Toward the Terra
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese science fiction
manga
series by Keiko Takemiya
. It was originally serialized in Asahi Sonorama
's Gekkan Manga Shōnen magazine, between January 1977 and May 1980. In 1978, it won the very first Seiun Award
for manga
, and in 1980 also won the Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōnen
/shōjo
manga (along with Takemiya's Kaze to Ki no Uta
).
In 1980 it was adapted into an anime movie, produced by Toei Animation
and directed by Hideo Onchi
. In 2007, the manga was adapted into a TV anime series, co-animated by Minamimachi Bugyōsho and Tokyo Kids, and produced by Aniplex
, SKY Perfect Well Think
, and Mainichi Broadcasting System
. Directed by Osamu Yamazaki and featuring character designs by Nobuteru Yuki
, it premiered in Japan on MBS
-TBS
's Saturday 6:00pm doroku time slot (previously occupied by other notable anime series such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
, Fullmetal Alchemist
and Blood+
) on April 7, 2007, and ended on September 22, 2007, replacing the cancelled Bones
series Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi.
and caretaker humans behind and colonize distant stars.
Under the rule of Superior Dominance all humans are born in vitro and given to carefully selected parents. At the age of 14, all children are put through brainwashing where their memories are wiped by Superior Dominance and overwritten to produce functional adults. A race of advanced humans with psionic abilities called Mu has evolved, and the supercomputers that control Superior Dominance make every effort to exterminate them. Led by Soldier Blue and then Soldier Shin, the Mu make every effort to locate and rescue as many Mu children as possible before they are discovered and eliminated. The Mu have only one wish, to return to what they see as their promised land, Terra.
The series spans a large number of years, jumping back and forth multiple times, from Jomy's life on Ataraxia, to the various events on Station E-1077, to Jomy's founding of a Mu colony on a habitable planet, to the Superior Dominance war of extermination on the Mu, and finally to the Mu return to Terra.
Voice: (1980) Masaya Oki ; (2007 TV series) Takehito Koyasu
Voice : (1980) Taro Shigaki ; (2007 TV series) Tomokazu Sugita
Voice: (1980) Hiroko Yakushimaru ; (2007 TV series) Motoki Takagi
Voice: Nobuhiko Okamoto
, was serialized by Asahi Sonorama
in Gekkan Manga Shōnen between January 1977 and May 1980. The chapters were collected in three bound volumes
, which was reissued in August 1980 with the release of the movie. In 2007, on the day before the TV series began airing, the manga was reprinted by Japanese publisher Square Enix
. In 2007, American publisher Vertical released all three volumes of the manga in North America
under the title To Terra....
The series won two awards: the Seiun Award
for best manga in 1978 and the Shogakukan Manga Award
for best shōnen in 1979.
movie, produced by Toei Animation
and directed by Hideo Onchi
. TRSI
released a hardsubbed version of the movie in North America
. It was titled Toward the Terra, and appeared on VHS
in 1994 and on laserdisc
in 1995. At Anime Expo
2008, The Right Stuf International announced that its Nozomi Entertainment division had licensed the Toward the Terra film for the North American market.
, SKY Perfect Well Think
and Mainichi Broadcasting System
. It was directed by Osamu Yamazaki, written by Satoru Nishizono and featured character and conceptual designs by Nobuteru Yuki
(Vision of Escaflowne) and Yutaka Izubuchi
(RahXephon
) respectively. The first opening theme, spanning episodes 1-13, was "endscape", performed by the band Uverworld
, while the first ending theme is "Love is", performed by Miliyah Kato. These were replaced from episodes 14-24 onwards, with the second opening theme being "Jet Boy Jet Girl
", performed by Hitomi Takahashi
, and the second ending theme being "This Night", performed by Chemistry
.
The series premiered in Japan on MBS
-TBS
's Saturday 6:00pm time slot on April 7, 2007. That time slot was previously occupied by other notable animated series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
and Fullmetal Alchemist
. It was replaced in this timeslot by Mobile Suit Gundam 00
, which premiered in October 2007. The series was also aired in Japan on the BS
network Animax
, who also subsequently aired in its English language network
in Southeast Asia
and South Asia
.
Staff
Cast
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by Keiko Takemiya
Keiko Takemiya
is a Japanese manga artist. She is included in the Year 24 Group. She resides in Kamukura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Takemiya was one of the female authors who in the early 1970s pioneered a genre of girls' comics about love between young men; in December 1970 she published a short story, "In the...
