of investigating and exploring different concerns that can directly correlate to that of the main theme and it achieves this with almost perfect fluidity. Concerns for child abuse, theft, justice, gangs, backstabbing and betrayal all carry the show and make it very engaging. These aspects that are shown are given plenty of attention without ever feeling rushed nor feeling painfully slow, also the transitions between events and these concepts do not seem jarring and have without fail received proper explanation and development each and every time. If there was one particular thing I had to complain about it would be some of the narration which at times can be criticized for not leaving enough to one's own interpretation, falling into the trap of telling rather than showing, but these moments are few and far between and I have seen cases of it elsewhere that are far worst. The characters for the most part each receive good development and are often realistic character types without any notable genre cliche's dominating a characters personality which works in the shows favor. Building on this, the show makes use of this fact by making the characters varied: some being mature, some being downright brats, other's are just living life finding out how to get another penny in their pockets, this makes for a diverse cast and what makes it splendid is that even if two particular characters share a similar objective they are not just simple copycats of one another, each character has their own personal issues and identifiable traits (aside from appearance) that separate them from the others. The show adopts a bildungsroman approach to storytelling developing Romeo's own self-awareness as a character supported strongly by surrounding characters especially that of Alfredo and in the mid-section of the series Angeletta. Romeo has a flexible personality and is able to adopt to the conditions of the environment he is in, allowing him to be able to progress around the hardships that take place. This is shown extremely well and is a most noteworthy effort, he is a complex character who has brilliant chemistry with his surroundings and this is established without ever being forceful. Some complaints can go towards some of the side characters and even some of the older characters for being fairly simple and having only some depth, but nothing too much to complain about here as none of the side characters can be called poorly written and fleshed out as their actions are still grounded and remain reasonable in the context of the situation that the show presents. To give clarification on this without giving away important spoilers, there was one scene in the series that focused on the life of an elderly man and his attitude towards his son receiving a proper education. The son in question wished to become a doctor, much to the disbelief of his father and his father wished to put an end to his son's supposedly foolish aspirations. I thought about this for a bit and whilst it may seem stupid to prevent someone from aspiring to such a career. It can make sense from an economic and social standpoint from the position of the characters. The amount of time that would have to be sacrificed by these individuals who were living in poverty it may seem almost impossible, and the pre-established attitude towards that of doctors for the period would be one thing to consider as well. Doctors cost money to ask for an appointment and that brings about a defeatist pretext to the whole situation where if the man's son were to become a doctor, he would be just like all other doctors, being inaccessible to those who are poor, to those can't afford to have a family member treated for an illness etc etc... There were some other questionable actions by some characters as well throughout the series but nothing so illogical or stupid that drives the whole series under. Outside of these small complaints the writing is consistently high in quality, with fleshed out characters and considerable attention to the detail of the theme's that the show explores. Romeo's Blue Skies breaks more of the traditions that are prevalent in many of the WMT series, especially the traditions that were prevalent in the older works of the genre. Probably because of the shortened air time and condensing of the events. Of course some traits still remain, the main characters are young children no older than 12 and are living in a period of struggle (this case slavery and poverty), it is an adventure series despite the location for the most part being the same and last of all there is always a cute little animal on Romeo's shoulder half the time. I want to make a criticism of the last genre trait and how it is used in this particular show, keeping this particular trait is both a detriment and occasionally a strength to the series. It is especially a detriment in the later half. In other WMT series, the animal that usually accompanies the child tends to have a larger role to play and are far more crucial to the operations of the plot. In Romeo's Blue Skies, the fun little side character looses most of his importance early on in the series. Though the animal still come's to aid the plot later on in the series he/she isn't made as effective use of as a plot device. I can appreciate a little animal being there to release some of the tensions seen between characters later in the series because hey this show is for little kids after all, though this may have been the intention it was relatively unsuccessful however as the little animal hardly dampens the mood. As usual from Nippon Animation, the art is top notch and attractive even by today's standards. The character designs maybe a little flat but that is more of a product of its time, what really shines in the animation depart is the background illustrations. Where the city-scapes are beautiful to be hold. I wish to make mention of a particular scene where you are witnessing a setting sun and this setting sun captures the outline of a church and it's many spires. It is absolutely gorgeous art and can still be appreciated by today's standard of art. As for animation, the series has fluid animation, though some shortcuts were made here and there but for the most part are hard to notice. A couple of complaints can be made though with some notable scenes where the amount of frames per second were seen to be slightly reduced in contrast with some other scenes, but altogether though. It is very well done for hand-drawn animation. With notable attention to background details throughout the most of the series which is a feat considering the time that the show was made. The soundtrack is definitely commendable as well, with many orchestral pieces setting the scene beautifully and never feeling inappropriate, most especially helping to drive those feelings home when a scene was particular emotional or on the occasion when a scene was frightening. Ranging from calm and serene to exciting and adrenaline-pumping. On top of this, the voice acting was all top-notch and a characters line's were always in sync with the animation. From a production standpoint, Romeo's Blue Skies is phenomenal the amount of effort that went into the technical aspects of this show is simply awe-inspiring, I couldn't imagine if this was a movie. It would have been better animated then Ghost in the Shell and Akira were. As a children's show, the show has many excellent moral messages for children showing the importance of education, encouraging and enforcing an understanding and immersion of works of literature and the operations of the way of the world. Teaching how to appreciate the lessons that you learn from your life experiences, be they sad and heartbreaking or pleasant and heartwarming, as one emotion cannot exist without knowledge of the other. To be prepared for your departures from the good and if you aspire to a goal and confront the ways of the world that wish to prevent these goals from ever coming to pass and most of all embracing the warm ending after many turmoils. This show is a classic series in every sense of the word. Strong storytelling from the first frame to the last and many great, relatable, inspiring characters dominating the screen, it is a great edition to the WMT franchises by Nippon Animation (though for me it is not the best) and Romeo's Blue Skies would be an excellent work for a newcomer to these classic works to experience.
