BrandWikiReturn

Moonlight Mile (manga)

Moonlight Mile (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yasuo Ohtagaki. It was serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Big Comic Superior from December 2000 to November 2011, when the manga entered a ten-year hiatus. It resumed publication on Pixiv in December 2021. A 26-episode anime television series by Studio Hibari was broadcast on Wowow for two seasons in 2007.

The story follows a pair of mountain climbers who decide to become astronauts. Yasuo Ohtagaki says, in the preview special of the anime, that his goal in writing the story was to create a realistic space drama that features the political elements involved in modern space missions. Ken Noguchi, a professional mountain climber, provided inspiration to the creators of Moonlight Mile for their depictions of ascending Mount Everest.[2]

Plot

Gorou Saruwatari and Jack "Lostman" Woodbridge are mountain climbers who have ascended some of the highest mountains around the world. At the peak of Mount Everest, they see the International Space Station in the sky above and become determined to go into space. At the same time, the International Space Association (ISA) begins the "Nexus" program to research and obtain a new energy source (Helium-3) which has been discovered on the Moon. Gorou and Lostman attempt to join the program through different approaches: Lostman becomes a military pilot and Gorou takes a job as a construction worker.

Characters

  • Jack F. Woodbridge, a.k.a. "Lostman"
  • Gorou Saruwatari
  • Kousuke Sawamura
  • Steve O'Brien
  • Miguel
  • Riyoko Ikeuchi
  • Maggy Hiraoka
  • Akemi Saruwatari

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Yasuo Ohtagaki, Moonlight Mile started in Shogakukan's manga magazine Big Comic Superior on December 7, 2000.[3] The series' first part finished in October 2007;[4] the second part started in December of the same year.[5] The second part finished in November 2011 and the manga entered on hiatus, when it was announced that Ohtagaki would start a new series, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt.[6][7] Shogakukan collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on May 30, 2001.[8] The 23rd and last volume published by Shogakukan was released on January 30, 2012.[9] Shogakukan re-released the first part in a five-volume edition, which collected three original volumes in one, from October 30, 2012, to July 30, 2013.[10][11]

In May 2021, Ohtagaki announced that the manga would resume publication; the series resumed with its third part on the Pixiv website on December 25 of the same year.[12] The 24th volume was published as an ebook by Number Nine on December 23, 2022.[13][14] In February 2026, Ohtagaki announced that the series would resume with individuals chapters available for purchase in ebook stores starting on April 24 and that the 24th volume will be re-released in a new full-color edition, stating as well that it will be released in print the same year.[15]

Anime

An anime television series adaptation by Studio Hibari was broadcast on Wowow in 2007; the first season, Lift off, was broadcast for twelve episodes from February 4 to May 26;[16] the second season, Touch down, was broadcast for fourteen episodes from September 13 to December 13, 2007.[17] The main opening theme was composed by Kan Sawada, while the Pillows performed the ending themes "Scarecrow" and "Boat House" for the first and second season, respectively.[16][17]

ADV Films announced that they had acquired the series in July 2007.[18] The series' first season was released on home video on three DVDs from March 3 to May 20, 2008.[19][20] In July 2008, the anime became one of over 30 ADV titles transferred to Funimation.[21] The entire first season was released on box set on April 21, 2009.[22]

Season 1

Season 2

Season 1

Season 2

Further reading

External links

References

  1. Jennifer Sherman. Moonlight Mile Creator Featured on English NHK World TV Show Anime News Network, February 21, 2012, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  2. Moonlight Mile Interview Special! WOWOW, 2007^
  3. http://www.manganetto.com/detail/zasshi/mag389.shtml manganetto.com, retrieved March 13, 2023^
  4. http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_magcode?sha=1&sho=2600410107&type=s&keitai=0 s-book.com, Shogakukan, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  5. http://manganohi.jp/2007/12/9935.html manganohi.jp, December 28, 2007, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  6. Egan Loo. Moonlight Mile Manga Put on Hold, 'Big Project' Planned Anime News Network, November 24, 2011, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  7. Egan Loo. Moonlight Mile's Ohtagaki to Start Gundam Manga Mini-Series Anime News Network, December 20, 2011, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  8. http://www.s-book.com/plsql/sbc_book?isbn=4091862519 s-book.com, Shogakukan, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  9. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/63458 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, January 30, 2012, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  10. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/79094 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, October 30, 2012, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  11. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/96037 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, July 30, 2013, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  12. Rafael Pineda. Yasuo Ohtagaki Resumes Moonlight Mile Manga This Winter After 10 Years (Updated) Anime News Network, May 13, 2021, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  13. https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/2212/16/news058.html Netorabo, ITmedia Inc, December 16, 2022, retrieved December 26, 2022^
  14. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/505490 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, December 16, 2022, retrieved December 26, 2022^
  15. Anita Tai. Moonlight Mile Manga Resumes Serialization With New Print Edition Anime News Network, February 21, 2026, retrieved February 21, 2026^
  16. https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C11341 Media Arts Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  17. https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/C13030 Media Arts Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs, retrieved January 11, 2022^
  18. Bamboo Dong. Otakon 2007 – ADV Films Anime News Network, July 20, 2007, retrieved October 14, 2023^
  19. Chris Beveridge. Moonlight Mile Vol. #1 Mania.com, April 24, 2008, retrieved October 14, 2023^
  20. Chris Beveridge. Moonlight Mile Vol. #3 Mania.com, June 2, 2008, retrieved October 14, 2023^
  21. FUNimation Entertainment Awarded Rights to Titles Previously Held by AD Vision Funimation, July 7, 2008, retrieved October 14, 2023^
  22. Holly Ellingwood. Moonlight Mile: Complete First Season Active Anime, May 14, 2009, retrieved October 14, 2023^