Space Brothers (manga)

Space Brothers (Japanese: 宇宙兄弟, Hepburn: Uchū Kyōdai) is a Japanese manga series by Chūya Koyama which has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Morning since December 2007. It has been nominated twice for the Manga Taishō, in 2009 and 2010.[4][5] An anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired in Japan from April 1, 2012 to March 22, 2014. It was adapted into a live action film that premièred on May 5, 2012.[6][7] An anime film premièred on August 9, 2014, titled Space Brothers #0 (Uchū Kyōdai #0 in Japanese).[8]

Space Brothers
Cover of first japanese manga volume of Uchū Kyōdai by Kodansha, featuring protagonists Mutta and Hibito Nanba.
宇宙兄弟
(Uchū Kyōdai)
Genre
Manga
Written byChūya Koyama
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineWeekly Morning
DemographicSeinen
Original runDecember 6, 2007 – present
Volumes38
Anime television series
Directed byAyumu Watanabe
Music byToshiyuki Watanabe
StudioA-1 Pictures
Licensed by
Original networkNNS (YTV)
Original run April 1, 2012 – March 22, 2014
Episodes99
Live-action film
Directed byYoshitaka Mori
Produced byKenzo Abe
Written byMika Ohmori
Music byTakayuki Hattori
StudioToho
ReleasedMay 5, 2012 (2012-05-05)
Runtime129 minutes
Anime film
Space Brothers #0
Directed byAyumu Watanabe
Music byToshiyuki Watanabe
StudioA-1 Pictures
Licensed by
ReleasedAugust 9, 2014
Runtime90 minutes

Story
See also: List of Space Brothers characters

In the summer of 2006, Mutta Nanba and his younger brother, Hibito, witness what they believe to be a UFO, which flies off towards the Moon. Hibito decides he will go onto the Moon whilst Mutta decides he will aim for Mars. Nineteen years later, in the year 2025, Hibito has become a fully fledged JAXA astronaut assigned to go on a mission towards the moon. Mutta, on the other hand, has not been so successful in achieving his dreams. As Mutta eventually recalls his past ambitions, he receives a letter stating he has been accepted to join a JAXA training program for new astronauts. The series follows Mutta as he seeks to become an astronaut and achieve his longtime dream just like his brother did.

Media

Manga
See also: List of Space Brothers chapters

The original manga by Chūya Koyama began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Morning magazine in December 2007 and has released 38 volumes as of August 2020. The manga is available in digital form in North America and Europe from ComiXology and Amazon in both volume and SimulPub chapter format. It is also currently available in English as part of a read-only subscription from Crunchyroll and Kodansha.[9]

Anime
See also: List of Space Brothers episodes

An anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired in Japan beginning April 1, 2012 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.[10] The series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America.[11] The 31st episode, which aired on November 4, 2012, features the first piece of voice acting to be recorded in space, performed by astronaut Akihiko Hoshide aboard the International Space Station.[12] A special episode titled "Planetarium: Space Brothers ~One Point of Light~" (プラネタリウム　宇宙兄弟～一点のひかり～, Puranetariumu Uchū Kyōdai ~Itten no Hikari~) was screened in planetariums during Summer 2012 and was released on DVD with the 20th manga volume on February 22, 2013.[13]

Music
Opening themes
  1. "Feel So Moon" by Unicorn (ep 1-13)
  2. "Eureka" (ユリーカ, Yurīka) by Sukima Switch (ep 14-26)
  3. "Yumemiru Sekai" (夢見る世界, lit. "Dream-like World") by DOES (ep 27-38)
  4. "Small World" by Fujifabric (ep 39-51)
  5. "Kienai E" (消えない絵, lit. "Non-Disappearing Drawing") by Magokoro Brothers (ep 52-64)
  6. "Crater" (クレーター, Kurētā) by Merengue (ep 65-75)
  7. "HALO" by tacica (ep 76-87)
  8. "B.B." by THE Yatou (ep 88-99)
Ending themes
  1. "Subarashiki Sekai" (素晴らしき世界, lit. "This Wonderful World") by Rake (ep 1-13)
  2. "Kokuhaku" (告白, lit. "Confession") by Angela Aki (ep 14-26)
  3. "Tete" (テテ, lit. "Hands") by Akihisa Kondō (ep 27-38)
  4. "Goodbye Issac" (グッバイ・アイザック, Gubbai Aizakku) by Motohiro Hata (ep 39-51)
  5. "Beyond" by Miho Fukuhara (ep 52-64)
  6. "Yozora no Taiyō" (夜空の太陽, lit. "Sun in the Night Sky") by Flower Companyz (ep 65-75)
  7. "New World" by Kasarinchu (ep 76-87)
  8. "Anata ga Ireba OK!" by Serena (ep 88-99)

Live action film

A live-action film adaptation of Space Brothers was produced by Toho and released in Japanese theatres on May 5, 2012, later being screened at the Japanese Film Festival in Australia later that year.[14] The adaptation was written by Chuya Koyama and directed by Yoshitaka Mori, with Shun Oguri and Masaki Okada playing the roles of Mutta and Hibito respectively. Real life astronaut Buzz Aldrin plays a cameo in the film as himself. The theme song for the film is British alternative rock band Coldplay's "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" from their album Mylo Xyloto. The film won the "Best of Puchon" and "NH Nonghyup Citizen's Choice" awards at the 16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.[15]

Anime film

A prequel anime film titled Space Brothers #0 (Uchū Kyōdai #0 in Japanese) was released in Japanese theaters on August 9, 2014. Manga creator Chūya Koyama wrote the script for the film.[8]

Reception

It has been nominated twice for the Manga Taishō, in 2009 and 2010.[4][5] In 2011, it won the award for best general manga at the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards[16] and at the Kodansha Manga Award (shared with Chica Umino's March Comes In Like a Lion).[17] In 2014, it won the Reader Prize of the 18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.[18]

An asteroid, 13163 Koyamachuya, was named after the creator.

References
  1. "Space Brothers". Sentai Filmworks. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  2. Loo, Egan (December 14, 2013). "Space Brothers Gets Brand-New Anime Film Next Summer". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. "Space Brothers". Kodansha Comics. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  4. "10 Titles Nominated for 2nd Manga Taisho Awards". Anime News Network. January 18, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  5. "10 Titles Nominated for 3rd Manga Taisho Awards". Anime News Network. January 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  6. "Rock Band Coldplay Does Space Bros./Uchū Kyōdai Film Theme". Anime News Network. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  7. "TV Anime Uchū Kyōdai". Yomiuri TV. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  8. "Space Brothers #0 Anime Film's Teaser Previews Origin Story". USA & Canada: Anime News Network. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  9. Space Brothers Crunchyroll simulpub
  10. "Crunchyroll to Stream Space Brothers TV Anime". Anime News Network.
  11. "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Space Brothers TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  12. "Astronaut Successfully Dubs Space Brothers Anime From Space". Anime News Network. 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  13. "Space Brothers Manga to Bundle Planetarium Anime DVD". Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
  14. "Live-Action Space Brothers Plays in Australia". Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
  15. "Live-Action Space Brothers Wins Awards at Puchon Film Fest". Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
  16. "News: 56th Shogakukan Manga Award Winners Announced (Updated)". Anime News Network. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  17. "March comes in like a lion, Space Bros. Win Kodansha Manga Awards". Anime News Network. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  18. "March comes in like a lion Wins 18th Tezuka Osamu Prizes' Top Award". Anime News Network. 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
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