. It was originally serialized in Asahi Sonorama
Asahi Sonorama
is a Japanese book, magazine, and manga publisher and a division of Asahi Shimbun Publications, which is a subsidiary of the publisher of the Asahi Shimbun. "Sonorama" is a coined word combining sonus, the Latin word for "sound", and horama, the Greek word for "sight"...
's Gekkan Manga Shōnen magazine, between January 1977 and May 1980. In 1978, it won the very first Seiun Award
Seiun Award
The is a Japanese science fiction award for the best science fiction published in Japan during the preceding year, as voted by attendees of the Japan Science Fiction Convention. "Seiun" is the Japanese word for "nebula", but the award is not related to the American Nebula Award. It was named after...
for manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, and in 1980 also won the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōnen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
/shōjo
Shojo
The term refers to manga marketed to a female audience roughly between the ages of 10-18. The name romanizes the Japanese 少女 , literally: "little female". Shōjo manga covers many subjects in a variety of narrative and graphic styles, from historical drama to science fiction — often with a strong...
manga (along with Takemiya's Kaze to Ki no Uta
Kaze to Ki no Uta
is a shōjo manga with yaoi themes by Keiko Takemiya. It was first published by Shougakukan from 1976 to 1984 in the magazine Shōjo Comic. In 1979, it was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen/shōjo manga. The series is widely regarded as a shōnen-ai manga classic, being one of...
).
In 1980 it was adapted into an anime movie, produced by Toei Animation
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
and directed by Hideo Onchi
Hideo Onchi
is a Japanese film and television director.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Onchi graduated from Keio University and joined the Toho studios. He debuted as a director with Wakai ōkami , and first made a name for himself directing youth films such as Izu no odoriko...
. In 2007, the manga was adapted into a TV anime series, co-animated by Minamimachi Bugyōsho and Tokyo Kids, and produced by Aniplex
Aniplex
, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...
, SKY Perfect Well Think
SKY Perfect Well Think
is a Japanese content production and development enterprise, owned by SKY Perfect Communications, established on July 29, 2004. It is involved in the production, development and distribution of several feature films, anime series, television programs and numerous other media...
, and Mainichi Broadcasting System
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
. Directed by Osamu Yamazaki and featuring character designs by Nobuteru Yuki
Nobuteru Yuki
is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and animator. He began as a doujinshi artist under the nom de plume The Man in the High Castle and Yubic , both references to the works of American science fiction author Philip K. Dick...
, it premiered in Japan on MBS
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
-TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
's Saturday 6:00pm doroku time slot (previously occupied by other notable anime series such as Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
is an anime series developed by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. As with other series from the Gundam franchise, Gundam SEED takes place in a parallel timeline, in this case the Cosmic Era, the first to do so...
, Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist
, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is styled after the European Industrial Revolution...
and Blood+
Blood+
Blood+, pronounced as "Blood Plus", is an anime series produced by Production I.G and Aniplex and directed by Junichi Fujisaku. The series premiered in Japan on Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax, as well as on terrestrial networks such as MBS, TBS, and RKB on October 8, 2005. The final episode...
) on April 7, 2007, and ended on September 22, 2007, replacing the cancelled Bones
Bones (studio)
is a Japanese anime studio. It has produced numerous series, including RahXephon, Wolf's Rain, Scrapped Princess, Eureka Seven, Angelic Layer, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club and two adaptions of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga along with Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto and...
series Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi.
Plot
The story takes place in the distant future sometime after the 31st millennium where humanity exists under the rule of the political order controlled by supercomputers known as Superior Dominance and the carefully selected humans known as the Members Elite. Centuries before the story begins, the human race came to the conclusion that war and pollution rendered life on Earth unsustainable. Using warp travel the decision was made to leave a supercomputer Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
and caretaker humans behind and colonize distant stars.
Under the rule of Superior Dominance all humans are born in vitro and given to carefully selected parents. At the age of 14, all children are put through brainwashing where their memories are wiped by Superior Dominance and overwritten to produce functional adults. A race of advanced humans with psionic abilities called Mu has evolved, and the supercomputers that control Superior Dominance make every effort to exterminate them. Led by Soldier Blue and then Soldier Shin, the Mu make every effort to locate and rescue as many Mu children as possible before they are discovered and eliminated. The Mu have only one wish, to return to what they see as their promised land, Terra.
The series spans a large number of years, jumping back and forth multiple times, from Jomy's life on Ataraxia, to the various events on Station E-1077, to Jomy's founding of a Mu colony on a habitable planet, to the Superior Dominance war of extermination on the Mu, and finally to the Mu return to Terra.
Main Characters
Voice: (1980) Junichi Inoue ; (2007 TV series) Mitsuki Saiga- Jomy, a student born on the Education World of Ataraxia, unknowingly carries the Mu Factor within his genes. On his 14th birthday, he fails his adulthood exam, but is rescued by the Mu from execution. Later on, Jomy's dormant powers awaken, and he is confronted with the realization that he is one of the strongest Mu (a Type-Blue), and the only hope his race has for continued survival.
- Jomy originally rejects the idea of him being a Mu but comes to accept it and succeeds Soldier Blue as their leader. Despite being unnaturally healthy for a Mu, in the original manga his well-being eventually deteriorates to a state that renders him blind, deaf and mute.
- In the DVD-only Epilogue episode of the anime, it is shown that in an unknown future Jomy is reincarnated and reunited with Keith on the successfully terraformed Earth.
Voice: (1980) Masaya Oki ; (2007 TV series) Takehito Koyasu
- Raised in a test tube for the first 14 years of his life, Keith does not remember anything before his non-existent adulthood exam. Labelled as an "android" by Seki Ray Shiroe, he is known for his exceptional mind and elite skills on-board educational station E-1077, on which he befriended Sam. His continued outstanding performance earns him a rapid rise in ranks, and he eventually comes to lead all of Humanity at the young age of thirty.
- Interestingly, despite being pitted against Jomy and the Mu several times throughout the series, Keith's portrayal is similar to that of an anti-heroAnti-heroIn fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
and somewhat of a second protagonist, rather than a "villain". His connections and experiences with the Mu ultimately lead him to betray Grandmother, and the SD system itself. - In the DVD-only Epilogue episode of the anime, it is shown that in an unknown future Keith is reincarnated and reunited with Jomy on the successfully terraformed Earth.
Voice : (1980) Taro Shigaki ; (2007 TV series) Tomokazu Sugita
- The first leader of the Mu, and the very first Type Blue psion, hence the origin of his name. Having an abnormally weak body, Soldier Blue is reaching his limit in his advanced age, and seeks out Jomy to lead his people, and to ensure the continued survival of the Mu. After 15 years of deep sleep, Soldier Blue unfortunately meets his end in his successful attempt to destroy the Meggido cannon aimed at Nazca by overloading its core with his remaining psionic power, getting vaporized in the overwhelming explosion.
- The very first natural birth since the implementation of the SD system, Tony was born to Mu parents on Naska. He marks the first of several similarly born Mu children who experience rapid growth and possess Type-Blue powers far superior to many of the other Mu. Despite being hot-headed and rebellious, he holds a deep affection for Jomy, calling him "Grandpa" (despite having no relation to him; however, in the movie version, Tony is depicted as Jomy's son). In the manga, his mother explained to him that Jomy was the "father" of all married couples (in that he allowed the marriages), hence the "Grandpa" nickname.
- Tony's ultimate fate differs in each adaptation. In the original manga, he and the other Nazca-born Mu exile themselves to a distant planet after refusing to see Terra; however, in the anime he succeeds the late Jomy as the leader of the Mu.
- A blind woman who uses Tarot cards to predict the future, Physis is perceived by Blue to be the 'goddess' of the Mu. She is different from other Mu in that she does not carry the necessary mutated gene, and is an otherwise normal human whom Blue bestowed upon psionic abilities.
Voice: (1980) Hiroko Yakushimaru ; (2007 TV series) Motoki Takagi
- A young man with an unwavering loyalty to Keith. Initially believing that his ability to read minds was merely "weird" and "unique", Matsuka is in actuality a Mu who managed to trick the system and pass his adulthood exams without detection. For a time being Matsuka became Keith's personal servant aboard any vessel they were assigned to, using his powers to rescue Keith from any hostile situation involving the Mu. Tragically, Matsuka dies when he saves Keith from an assassination attempt by Tony. His name is incorrectly translated as Makka in VerticalVertical IncVertical Inc, headquartered in New York, United States, is a Japanese novel and manga company founded in 2001 by Hiroki Sakai. In February 2011 the company was bought by Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing .-Titles:...
's English translation of the manga.
- A young boy unaware of his Mu powers, he is a freshman onboard educational station E-1077 during Keith's senior years. With a fiery, rebellious nature and vehement dislike for the system, he opposes the perfectly elite and poker-faced Keith Anyan, constantly provoking him and striving to surpass him.