Aldones
If you ask me what is this anime about and why the name mentions skies, I tell you this. Don't expect surfing clouds or such. Only near the end I finally realized it. Skies are a metaphor. A metaphor for Romeo's view of life. His lightheartedness. An inner power to fly over every hardship, of which there are many, and not descend into regrets. A power to inspire everyone around and give them a feeling of flight as well (look how the friendship blooms!). An ability to see the wonders of life and feel excitement, no matter what comes. To look your enemy right into the eye,yet without any hostility, accepting him for what he is and seeing a part of him which he himself can not admit: a better part. Like a bird looks down on a street dog... Only a few people are strong enough for that. Feel how Romeo feels, see how he sees, and you might find your life becoming a little better. This is what this anime is about. Now for less interesting part. Some advantages and disadvantages are these: + Quite a deep drama reveals itself in the end. Makes me cry a lot. + An artistic feel of the city. Lots of people. Street dangers. And then the freedom of roaming the roofs... cool! very romantic. + Good detailed visual art, especially that of the scenery of the old Italy. No caricatures. - Often, especially at first, the story is too artificial: predictable and unrealistic. One can simply laugh ironically at how things turn out for Romeo: if there is any chance of possible or impossible trouble ahead, he will surely get into it. Firstly, because of his unbelievable naivete. Secondly, because there is a bunch of classically bad guys who is acting classically mean by all means. Though the younger audience won't notice this right away, yet for me this issue requires a bit of getting used to. - Only a few characters are detailed. The others are just background. - Angeletta was thrown out of the story somehow weird.
Firechick12012
Now I've finished arguably one of the most accessible and most popular (just behind Daddy Long Legs) World Masterpiece Theater anime yet! I remember seeing the first episode of this long ago, but that was when the fansub group working on the remasters was working on Nobody's Boy Remi and Treasure Island. Once they got to working on it, I jumped at the opportunity to watch it. I liked it immensely, and I still do, but things often tried preventing me from watching it, like school, bad downloads, etc. But after a long while, I finally got to finish it, and I am proud ofit! Again, this is one of the WMT anime that really got affected by the conflict between WMT and Fuji TV. Apparently it was so bad, that Romeo was intended to go for a year, yet wound up getting 33 episodes, resulting in hiatuses that went on for a whole month at most. That's pretty weird! Anyway, the story's about a village kid named Romeo who couldn't be happier with his life in Italy. He has a nice family, great friends, and a good community that's sorta fallen on hard times. However, just as he's about to win a contest, a fire destroys most of the village crops, resulting in famine. What's worse? His father falls ill and they don't have the money to pay for a doctor. Romeo does, however, find one solution: to sell himself as a slave to the dreaded God of Death, a moniker given to a man who traffics children and makes them work as chimney sweeps in Milan. Romeo doesn't want to be away from his family, but he knows if that he doesn't get the money to pay the doctor, his family might get ruined, so he sells himself and goes to Milan. But things aren't as bad as people say, as in the process, he makes many new friends, his closest friends being the sweet but frail girl Angeletta, the daughter of his master, and Alfredo, a handsome fellow chimney sweep who seems to have secrets he wants to keep hidden. Romeo trudges away at his jobs while enduring all sorts of abuse, knowing that his friends are by his side. Does anyone else think that the characters in this anime look eerily like others from other WMT series? Alfredo looks like he could be Nello and Alois's child, and Angeletta looks like Sara Crewe's identical twin. Well, that's just nitpicking. Anyway, while the animation isn't nearly as good as other WMT anime from the eighties before the conflict started breaking out between WMT and Fuji TV, it still holds up really well, and is still really nice to look at. It doesn't cut any corners and just does what it needs to do, and it does it well. Plus the colors are soft and neutral, so it's easy on the eyes like Popolocrois's animation is (or pretty much any nineties anime if you think about it). The soundtrack is also really nice as well. The tunes, while soft, pleasant, and normally fitted for a shoujo anime, fit the scenes really well despite its subject matter, and none of it comes off as melodramatic or forced (unlike some anime music like, oh, I dunno, ANY soundtrack made by Saban Entertainment's composers!). Seriously, I really need to come up with more to say for these kinds of things. Admittedly, the characters in this series are a lot simpler than other WMT anime, though everyone still gets a healthy dose of development here and there. It's a mixed bag. I'll admit, some of them are completely bland and one-sided, and they're not as polished, but when the others shine, they really do shine. For example: I REALLY like Romeo as a lead character. He's not an idiot hero, nor