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Space Brothers #0 Film Attendees Will Receive 'Volume 0' Manga
posted on by Kyle Cardine
The official website for Uchū Kyōdai #0 (Space Brothers #0, pronounced "Number Zero"), the first Space Brothers anime film, announced on Tuesday that movie attendees will receive a special "Volume 0" manga by Chūya Koyama.
The character Brian Jay, a legendary astronaut in both Koyama's original manga and the television anime, will play an integral role in the film. The film will depict for the first time the "true reason" and the "starting point" behind Mutta and Hibito's goal of going to space. The film will also give more details on the other "Space Brothers" in the series: Eddie and Brian Jay.
Specifically, the film will explore the theme of bereavement and how people recover after losing a loved one, and how friends can support each other during this time of need. Hibito is confused as to why Brian Jay chose him, a rookie astronaut, to be his backup, and voices his worries that he isn't talented enough to fulfill such a role. Brian then leaves Hibito with the response: "You need to experience this tough and fun chance to your heart's content" before he goes to the moon. Then the tragic CES-43 accident ensures that the two will never meet again. After the accident, NASA begins to reconsider manned space missions.
Hibito then turns to Mutta, who is working for an automobile company, having abandoned his dream of becoming an astronaut. Mutta is running out of patience with his company, and he is transferred to the countryside. Mutta struggles with what to say to Hibito, who is grieving and feeling helpless, and he recalls words he said to Hibito when they were kids.
Koyama wrote the original scripts for the "origin story" film. The television anime's director Ayumu Watanabe is helming the film at A-1 Pictures. Hiroaki Hirata and KENN are reprising their roles as Mutta Nanba and Hibito Nanba, respectively. Rock band Unicorn is performing the film's two theme songs, which include the anime's first opening theme song "Feel So Moon" along with the new song "Hayaguchi Curry."
The film opens in Japan on August 9.
Koyama launched the manga in Kodansha's Morning magazine in 2007, and the manga's 23 volumes and spinoff books have 14 million copies in print. The manga won the General categories in both the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards and the 35th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2011.
The manga not only inspired the recently-finished television anime series, but also a live-action film starring Shun Oguri and Masaki Okada. The live-action film earned 1.5 billion yen (about US$15 million). Crunchyroll is posting the manga and is streaming the television anime online, and Sentai Filmworks licensed the television anime for North America.
[Via Comic Natalie]