- Although Jomy and Shiroe never meet in the manga or its 1980 adaptation, the TV series features an early episode in which Jomy attempts to take the 10-year-old Shiroe back to the Shangri-La with him.
Mu
- The commander of the Mu mothership, Shangri-La. Despite appearing older than Soldier Blue, they are from the same generation. He's a Type-Green, capable of perfect psionic defense. After years of fleeing the humans and finally arriving on Terra, Harley and the elder Mu sacrifice themselves to allow Physis the chance to escape the collapse of Terra's underground city in the anime TV series adaptation.
- A gentle-natured young man born with speech disability, Leo communicates primarily through telepathy. He is one of the first Mu to encounter Jomy, aiding his escape from Ataraxia. Leo dies saving a young human woman from a falling boulder during the collapse of Terra's underground city.
- Tony's mother. She is the first female to give birth naturally after the introduction of the SD system's eugenics program. After Keith stabs the 3-year-old Tony while being held captive on the Mu mothership, Karina is immediately led to believe that he is dead, and she ultimately destroys herself out of her own grief-induced rage.
- One of the naturally born Type-Blue children who possesses remarkable powers like Tony. She is fiercely loyal to Tony and will abide by anything he plans to do. She secretly loves Tony. Artella is killed in battle above Jupiter by Serge Sturgeon's anti-psion defense fighter whilst trying to stop him from killing Tony.
Humans
- A childhood friend of Jomy, Sam passes his adulthood exam and is placed in the same class as Keith, where the two become close friends. He eventually loses his mind and is reduced to the mentality of an 8-year-old, his mind ironically filled only with the memories of his childhood that repeated memory erasure had forced him to forget. Eventually, he dies from pneumoniaPneumoniaPneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
after running out in the rain for hours. Keith carries Sam's blood in his earrings.
- Given a bigger part in the anime, Swena was another of Jomy's childhood friends. She is placed in the same class as Keith and Sam on E-1077. She harbors unrequited love for Keith. Swena's biological daughter develops the Mu factor and is rescued by them when Keith tries to kill her as a way of stalling their advance to Terra. In the original manga, she was first seen just before she left E-1077 to get married.
Voice: Nobuhiko Okamoto
- An anime-only character who also serves as an homage to Serge Battour, the main character of Kaze to Ki no UtaKaze to Ki no Utais a shōjo manga with yaoi themes by Keiko Takemiya. It was first published by Shougakukan from 1976 to 1984 in the magazine Shōjo Comic. In 1979, it was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen/shōjo manga. The series is widely regarded as a shōnen-ai manga classic, being one of...
(another of Keiko TakemiyaKeiko Takemiyais a Japanese manga artist. She is included in the Year 24 Group. She resides in Kamukura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Takemiya was one of the female authors who in the early 1970s pioneered a genre of girls' comics about love between young men; in December 1970 she published a short story, "In the...
's more famous works). Serge is loyal to Keith - as shown by his grief when he believes that Keith is dead - and often acts as his second in command. He also befriends Matsuka, and is the only person shown to refer to him by his first name ("Jonah"). With his final words Keith tells Serge to look after the human race and work alongside the Mu for a positive future.
Computers
- The all-powerful computer that governs mankind. It disapproves of the Mu. It was programmed with the prime directive of supressing the Mu population to prevent it from spreading, and in Keith's words, as a way to direct human hatred toward the Mu and prevent humanity from destroying itself through greed and selfishness.
- A computer deep within Earth that appears after the destruction of Grandmother. Originally installed ten years before the S.D. calendar, its calculations showed a high probability of the Mu deciding Earth's destiny. The politicians of that time disapproved of the calculations and went on to build Grandmother. In the manga, Keith shuts it down after killing Jomy, ending the rule of Superior Domination.
- One of the nine "Terraz Number" and directly connected to Grandmother. Terraz Number 5 is the computer in charge of the awakening ceremony on Ataraxia.
- The mother computer of Educational Station E-1077. She appears as a holographic projection, taking the form of a person familiar to the student. While she acts as counsellor, she is in reality in charge of the station, frequently praising and favouring Keith, whom she considers her "child". Eliza and E-1077 are destroyed by Keith when he discovers his origins within the in vitro eugenics program conducted within the station's labs.
Other
- A creature looks like a purple fox. It communicates with its kind using ultrasound and is capable of limited telepathy. It was created by the Mu, but humans were led to believe that it came from a foreign planet. One specimen communicates with Jomy telepathically at Fantastic Dreamworld, and is freed from its captivity; it follows Jomy to the Mu mother ship later on, and is eventually named "Rain". In contrast, it is also used throughout the TV series as a symbol of Keith and Sam's friendship.
Manga
The manga series, written and illustrated by Keiko TakemiyaKeiko Takemiya
is a Japanese manga artist. She is included in the Year 24 Group. She resides in Kamukura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Takemiya was one of the female authors who in the early 1970s pioneered a genre of girls' comics about love between young men; in December 1970 she published a short story, "In the...
, was serialized by Asahi Sonorama
Asahi Sonorama
is a Japanese book, magazine, and manga publisher and a division of Asahi Shimbun Publications, which is a subsidiary of the publisher of the Asahi Shimbun. "Sonorama" is a coined word combining sonus, the Latin word for "sound", and horama, the Greek word for "sight"...
in Gekkan Manga Shōnen between January 1977 and May 1980. The chapters were collected in three bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
, which was reissued in August 1980 with the release of the movie. In 2007, on the day before the TV series began airing, the manga was reprinted by Japanese publisher Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. In 2007, American publisher Vertical released all three volumes of the manga in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
under the title To Terra....
The series won two awards: the Seiun Award
Seiun Award
The is a Japanese science fiction award for the best science fiction published in Japan during the preceding year, as voted by attendees of the Japan Science Fiction Convention. "Seiun" is the Japanese word for "nebula", but the award is not related to the American Nebula Award. It was named after...
for best manga in 1978 and the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for best shōnen in 1979.
Japanese releases (reprint) |
English releases |
Movie
In 1980, Toward the Terra was adapted into an animatedAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
movie, produced by Toei Animation
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
and directed by Hideo Onchi
Hideo Onchi
is a Japanese film and television director.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Onchi graduated from Keio University and joined the Toho studios. He debuted as a director with Wakai ōkami , and first made a name for himself directing youth films such as Izu no odoriko...
. TRSI
The Right Stuf International
The Right Stuf International, Inc. is an American retailer based in Grimes, Iowa that markets and distributes anime and manga-related products throughout the United States and internationally...
released a hardsubbed version of the movie in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It was titled Toward the Terra, and appeared on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in 1994 and on laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
in 1995. At Anime Expo
Anime Expo
Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation . With rare exceptions, the convention is traditionally held on the July 4th weekend and lasts for four days...
2008, The Right Stuf International announced that its Nozomi Entertainment division had licensed the Toward the Terra film for the North American market.
Staff |
Cast |
|
Director: Hideo Onchi Hideo Onchi is a Japanese film and television director.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Onchi graduated from Keio University and joined the Toho studios. He debuted as a director with Wakai ōkami , and first made a name for himself directing youth films such as Izu no odoriko... Producer: Chiaki Imada Art Director: Isamu Tsuchida Writers: Hideo Onchi
Composer: Masaru Satō |
|
Masako Ikeda is a Japanese voice actress most known for the roles of Reika "Ochoufujin" Ryuuzaki in Ace wo Nerae, Nodoka Saotome in Ranma 1/2, Maetel in Galaxy Express 999 and Michiko in Harmagedon... Kyoko Kishida was a Japanese actress, voice actress, and writer of children's books.Her father was Kunio Kishida, a playwright and the founder of the Bungaku-za. She became an actress in 1950, and starred in a Yukio Mishima production of the 1960 film Salome. Her film and television drama credits number in the... Eiko Masuyama is a Japanese voice actress who works for Aoni Production. She is most known for the roles of Fujiko Mine , Kisaragi Honey , and Bakabon's Mama .-Notable voice roles:... Banjo Ginga , sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production... Toshiko Fujita is a Japanese seiyū. She currently works at Aoni Production.-Roles:*Bonobono in the first Bonobono film*Cross in Ginga Nagareboshi Gin*Corazón Muto in Allison & Lillia... Joji Yanami is a Japanese voice actor currently represented by Aoni Production.- Television :* Ookami Shōnen Ken , Boss* Hustle Punch , Professor Garigari/Garigari Hagase* Osomatsu-kun , Tou-san... Masaharu Sato is a Japanese voice actor currently working for Aoni Production.Along with the late Kōji Totani, he is considered the No. 1 supporting actor of the Japanese voice acting world.... Kazuhiko Kishino ', born February 14, 1934 in Tokushima Prefecture, is a Japanese actor and seiyū. He is currently represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society... Tomiko Suzuki was a Japanese seiyu. She was born in Aichi Prefecture and was a member of Aoni Production. Her last film was Pokémon: Jirachi Wishmaker which was released only a week and half after Suzuki's death from a heart attack on July 7, 2003 at the age of 47.-Notable Anime Credits:* Captain Tsubasa —... |
TV series
Toward the Terra was adapted into an animated TV series in 2007, co-animated by Minamimachi Bugyōsho and Tokyo Kids, and produced by AniplexAniplex
, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...
