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Sailor Moon's Satō, anohana's Okada, Macross' Kawamori Unveil M3's Story, Cast, Staff

The official website for M3 - Sono Kuroki Hagane-, the Spring television anime by Sailor Moon director Junichi Satō, anohana writer Mari Okada, and Macross mecha designer Shōji Kawamori, unveiled a story introduction, cast, staff, theme song performers, and broadcast details on Tuesday. The ensemble drama story follows eight boys and girls in the science-fiction setting of near-future Tokyo. The tagline on the website reads, "On the night of falling stars, they … heard that song…."

The website gives the following story introduction:

There is distorted, deep blackness everywhere.

That place, in which blackness swallowed everything and took away everything, has become known as the avidya zone.

Strange beings assume the very form of the despair and chaos of humanity.

They are known by this name: Imashime.

An expedition surveys the avidya zone which consumes human spirits.

So, in the intricate intersection between the present in impending crisis and the destiny of the past … can eight boys and girls, assembled to confront the Imashime, find the bright future that lies before the avidya zone?

The cast includes (from left to right in image):

• Tetsuya Kakihara as Minashi Maki
• Kotori Koiwai as Sasame Izuriha
• Tsugumi (cast member not announced yet)
• Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Akashi Saginuma
• Kasane (cast member not announced yet)
• Yōko Hikasa as Emiru Hazaki
• Kairi (cast member not announced yet)
• Ayumu Murase as Heito Isaku
• Susaki (cast member not announced yet)
• Sayuri Yahagi as Raika Kasumi
• Tomoaki Maeno as Iwato Namito
• Misato Fukuen as Maamu Yuzuki

Junichi Satō (Sailor Moon, Kaleido Star, Aria franchise) is directing the project at the studio Satelight (Macross Frontier, Bodacious Space Pirates), and Mari Okada (anohana, Nagi no Asukara) is in charge of the scripts. Shōji Kawamori (Macross franchise, Cyber Formula franchise) is working on the mecha designs.

Hideki Inoue (Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth - The Animation, Grenadier) is adapting artist Onigunsō's original character designs for animation. Takatoshi Hamano (Futari wa Milky Holmes, ToHeart2, Utawarerumono) is directing the sound at Magic Capsule, and Hajime Sakita is composing the soundtrack. Singer May'n is performing the opening theme song "Re:Remember," while the band la la larks is performing the ending "ego-izm." Flying Dog is producing the music.

The series will premiere on April 21 on Tokyo MX TV and other channels. There will be a M3 talk event with Sato "and special guests" at the Satelight booth on March 22 at the AnimeJapan on Saturday.

Source: animeanime.jp, MoCA News

Images © Junichi Satō, Mari Okada, Satelight/M3 Project