It has been announced that the original TV anime "Eternal Yugure" will be produced by "PAWORKS," an anime production company that has produced "True Tears" and "SHIROBAKO," and will be broadcast nationwide on the MBS/TBS late-night anime slot "Super Animeism TURBO" from October. It will be a full-scale love story set in a future world, and the main cast will include Umeda Shuichiro Umeda as the protagonist, Himegami Akira, Ishikawa Yui as the heroine android Yugure, and Ai Kayano as Ou Maki Towasa, a genius scientist and Akira's childhood friend.
"Eternal Yugure" is a full-scale love story set in a future world where AI technology has developed. The protagonist, Himegami Akira, who has pledged his love to his beloved lover, Ou Maki Towasa, wakes up from a long period of cold sleep and sees a city devastated by war. People are managed by a unified organization called OWEL, and a new system called "Elsie", which is different from marriage, is implemented. An android named Yugure, who looks very similar to Towasa, appears in front of Akira and pressures him to marry her. Akira is confused by the android's sudden proposal of marriage, but he travels with Yugure, believing that he will be reunited with Towasa, who is supposed to be alive somewhere in the world... This is the story. Along the way, the two witness the form of love in the new era and begin to think about the nature of their own love.
The film will be directed by Tsuda Naokatsu, with Aoi Tayama in charge of character concepts, Yoshiko Saito in charge of character design, and Masahiro Tokuda in charge of music.
A teaser visual depicting the heroine Yugure sitting on rubble with a devastated city and a sunset sky in the background, as well as a teaser PV featuring Akira and Yugure have been released.
Umeda, who plays Himegami Akira, commented, "Although he can be a bit too straightforward and sometimes wavers, he is also decisive and can be relied on when it really matters. Although he shows many different expressions, Akira has a strong core, and I will do my best to play him with the feeling that I am traveling with him. On his journey to find Towasa, the story depicts how Akira meets many people, talks with them, and comes into contact with what is important to each of them. Some things change with the times, while some things remain the same. This is a work that often gives you a sense of warmth. Of course, you can also look forward to the spectacular battle scenes!"
Ishikawa, who plays Yugure, said, "This work made me realize that there are so many forms of love. The values that we take for granted now may not be so obvious in the future...I feel like we're being asked such questions. I play Yugure, an android who looks just like Towasa. Her hidden secret and the spectacular battles are also one of the highlights! I would like to play this character, who has very honest feelings, while carefully portraying the subtleties of her heart."
Kayano, who plays Wang Maki Towasa, commented, "I was strongly drawn to the progressive story and stylish characters. The time I spent working together with Director Tsuda, the staff, and the cast to create this film was extremely enriching, and I believe the message contained within is directed at us who will live in the future. I can't wait to share with everyone the emotions I feel from this work."
Director Tsuda said, "I like original anime. I like post-apocalypse. I like dystopias. I like mecha and beautiful girls. I like works in which the main character suffers terrible things. In the summer, I feel like reading science fiction. I basically go back to sleep in the morning. I like taking a bath in the morning. I created this work with people in mind who feel like, 'I want to continue living by the values and methods I have established within myself, but they are not allowed to.' I think I have created an anime that anyone can enjoy, whether you think it is about you or not, that will make you think a little about the unique values and make you want to talk about them with others. But the beginning of the project was when I thought, 'If I woke up in the distant future and an incredibly beautiful and cute android asked me to marry her, that would be irresistible.' Well, basically... that's how it goes. I hope you enjoy it."
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Original work: Project FT▽Director and series composition: Naokatsu Tsuda▽Character original: Aoi Tayama▽Character design: Yoshiko Saito▽Music: Masahiro Tokuda▽Animation production: PAWORKS
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Akira Himegami: Shuichiro Umeda ▽ Yugure: Yui Ishikawa ▽ Maki Ou Towasa: Ai Kayano
