Moonlight Mile (manga)

Moonlight Mile
The logo of Moonlight Mile
ムーンライトマイル
Genre	Science fiction, Drama
Manga
Written by	Yasuo Ōtagaki
Published by	Shogakukan, Inc.
Demographic	Seinen
Magazine	Big Comic Superior
Original run	2000 – ongoing
Volumes	22
TV anime
Directed by	Iku Suzuki
Studio	Studio Hibari
Licensed by	Funimation
Network	WOWOW
Original run	February 4, 2007 – May 26, 2007
Episodes	12
TV anime
Moonlight Mile 2nd Season -Touch Down-
Directed by	Iku Suzuki
Studio	Studio Hibari
Network	WOWOW
Original run	September 13, 2007 – December 13, 2007
Episodes	14
Anime and Manga Portal

Moonlight Mile (ムーンライトマイル^?) is a manga by Yasuo Ōtagaki, which was also adapted into an anime television series. The manga is published by Shogakukan, while the anime is directed by Iku Suzuki and animated by Studio Hibari. The first episode of the anime aired on Japan's WOWOW satellite network in a special advance broadcast on February 4, 2007. The regular broadcast schedule began on March 3, 2007.

The story follows a pair of mountain climbers who decide to become astronauts. Ōtagaki 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.^[1]

Plot summary

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

Characters

• Lostman (Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese), John Gremillion (English))
• Gorou Saruwatari (Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese), Andrew Love (English))
• Kousuke Sawamura (Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese), Josh Grelle (English))
• Steve O'Brien (Voiced by: Kinryuu Arimoto (Japanese), Charles C. Campbell (English))
• Miguel (Voiced by: Masashi Yabe)
• Riyoko Ikeuchi (Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese), Monica Rial (English))
• Maggie Hiraoka (Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami)
• Akemi Saruwatari (Voiced by: Yuki Makishima (Japanese), Kira Vincent-Davis (English))

Anime

The anime is split into two seasons. The first season, "LIFT Off", is composed of 12 episodes airing from March 3, 2007 to May 26, 2007. The second, "Touch Down", is composed of 14 episodes airing from September 13, 2007 to December 13, 2007.

Episodes Season 1

#	Title	Original air date
01	"To Beyond the Sky" "Sora no mukou he" (宇宙の向こうへ)	2007-02-04
Gorou and Lostman are inspired to become astronauts after seeing the ISA Space Station from the peak of Mount Everest. They set out in different ways to achieve that goal.
02	"Neverending Dream" "Hatenaki yume" (果てなき夢)	2007-03-10
03	"Last Swing" "Rasuto suingu" (ラストスイング)	2007-03-17
04	"Desert's Oath" "Sabaku no chikai" (砂漠の誓い)	2007-03-24
05	"From the Streets of the Star" "Hoshi no machi kara" (星の街から)	2007-03-31
06	"Gamblers" (ギャンブラーズ)	2007-04-08
07	"Reunion" (再会)	2007-04-14
08	"Returning Alive from Track" (軌道からの生還)	2007-04-21
09	"Moon Walker" (ムーンウォーカー)	2007-04-28
10	"Current of Doubt" (疑惑の潮流)	2007-05-12
11	"The Data Which is Altered" (改竄されたデータ)	2007-05-19
12	"Star Fighter" (スターファイター)	2007-05-26

Episodes Season 2

#	Title	Original air date
01	"Moving Out to Space" "Ugokidashita Uchuu" (動き出した宇宙)	2007-09-13
02	"Memories of the Viola" "Omoide no Viola" (思い出のヴィオラ)	2007-09-20
03	"A Hero's Return" "Eiyuu no Kikan" (英雄の帰還)	2007-09-27
04	"Cold War Resumes" "Reisen Futatabi" (冷戦再び)	2007-10-04
05	"Dogfight" "Hoshi no machi kara" (ドッグファイト)	2007-10-11
06	"Rocket Boys" (ロケットボーイズ)	2007-10-18
07	"Twelve Pioneers" "Juuninen Kaitakusha" (12人の開拓者)	2007-10-25
08	"Orion's Shield" "Orion no Tate" (オリオンの盾)	2007-11-01
09	"Maggie's SHOW" "Migi's show" (マギー'S SHOW)	2007-11-08
10	"Crisis" (クライシス)	2007-11-15
11	"Guardian of the Sky" "Tenkuu no Shougosha" (天空の守護者)	2007-11-22
12	"Moon Base" (ムーンベース)	2007-11-29
13	"Tears of the Moon" (月の涙)	2007-12-06
14	"My Sweet Home" (マイ・スイート・ホーム)	2007-12-13

Music

• Original soundtrack: Kan Sawada
• 1st Ending theme: "Scarecrow" by the pillows
• 2nd Ending theme: "BOAT HOUSE" by the pillows

Licensing in the United States

ADV Films acquired the license for U.S. distribution of Moonlight Mile on July 21, 2007. This was announced at Otakon 2007. The series began its US DVD release on March 3, 2008 and the third and final volume came out on 05/20/2008. A box to hold all three volumes was released with the second volume. As it is currently known, only the first season LIFT Off has been licensed for a North American release. In July 2008, the anime became one of over 30 ADV titles transferred to Funimation.^[2]

References

1. ^ Yasuo Ōtagaki, Ken Noguchi (2007). Moonlight Mile Interview Special! (Television special). Japan: WOWOW. 
2. ^ Anime from FUNimation Entertainment - THE BEST IN ANIME

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Moonlight Mile at WOWOW (Japanese)
• ADV announcement at AnimeonDVD
• Moonlight Mile (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Moonlight Mile (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia