The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka and Yoshitoshi Abe’s science fiction light novel “All You Need Is Kill” has released an exhilarating action clip. The clip, showcasing the protagonist Rita in a fierce battle against monsters, was made available by GKIDS in collaboration with Warner Bros. Japan and STUDIO4°C.
The film is set to hit theaters in North America on January 16. GKIDS has secured the rights to distribute the anime in multiple territories, including North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Viewers can enjoy the film in both its original Japanese audio with English subtitles and an English dub.
In Japan, the movie opened on January 9 in 10 theaters across the country. The anime has already made waves at several international film festivals, including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, where it was screened in June. It also had its North American premiere at the 29th annual Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, which ran from July 16 through August 3. Additionally, the film was showcased at New York Comic Con on October 10 and was an official selection at the 58th Sitges – International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Spain.
The anime is slated to appear in more upcoming festivals, such as the Bucheon International Animation Festival, San Sebastian Fantasy Festival, Scotland Loves Anime Festival, Leeds International Film Festival, and the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival.
The anime features a talented voice cast, with Stephanie Sheh voicing Rita, Jadon Muniz as Keiji, Lisa Kay Jennings as Shasta, Cherami Leigh as Rachel, and Jonny Cruz as Yonaval. The English dub brings these characters to life with the same intensity and emotion as the original Japanese version.
Kenichiro Akimoto, known for his work on “Children of the Sea” and “Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko,” is directing the anime at STUDIO4°C. The story retells the novel from a unique perspective, differing from both the original novel and the Hollywood film adaptation “Edge of Tomorrow.”
The theme song for the anime, “Tsuretette,” is performed by university student and singer-songwriter AKASAKI. This marks AKASAKI’s first foray into anime themes, adding a fresh and original touch to the film.
The original novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka is set in a future where Earth is under siege by alien invaders called Mimics. Humanity’s infantry, equipped with powered armor suits, fights valiantly but struggles to gain an advantage. Keiji Kiriya, a newly enlisted soldier, dies in his first battle but finds himself in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over. Through this repetitive process, he learns from his mistakes and extends his survival, ultimately becoming drawn to the elite soldier Rita Vrataski.
The novel was published by Shueisha in December 2004 and later adapted into a manga by Takeshi Obata and Ryōsuke Takeuchi, which was serialized in Shueisha’s “Young Jump” magazine from January to May 2014. Viz Media published both the novel and the manga in English, launching its Haikasoru imprint for Japanese science fiction and fantasy in 2009.
In addition to the manga, Viz Media released a full-color graphic novel adaptation of the story in May 2014, adapted by Nick Mamatas and illustrated by Lee Ferguson. The novel also inspired the live-action Hollywood movie “Edge of Tomorrow,” starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, which grossed over $370 million worldwide.
© 桜坂洋／集英社・ALL YOU NEED IS KILL製作委員会
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