is he perfect. He's just a regular village kid living in the nineteenth century who has to endure hardship and find joy in little things as much as possible, and he handles himself really well. He also stands on his own two feet when he needs to, and relies on his friends when he knows he can't. And yes, he is impulsive, but not in a bad way, and his intentions are always good. More male characters need to follow his example! I also liked Angeletta and Alfredo, even if Angeletta MAY come off as a perfect little angelic Mary Sue to haters (I didn't think of her as that, even though her character just screamed Mary Sue). On the other side, however...the only really bad characters in this show are 90% of the adults in the series. Plain and simple: they're either weak, short-sighted, indecisive, or evil through and through, without any decent development whatsoever. I can't say much more without spoilers. Sorry. There's a lot to like about Romeo's Blue Skies, especially considering it's a show for kids. It has heavy themes like child abuse and friendship, and while it is NOT subtle in its message that the power of friendship is awesome, it works because it shows how the power of friendship and awesome, not just talking about it a lot and preaching it down our throats like most kids shows do. Not only that, I personally love the way it shows that boys can be friends in similar ways that girls can, because in this day and age, if little boys are ever shown being friends in the way the characters in this show do, they're automatically accused of being gay and how they shouldn't be sensitive and kind when being friends. That's a sexist way of thinking about it, and there's nothing wrong with boys being friends in a nice and sensitive way. It also takes great pains to be as down to earth as possible despite its fast pacing and action, and that works too, even though it did have to take some liberties here and there. But even this show isn't perfect. It's characters are a mixed bag, some nicely developed and others cliche and boring, it needed a bit more development, and there are just two major twists that really irked me. One is a minor one that, although it made for great drama, just sort of came out of nowhere. The other one, the ending, has me absolutely fuming. I can't explain which one and why because of spoilers, but I'll just say that they threw two characters, who only interacted with each other for only a few episodes and in a completely platonic way without any hint of romance whatsoever, together in the end while putting the one who was most likely to end up with said character on a bus completely, retconning her from existence and not giving an explanation why she never appeared again after that while two other characters got together for NO reason. It came out of absolutely nowhere, with no build up, no foreshadowing, no explanation, no nothing. I am still fuming about it. Well, finally got that elephant out of the room. Anyway, other than that HUGE dark spot I described, Romeo's Blue Skies is a very engaging and delightful little anime with great characters and great morals and messages delivered with heart instead of cheese and cliches.
PandaLovingTaco
"We'll always be together, no matter how far apart." -Romeo Romeo and the Black Brothers, otherwise known as Romeo no Aoi Sora, and Romeo's Blue Skies, is a classic series, made by the World Masterpiece Theater, a production from Japan which bases it's audience to younger viewers, but could be appreciated not only by the children, but to the adults. In the beginning of Romeo and the Black Brother's, tragedy strikes; Romeo sells himself as a chimney sweep in order to get the money to pay for a doctor. On his way to Milan, Romeo meets Alfredo, another chimney sweep, and the two quickly become bestfriends. Romeo and Alfredo meet other chimney sweeps later on, and all of the boys have to adjust to the harsh life that awaits them. The adventure, drama, romance, slice of life, and historical features of Romeo and the Black Brothers didn't appear right away. The pacing is quite slow, but comes together in the end. However, because of the lack of ratings, the show was cut short. The pacing quickened a bit, but wasn't too much of a drastic change. The quality did change though, but is impressive overall. I mean, the quality and pacing doesn't have to be perfect, nothing is perfect! I tend to ignore the sound in everything I watch. Does this mean the music in Romeo and the Black Brothers was terrible? No, it just means I simply didn't pay attention to the music. Though, I'm sure the sound is as beautiful as the anime, but I faintly remember saying to myself, "the opening and ending song reminds me of a bunch of annoying children." Romeo, Alfredo, Bianca, Dante, and every character involved played and impacted the anime in a ton of ways, and were never useless. I liked every character here, and loved the fact that I got to see the background of some of the characters, to see what happened to the boys before they were chimney sweeps. Most of the characters have one trait in common, honesty. I have to admit, I was sometimes annoyed that Romeo NEVER lied, but that's what makes the character, the character. Overall, Romeo and the Black Brothers, otherwise known as Romeo no Aoi Sora, and Romeo's Blue Skies is a great anime. With the story, art, sound, and characters, who can hate an anime as wonderful as this?
Lynchan
I never get tired of watching this anime series even for a hundredth times!! For me., Romeo no Aoi Sora is one classic series. Romeo's life was full of hardship and tragedy., that's why I was very keen on watching this. His life was just so heartwarming. I adore and love all the characters here., and aside from Romeo., Alfred and Bianca are just among my all-time favorite anime characters., Gosh! Oh Alfred!! He never failed to make me cry a river of tears!! This classic tale of love and friendship will always remind me of my childhood memories :DD
Anomalous
Romeo no Aoi Sora is one of the last World Masterpiece Theater anime that was made before their nearly ten-year hiatus. WMT fans already know what that means about the series, non-fans should be told that it already tells us three things: 1. It is based on a foreign book for a young audience, this one from Switzerland; 2. It may be considered old in modern otaku terms but has aged well; 3. It's awesome. Like most of these types of anime, Romeo no Aoi Sora begins with a tragedy. In this case, Romeo, an 11-year-old boy, leaves his small village with the God of Death,a frightful man who buys children to sell as chimney sweeps in the city, in order to support his family. Soon, Romeo meets Alfredo, another chimney sweep who will become his best friend, as well as many other boys who share the same fate as him. As the series goes on, Romeo adjusts to his new life, including a family that is not quite kind and a dangerous job. For the most part, the pacing of the series is perfect: things happen at a fairly slow rate, but it is always interesting and there is always just the right amount of conflict. Beginning at episode 24, however, the pacing becomes very rushed. Since the TV ratings of this show were quite low, the show was cut short from what was probably set to be about 50 episodes down to 33. The change is awkward and brings the overall quality of the plot down a few notches, but that does not keep the heart of the story from being both sweet and exciting. Sure, it is for kids, and it shows in the blunt narration, and some painfully straightforward episodes. . . but it made me wish that I grew up in Japan just so I could have watched such a wonderful show in my childhood. If you have not been informed yet, there is one thing you should know about the show visually: the only English-language fansubs out there are VHS rips. This should not, however, hinder you from enjoying a visually stunning show! Even through generations of VHS copies, it is still apparent that it is very pretty, to say the least. The character designs in particular are very nice looking: truer to life than most anime yet very cute; fitting for a show for kids yet functional in the most serious of situations. The backgrounds, something I rarely notice, are equally impressive. They are very immersing and really show the viewer that the setting is a real place and not some made-up cartoon setting. Quite frankly, if you pass over this series just because it is from the 90s or because of the nature of VHS releases, you are missing out on something beautiful. Sound is another thing I tend not to notice, but I noticed it in this series. And believe me, that is a good thing. The background music is beautifully fitting of the situations it is used in. Meanwhile, the opening theme song, "Sora E...", is gorgeous as a standalone song and even better when paired with the opening animation. Furthermore, the lyrics and the mood fit the series well. Finally, the closing theme song, "Si Si Ciao", is a peppy and happy tune, unusual of EDs and probably the least interesting piece of music in the show, but it is still solid. The cast, like other elements of the series, is extremely likable. Romeo is one of the sweetest children ever to grace anime, and quickly won my heart. The rest of the cast is similarly sweet and likable, but to a realistic degree. Alfredo is selfless; Angeletta is kind... I could go on and on listing the good qualities of the characters, but I will leave it at this: the only flaw most characters have is that they take their good qualities too far (Romeo, for instance, is honest even when dishonesty would be more logical). While sometimes this is a bit much, it largely gives us a unique and endearing cast. Romeo no Aoi Sora is frequently overlooked for shows that look better, sound more exciting, seem more mature, or are simply newer. The few fans that do decide the try out this series, however, will be rewarded with an amazing show. No matter how you look at it, the series is marvelous in every way. If you already like adaptations of books for a young audience, older series, or obscure series, Romeo no Aoi Sora is perfect for you. Even if you do not, however, it is still a miraculous series, one that is highly recommended for anyone who wants something with real heart.
Animanga