This New-To-Netflix Anime Film Takes a Classic Manga and Turns It Into a Vivid Retelling of Marie Antoinette’s Life Story

It’s not every day that an anime film breathes new fire into a centuries-old historical saga, let alone one involving powdered wigs and a famously misunderstood queen. But Netflix’s recent release of The Rose of Versailles has arrived with a modern spin. This vibrant reimagining of Riyoko Ikeda’s beloved manga blends lavish historical drama with a cinematic elegance that is a refreshing visual treat for longtime fans.

The Rose of Versailles isn’t exactly new. The iconic manga originally debuted in 1972 and quickly became an iconic title for the shōjo genre, inspiring a decades-long franchise. The story follows the lives of the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, and the fictional royal guard Oscar François de Jarjayes, as France teeters on the brink of revolution. Reimagined in the latest animated adaptation by MAPPA, the film brings to life the classic romantic tale with a vivid palette, whimsical storyline, and refined characters for a new generation.

‘The Rose of Versailles’ Is a Faithful Adaptation Set During the French Revolution

More than 50 years later, The Rose of Versailles is still a female-focused historical epic set during the turbulent French Revolution. Known for its melodrama, political intrigue, and gender-defying lead, in many ways, it was ahead of its time, and director Ai Yoshimura and screenwriter Tomoko Konparu put the spotlight on two vastly different worlds. The story revolves around Oscar François de Jarjayes, a noblewoman raised as a man to lead the royal guards, and the historical Marie Antoinette, the young Austrian archduchess betrothed to the future King of France. Soon, their lives become entangled in the ornate yet crumbling world of the French aristocracy.

Oscar, regardless of her privilege, develops a deep sense of justice and finds herself sympathizing with the growing unrest among the common people. Meanwhile, Marie Antoinette is thrust into the spotlight of Versailles, navigating political manipulation, scandal, and isolation as she ascends the throne. Through Oscar’s eyes, we witness the tensions that boil beneath the surface of gilded luxury—a France on the brink of revolt—as she protects Marie, who gradually becomes a loyal friend. As the Revolution looms, loyalties are tested, love is lost, and fate takes its merciless course. In doing so, the film captures the majesty and the turmoil of a world collapsing under its own weight. What sets this adaptation apart is its handling of Marie Antoinette herself. Historically, she’s been caricatured as a lavish party girl who fiddled while France starved. Yet in The Rose, Marie is portrayed with innocent vulnerability. The film traces her transformation from a bright-eyed, politically naive teenager to a hardened woman coming of age within a collapsing monarchy.

Yes, the queen throws opulent balls and makes questionable choices. But she’s also hopelessly trapped and heavily manipulated. Marie Antoinette’s relationship with Oscar is key: an unexpected friendship between two women shaped by roles they didn’t choose. Despite being glossed over, according to Polygon, their scenes together crackle with chemistry, revealing a genuine friendship long before Sailor Moon changed the game.

Though a Visual Spectacle, ‘The Rose of Versailles’ Lacks a Cohesive Narrative From the Original Manga

Plenty of period dramas have tackled the French Revolution, but few have challenged the task with such flair. Where most anime adaptations get bogged down in historical exposition, this adaptation relies mostly on dazzling imagery to carry the core of the storytelling. The Rose of Versailles‘ animation is undeniably stunning. MAPPA infuses the screen with rococo flourishes, dynamic character designs, and lively musical montages that pay homage to the shōjo genre’s aesthetic roots. These visuals, while captivating, often replace substantial character development, leading to a narrative that feels more like a highlight reel than a cohesive story.

Netflix’s new adaptation serves more as a visual companion piece than a standalone narrative to the franchise. The Rose of Versailles manga became an instant cultural phenomenon in Japan from 1972 to 1973. It helped define the shōjo manga genre, inspiring a 1979 anime series, multiple stage plays, a novelization, and even a live-action French-Japanese film. Over the decades, the series has built a passionate fan base for tackling gender identity, rebellion, as well as class conflict.

Richter and Maria Rise to Lead the French Revolution in New ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ Poster

The French Revolution-based sequel series premieres on Netflix later this month.

Rather than rebooting or modernizing the original for trendiness, the latest edition honors the aesthetic and narrative heart of the source material while making the story accessible to a global audience. It’s gorgeously animated, respectful of everything that’s come before, even though the seriousness is sometimes washed away with spots of musical numbers. In many ways, the Netflix film feels like a reinterpretation of the original, taking its best attributes and molding them with its own voice.

There’s always a risk when reviving a beloved classic: will it live up to the legacy, or collapse under the weight of fan expectations? In this case, The Rose of Versailles does something applause-worthy. The story lives up to its main theme—daring to ask: what does it mean to live honestly in a dishonest world? To love in secret? To stand against power when you are power? In its beauty and intriguing setup, The Rose of Versailles offers a feast for the eyes but leaves the heart wanting for more.