Tomoya Nakamura, the voice actor for Yoshiki Keisuke, the partner of protagonist Tamaru Hitoshi, in the animated film "Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise," based on the manga by Takeda Kazuyoshi, which depicts the young people who lived on Peleliu Island, a fierce battlefield during the Pacific War, celebrated his birthday on December 24th, and a birthday illustration drawn by Tomoya Nakamura, who plays Rihito Itagaki, and the original author Takeda was released. Itagaki apparently suggested to Takeda that he draw a new illustration to celebrate Nakamura's birthday, and the two illustrations were drawn.
Itagaki, who is active in many fields outside of acting, including holding solo exhibitions and writing picture books, was inspired by the memorable scene in the film where Tamaru and Yoshiki play with soap bubbles, and drew Nakamura. In honor of his birthday, Christmas Eve, Yoshiki is also wearing a Santa hat. Takeda drew Yoshiki and Nakamura standing side by side.
The story is set on Peleliu Island, a fierce battlefield during the Pacific War, where 10,000 Japanese soldiers were sent and where only 34 survived for two years, unaware of the end of the war. It depicts the lives of young people on the battlefield from the perspective of Tamaru, a soldier who aspires to be a manga artist. It was serialized in the manga magazine "Young Animal" (Hakusensha) from 2016 to 2021, and won the Excellence Award at the 46th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 2017. A spin-off, "Peleliu Gaiden," was also serialized.
The anime will be directed by Goro Kuji, known for "Slave of the Demon Capital," and produced by Shin-Ei Animation, known for "Doraemon" and "Crayon Shin-chan," and Fugaku, known for "Dog Signal." The screenplay will be written by Takeda and Junji Nishimura, the original authors. The anime will be released in theaters on December 5, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
