It has been announced that the anime "Moonrise", based on a story by novelist and scriptwriter Tow Ubukata and with character designs by Arakawa Hiromu, known for the manga "Fullmetal Alchemist", will be exclusively distributed worldwide on Netflix on April 10th. It was also announced that voice actors Chiaki Kobayashi and Uemura Yuto will play the two main characters. Kobayashi will play the main character, Jacob Shadow, also known as Jack, and Uemura will play the other main character, Phil Arche, Jack's childhood friend. It was also revealed that Aina the End will be performing the theme song "Daijobu".
The story is set in the year 2XXX, when humanity established a "loose world government," and depicts a cosmic battle between the peaceful "residents of Earth" and the "resistance on the Moon" who are plotting liberation from Earth. While people live their lives according to the rational decisions of the international AI network Sapientia, the lunar development project carried out by Sapientia creates a gap between the Earth, which maintains peace by sending pollutants and criminals to the Moon, and the Moon, where people are forced to live in poverty, and is on the verge of war. Jack, who is caught up in a terrorist bombing, has his family taken away by the rebels on the Moon, and vows to take revenge. The film is directed by Masashi Koizuka, who has participated in "Attack on Titan" and other works, and produced by WIT STUDIO, which has produced "SPY×FAMILY" and "Attack on Titan."
Kobayashi commented, "I am truly honored to be able to create a production together with such wonderful people that I respect. As this is an original animation, the full details are shrouded in mystery, but what is fascinating is the powerful and fast-paced action. In order to not be outdone by the incredible animation, we, the cast, have been fighting and shouting with all our heart and soul since morning, so I hope that you will watch it and feel the passion of this film. Moonrise!!"
Uemura said, "Moonrise took a long period of recording, and the tension that arose from the dialogue between the characters made for a pleasant dubbing session. I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this information, so I am very happy. This film has many battle scenes and is marked by violent clashes, but Phil is also a character who struggles in the midst of this vortex. I put my all into playing Phil, a man who moves forward with firm beliefs and ambitions. Please watch and pay attention to the conflicts of each character. I hope you enjoy it!"
Director Koizuka commented, "I believe this is the first space opera that WIT STUDIO has created. It is also the first original production for our team with Netflix, and it is filled with the excitement and madness that occurred on set. I have watched the finished footage many times, and the actors breathed life into the film with their madness, and the staff on set raised the visuals to a much higher level than we had expected. I hope that viewers will enjoy this synergistic effect."
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Director and series composition: Koizuka Masashi▽Original work concept: Tow Ubukata ▽Original character concept: Arakawa Hiromu▽Character design: Yamada Ayumu▽Chief animation directors: Yamada Ayumu, Kadowaki Satoshi▽Sub-character design: Tomita Emi▽Main animators: Chiba Takaaki, Kudo Taisei▽Action animators: Hu Takuma, Kimura Satoshi, Sera Yuko, Imaizumi Ken▽Art setting: Fujii Kazushi, Takabatake Satoshi▽Brush design: Ehara Yasuyuki▽Mecha design: Hu Takuma▽Mecha prop design: Takabatake Satoshi▽Color design: Hashimoto Ken▽Art: Studio Easter▽3DCG director: Hirosumi Shigenori▽Director of photography: Tanaka Hiroji▽Editing: Hida Fumi▽Sound director: Mima Masafumi▽Sound effects: Kurahashi Hiromune▽Sound production: Techno sound▽Music: Kawasaki Ryu▽Animation Producer: Kawamura Ryoma▽Production: WIT STUDIO
