Lady Oscar, the famous Japanese manga that marked an entire generation, is back in film format, much to the delight of nostalgic fans of the anime. If, like us, you're a fan of this cult animated series from the 80s, the news of its imminent arrival at cinema should make you very happy. Studio Mappa, known for Attack of the Titans and Jujutsu Kaisen, has produced a feature film based on the famous manga created by Riyoko Ikeda in 1972. The film takes its title from the original work: The Rose of Versailles.
Announced for September 2022, this new adaptation has finally been unveiled with a stunning trailer. The story takes us to the heart of 18th-century France, before and during the French Revolution. The story introduces the Jarjayes family, whose father dreams of having a son. He is disappointed when his wife gives birth to a beautiful blonde girl. However, the child is named Oscar and is raised as a boy. His military education enabled him to become Captain of the Royal Guard. Charged with protecting Marie-Antoinette, and accompanied by her childhood friend André, Oscar's world changed during the Revolution.
For the record, The Rose of Versailles manga was created by Riyoko Ikeda in 1972 and has 14 volumes. It was adapted for anime in 1979 under the name Lady Oscar. Broadcast for the first time in September 1986 on Récré A2, the 40-episode series quickly became a huge success.
In addition, Jacques Demy, director of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, produced a first live adaptation in English in 1978. Produced by Agnès Varda, this film version of Lady Oscar also features a soundtrack composed by the late Michel Legrand, a regular collaborator of the director. Unusually for the time, this feature film was commissioned by Japanese producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, who held the rights to the manga. Yamamoto chose Jacques Demy because of his command of English, but above all because a French director could greatly facilitate access to historical monuments. Unfortunately, this adaptation was not very well received by audiences and critics at the time.
Today, the Mappa team is back at the helm of this feature-length animated film that brings a cult story up to date. This time, it's a director who has taken the helm of this ambitious project: Yoshimura Ai. This is her directorial debut.
The Rose of Versailles will arrive in Japan in spring 2025. For the moment, no French release date has been announced, but Allociné informs us that it's coming soon. It's hard to imagine an animated film about French history not crossing French borders. In any case, we can't wait to immerse ourselves in the epic story of this iconic character.
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