Moonlight Mile (manga)
Moonlight Mile (stylized as MOONLIGHT MILE) is a manga by Yasuo Ōtagaki, which was also adapted into an anime television series. The manga was published by Shogakukan, while the anime was directed by Iku Suzuki and animated by Studio Hibari. The first episode of the anime aired on Japan's Wowow satellite network in a special advance broadcast on February 4, 2007. The regular broadcast schedule began on March 3, 2007.
| Moonlight Mile | |
 | |
| Genre | Science fiction |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yasuo Ōtagaki |
| Published by | Shogakukan |
| Magazine | Big Comic Superior |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | 2000 – 2011 |
| Volumes | 23 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Iku Suzuki |
| Produced by | Tsuneo Takechi Kenta Takiguchi Kazuo Shimizu Tokuji Hasegawa |
| Written by | Akinori Endō |
| Music by | Kan Sawada |
| Studio | Studio Hibari |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | Wowow |
| Original run | February 4, 2007 – May 26, 2007 |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Anime television series | |
| Moonlight Mile 2nd Season - Touch down | |
| Directed by | Iku Suzuki |
| Produced by | Tsuneo Takechi Kenta Takiguchi Kazuo Shimizu Takayoshi Takeuchi |
| Written by | Akinori Endō |
| Music by | Kan Sawada |
| Studio | Studio Hibari |
| Original network | Wowow |
| Original run | September 13, 2007 – December 13, 2007 |
| Episodes | 14 |
The story follows a pair of mountain climbers who decide to become astronauts. Ōtagaki says, in the preview special of the anime, that his goal in writing the story was to create a realistic space drama that features the political elements involved in modern space missions. Ken Noguchi, a professional mountain climber, provided inspiration to the creators of Moonlight Mile for their depictions of ascending Mount Everest.[1]
Plot summary
Gorou Saruwatari and Lostman are mountain climbers who have ascended some of the highest mountains around the world. At the peak of Mount Everest, they see the ISA Space Station in the sky above and become determined to go into space. At the same time, ISA begins a program to research and obtain a new energy source which has been discovered on the moon. Gorou and Lostman attempt to join the program through different approaches: Lostman becomes a pilot and Gorou takes a job as a construction worker.
Characters
- Lostman (Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese); John Gremillion (English))
- Gorou Saruwatari (Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese); Andrew Love (English))
- Kousuke Sawamura (Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English))
- Steve O'Brien (Voiced by: Kinryū Arimoto (Japanese); Charles C. Campbell (English))
- Miguel (Voiced by: Masahito Yabe)
- Riyoko Ikeuchi (Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese); Monica Rial (English))
- Maggie Hiraoka (Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami)
- Akemi Saruwatari (Voiced by: Yuki Makishima (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis (English))
Anime
The anime is split into two seasons. The first season, Lift off, is composed of 12 episodes airing from March 3, 2007 to May 26, 2007. The second, Touch down, is composed of 14 episodes airing from September 13, 2007 to December 13, 2007.
Episodes Season 1
| # | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "To Beyond the Sky" "Sora no mukou he" (宇宙の向こうへ) | February 4, 2007 | |
| Gorou and Lostman are inspired to become astronauts after seeing the ISA Space Station from the peak of Mount Everest. They set out in different ways to achieve that goal. | |||
| 02 | "Neverending Dream" "Hatenaki yume" (果てなき夢) | March 10, 2007 | |
| 03 | "Last Swing" "Rasuto suingu" (ラストスイング) | March 17, 2007 | |
| 04 | "Desert's Oath" "Sabaku no chikai" (砂漠の誓い) | March 24, 2007 | |
| 05 | "From the Streets of the Star" "Hoshi no machi kara" (星の街から) | March 31, 2007 | |
| 06 | "Gamblers" (ギャンブラーズ) | April 8, 2007 | |
| 07 | "Reunion" (再会) | April 14, 2007 | |
| 08 | "Returning Alive from Track" (軌道からの生還) | April 21, 2007 | |
| 09 | "Moon Walker" (ムーンウォーカー) | April 28, 2007 | |
| 10 | "Current of Doubt" (疑惑の潮流) | May 12, 2007 | |
| 11 | "The Data Which is Altered" (改竄されたデータ) | May 19, 2007 | |
| 12 | "Star Fighter" (スターファイター) | May 26, 2007 | |
Episodes Season 2
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Moving Out to Space" "Ugokidashita Uchuu" (動き出した宇宙) | September 13, 2007 |
| 02 | "Memories of the Viola" "Omoide no Viola" (思い出のヴィオラ) | September 20, 2007 |
| 03 | "A Hero's Return" "Eiyuu no Kikan" (英雄の帰還) | September 27, 2007 |
| 04 | "Cold War Resumes" "Reisen Futatabi" (冷戦再び) | October 4, 2007 |
| 05 | "Dogfight" "Hoshi no machi kara" (ドッグファイト) | October 11, 2007 |
| 06 | "Rocket Boys" (ロケットボーイズ) | October 18, 2007 |
| 07 | "Twelve Pioneers" "Juuninen Kaitakusha" (12人の開拓者) | October 25, 2007 |
| 08 | "Orion's Shield" "Orion no Tate" (オリオンの盾) | November 1, 2007 |
| 09 | "Maggie's SHOW" "Migi's show" (マギー'S SHOW) | November 8, 2007 |
| 10 | "Crisis" (クライシス) | November 15, 2007 |
| 11 | "Guardian of the Sky" "Tenkuu no Shougosha" (天空の守護者) | November 22, 2007 |
| 12 | "Moon Base" (ムーンベース) | November 29, 2007 |
| 13 | "Tears of the Moon" (月の涙) | December 6, 2007 |
| 14 | "My Sweet Home" (マイ・スイート・ホーム) | December 13, 2007 |
Music
- Original soundtrack: Kan Sawada
- 1st Ending theme: "Scarecrow" by the pillows
- 2nd Ending theme: "BOAT HOUSE" by the pillows
Licensing in the United States
ADV Films acquired the license for U.S. distribution of Moonlight Mile on July 21, 2007 for $156,000.[2] This was announced at Otakon 2007. The series began its US DVD release on March 3, 2008 and the third and final volume came out on 05/20/2008. A box to hold all three volumes was released with the second volume. As it is currently known, only the first season LIFT Off has been licensed for a North American release. In July 2008, the anime became one of over 30 ADV titles transferred to Funimation.[3]
References
- Yasuo Ōtagaki, Ken Noguchi (2007). Moonlight Mile Interview Special! (Television special). Japan: WOWOW.
- "ADV Court Documents Reveal Amounts Paid for 29 Anime Titles - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- Anime from FUNimation Entertainment - THE BEST IN ANIME Archived 2008-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- Beveridge, Chris (20 May 2008). "Moonlight Mile Vol. #3". Mania. Demand Media. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- Dong, Bamboo (18 May 2009). "Moonlight Sonata – Shelf Life". Anime News Network. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- Green, Scott (4 April 2008). "AICN Anime-Moonlight Mile, Project Blue Earth SOS, Shaman Warrior, Blade of the Immortal, News and More". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- Kimlinger, Carl (25 March 2008). "Moonlight Mile DVD 1 - One Small Step". Anime News Network. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- Moody, Allen (2 March 2012). "Moonlight Mile (Series 1)". T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- Starr, Paul (February 2008). "Moonlight Mile Vol. 1". Newtype USA. 7 (2). p. 97. ISSN 1541-4817.
- Thomas, Mark (20 August 2009). "Moonlight Mile Box Set". Mania. Demand Media. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
External links
- Moonlight Mile (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