, SKY Perfect Well Think
SKY Perfect Well Think
is a Japanese content production and development enterprise, owned by SKY Perfect Communications, established on July 29, 2004. It is involved in the production, development and distribution of several feature films, anime series, television programs and numerous other media...
and Mainichi Broadcasting System
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
. It was directed by Osamu Yamazaki, written by Satoru Nishizono and featured character and conceptual designs by Nobuteru Yuki
Nobuteru Yuki
is a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and animator. He began as a doujinshi artist under the nom de plume The Man in the High Castle and Yubic , both references to the works of American science fiction author Philip K. Dick...
(Vision of Escaflowne) and Yutaka Izubuchi
Yutaka Izubuchi
is a Japanese anime designer and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical...
(RahXephon
RahXephon
is a Japanese anime series about 17-year-old Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a godlike mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world...
) respectively. The first opening theme, spanning episodes 1-13, was "endscape", performed by the band Uverworld
Uverworld
Uverworld is a Japanese rock band consisting of five members originating from Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan. Releasing six studio albums and several singles, which went on to achieve massive success, they went on to become one of the most influential rock bands in Japan to this day.-2000–2005: Beginnings...
, while the first ending theme is "Love is", performed by Miliyah Kato. These were replaced from episodes 14-24 onwards, with the second opening theme being "Jet Boy Jet Girl
Jet Boy Jet Girl (Hitomi Takahashi song)
"Jet Boy Jet Girl" is Hitomi Takahashi's 7th single under the Sony Records label, and was released on August 1, 2007 in two different versions - CD only and CD+DVD.- Overview :...
", performed by Hitomi Takahashi
Hitomi Takahashi (singer)
is a rock/pop singer from Miyagi Prefecture in Japan. After being selected as finalist in the Sony Music SD audition, which contained about 20,000 applicants, Hitomi entered the music scene in 2005 with her single "Bokutachi no Yukue"...
, and the second ending theme being "This Night", performed by Chemistry
Chemistry (band)
is a Japanese Pop/R&B duo, composed of and . They were the winners of the Asayan audition in 2000 organized by Sony Music Entertainment Japan....
.
The series premiered in Japan on MBS
Mainichi Broadcasting System
is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
-TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
's Saturday 6:00pm time slot on April 7, 2007. That time slot was previously occupied by other notable animated series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
is an anime series developed by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. As with other series from the Gundam franchise, Gundam SEED takes place in a parallel timeline, in this case the Cosmic Era, the first to do so...
and Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist
, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The world of Fullmetal Alchemist is styled after the European Industrial Revolution...
. It was replaced in this timeslot by Mobile Suit Gundam 00
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
, which premiered in October 2007. The series was also aired in Japan on the BS
Broadcasting Satellite
Broadcasting Satellite or BS is a common name of one of the direct broadcast satellites in Japan.The first satellite of this series, called BSE or Yuri was launched in 1978. The last BS series satellite, BS-3b, was launched in 1991....
network Animax
Animax
is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. A subsidiary of Japanese media conglomerate Sony, it is headquartered in in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with its co-founders and shareholders including Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios...
, who also subsequently aired in its English language network
Animax Asia
Animax Asia is the Japanese anime TV network Animaxs English language feeds in Southeast Asia and South Asia, as well as its feeds across other regions of mainland Asia, including Hong Kong and Taiwan...
in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Staff
- Planning: Seiji TakedaSeiji Takedais the deputy director of Mainichi Broadcasting System's Tokyo office. Since beginning the network's 6:00pm Saturday timeblock, he has been involved in the planning and production of numerous anime, including various series from the Gundam universe, Code Geass, Blood+, Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka...
