The highly anticipated anime film adaptation of Kazuyoshi Takeda’s award-winning manga, “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise,” has revealed its main cast and additional staff, setting a premiere date of December 5, 2025, in Japan. The announcement provides new insights into the production, which will bring the harrowing World War II story to the big screen.
Key Cast Members Announced
Leading the cast, actor Rihito Itagaki will voice Tamaru, the kind-hearted aspiring manga artist who finds himself amidst the brutal realities of the Pacific War on Peleliu Island. Joining him is Tomoya Nakamura, cast as Yoshiki Keisuke, Tamaru’s reliable partner in the perilous battlefield. The roles are central to the manga’s narrative, which follows young Japanese soldiers during the intense Battle of Peleliu in 1944.
Itagaki reportedly visited Peleliu Island in Palau, the actual setting of the story, to tour war sites and gain a deeper understanding of the historical context for his role. He expressed a profound sense of responsibility in portraying Tamaru, particularly as the film commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Production Team and Studios
The “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” film is being animated by a collaboration between Shin-Ei Animation and Fugaku, with Toei handling the distribution.
Director and Screenplay
Gorō Kuji (known for “Chained Soldier”) is making his directorial debut with this film. The screenplay is a collaborative effort between the original manga author, Kazuyoshi Takeda, and Junji Nishimura (“Ranma 1/2”). Takeda has reportedly been deeply involved in the film’s production, including co-writing the screenplay, a process he noted took a considerable amount of time.
Music Composition
The film’s score will be composed by Kenji Kawai, a veteran in the anime industry known for his work on various acclaimed titles.
Character Design
Ryōji Nakamori is responsible for the character designs, aiming to bring Takeda’s manga characters to life on screen.
About the “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” Manga
Kazuyoshi Takeda’s “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” manga was serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine from 2016 to 2021, concluding with 11 volumes. The series garnered critical acclaim, including an Excellence Award at the 46th Japan Cartoonist Awards in 2017 and a nomination for the 25th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2021.
The manga intricately details the daily lives of approximately 10,000 Japanese troops against 50,000 U.S. troops during the protracted Battle of Peleliu. It explores the psychological toll of war and the reasons soldiers fight when far from home on a small, paradisiacal island. A spin-off manga, “Peleliu Gaiden,” also ran in Young Animal from 2022 and is slated to conclude around July 2025.
Film’s Significance and Release
The anime film adaptation is set to open on December 5, 2025, strategically coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, emphasizing its historical context and poignant themes. The film aims to provide a powerful depiction of a lesser-known but fiercely fought battle, where out of 10,000 Japanese soldiers, only 34 reportedly survived. While a Japanese release date is confirmed, a U.S. release date has not yet been announced.
