Requiem of the Rose King brought Shakesperean vibes and court drama to the winter 2022 anime season. This was a highly anticipated shojo anime that didn't do as well as it might have due to poor pacing and directing choices. Nevertheless, some fans of the source material are still enjoying the opportunity to see some of their favorite scenes on the screen. But could Requiem of the Rose King get a season 2?
About Requiem of the Rose King
Requiem of the Rose King is based on a manga that loosely adapts Shakespeare's historical plays, Richard III and Henry IV. Unfolding during the War of the Roses - a very tumultuous period in English history that has inspired many fictional works including Game of Thrones.
In this version of the tale, Richard Plantagenet, son of the Duke of York, is intersex, rather than deformed as is the case with other versions. While he identifies as a man, others refuse to perceive him as such, causing him to feel alienated from anyone apart from his father. While Richard's identity plays a key role in the story, the primary driving force is his battle with inner demons and tangible enemies, and his violent journey towards the English throne, making for an interesting representation.
Despite the excellent premise, and its status as one of few anime with lgbtq+ characters who are well-written and interesting, rather than played for laughs the anime didn't do very well. The decision to leave out a lot of events and have a much faster pace than the manga didn't work well, making for a confusing viewing experience. More Requiem of the Rose King episodes might have been the solution, though, in the world of tight anime seasons, this kind of planning is often impossible.
Related: When Will Requiem of the Rose King Be Dubbed in English?
Will There Be a Season 2 of Requiem of the Rose King?
At the time of writing, Requiem of the Rose King Season 2 hasn't been announced. The anime is running for 24, rather than 12 episodes, so it'll be a while before we can tell if the first season is adapting the whole manga.
The poor reception of the shojo manga so far makes a second season unlikely, though, of course, it's a bit early to tell how the show will turn out in the end. If additional content is announced, we'll update this space with everything you need to know!
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