Fans of World Masterpiece Theatre will delight in Romeo’s Blue Skies, now available on Blu-ray from MedicOCD/Animeigo’s Ruined Childhoods label.
Fans of World Masterpiece Theatre’s series will find much to laugh, cry, and reflect on in Romeo’s Blue Skies. This second release from MedicOCD and Animeigo’s Ruined Childhoods label is a must-have for fans of Japanese adaptations of Western literary classics. After decades of hunting down VHS tapes or low-resolution downloads, I’m thrilled to finally have a clean, high-quality release. Early fan-subbed versions were incomplete or low fidelity, making this Blu-ray a long-awaited treasure.
Based on the 1941 novel Die Schwarzen Brüder (“The Black Brothers,” Amazon link) by Lisa Tetzner and Kurt Held, the story follows a kind-hearted boy growing up in 19th-century Switzerland. When his family falls into poverty, he is forced to sell himself to a man known as Luini, the “God of Death.” Instead of despair, his optimism and courage give the series a uniquely inspirational tone. Experiencing the story visually in full made it far more impactful than reading alone.
Perseverance and hope are two key themes wonderfully explored in Romeo’s Blue Skies and for those who missed the broadcast run, it’s coming to home video!
Anime distributor AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD announced today the home media Blu-ray release of the anime series Romeo’s Blue Skies on July 29th. And for fans of the 1941 Swiss novel “Die Schwarzen Brüder” (“The Black Brothers”), by Lisa Tetzner, this adaptation is quite the emotional journey. This second release under the new Ruined Childhood label shows there’s plenty of classics to go around, and after Nobody’s Boy Remi (review link), perhaps it’s best to stock up with plenty of boxes of tissue nearby!
From the Press Release:
One of the best loved installments in Nippon Animation’s legendary World Masterpiece Theater line of TV series that spanned generations, Romeo’s Blue Skies makes its North American debut in a remastered wide-screen edition. This 33-episode series was produced in 1995 by Nippon Animation and was directed by Kozo Kusuba with screenplay by Michiru Shimada and character designs by Yoshiharu Soto.
When You’re Feeling Sad
and Lonely, Look to the Sky
Romeo, a poor kid living in a Swiss village, bravely sells himself into servitude as a chimney sweep to save his family. On his way to Milan, he meets a mysterious boy named Alfredo, and they become fast friends. Life as a chimney sweep is hard and dangerous. But together, and with the help of some new friends – the “Black Brothers” – Romeo and Alfredo find themselves striving for a better life.
A Series That Captivated The World
Romeo’s Blue Skies was never released in English. American broadcasters deemed it too emotional for domestic audiences. But worldwide it was loved and was broadcast in Italy, Spain, Morocco, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Qatar, Indonesia, South Korea, Bahrain, Iran, and U.A.E.
Anime fans are invited to discover why this gem is still beloved 30 years after its original broadcast.
Romeo’s Blue Skies Blu-Ray Features:
$59.95 USD (SRP)
33-Episode Series Remastered in HD Widescreen
Series Presented in Original 4×3 SD
Clean Opening and Ending (SD)
Original TV Promos (SD)
1080p / Japanese 2.0 Stereo DTS Master Audio / English Subtitles / 3 discs / dual layer / AVC @ 17 MBPS / Region Free
Fans of World Masterpiece Theatre’s series will find much to laugh, cry, and reflect on in Romeo’s Blue Skies. This second release from MedicOCD and Animeigo’s Ruined Childhoods label is a must-have for fans of Japanese adaptations of Western literary classics. After decades of hunting down VHS tapes or low-resolution downloads, I’m thrilled to finally have a clean, high-quality release. Early fan-subbed versions were incomplete or low fidelity, making this Blu-ray a long-awaited treasure.