(MBS), Noriyasu Kimiki (Wellthink), Kōichirō Natsume (Aniplex) - Planning co-operation: Atsushi Higashiyama (Dentsu)
- Screenplay: Satoru Nishizono, others
- Character design: Nobuteru YukiNobuteru Yukiis a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, and animator. He began as a doujinshi artist under the nom de plume The Man in the High Castle and Yubic , both references to the works of American science fiction author Philip K. Dick...
- Conceptual design: Yutaka IzubuchiYutaka Izubuchiis a Japanese anime designer and director. Izubuchi is credited for designing costumes, characters and creatures, but most of his designs are mechanical...
- Mechanical design: Yasushi Ishizu, Takayuki Yanase, Hideyuki Matsumoto
- Display design: Yoshinori Sayama
- SF research: Mitsuyasu Sakai
- Art director: Shunichirō Yoshiwara (Bihō)
- Art settings: Tomoyasu Fujise, Yoshinori Shiozawa (episode 1)
- Color design: Yūko Kanemaru
- Color design assistance: Rieko Sakai
- Director of photography: Takeshi Hirōka
- 3D director: Tatsuo Hayasaki
- Editing: Yutaka Fukuda
- Music: Yasuharu TakanashiYasuharu Takanashiis a Japanese composer. Composition credits include Hell Girl soundtracks, Battle Vixens, Kon'nichiwa Anne: Before Green Gables, New Fist of the North Star, Genseishin Justirisers, Toward the Terra and Naruto titles such as Naruto: Shippūden, Naruto: Shippūden the Movie, Naruto Shippūden 2: Bonds,...
- Music director: Fumiko Harada
- Sound design: Minoru Yamada (eNa)
- Sound recording engineer: Shōji Hata
- Sound recording assistant: Hiromi Yoshihara
- Sound recording studio: STUDIO T & T
- Sound recording production head: Jun'ichi Inaba
- Sound production: DAX Production
- Music production/co-operation: Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment Japanis Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
, Just - Producers: Hiroshi Morotomi (MBS), Norihiro Hayashida (Wellthink), Ai Abe (Aniplex)
- Animation producer: Kiyomitsu Aoki (Tokyo Kids)
- Assistant director: Hidetoshi Yoshida
- Director/direction supervision: Osamu Yamazaki
- Animation production: Minamimachi Bugyōsho, Tokyo Kids
- Production: Mainichi Broadcasting SystemMainichi Broadcasting Systemis a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc...
, SKY Perfect Well ThinkSKY Perfect Well Thinkis a Japanese content production and development enterprise, owned by SKY Perfect Communications, established on July 29, 2004. It is involved in the production, development and distribution of several feature films, anime series, television programs and numerous other media...
, AniplexAniplex, formerly known as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan and established in January 1997...
Cast
- Jomy Marquis Shin: Mitsuki SaigaMitsuki Saigais a female seiyū who was born in Saitama. Saiga works at Ken Production.-Anime:* .hack//Roots * .hack//Sign * 07-Ghost * Ashita no Nadja...
- Keith Anyan: Takehito KoyasuTakehito Koyasuis a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
- Soldier Blue: Tomokazu SugitaTomokazu Sugitais a Japanese voice actor employed by Atomic Monkey. Best known for his role as Gintoki in Gintama, he also voices Kyon in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. He is also one of the three hosts on the radio show Bururaji promoting the videogame Blazblue which is produced and released on Nico Nico...
- Tony: Noriaki SugiyamaNoriaki Sugiyamais a Japanese voice actor and television actor best known for his roles as Sasuke Uchiha in Naruto, Uryū Ishida in Bleach, Shirō Emiya in Fate/Stay Night, and England in Axis Powers Hetalia....
- Physis: Sanae KobayashiSanae Kobayashiis a voice actress who was born in Shizuoka Prefecture. She is affiliated with Production Baobab.-Television Animation:*.hack//Liminality as Mai Minase*.hack//Roots as Ender*.hack//Roots as Pi...
- Jonah Matzka: Motoki TakagiMotoki Takagiis a Japanese voice actor and singer. He is managed by I'm Enterprise, along with several other significant Japanese voice actors.-Notable anime roles:Bold roles are lead or one of the leads* Axis Powers: Hetalia as Hong Kong* Claymore as Raki...
- Seki Ray Shiroe : Marina InoueMarina Inoueis a voice actress and singer. She is signed onto Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex division. As for voice acting career, she's employed by Sigma Seven...
