Space Brothers (manga) explained

Space Brothers
Ja Kanji:宇宙兄弟
Ja Romaji:Uchū Kyōdai
Type:manga
Author:Chūya Koyama
Publisher:Kodansha
Magazine:Morning
Imprint:Morning KC
First:December 6, 2007
Volumes:44
Volume List:List of Space Brothers chapters
Type:tv series
Director:Ayumu Watanabe
Music:Toshiyuki Watanabe
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Network:NNS (YTV)
First:April 1, 2012
Last:March 22, 2014
Episodes:99
Episode List:List of Space Brothers episodes
Type:live film
Director:Yoshitaka Mori
Producer:Kenzo Abe
Music:Takayuki Hattori
Studio:Toho
Runtime:129 minutes
Type:film
Space Brothers #0
Director:Ayumu Watanabe
Music:Toshiyuki Watanabe
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Released:August 9, 2014
Runtime:90 minutes

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chūya Koyama. It has been serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Morning since December 2007. A 99-episode anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired from April 2012 to March 2014. The manga was also adapted into a live-action film that premiered in May 2012. An anime film, Space Brothers #0, premiered in August 2014.

In 2011, Space Brothers won the general category at both, the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award and the 35th Kodansha Manga Award. By March 2022, the manga had 28 million copies in circulation, making it one of the best-selling manga series.

Story

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

Space Brothers, written and illustrated by Chūya Koyama, has been serialized in Kodansha's Morning since December 6, 2007.[1] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on March 21, 2008.[2] As of July 23, 2024, 44 volumes have been released.[3]

The manga is available in digital form in North America and Europe from ComiXology and Amazon in both volume and SimulPub chapter format. It was previously also available in English as part of a read-only subscription from Crunchyroll[4] [5] and Kodansha USA.[6]

Anime

A 99-episode anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired on Yomiuri TV from April 1, 2012, to March 22, 2014.[7] It was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America. 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. A special episode titled was screened in planetariums during Summer 2012 and was released on DVD with the 20th manga volume on February 22, 2013.[8] In January 2024, Chūya Koyama stated that the anime is planned to continue after the manga ends.[9]

Music

Opening themes
  1. "Feel So Moon" by Unicorn (episodes 1–13)
  2. by Sukima Switch (episodes 14–26)
  3. by Does (episodes 27–38)
  4. "Small World" by Fujifabric (episodes 39–51)
  5. by Magokoro Brothers (episodes 52–64)
  6. by Merengue (episodes 65–75)
  7. "HALO" by tacica (episodes 76–87)
  8. "B.B." by THE Yatou (episodes 88–99)
Ending themes
  1. by Rake (episodes 1–13)
  2. by Angela Aki (episodes 14–26)
  3. by Akihisa Kondō (episodes 27–38)
  4. by Motohiro Hata (episodes 39–51)
  5. "Beyond" by Miho Fukuhara (episodes 52–64)
  6. by Flower Companyz (episodes 65–75)
  7. "New World" by Kasarinchu (episodes 76–87)
  8. "Anata ga Ireba OK!" by Serena (episodes 88–99)

Films

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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12]

Reception

It has been nominated twice for the Manga Taishō, in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, it won the award for best general manga at the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards and at the Kodansha Manga Award (shared with Chica Umino's March Comes In Like a Lion). In 2014, it won the Reader Prize of the 18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.[13] By March 2022, the manga had over 28 million copies in circulation.[14] In 2024, alongside Case Closed, Space Brothers won the grand prize of Rakuten Kobo's second E-book Award in the "Long Seller Comic" category.[15]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:モーニング NO.1 07年12月06日. http://www.e-1day.jp/morning/magazine/2007/12/06_1540.html. e-1day. Kodansha. July 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20080115063220/http://www.e-1day.jp/morning/magazine/2007/12/06_1540.html. January 15, 2008. ja.
  2. Web site: ja:宇宙兄弟（１）. https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000013802. Kodansha. October 2, 2023. ja. April 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419020427/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000013802. live.
  3. Web site: ja:宇宙兄弟（４４）. https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000393484. Kodansha. July 23, 2024. ja. July 23, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240723015911/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000393484. live.
  4. Web site: Loveridge. Lynzee. Crunchyroll to Simultaneously Offer Kodansha Manga in 170 Countries. Anime News Network. November 21, 2022. October 26, 2013. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113143013/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-10-26/crunchyroll-to-simultaneously-offer-kodansha-manga-in-170-countries. live.
  5. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Kodansha Removes 16 Manga Titles From Crunchyroll on January 31. Anime News Network. June 19, 2023. January 13, 2023. June 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605094005/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-01-12/kodansha-removes-16-manga-titles-from-crunchyroll-on-january-31/.193754. live.
  6. Web site: NYCC Recap: Attack on Titan Anthology, Seven Deadly Sins on Netflix, new print + digital, & more. Kodansha USA. November 22, 2022. October 19, 2015. November 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122004144/https://kodansha.us/2015/10/19/nycc-recap-attack-on-titan-anthology-seven-deadly-sins-on-netflix-new-print-digital-more/. live.
  7. Web site: ja:宇宙兄弟. https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C14701. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. November 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221122013312/https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C14701. November 22, 2022. ja. live.
  8. Web site: Space Brothers Manga to Bundle Planetarium Anime DVD. Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. 2013-08-27. 2013-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20131215235503/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-01-22/space-brothers-manga-to-bundle-planetarium-anime-dvd. live.
  9. Web site: Pineda. Rafael. Space Brothers Author: Anime Planned to Continue After Manga Ends. Anime News Network. January 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240126140026/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2024-01-26/space-brothers-author-anime-planned-to-continue-after-manga-ends/.206882. January 26, 2024. January 26, 2024. live.
  10. Web site: Live-Action Space Brothers Plays in Australia. Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. 2013-08-27. 2018-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20180627143636/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-31/live-action-space-brothers-plays-in-australia. live.
  11. Web site: Live-Action Space Brothers Wins Awards at Puchon Film Fest. Anime News Network. 2013-08-23. 2013-08-27. 2017-07-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729235411/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-30/live-action-space-brothers-wins-awards-at-puchon-film-fest. live.
  12. Web site: Space Brothers #0 Anime Film's Teaser Previews Origin Story. Anime News Network. 2014-02-08. 2014-08-21. 2016-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20161114081831/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-08/space-brothers-no.0-anime-film-teaser-previews-origin-story. live.
  13. Web site: March comes in like a lion Wins 18th Tezuka Osamu Prizes' Top Award. 2014-03-24. Anime News Network. 2014-07-30. 2014-08-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20140809044524/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-24/march-comes-in-like-a-lion-wins-18th-tezuka-osamu-prizes-top-award. live.
  14. Web site: 宇宙兄弟とは. March 24, 2022. Koyamachuya. March 26, 2022. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20220326130111/https://koyamachuya.com/about-space-brothers/. March 26, 2022. live.
  15. Web site: Pineda. Rafael. Berserk of Gluttony, Dungeon People, Oblivion Battery Manga Win 2nd Rakuten Kobo e-Book Awards 2024. Anime News Network. June 3, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240603072510/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-06-03/berserk-of-gluttony-dungeon-people-oblivion-battery-manga-win-2nd-rakuten-kobo-e-book-awards-2024/.211464. June 3, 2024. June 3, 2024. live.

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