New details have been announced for the theatrical anime The Rose of Versailles, set to premiere in early 2025. To celebrate the birthday of André Grandier on August 26th, four stills of André were released.

André Grandier serves the aristocratic and noble Jarjayes family, specifically Oscar François de Jarjayes, who was raised as the heir to the family, despite being the youngest daughter. André, both Oscar’s childhood friend and loyal servant, grew up like siblings with Oscar, and while swept up by the tides of history, he lived a beautiful life beside her.

André’s life alongside Oscar has garnered passionate support from fans of the original work. The character has also been the focus of Takarazuka Revue performances such as the "André and Oscar Arc" and the "André Arc," making him an extremely popular character.

The newly released four stills depict André’s journey, from his childhood to his struggles to survive during the French Revolution. After losing his mother, André was raised by his only living relative, his grandmother Marron-Glacé. Despite being a commoner, Oscar treated André as an equal friend since they were young, which often led to his grandmother scolding him.

As André grew up, he supported Oscar, who had become the captain of the French Royal Guard and served as the protector of Marie Antoinette, both as her servant and trusted confidant. Together, they lived through the turmoil of the French Revolution.

The voice of André is performed by popular voice actor Toshiyuki Toyonaga. Reflecting on his role, Toyonaga commented, "I never imagined that I would one day be a part of the legendary and historic work The Rose of Versailles, and that I would even get to play André. I am incredibly happy to be involved in a work that continues to be loved by so many across generations."

In addition to voice acting, Toyonaga, who is also active as an actor and singer, shared, "I also get to sing. I’ve had the opportunity to perform various memorable scenes from the original work... In this modern adaptation, The Rose of Versailles is beautifully depicted in a delicate and ephemeral way."

The Rose of Versailles is set during the late 18th-century French Revolution and follows the lives of characters such as Oscar François de Jarjayes, a beautiful woman raised as the male heir to a noble family, and Marie Antoinette, the innocent queen from Austria. The story is one of love and fate, as these individuals navigate their lives amidst the chaos of history.

The manga was serialized from 1972 to 1973 in Weekly Margaret (Shueisha) and was collected into 10 volumes. In 2014, four volumes of new episodes were published, 40 years after the original series, with cumulative sales surpassing 20 million copies.

The Rose of Versailles is considered a pioneer in media mix adaptations. It was first staged by the Takarazuka Revue in 1974, adapted into a television anime in 1979, and made into a film in 1990, creating a cultural phenomenon. The upcoming theatrical anime is a completely new production by MAPPA, the studio known for works such as Jujutsu Kaisen.

Source : ORICON NEWS