Romeo and Juliet can be quite a depressing story—it is a tragedy after all—so for those who like the more mellow theme of Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle but wanted an overall better experience, we point you to Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World. Following the same themes as Romeo and Juliet, Our Last Crusade focuses on a more supernatural theme where a magical empire fights against a militarized one. Both sides hate each other but two warriors from opposing sides begin to see each other less as enemies and more like romance partners. Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World has some intense action and plenty of drama-filled moments but won’t put you in tears like watching the end of Romeo and Juliet or having to watch Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle.

Most people who know of Romeo and Juliet forget the main theme isn’t all about romance and that it deals with a lot of social satire that can be seen even in our current generation.Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle tried to capture this often forgotten theme by having the series revolve more around warring races. In the end, their fights caused what could have been a peaceful coexistence to ultimately fail and instead have their lives constantly engulfed in war.

The Misfit of Demon King Academy tries to be more successful than Shironeko Project: Zero Chronicle in this venture and in our opinion does indeed accomplish that goal. We loved The Misfit of Demon King Academy—check out our review linked below this article—and think it truly captured the world theme of Romeo and Juliet exceedingly better than Shironeko Project: Zero CHRONICLE. Watching the various races hate one another despite having common goals, ideals, and visions are what was seen in Shironeko Project but was so much more fleshed out in The Misfit of Demon Academy. Ultimately, both series try to capture what race wars can do to the world and its people but The Misift of Demon King Academy wins by being a better anime that we truly enjoyed.

Obviously, if you’re going to make a show based on the old classic, why not legit do it like the original!? Romeo x Juliet follows the tale of two families battling one another but two individuals—in this case, Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet and Romeo Candorebanto Montague—end up falling in love but quickly find their love a true issue with their respected families. Like the original tale, Romeo and Juliet must now try to somehow make their love work—which we all know how that ends—all while dealing with the constant war around them. Romeo x Juliet is a nice reimagining of the original story with some truly wonderful animation and reworked story. We loved Romeo x Juliet and we think many romance fans will too!