Get ready for a blast from the past with a futuristic twist! Shinsei Galverse, the highly anticipated anime born from a successful NFT project, is set to premiere on June 25th. The first trailer has dropped, revealing character voices and offering a glimpse into this unique blend of 90s anime aesthetics, gyaru culture, and sci-fi action.
What is Shinsei Galverse?
Shinsei Galverse isn’t your typical anime. It began as an NFT project featuring 8,888 unique “badass Gals” who sold out within hours of their release in April 2022, becoming Japan’s first breakout Web3 success. Now, the Galverse team, a small creative studio comprised of Ayaka Ohira, Jack Baldwin, and Devin Mancuso, is bringing these characters to life in an original anime.
The anime aims to capture the essence of 90s anime, incorporating the vibrant gyaru subculture and futuristic NFT elements. The story explores themes of love, anti-violence, and justice, all while showcasing the “gal” mindset – a focus on self-worth and living by one’s own values.
Story
The story is about Galverse, who was born from fragments of the sacred star “Mother Planet,” who uses her extraordinary abilities and gal-mindedness to fight against the evil organization, the Universe End Society, in order to restore peace to the galaxy, while getting closer to the truth of the galaxy.
Zero, a mysterious protagonist, crash-lands on Amatera, a planet ravaged by war, with no memories of her past. She meets Ring, a charismatic leader of the resistance, and together they embark on a mission to uncover the truth behind the Gevuran invaders and Zero’s own identity. Zero discovers she is no ordinary girl but a cosmic being known as Galverse, a key to something far greater than any one planet.
A New Kind of Anime Production
Shinsei Galverse is breaking the mold not only in its visual style and themes but also in its production process. Unlike traditional anime studios, the Galverse team is transparent and works closely with its fans, incorporating their ideas and feedback into the project. This community-driven approach, dubbed “WAGMAA” (We’re All Gonna Make an Anime!), allows fans to contribute to various aspects of the production, from character design to marketing concepts.
Staff
Spearheading the project is Ayaka Ohira, the creator and chief director at animation studio S.o.K. Ohira, a self-taught animator, has previously worked on music videos for prominent Japanese artists such as m-flo, JP THE WAVY, and CHAI.
The production team includes:
- Co-Director: Yūta Takamura (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable)
- Scriptwriters: Natsuko Takahashi (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0) and Masahiro Okubo (Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress)
- Character Designer: Satoshi Ishino (Tokyo Mew Mew New)
- Sub-Character Designer: Momo Nagayama (Spriggan)
- Prop Design: Ryō Hirata
- Art Direction: Yang Liu (Ogura Atelier, Ghost in the Shell)
- Color Design: Miyoko Ichinose
- Director of Photography: Tsai Po Lun
- Editor: Kentarō Tsubone
- Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
- Sound Effects: Tsutomu Ueno
- Producer: ARCH
- Animation Production: S.o.K
Cast
Shinsei Galverse boasts an all-star cast of voice actors:
- Yui Horie as Zero
- Ai Fairouz as D.D.
- Mutsumi Tamura as Ring
- Kurumi Nakata as Tabia
- Hisako Kanemoto as Vega
- Lynn as Momo
- Ikue Ōtani as Ran Ran
- Kotono Mitsuishi as Dr. Wagami
- Tomokazu Seki as Uvo
- Akio Ōtsuka as Dex
- Yū Kobayashi as Iza
- Yukari Tamura as Luca
- Rie Tanaka as Uno
- Mamiko Noto as M-Lezi
Music
The opening theme, “Fall Mouth So Far” is performed by ermhoi. The ending theme is “KYOMEI VERSE♡” by Taku Takahashi and KAMIYA, described as a high-energy “new-age gal anthem” with eurobeat influences.
Themes
Shinsei Galverse explores several profound themes, including:
- Anti-War Message: The anime questions whether violence can truly combat violence.
- Identity and Self-Discovery: Zero’s journey to uncover her cosmic identity as a “Galverse” mirrors broader questions of self-identity.
- Diversity and Inclusion: The character designs break down traditional gender assignments and celebrate differences.
- Community-Driven Creation: The production process emphasizes collective contribution and collaboration.
Where to Watch
Shinsei Galverse will be available for free on YouTube and other streaming platforms starting June 25th.
