Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise (ペリリュー -楽園のゲルニカ-) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuyoshi Takeda. It was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Young Animal from February 2016 to April 2021 and has been collected in eleven volumes. A spin-off manga titled Peleliu Gaiden was serialized in Young Animal in July 2021 to June 2025. An anime film adaptation produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Fugaku premiered in December 2025.
Synopsis
The story is set on the island of Peleliu taking part in the Battle of Peleliu during World War II and follows Private Tamaru during the summer of 1944. Unfortunately for Tamaru, a young soldier simply wishing to become a mangaka, he will quickly find himself in the heart of a terrible battlefield, where 10,000 Japanese soldiers will do their best to resist the onslaught of 40,000 American soldiers. Their only instruction: resist until the last.
Characters
- Hitoshi Tamaru (田丸均)
- Keisuke Yoshiki (吉敷佳助)
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Kazuyoshi Takeda, Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Young Animal from February 12, 2016, to April 9, 2021.[2][3] The series was collected in eleven volumes from July 2016 to July 2021.
A spin-off, titled Peleliu Gaiden, was announced at the end of the series in April 2021. It was serialized in Young Animal from July 21, 2021, to June 27, 2025.[4][5] The spin-off was collected in four volumes from July 2022 to July 2025.[6]
Volumes
Peleliu Gaiden
Volumes
Peleliu Gaiden
Anime film
In April 2021, it was announced at the end of the manga's final chapter that the series would receive an anime adaptation.[22] In January 2025, it was later confirmed that it would be a film adaptation. The film is produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Fugaku and directed by Gorō Kuji, with the screenplay written by Junji Nishimura and series creator Takeda, characters designed by Ryōji Nakamori, and music composed by Kenji Kawai.[23] The film is distributed by Toei Company and premiered in Japanese theaters on December 5, 2025.[24] The film's theme song is "Kiseki no Yō na Koto" (奇跡のようなこと), performed by Mone Kamishiraishi.[25]
Reception
Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise was one of the Manga division's Jury Selections at the 20th and 21st Japan Media Arts Festival in 2017 and 2018.[26][27] The series ranked twelfth in the 2018 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers.[28] The series also won the Excellence Award at the 46th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.[22] In 2021, it was nominated for the 25th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and was ranked at #9 in the 2021 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers.[29][30] The manga was again nominated for the 26th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2022.[31]
See also
- Bye-Bye Beanbag, another manga series by the same author
External links
References
- https://ddnavi.com/news/738901/a/ DaVinci News, Kadokawa Corporation, February 16, 2021, retrieved April 8, 2021^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/175913 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., February 12, 2016, retrieved April 8, 2021^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/423702 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., April 9, 2021, retrieved April 8, 2021^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/news/61261/ Hakusensha, July 21, 2021, retrieved August 1, 2024^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/news/61261/ Hakusensha, June 27, 2025, retrieved July 29, 2025^
- Anita Tai. Peleliu Gaiden Manga to End in 4th Volume Anime News Network, August 1, 2024, retrieved August 1, 2024^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/42935/ Hakusensha, retrieved November 6, 2020^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/48843/ Hakusensha, retrieved April 9, 2021^
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- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/59257/ Hakusensha, retrieved April 9, 2021^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/60650/ Hakusensha, retrieved October 6, 2021^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/63697/ Hakusensha, retrieved July 14, 2022^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/67060/ Hakusensha, retrieved May 29, 2023^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/71228/ Hakusensha, retrieved June 6, 2024^
- https://www.hakusensha.co.jp/comicslist/75350/ Hakusensha, retrieved July 28, 2025^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Kazuyuki Takeda's Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Manga Gets Anime, Spinoff Manga Anime News Network, April 8, 2021, retrieved April 8, 2021^
- Anita Tai. Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Film's Teaser Unveils Cast, More Staff Anime News Network, August 4, 2025, retrieved August 4, 2025^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Anime Revealed as Film Opening on December 5 Anime News Network, January 16, 2025, retrieved January 16, 2025^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Film's Trailer Previews Theme Song Anime News Network, October 15, 2025, retrieved October 16, 2025^
- Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Japan Media Arts Festival, retrieved April 1, 2022^
- Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Japan Media Arts Festival, retrieved April 1, 2022^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Reveals 2018's Series Ranking for Male Readers Anime News Network, December 8, 2017, retrieved April 12, 2021^
- Egan Loo. Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Promised Neverland Nominated for Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Anime News Network, February 25, 2021, retrieved April 12, 2021^
- Alex Mateo. Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Editors Unveil 2022 Rankings Anime News Network, December 29, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
- Rafael Pineda. Oshi no Ko, Kaiju No. 8, Jojolion, Peleliu Nominated for Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Anime News Network, February 20, 2022, retrieved February 21, 2022^