'Boarding School Juliet' Turns a Done-To-Death Shakespearean Formula into Something Refreshingly Sweet and Adorable

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a universally recognized tale, and its “star-crossed lovers” formula has been borrowed by countless stories through the centuries.  Thus, a re-imagination for something so familiar doesn’t inspire immediate interest.  However, Boarding School Juliet, which just recently finished its 12-episode debut season, has proven to be a novel and worthwhile take on this done-to-death story concept.

The anime is set in Dahlia Academy Boarding School (also known in other translations as “Grigio Academy Boarding School”) wherein the students come from either the Nation of Touwa or the Principality of West – two countries that have been long-time rivals.  The students from Touwa are called the “Black Dogs”, and those from the West are called the “White Cats.”  Mirroring their countries, the two factions can’t stand each other and are in a perpetual state of conflict.

The plot centers on high school students Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia, the respective leaders of the freshmen divisions of the Black Dogs and the White Cats.   Unsurprisingly, the two are often leading their subordinates into scuffles or contests.  However, Inuzuka and Persia have actually developed into lovers in secret, and have resolved to earn the power to change the world so that they can be at each other’s sides in the open.  But until then, they have to work hard to cover up their relationship, maintaining the pretense that they despise each other.

With such a set-up, expecting Boarding School Juliet to be sappy is understandable.  But it’s actually not.  Indeed, the sentimentality is there – that’s a given – but the execution is heavily comedic.  Thus, with its chiefly light-hearted tone and profusion of laugh-inducing moments, the romance at the nucleus of the story comes off as sweet and adorable.

It’s extremely amusing how Inuzuka and Persia awkwardly perform their duties as a couple, and their earnestness to go the extra mile for each other’s sake is just heartwarming.  They are also likable as individuals, as both – in their own respective ways – are strong and resolute, and display kindness and empathy to the people around them.  It’s just so easy to root for the two of them.

Meanwhile, the world and supporting cast around the couple are magnificently well-realized.  The politics and power hierarchy in place – particularly the prefect system – add an intriguing sense of complexity to the narrative, and the friends and school personalities that Inuzuka and Persia have to separately or jointly interact with as they go on the day all contribute ably in spicing up the storyline.

In summary, likable characterizations, creative worldbuilding, cute story beats, and excellent humor enable Boarding School Juliet to put a refreshing spin on a classic Shakespearean recipe.

Though, hopefully, it won’t have the same tragic ending as its source material.