News
From the New World Novel Gets TV Anime From A-1 Pictures
posted on by Egan Loo
The anime studio A-1 Pictures is adapting Yūsuke Kishi's award-winning 2008 speculative-fiction novel From the New World (Shin Sekai Yori) for the TV Asahi network. Masashi Ishihama, the character designer and animation director of the Read or Die franchise and Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW, is directing.
The story is set in Japan a millennium from now. Five children — the protagonist Saki, Satoru, Maria, Mamoru, and Shun — have been born and raised in a tranquil town that can be described as a utopia, overflowing with water and green foilage. The world is ruled by people who have the "cursed power" or the "gods' power" of telekinesis.
After a certain incident, Saki and the others come to realize the true nature of their world. Before long, they learn everything, including the bloody history that brought humanity to this state. The five throw themselves into life-threatening adventure and fighting to protect friends and a world on the brink of collapse.
Live-action actress Risa Taneda (Dai-2 Shashin-Bu!!) will play Saki Watanabe, while Kanako Toujô (Cobra The Animation: Time Drive's Layla) will play Saki's childhood friend Satoru Asahina. Kana Hanazawa (title character of Kobato), Haruka Kudou (Honey and Clover's Hagumi), and Mai Tōdō (Saki's Kazuko) round out the cast as Maria Akitsuki, Mamoru Itō, and Shun Aonuma, respectively.
The original novel shared The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan's 29th Nihon SF Taishō Award with Mitsuo Iso's Dennō Coil anime series in 2008. The release date for the anime has not been announced, but a stage event will be held at the Anime Contents Expo on April 1 in Chiba, Japan.
Source: Oricon
Image © Yūsuke Kishi, Kodansha/From the New World Production Committee
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