There were no suggestions on the first part so I'll go ahead with any order.
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Anyways, I'd like to speak a little about this image. It is based on the novel Die schwarzen Brüder ("The Black Brothers") written in 1941 in Switzerland by author Lisa Tetzner. Nippon Animation is famous for producing numerous anime series based on works of literature such as Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, Girl of the Alps, Remi, Nobody's Girl/Remi, Nobody's Boy, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, co-founders of the famous Studio Ghibli, directed several episodes in the World Masterpiece Theater series.
Including the above, Nippon animation has turned "Die schwarzen Brüder" into an anime. Although "Romeo's Blue Skies" is the official Japanese title, the official English name given by Nippon Animation is "Romeo and the Black Brothers"; which is the literal translation of the novel itself.
This is not some racist odds and ends. Black is referring to the what the boys featured in this anime all have in common and I assure you it is not the color of their skin. I would completely suggest this drama to anyone who is looking for something about friendship, rivalry and family.
Our main protagonist is Romeo. He's a young optimistic boy, who often courageously helps those around him without self-regard. In the first few episodes, Romeo kept repeating that he wanted to become a strong heroic man like his father. He is only eleven in the beginning of the anime and gradually by the end of the series he will be featured as an adult, much like Naruto. Like most of these types of anime, Romeo no Aoi Sora begins with a tragedy. Due to the circumstances, he was sent to Milan with the man called "the shinigami" and on his journey he meets Alfredo who later becomes his best friend, a brother.
In the city of Milan, the black brothers are a group of young chimney sweeps formed by Alfredo and Romeo: they consider each other as family and work together to solve conflict. Their motto, "Our happiness is one and our sadness is one". They originally formed this group in order to protect one another from a juvenile street gang who call themselves "the Wolves". The wolves led by Giovanni despise chimney sweeper because they are not originally from Milan. Despite Giovanni's tough nature, he believes in Honor and intolerance against cheating, which is proven several times throughout the drama.
Many things are taught in this drama, such as friendship, family, faith in one another, and appreciation for our fortune. There were so many scenes that always get me everytime. Although the anime was produced in the 1995, I would never ask for it to be remade. The animation was beautiful and so was the story. I have watched and re-watched this drama so many times that everytime I watch it, It seems I notice things that I've never noticed in my previous time.
It is simply beautiful and watching it a second time will make you want to throw all your emotions away because it's only sadder the more you understand it. There were many scenes that shattered my heart and because I have it all memorized by now, the scenes get me before I even reach them. I guess in all the times I've watched it, it was only the last time I watched it (two days ago ha) was when I really understood just how much foreshadowing this drama had.
As Jodyqt stated: "It tells the story of a young boy... 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 unfair society. Showing us the hardships that children... 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..."
They continue, "...The characters for the most part each receive good development and are often realistic character types without any notable genre cliche's dominating a character's 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"
"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".
Although Jodyqt has called it "a children's show", trust me, It will keep even adults all hooked until the end. A good story is good.
If you ever decide to watch it, be prepared for the ride, be prepared. You have my support and my shoulder. You can also have my back too.