- Sam Houston: Wataru HatanoWataru Hatano, is a seiyū who works for 81 Produce.His name is often mistakenly written as 波多野 渉 or 羽田野 渉. At the second annual Seiyū Awards in 2008, Wataru won the Best Male Rookie Award for his roles as Sam Houston in Toward the Terra and Tenshi Yuri in Saint Beast: Kouin Jojishi Tenshitan.-TV animation:*07...
- Swena Dalton: Yuki MasudaYuki Masudais a Japanese voice actress.-Notable voice roles:*Yanagi Sakoshita in Flame of Recca*Veena and her twin sister Helen, two of the Pu'Awak princesses in Cyborg 009*Misae in Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040*Belvedere Coco in Vandread...
- Leo: Daisuke NamikawaDaisuke Namikawais a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with Across Entertainment.He started acting in 1984. He is sometimes mistaken for fellow voice actor Daisuke Hirakawa, as their names only differ by one character when written in kanji. Despite his wide range of voice casting, he is usually cast as young,...
- Karina: Sayuri Kubo
- Harley: Jūrōta KosugiJurota Kosugiis a Japanese voice actor. His deep voice is often used for rough and imposing characters. He is well known for playing the role of Sukashii from Kyattou Ninden Teyandee and Asuma Sarutobi from Naruto....
- Ella:Fumi Orita
- Zel: Yousuha Akimoto
- Brau: Minako Ichiki
- Serge Sturgeon: Nobuhiko OkamotoNobuhiko Okamotois a male Japanese seiyū from Tokyo, Japan. He won the Best New Actor Award on Third seiyuu awards and Best Supporting Actor Award on Fifth seiyuu awards.-TV Anime:2006*Welcome to the N.H.K. as Colleague ; Male student...
- Glaive Murdock: Ken NaritaKen Narita' is a Japanese seiyū and actor from Saitama Prefecture. His real name is '. He is currently a freelancer.He is best known for his roles in Chō Tokkyū Hikarian , InuYasha , the Angelique series , Code Geass , Le Chevalier D'Eon , and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers ' (May 18, 1964 - ) is a...
- Artella: Ayahi TakagakiAyahi Takagakiis a Japanese voice actress and singer. She had her first major voice acting roles in 2007, voicing Jasmine in Deltora Quest and Lucia Nahashi in Venus Versus Virus....
- Jomy's Mother: Yukana
- Jomy's Father: Yasunori MatsumotoYasunori Matsumotois a Japanese voice actor. He currently works for Sigma Seven, formerly for Production Baobab.-About:Some of Matsumoto's most notable roles are Wataru Akiyama in Initial D, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Magnum Ace in Shippū! Iron Leaguer, Gourry Gabriev in Slayers and Ryou in Sonic Soldier...
- Alfred: Takuma TerashimaTakuma Terashimais a Japanese voice actor born in Ishikawa, Japan. Terashima graduated from Tokyo Announce Gakuin, voice training school. He had belonged to Holypeak until December, 2008, and currently belongs to Production Baobab.-Anime:...
- Nina: Sayaka Narita
- Yui: Kazutoshi HatanoKazutoshi Hatanois a male Japanese voice actor from Ōita, Japan.-Voice roles:*Ai Yori Aoshi as Takashi*Dōjin Work as Junichirō Hoshi*Gift ~eternal rainbow~ as Masaki 'Maki' Edo*Lamento: Beyond the Void as Konoe*Mouse as SAT Agent -External links:...
- Harold: Kunihiro KawamotoKunihiro Kawamotois a Japanese voice actor and part of 81 Produce.-Anime:*.hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet *009-1 *Baccano! *Claymore *Gakuen Alice *Ginban Kaleidoscope...
- Hillman: Atsushi Imaruoka
- Toki: Fumie MizusawaFumie Mizusawais a Japanese voice actress. She is represented by Sigma Seven.Fumie also announced that she got married on April 16, 2011, in which her new husband is not even an actor...
- Nakinezumi: Manami Komori
- Mother Computer: Ai OrikasaAi Orikasais a popular Japanese voice actress and singer from Tokyo. She works for Production Baobab. Orikasa is also the Japanese dub voice for Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Her debut work was Shoukoushi Cedie in 1988...
- Commanding Officer: Hiroki YasumotoHiroki Yasumotois a Japanese voice actor.-Television Animation:*Black Blood Brothers *Bleach , *Coyote Ragtime Show *Dōjin Work *Durarara!!...
- Narration: Norio WakamotoNorio Wakamotois a veteran male seiyū and budō expert affiliated with Sigma Seven. He was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from Waseda University...