This review was originally published on The Beat.

Anime fans are in for a treat. Romeo’s Blue Skies, which premiered as part of Nippon Animation’s World Masterpiece Theater in 1995, is at last available remastered on Blu Ray and ready to join your personal media collection.

Based on the novel Die Schwarzen Brüder by Lisa Tetzner (The Black Brothers), the story focuses on young Romeo in his beautiful Swiss village. He is an optimistic and energetic young boy who loves his family, and this is especially apparent when his already-poor family loses their farm in a fire and his father becomes injured. Because Romeo’s family has lost everything, Romeo agrees to sell himself to the villianous Luini, known in the village as the“god of death.” Luini’s business is procuring children (through dubious means) to work as chimney sweeps in Milan. By making a contract with Luini, Romeo secures the funds to get a doctor for his ailing father. Then he sets off with Luini to Milan.

Along the way he meets a mysterious boy named Alfredo, who also has signed on to become a chimney sweep in Milan, and the two become devoted, fast friends. They experience adventures and tragedies along the way as they endure the hardships and abuse involving the work of cleaning chimneys in the big, beautiful city.

Shining throughout all of this is Romeo’s strength and optimism. I don’t remember the phrase he tells himself exactly, but it’s along the lines of, “As long as I keep my chin up, good things will happen.” And Romeo’s happiness and good luck will definitely be tested.

This is the first time I’ve ever watched Romeo’s Blue Skies. I wrote up the article announcing its release and one of the things to grab me about the series was the story as to why it was shown worldwide but never broadcast in America. The reason? It was deemed “too emotional.” As an emotional person who likes to experience the catharsis of a good cry, I knew I had to watch this series. I haven’t made it all the way through yet—I’m a good ten episodes in and the series runs at thirty three—but I’ve loved every minute of the anime.

And it’s true, Romeo’s Blue Skies does tug at your heartstrings. There are scenes that will bring tears to your eyes as the characters react emotionally to their circumstances. But I think this makes for a solid drama, and I think if new audiences avoid the series because they’re worried about what they could feel while watching the anime, it would be a greater tragedy to not have watched it at all.

This series has a moving story with enthralling characters, and I’m proud to add it to my vast anime collection.

Now, let’s get into the details of the Blu-Ray. Here are the specs:

• $59.95 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

In terms of picture quality, the series is vivid and crystal clear, with bright colors and beautifully rendered landscapes and backgrounds. Although there is a classic animation style here, this does not look like the anime was released in the 90s thanks to the efforts made remastering it.

The audio is also excellent. The Japanese actors’ voices come through with clarity and expressiveness, and the series’ soundtrack, consisting of original fully orchestrated pieces, sounds lovely and helps heighten the emotions of the scenes.

The extras are what you would expect for an anime Blu-Ray release with TV promos included along with the openings and endings (I think the opening song is wonderful, by the way). I wish there was a little more there—like a feature on how the book was adapted into a series, or how AnimEigo was able to bring this classic animation to English-speaking audiences. But overall, I’m pleased with what the Blu-Ray has to offer.

For nostalgic fans who like classic animation, for those who are avid series collectors, and for anime viewers who want to try something new, I highly recommend Romeo’s Blue Skies. It’s a wonderful, engrossing, and moving series where you’ll cheer on the characters even when tragedies and hardships strike. The Blu-Ray brings this gorgeous show to life and I hope it resolidifies this anime as a true classic worth rewatching.

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Romeo’s Blue Skies released July 15, 2025, and is available now for purchase from the AnimEigo/Media OCD website. Buy it here.