The upcoming prequel anime film, As One, to Square Enix’s arcade game Starwing Paradox, has announced that Ruki Shiroiwa will be joining the cast. As One is slated for release in Japanese theaters on August 22, 2025. The film is produced by Nada Holdings and Throne, with animation by Honoo and Studio Gooneys.
A Prequel Story
As One will be a completely original story set 20 years before the events of Starwing Paradox. The film centers around Yo, a high school student with musical aspirations, and Lako, a robot mechanic from the war-torn planet Meguriboshi. Yo, struggling with his parents’ disapproval of his musical dreams and a growing distance from his bandmates, hears a mysterious voice calling for help one day while in Shibuya. Meanwhile, on Meguriboshi, two nations are attempting a truce after a long war over the energy source “Hoshichi.” During a crisis involving orbital debris, Lako loses consciousness while trying to save a comrade. Connected by a mysterious mental link, Yo and Lako must navigate themes of fate and interstellar conflict.
Production Team
Kobun Shizuno, known for directing numerous Detective Conan films and co-directing Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, is directing As One. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the character designer from Neon Genesis Evangelion, returns to design the characters, as he also did for the original game. The screenplay is being written by Shatner Nishida, Kana Matsui, and Masaya Honda. Ippei Gyōbu (Gundam series) is in charge of mechanic designs.
Starwing Paradox
Starwing Paradox is a multiplayer mecha battle arcade game developed by Square Enix with animation by Sunrise. It was released in 2018 and had an immersive cabinet that moved around. Online support for the game ended in October 2021. The game revolved around a war between two alien nations on the planet Meguriboshi, both fighting over a powerful energy resource called Hoshinochi. Humans from Earth remotely piloted giant humanoid mechas to participate in the battle.
About Ruki Shiroiwa
Ruki Shiroiwa is a member of the Japanese boy band JO1, formed through the reality competition Produce 101 Japan. He is also a former member of Johnny’s Jr., a trainee group of Johnny & Associates, and Tsukicro, a voice actor music group. Shiroiwa has experience in acting and theme song performance, with credits in projects such as You Made My Dawn and JO1 the Movie: Unfinished – Go to the Top.
