The Relative Worlds

The Relative Worlds
ソウタイセカイ (Sōtai Sekai)
Original net animation
Directed by	Yūhei Sakuragi
Written by	Yūhei Sakuragi
Music by	Hidehiro Kawai
Studio	Craftar
Released	April 28, 2017 May 5, 2017
Anime film
Directed by	Yūhei Sakuragi Hiroki Matsūra[a] Tomoyuki Takae[a]
Produced by	Tomohiko Ishii
Written by	Yūhei Sakuragi
Music by	Hidehiro Kawai
Studio	Craftar
Released	January 25, 2019 (2019-01-25)
Runtime	93 minutes

The Relative Worlds (Japanese: ソウタイセカイ, Hepburn: Sōtai Sekai) is a Japanese CG original net animation (ONA) series planned and produced by Craftar.[1] The anime is divided into two parts: the first part was released on Hulu Japan on April 28, 2017, with the second part releasing on May 5, 2017.[2]

In October 2018, Craftar revealed that a film adaptation titled Even if the World Will End Tomorrow (Japanese: あした世界が終わるとしても, Hepburn: Ashita Sekai ga Owaru Toshitemo) would be released. The film premiered on January 25, 2019.[3] The film follows a slightly altered plot, with the staff and most of the main cast of the ONA returning to reprise their roles.

Plot

Sōtai Sekai

The story is set in Japan year 2020. Focuses on Shin Hazama, a third-year high school student who just lost his father. He encounters a version of himself who has spent a different life in another Japan, Jin. That's when he knew that the everyday life he has starts to crack, and battle between another world and another self begins.

Ashita Sekai

The film centers on Shin and Kotori, who are both third years in high school. Shin lost his mother when he was little, and since then he has a tendency to close himself off. Kotori is his childhood friend who always looks out for him. One day, another "self" from another Japan appears in front of them.

Cast

Shin Hazama (狭間 真, Hazama Shin)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji (ONA, movie)[4]

Shin is a high school student who recently lost his father and moves in with his uncle Tetsuya. One day, he meets Jin, his other self from a parallel universe who wants to kill Kotori, as it'll end the suppressive reign of Kotori's other self in the parallel world, Princess Kotoko.

Jin Hazama (ハザマジン)

Voiced by: Yūki Kaji (ONA), Yoshiki Nakajima (movie)[4]

Jin comes from an oppressive version of Japan where it is under the ironclad rule of Princess Kotoko. After the death of his father, he sets out to a parallel universe to kill Kotoko's other self while facing obstacles in his way.

Kotori Izumi (泉琴 莉, Izumi Kotori)

Voiced by: Maaya Uchida (ONA, movie)[4]

Kotori is Shin's childhood friend who has always tried to be there for him despite his reluctance. She is the target of the parallel world attacks as her other-self is an oppressive ruler.

Kotoko Izumi (イズミコトコ)

Voiced by: Maaya Uchida (ONA), Sayaka Senbongi (movie)[4]

Princess Kotoko is an ironclad oppressive ruler who controls Japan.

Miko (ミコ)

Voiced by: Aoi Yuki (ONA, movie)[4]

Miko is a fixer who comes into contact and makes a contract with Kotori.

Niko (ニコ)

Voiced by: Aoi Yuki (ONA)

Riko (リコ)

Voiced by: Inori Minase (movie)[4]

Miko's "younger sister" and Kotoko's fixer.

Genji Hazama

Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (movie)[5]

Genji is Shin's father. He is a scientist who suddenly dies from an unnatural cause.

Shū Izumi

Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa (movie)[5]

Shu is Kotori's father. Shin's father works for him.

Yūri

Voiced by: Nana Mizuki (movie)[5]

Yuri is a scientist and the head of a mysterious research project that she is cooperating with Princess Kotoko on, behind the scenes.

Production

Hakuhodo's animation studio, Craftar, planned and produced the series, while Yūhei Sakuragi directed and wrote the screenplay. Hidehiro Kawai composed the music. PALOW. did the character design while Rui Tomono did the concept art. Craftar and Lucky Pictures collaborated on CGI production,[1] where they used the Unity game engine for rendering as well as crowd shots.[6] Three-member unit Reol performed both the opening and ending theme, titled "VIP KID" and "ChiruChiru" (ちるちる), respectively.[7]

Singer Aimyon performed the film's theme song, as well as the insert song Ra, no Hanashi. This marked her debut contributing work for an anime.[4]

Release

The film adpation of The Relative Worlds was screened in competition during the 2019 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.[8][9]

The film premiered in the UK at Scotland Loves Animation 2019.[10]

Notes

1. Matsūra and Takae credited as Animation Director (アニメーションディレクター), which is a separate credit from the "sakuga" animation director (作画監督)

References

1. "The Relative Worlds Original CG Anime's Trailer Shows Parallel World Characters". Anime News Network. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
2. "Parallel World Characters Encounter in Web Anime "The Relative Worlds" Trailer". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
3. "Original Anime Film Ashita Sekai ga Owaru Toshitemo Revealed With January 25 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
4. "Ashita Sekai ga Owaru Toshitemo Anime Film Reveals Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
5. "Kenjiro Tsuda, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Nana Mizuki Join Cast of Ashita Sekai ga Owaru Toshitemo Anime Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
6. Failes, Ian (11 June 2019). "You Can Use The Actual Assets and Workflow From This Real-Time Unity Film in Your Own Projects - Annecy". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
7. "Hulu配信アニメ「ソウタイセカイ」主題歌はクリエイティブユニット「REOL」の楽曲に". Anime Hack (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 April 2017.
8. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (16 April 2019). "Ride Your Wave, Relative Worlds, Wonderland, Children of the Sea Films Compete at Annecy". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
9. "Programme 2019: Longs métrages en compétition" [Programme 2019: Feature Films in Competition]. Annecy Festival. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
10. "Scotland Loves Anime 2019 Line-up and Tickets Available". Anime News Network. September 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-26.

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)
• The Relative Worlds (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia