The Next Big Anime on Netflix is Finally Revealed

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Summary

  • Wit Studio’s Moonrise, announced in 2022, is finally set to release on April 10, 2025, on Netflix.
  • Directed by Masashi Koizuka, Moonrise is an original sci-fi story created by Tow Ubukata.
  • Staff includes chief animators from Attack on Titan, Vivy: Flourite Eyes Song, Spy x Family, and many more.
Title Moonrise
Director Masashi Koizuka
Studio Wit Studio
Release Date 04/10/2025

Regarding Wit Studio’s impressive body of work, which spans originals like “Vivy: Flourite Eyes Song” and acclaimed series such as “Ranking of Kings,” or their collaboration on “Spy x Family,” the studio has truly excelled in recent times. However, their latest project, “Moonrise,” seems to have slipped under the radar, largely due to a lack of updates since its announcement more than two years ago.

First announced on June 8, 2022, “Moonrise” is an original science fiction tale conceived by Tow Ubukata (known for “Ghost in the Shell: Arise”) and helmed by Masashi Koizuka (famous for “Attack on Titan”). In the latter part of that same year, a teaser was unveiled, revealing Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of “Fullmetal Alchemist”, as the character designer. Additionally, it was announced that the production would be released in 2024.

What Is Wit Studio’s Moonrise?

Initially, when the project was first unveiled, a novel written by Ubukata titled “Prologue” was made available for free on Amazon via Kindle Unlimited or for 99 cents as a purchase. This English translation was handled by Matt Treyvaud and came with an introductory note penned by George Wada, the president of Wit Studio. In this foreword, he outlined the storyline and expressed excitement for the upcoming animated series.

Titled “Moonrise,” this production will delve into the lives of Jack and Al, two individuals navigating challenges in the uncharted territories of the moon. Employing a groundbreaking animation style, we’ll bring to life breathtaking lunar landscapes never before visualized. I hope this endeavor serves as an inspiration for people across the globe today.

Making a fresh tale proposal can be one thing, but this particular promise for an original IP was quite daring. The trailer that dropped a few months later didn’t contain any dialogue, yet Ryo Kawasaki’s (known for To Your Eternity, Black Butler) potent and cinematic score combined with Arakawa’s stunning character art conveyed a powerful message. The only plot teaser we had was the conflict between a lunar resistance and the supposedly peaceful Earth dwellers.

Two and a Half Years Later…

For quite some time, there wasn’t much information available beyond what the trailer and press releases had already shared. The release date of 2024, which seemed distant in 2022, eventually arrived and passed. Just last month, we even shared rumors suggesting that Moonrise was being indefinitely postponed. However, fate has a funny way of working out, as Netflix recently announced that the project was not delayed but actually scheduled for release on April 10. As I write this, there is no new trailer available and not much additional information regarding the plot.

Reading the prologue of this captivating novel, I found myself questioning Earth’s innocence far more than a quick plot summary would imply. In this intriguing future, humanity relies heavily on an advanced AI system known as Sapiential for decision-making. A crucial choice made by this network was the initiation of a project expelling criminals and supposed ‘undesirables’ to the moon. Plagued by poverty and oppression, these exiles rise up in rebellion against Earth. My heart races as I introduce you to Jacob Shadow, a hero driven by personal loss to join this conflict. His family was brutally taken from him, and now he fights for justice.

The Staff Behind Moonrise

Excitedly, I’m thrilled to share that Netflix has revealed some exciting staff updates for the upcoming anime, “Moonrise.” As the main animation directors, Ayumi Yamada and Satoshi Kadowaki are set to bring this story to life! You might recognize Ayumi Yamada as the Animation Director for series like “Seraph of the End,” “Banana Fish,” and “Attack on Titan” Season 2. On the other hand, Satoshi Kadowaki was one of the original chief animation directors on “Attack on Titan” across seasons 1-3, and has also worked on shows like “Guilty Crown,” “Vinland Saga,” and Wit Studio’s 2022 film “Bubble.” I can hardly wait to see their magic unfold in “Moonrise!”

Previously, color designer Satoshi Hashimoto has contributed to various projects such as “Dandadan”, “Spy x Family”, “Beastars”, “Vinland Saga”, “Trigun Stampede”, and “Ranking of Kings”. If you’ve been paying attention, you might notice that many hands on these productions are from the regular crew at Wit Studio. Meanwhile, background artists Satoshi Takabatake and Kazushi Fuji have a diverse portfolio that includes “Spy x Family”, “Vivy”, “Vampire in the Garden”, and “Great Pretender”. Their work can be found across numerous industry projects.

The Director and Writer

Prior to his work on “Attack on Titan”, director Koizuka had already established a reputation as an animator. He later took charge of seasons 2 and 3 under the original director, Tetsuro Araki. Notably, Koizuka is also set to direct Wit Studio’s upcoming remake of “One Piece”, which promises to further enhance his profile.

As a fervent admirer of literature, I’d say Tow Ubukata is a writer who stirs up quite a debate, depending on whom you converse with. It’s not just about the turmoil surrounding his personal life that divides opinions, but also the inconsistency in his storytelling execution. However, when it comes to dreaming up daring concepts, particularly within the realm of sci-fi, he truly excels.

His Mardock Scramble series is widely acclaimed, but his work on Ghost in the Shell and Psycho-Pass, specifically, has received its fair share of criticism.

For those who question Ubukata’s work, it’s worth mentioning that although Ubukata is given credit for creation, Koizuka handles the series composition. Since this is Koizuka’s first time credited in such a role, it doesn’t reveal much, but it’s an interesting detail to bear in mind when the story unfolds after its release.

Will Moonrise Take to the Skies?

The marketing strategy Netflix employs for its content is a topic open to debate, however, this instance with “Moonrise” presents an interesting perspective. If the film lives up to the hype generated by its solitary trailer or as groundbreaking as Wit’s CEO suggests – then the two years of silence leading up to its release may not have been beneficial for it. Despite speculation from February that the movie was indefinitely postponed, this appears not to be the case. However, one can’t help but question the accuracy of the reports surrounding the delay.

It’s hard to make a definitive claim just yet, but the past years have given us hints, and all we can do now is wait for Moonrise to premiere on Netflix on April 10 to find out how accurate the rumors are. Currently, there’s no official word on the number of episodes or if the entire series will be released at once or in weekly installments.

Moonrise will be available to stream on Netflix on April 10.

Sources: ANN [Link 1][Link 2][Link 3]

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2025-03-14 16:10