It has been revealed that actor Ai Mikami will be taking on the challenge of voice acting for the first time in the anime "ALL YOU NEED IS KILL," based on Sakurazaka Hiroshi's science fiction novel. Mikami will play the main character, Rita. The original story of "ALL YOU NEED IS KILL" depicts the growth of Cage, who gains experience through repeated time loops and struggles to persevere despite repeated deaths, but the anime will tell a new story with Rita, an 18-year-old girl who works as a volunteer staff member, as the main character. It was also announced that voice actor Natsuki Hanae will play Cage.
Mikami commented, "As someone who loves anime, it was a dream job for me. At the same time, because I love it so much, I was worried about whether I could do it. However, those worries overlapped with Rita's feelings, and on the day I recorded for the first time with Hanae-san, who played Cage, my heart gradually became lighter, and I had a strange moment of freedom. I felt that the feeling of breathing and living alongside Rita is something that can only be achieved through voice acting."
"This work has shown itself in many different forms, including light novels, manga, and live-action films, but this animated film has been packed with interpretations and expressions that are only possible in anime, thanks to the professional cast and staff. I hope that both fans of the original work and those who are experiencing this work for the first time will go on a journey with Rita and Cage to find hope in life," he said.
Hanae, who plays Cage, commented, "I am Natsuki Hanae, and I will be playing the role of Cage. At first glance, he seems like an ordinary young man, but as he faces repeated death on the harsh battlefield, he gradually changes and grows. I hope to carefully express his despair, conflict, and determination through my voice. I think the major highlights of this film are his relationship with Rita, whom he meets in the loop, and the resolve that emerges in him as he fights on the battlefield again and again. I hope you will be able to witness the changes in the characters along with STUDIO4℃'s stunning visual expression. Please look forward to it!"
The film has been selected for the Midnight Special category of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2025, which will be held in Annecy, France from June 8th, and has been selected to be screened at the venue.
"All You Need Is Kill" is a Hollywood movie starring Tom Cruise that was released in 2014, and the manga by Takeshi Obata, known for "Death Note" and other works, also gained popularity. The anime reconstructs the story from a new perspective different from the original work and the live-action movie. Focusing on the inner world of a woman named Rita, it depicts her loneliness and suffering, her meeting with Cage, and her growth. After an extraterrestrial invasion, Rita is trapped in a time loop in which she returns to the morning of the day she died. No one understands her, and the endless battle eats away at her heart. At that moment, Cage appears in front of Rita and tells her, "I'm also repeating today over and over again," and they have a fateful encounter.
The film will be directed by Kenichiro Akimoto, who has worked on "Berserk: The Golden Age Arc," "Harmony," and " Poupelle of Chimney Town," and produced by STUDIO4℃, which has worked on "Tekkonkinkreet" and "Children of the Sea." AKASAKI, an 18-year-old college student and singer-songwriter, will be in charge of the theme song "Tsukette."
