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Orb: On the Movements of the Earth Anime Casts Nobunaga Shimazaki, Shinya Fukumatsu

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the anime of Uoto's Chi: Chikyū no Undō ni Tsuite (Orb: On the Movements of the Earth) manga revealed on Tuesday two new cast members, and streamed a second "Go-fun de Wakaru Chi." (Understanding Chi Anime in 5 Minutes) video, explaining the story so far up to the upcoming seventh episode that will air on Saturday.

(Note: The below video does not have English subtitles)

The newly announced cast members are:

Nobunaga Shimazaki as Kolbe, Yolenta's senior at the Astronomical Research Institute

Shinya Fukumatsu as Count Piast, a master of cosmology and Yolenta's employer

The anime premiered on NHK General on October 5 with its first two episodes. Episodes stream on Netlix and ABEMA after each episode's airing. The anime will have 25 total episodes, and will air for two consecutive cours (quarters of a year) for a half-year run.

The anime stars:

• Maaya Sakamoto as Rafal
• Kenjirō Tsuda as Novak
• Shō Hayami as Hubert
• Katsuyuki Konishi as Oczy
• Yūichi Nakamura as Badeni
• Saya Hitomi as Yolenta

Kenichi Shimizu (Parasyte -the maxim-, All Out!!) is directing the anime at Madhouse. Shingo Irie (Hakata Mentai! Pirikarako-chan, AFTERLOST) is in charge of series scripts. Masanori Shino (Black Lagoon, Digimon Adventure tri., No Guns Life) is designing the characters. kensuke ushio (Liz and the Blue Bird, A Silent Voice, The Heike Story) is composing the music. Kisuke Koizumi is the sound director.

sakanaction performs the opening theme song "Kaijū" (Monster), and yorushika performs the ending theme song "Aporia."

Seven Seas is releasing the manga in an omnibus format under the title Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, and it describes the story:

In the fifteenth century, claiming that the Earth revolves around the sun was a heresy that could get believers burned at the stake. Child prodigy Rafal is introduced to the truth about the universe by his mentor, and then must flee when the Inquisition comes to mete out “God's justice.” With only a peculiar pendant to guide him, will Rafal discover his master's research, and can he and other believers set the world alight?

Uoto launched the manga in Big Comic Spirits in September 2020, and ended it in April 2022. Shogakukan published the eighth and final compiled book volume in June 2022.

The manga won the Grand Prize for the 26th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize awards in April 2022. Uoto is the youngest ever to win the Grand Prize at 24 years old.

Sources: Orb: On the Movements of the Earth anime's X/Twitter account, Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web