The official channels for the upcoming anime film “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise,” an adaptation of Kazuyoshi Takeda’s poignant World War II manga, have just unveiled a powerful new main visual and an emotionally charged trailer. This highly anticipated movie is slated to open in Japan on December 5, 2025.
Adding another layer of depth, the new trailer also introduces “Kiseki no youna Koto” (“Something like a miracle”), the film’s stirring theme song, beautifully performed by Mone Kamishiraishi. Renowned for her role as Mitsuha Miyamizu in “Your Name.” and her successful career as a musical actor and solo singer, Kamishiraishi brings a profound emotional resonance to the film’s score, having even graced the stage of Nippon Budokan for her first solo concert in 2023.
Reflecting on her involvement, Kamishiraishi shared, “As we approach the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, I am genuinely thrilled to share this film with everyone, alongside its theme song.” She added, “Upon receiving the offer, I immediately delved into the original manga. The characters resonated deeply with me; it felt less like distant history and more like the personal narratives of individuals just like us. I believe even newcomers to this story will quickly connect with and cherish characters like Tamaru-kun and Yoshiki-kun.”
The film boasts a talented voice cast, with Rihito Itagaki, known for his role as Norman in “THE PROMISED NEVERLAND” live-action film, lending his voice to Hiroshi Tamaru, a kind-hearted aspiring manga artist. Joining him is Tomoya Nakamura, recognized as Dmitri in “SPY×FAMILY CODE: White,” who portrays Tamaru’s steadfast partner, Keisuke Yoshiki.
Guiding this ambitious project is Goro Kuji, who previously served as an assistant director for “Bungo and Alchemist -Gears of Judgement-.” The screenplay is a collaborative effort between Junji Nishimura and the manga’s original creator, Kazuyoshi Takeda. Ryoji Namamura takes on the crucial roles of character designer and chief animation director, while the evocative score is composed by Kenji Kawai. Animation production is a joint venture between Shin-Ei Animation and Fugaku, promising a visually compelling experience.
The foundation of this film is Kazuyoshi Takeda’s critically acclaimed manga, “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise,” which captivated readers in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine from February 2016 to April 2021, culminating in 11 collected volumes. Its profound storytelling earned it the prestigious Japan Cartoonists Association Award’s Excellence Award in 2017.
At its heart, “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” plunges into the harrowing realities of war. The story centers on the island of Peleliu, once a picturesque paradise, where Japanese soldier Hiroshi Tamaru, an aspiring draftsman in peacetime, arrives in the summer of 1944, near the close of the Pacific War. This Eden rapidly transforms into a brutal hellscape as the American fleet launches its invasion. A staggering 50,000 Japanese and American soldiers clash violently over a strategically vital airport. The American forces deploy 40,000 elite troops against a Japanese contingent of 10,000 soldiers, who are given a grim directive: resist to the very last man.