A FANTASTICAL, ACTION-PACKED ANIME ADAPTATION OF SHAKESPEARE’S TIMELESS ROMANCE.

Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”, produced by Studio Gonzo and directed by Fumitoshi Oizaki (Final Fantasy: Unlimited), ROMEO X JULIET: VOLUME 1 comes to DVD on 1st February 2010 and features the first six episodes of the 24-episode anime series.

Until fourteen years ago the noble house of Capulet had ruled the futuristic aerial city of Neo Verona peacefully and benevolently. But an ancient grudge held by the rival house of Montague resulted in a mutiny and a bloody coup in which the city’s rulers were deposed and all but one of the Capulets were murdered. The sole survivor was a young girl, Juliet Capulet, since raised by loyalists in secret disguised as a boy named Odin, and to whom her true identity would only be revealed on her 16th birthday. However, Juliet also leads another secret life as a vigilante, Robin Hood-like figure known as the Red Whirlwind, who fights injustices inflicted upon the common people by the Montague clan.

On the eve of her 16th birthday, Juliet unexpectedly finds herself attending the prestigious Rose Ball, hosted by the Montagues, and there she meets the heir to the family throne, Romeo, a young man unimpressed by his father’s tyrannical rule. Although already forcibly engaged to a woman of his father’s choosing, Romeo becomes smitten by Juliet’s charms and sets about wooing this strange and entrancing girl. However, when Juliet learns the truth of her past, love, devotion and loyalty all become conflicted as fate deals a potentially tragic hand to the star-crossed lovers.

Action, humour and romance combine in this highly original animated take on one of the Bard’s most enduring and popular plays. Anime fans will appreciate the sumptuous production values while Shakespeare fans will delight in the numerous references to his works and the notable inclusion of one particular character – a brilliantly observed playwright named Willie!

ROMEO X JULIET (cert. 12) will be released on DVD (£15.99) by MVM on 15th February 2010. Special Features include: The Making of Romeo X Juliet anime; textless opening – You Raise Me Up; textless closing – Cyclone; art gallery; trailers; English 5.1 and Japanse 2.0 (with English subtitles) audio options.

Episodes: Two People – When They Met; Promise – The Fragrance Of Memory; Love – Cruel Mischief; Shyness – Stuck In The Rain; Cold Whirlwind – Burning Unprepared; Desire – Entrusted Tomorrow.

Press contact: Louise Rivers (020 7907 4770)