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Crunchyroll to Stream Leiji Matsumoto's Ozma TV Anime (Updated)

The media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Friday that it will stream Leiji Matsumoto's Ozma television anime series as it airs in Japan. The company will stream the series worldwide outside of Asia starting on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. EDT.

The six-episode science-fiction series is the first major new anime from creator Leiji Matsumoto (Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999) in five years. The anime will premiere on Japan's premium WOWOW channel this Friday, March 16 at midnight, and Viki will stream the series 24 hours later outside Japan.

The story is set on Earth in the future, when abnormal activity on the sun devastates Earth's atmosphere and covers the entire planet in a sea of sand. Sam (Tetsuya Kakihara) pursues Ozma, the mysterious enemy of his brother. One day, Samu encounters Maya (Rie Tanaka), who is being chased by the Theseus army.

Ryousuke Takahashi (Armored Trooper Votoms, Aoki Ryūsei SPT Layzner, episode in The Cockpit) is the chief director, while the actual hands-on director is Takahiro Ikezoe (Slap Up Party: Arad Senki-) at LandQ studios (with assistance on every episode by Gonzo). Nobuteru Yūki (Record of Lodoss War, Escaflowne, Space Battleship Yamato 2199) designed the characters. Kousuke Yamashita composed the music for the Nobunaga's Ambition game series, the live-action Hana Yori Dango, and Digimon Xros Wars before tackling this project. The Korean band Ftisland is performing the opening theme "Neverland," while Nami Kizuki performs the ending theme "Utagoe."

Viki, a website that streams authorized videos with crowd-sourced translations, will also stream the series worldwide. Ozma will premiere on Japan's premium WOWOW channel this Friday, March 16 at midnight, and Viki will stream the series 24 hours later outside Japan.

Image © 2012 Leiji Matsumoto (original work)
© 2012 Ozma Production Committee

Update: Release date and time corrected. Thanks, agila61.