There have been a lot of strange children’s films released, but this adaptation of Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare is very special. In this version of the story, Romeo and Juliet are not people but seals.
Romeo & Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss was released in 2006 and is entirely written, animated and directed by one man, ex-Disney animator Phil Nibbelink. It took him four and a half years to make the film. Most of the voice actors Nibbelink used for the film were his friends and his children.
Made more child-friendly
Many films have been made about the love story of Romeo and Juliet, but this version might be the most bizarre version. It may be a children’s film, but there are still a few questionable scenes in the film. So it’s quite strange to see two seals kissing like that.
However, a lot has been changed to the story to make it more child-friendly. For example, sexual intimacy and suicide were completely omitted from the film and the characters were changed into sea creatures to appeal to younger viewers.
Happy ending
The film follows the well-known story of Romeo and Juliet who fall in love, but are not allowed to be together because their families are rivals. A few adjustments have been made in this film. For example, it takes place underwater and the characters are sea creatures.
The ending also has a happy ending. In the original story, Romeo and Juliet die, but in this version they live. Their families are doing well and everyone lives happily ever after.
Garden gnomes
Besides this version of Romeo and Juliet where they are seals, there are also other strange versions of the story. For example, Gnomeo & Juliet was released in 2011, a version in which the two lovers are garden gnomes.
Gnomeo and Juliet was followed up in 2018 with Sherlock Gnomes, in which the two lovers come into contact with Sherlock Gnomes, a garden gnome based on Sherlock Holmes. These are two films that you can also put on the list of strange children’s films Romeo & Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss.
