Space Brothers (manga)

Space Brothers (Japanese: 宇宙兄弟, Hepburn: Uchū Kyōdai) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chūya Koyama. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen 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.

Space Brothers
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Mutta (left) and Hibito Nanba
宇宙兄弟
(Uchū Kyōdai)
Genre
Manga
Written byChūya Koyama
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintMorning KC
MagazineMorning
DemographicSeinen
Original runDecember 6, 2007 – present
Volumes43
Anime television series
Directed byAyumu Watanabe
Written by
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
  • NA: Sentai Filmworks
ReleasedAugust 9, 2014
Runtime90 minutes

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
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

Space Brothers, written and illustrated by Chūya Koyama, has been serialized in Kodansha's Morning since December 6, 2007.[3] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on March 21, 2008.[4] As of September 22, 2023, 43 volumes have been released.[5]

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[6][7] and Kodansha USA.[8]

Anime
See also: List of Space Brothers episodes

A 99-episode anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired on Yomiuri TV from April 1, 2012, to March 22, 2014.[9] It was simulcast by Crunchyroll.[10][11] The series is licensed by Sentai Filmworks in North America.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Music
Opening themes
  1. "Feel So Moon" by Unicorn (episodes 1–13)
  2. "Eureka" (ユリーカ, Yurīka) by Sukima Switch (episodes 14–26)
  3. "Yumemiru Sekai" (夢見る世界, lit. "Dream-like World") by Does (episodes 27–38)
  4. "Small World" by Fujifabric (episodes 39–51)
  5. "Kienai E" (消えない絵, lit. "Non-Disappearing Drawing") by Magokoro Brothers (episodes 52–64)
  6. "Crater" (クレーター, Kurētā) by Merengue (episodes 65–75)
  7. "HALO" by tacica (episodes 76–87)
  8. "B.B." by THE Yatou (episodes 88–99)
Ending themes
  1. "Subarashiki Sekai" (素晴らしき世界, lit. "This Wonderful World") by Rake (episodes 1–13)
  2. "Kokuhaku" (告白, lit. "Confession") by Angela Aki (episodes 14–26)
  3. "Tete" (テテ, lit. "Hands") by Akihisa Kondō (episodes 27–38)
  4. "Goodbye Issac" (グッバイ・アイザック, Gubbai Aizakku) by Motohiro Hata (episodes 39–51)
  5. "Beyond" by Miho Fukuhara (episodes 52–64)
  6. "Yozora no Taiyō" (夜空の太陽, lit. "Sun in the Night Sky") by Flower Companyz (episodes 65–75)
  7. "New World" by Kasarinchu (episodes 76–87)
  8. "Anata ga Ireba OK!" by Serena (episodes 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.[15] 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.[16] The film won the "Best of Puchon" and "NH Nonghyup Citizen's Choice" awards at the 16th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.[17]

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.[18]

Reception

It has been nominated twice for the Manga Taishō, in 2009 and 2010.[19][20] In 2011, it won the award for best general manga at the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards[21] and at the Kodansha Manga Award (shared with Chica Umino's March Comes In Like a Lion).[22] In 2014, it won the Reader Prize of the 18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.[23] By March 2022, the manga had over 28 million copies in circulation.[24]

References
  1. "Space Brothers". Sentai Filmworks. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  2. Loo, Egan (December 14, 2013). "Space Brothers Gets Brand-New Anime Film Next Summer". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. モーニング NO.1 07年12月06日. e-1day (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. 宇宙兄弟（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  5. 宇宙兄弟（４３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  6. Loveridge, Lynzee (October 26, 2013). "Crunchyroll to Simultaneously Offer Kodansha Manga in 170 Countries". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 13, 2023). "Kodansha Removes 16 Manga Titles From Crunchyroll on January 31". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  8. "NYCC Recap: Attack on Titan Anthology, Seven Deadly Sins on Netflix, new print + digital, & more". Kodansha USA. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  9. 宇宙兄弟. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  10. "TV Anime Uchū Kyōdai". Yomiuri TV. Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  11. "Crunchyroll to Stream Space Brothers TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  12. "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Space Brothers TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  13. "Astronaut Successfully Dubs Space Brothers Anime From Space". Anime News Network. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  14. "Space Brothers Manga to Bundle Planetarium Anime DVD". Anime News Network. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  15. "Live-Action Space Brothers Plays in Australia". Anime News Network. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  16. "Rock Band Coldplay Does Space Bros./Uchū Kyōdai Film Theme". Anime News Network. November 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  17. "Live-Action Space Brothers Wins Awards at Puchon Film Fest". Anime News Network. August 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  18. "Space Brothers #0 Anime Film's Teaser Previews Origin Story". Anime News Network. February 8, 2014. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  19. "10 Titles Nominated for 2nd Manga Taisho Awards". Anime News Network. January 18, 2009. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  20. "10 Titles Nominated for 3rd Manga Taisho Awards". Anime News Network. January 18, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  21. "News: 56th Shogakukan Manga Award Winners Announced (Updated)". Anime News Network. January 21, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  22. "March comes in like a lion, Space Bros. Win Kodansha Manga Awards". Anime News Network. May 12, 2011. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  23. "March comes in like a lion Wins 18th Tezuka Osamu Prizes' Top Award". Anime News Network. March 24, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  24. "宇宙兄弟とは" (in Japanese). Koyamachuya. March 24, 2022. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.

Further reading
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