Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Space Brothers #0 the Movie (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray Disc Review)

it’s an excellent companion to the animated TV series and for “Space Brothers” fans, “Space Brothers #0” is a film worth recommending!

TITLE: Space Brothers #0 the Movie (宇宙兄弟#0)

ANIME FILM RELEASE DATE: 2014

DURATION: 90 Minutes / Chuya Koyama Special Edition (1:35:12)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16:9), Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: February 18, 2020

Originally Created by Koyama Chuya

Director: Watanabe Ayumu

Screenplay: Koyama Chuya

Music by Watanabe Toshiyuki

Character Design: Yabuno Koji

Art Director: Kato Hiroshi

Anime Production: A-1 Pictures

Featuring the following voice talent:

Hirata Hiroaki as Nanba Mutta

Kenn as Nanba Hibito

Ohtsuka Akio as Brian Jay

Chō as Nanba Chosuke (Nanba’s Father)

Tachiki Fumihiko as Jason Butler

Iio Kazuki as Sakai Ebio

Nomura Kenji as Azuma Takio

Arimoto Kinryuu as Eddie Jay

Tanaka Mayumi as Nanba Mayumi (Nanba’s Mother)

Sawashiro Miyuki as Nanba Mutta (young)

Yuko Sanpei as Nanba Hibito (young)

Once, there were two very different brothers who conceived a dream: that someday they would go into space themselves. However, brothers being brothers, once younger sibling Hibito announced that he would go to the moon, older brother Mutta declared that HE would go to Mars. Unfortunately, Mutta’s adult life isn’t going the way that he had hoped. Despite his hard work, his situation at his job is deteriorating and he ultimately finds himself transferred back to Japan. To make things even more frustrating, luck has been kinder to Hibito, who has already begun training with JAXA to become an astronaut. But Mutta isn’t ready to quit just yet. Four years before the events of the epic TV series, a new space race begins as brother chases brother on the path to the stars.

On the pages of Kodansha’s “Weekly Morning”, back in 2007, a manga titled “Uchu Kyodai” first appeared.

Created by Koyama Chuya, the series would receive an anime adaptation from 2012-2014 and would lead to a live action film in May 2012.

In 2014, the animated film “Uchu Kyodai #0” would be released in theaters and with the anime series released in the US, now the animated film will be released as “Space Brothers” courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

It’s important to note that there are two versions of the animated film included on Blu-ray. The original theatrical version and the Koyama Chuya version which has five additional minutes and adds to the storyline (I highly recommend watching the Koyama Chuya version).

The animated series would introduce us to brothers Nanba Mutta (the eldest brother) and Nanba Hibito (youngest brother). The series would introduce how Mutta and Hibito both dreamed of becoming astronauts after seeing, what they thought, was a UFO.

But as they got older, Hibito would be the person pursuing a career as an astronaut, while Nanba, is a salaryman who was just fired from an automobile company. Hibito still has faith in his older brother, that he would follow his dream of being accepted in JAXA’s astronaut program.

Which sets up the series of both brothers pursuing their dreams.

But what took place before Nanba decided to pursue his dream of trying out for the JAXA astronaut program? And what challenges was Hibito facing as one of the top members of the JAXA program?

This would be explored in “Space Brothers #0” as we learn about the lives of these two brothers before they went full force for their dream of becoming astronauts.

VIDEO:

“Space Brothers” is presented in 1080p High Definition (16:9). As one can expect from A-1 Pictures, you are getting magnificent anime production. From how the characters are animated, how beautiful the backgrounds are painted, the company is known for its wonderful animation and “Space Brothers” is a perfect example of that quality! The anime is crisp and vibrant and looks amazing in HD!

AUDIO:

“Space Brothers” is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Japanese) and voice acting is wonderful, while crystal clear dialogue, music is evident, while sound effects are immersive through the surround channels.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Space Brothers #0” comes with the clean opening and closing animations.

“Space Brothers” is an animated film which I absolutely love and is no doubt an excellent companion to the anime series (which is now available on Blu-ray). The fact that mangaka and series creator Koyama Chua wrote the film, makes it even better!

One of the things that stood out for me, while watching this animated film, is while the anime series was always about the two brothers working hard for their dream, the anime film is no different. But what I like about it, is it really goes into the challenges that Mutta has felt in his life.

Where his younger brother Hibito was born in a year where sports athletes excelled, Mutta was born in a year where Japanese soccer team lost in the 1994 FIFA World Club qualification match in Qatar.

Where Hibito was a younger brother that always looked up to his older brother, Mutta had always known how different they were from each other. And pursuing different paths careerwise.

Mutta works for a car company in which he has really good ideas but because they don’t suit the present, the higher-ups thinks he is an idiot, while others know he really works hard with his job, but its just economically feasible at the present time.

Needless to say, Mutta gets demoted and is sent to the countryside, for a car sales company which don’t get much sales at all.

Hibito on the other hand, he grew up to be a person that no doubt has what it takes to be in the consideration of astronauts in Japan and was selected by Brian Jay to be the first Japanese to walk on the moon.

The film explores the close working relationship of the two and how Brian Jay would eventually become a mentor for Hibito.

While I don’t want to spoil anything else for this film, I will say both brothers hit a low point in their lives but what was it that inspired them to come out of that darkness? That’s what makes this film so delightful and it’s a story which many people (especially brothers) can relate to. Characters that many people can relate to.

Of being in that low place in ones life and finding that inspiration that makes you work harder and get out of those difficult times.

“Space Brothers #0” is no doubt an entertaining, delightful film. In fact, it was created in a way that people who haven’t watched the anime series can enjoy.

But as I previously had mentioned, it’s an excellent companion to the animated TV series and for “Space Brothers” fans, “Space Brothers #0” is a film worth recommending!

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