The series, which aired on NHK E-Tele from 2021, finally gets a film adaptation with powerful anime-meets-space visuals. It is an original story combining re-edited anime footage with live-action space-exploration footage recorded by NHK's serious science programs and JAXA. During the ending, alongside the theme song, the film introduces "Japan's space initiatives," from space development to space business. JAXA and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan also take part as "space cooperation" partners.
<Story>
Kotetsu, a first-year pilot student at the Animal Kingdom Space Academy, gets excited one day when he hears a rumor that "there might be an alien nearby!?" The whole academy splits up to search for the alien! UFOs, lunar exploration, the mysteries of Mars, black holes... the more they investigate, the more they realize how much about space they don't know. Will Kotetsu and his friends really be able to find an alien?
<Theme Song>
The theme song is "Uchuu no Nanchara Nakama," sung by Shoko Nakagawa, with an early digital release starting Wednesday, July 22.
<Comment from Shoko Nakagawa>
"As someone who loves space, getting to sing the theme song for 'Space Nanchara Kotetsu-kun' is like a dream! 'Uchuu no Nanchara Nakama' turned out to be a fantastic song that makes you want to sing and dance along, gets stuck in your head, and teaches you the names of planets and stars! You might even become a space expert with the star tongue-twisters in the lyrics! On your way home from the movie, you'll surely want to look up at the night sky. Please enjoy the ultimate space adventure together with Kotetsu and friends."
<Staff>
Original work: Yuji Nishimura / Director: Yoshinori Tsutsui / Script: Yoichi Kato / Music: Tadashi Nakanishi, Yuri Hafuka / Animation Production Cooperation: Fanworks / Video Production: NHK Educational / Production: Chokkura Tsuki made Eiga Iinkai
<Cast>
Kotetsu: Natsumi Fujiwara / Nico: Junya Enoki / Lou: Masashi Tamaki / Hikaru: Ayana Taketatsu / Otama: Akane Yamaguchi / Grandpa: Kappei Yamaguchi / Principal: Minoru Aoyama / Tobio: Takeshi Kusao / Teacher Izumi: Kensuke Nishi / Enban-san: Tomokazu Sugita / Narration & DAXA-kun: Muro Tsuyoshi
Official site: https://space--academy.com/eiga.html
(C)Space Academy / Chokkura Tsuki made Eiga Iinkai
