Moonlight Mile (manga)

Moonlight Mile
Genre	Science fiction
Manga
Written by	Yasuo Ōtagaki
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	Big Comic Superior
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	2000 – present
Volumes	23
Anime television series
Directed by	Iku Suzuki
Produced by	Tsuneo Takechi; Kenta Takiguchi; Kazuo Shimizu; Tokuji Hasegawa
Written by	Akinori Endō
Music by	Kan Sawada
Studio	Studio Hibari
Licensed by	NA Funimation
Original network	Wowow
Original run	February 4, 2007 – May 26, 2007
Episodes	12
Anime television series
Moonlight Mile 2nd Season - Touch down
Directed by	Iku Suzuki
Produced by	Tsuneo Takechi; Kenta Takiguchi; Kazuo Shimizu; Takayoshi Takeuchi
Written by	Akinori Endō
Music by	Kan Sawada
Studio	Studio Hibari
Original network	Wowow
Original run	September 13, 2007 – December 13, 2007
Episodes	14
	Anime and manga portal

Moonlight Mile (stylized as MOONLIGHT MILE) is a manga by Yasuo Ōtagaki, which was also adapted into an anime television series. The manga was published by Shogakukan, while the anime was directed by Iku Suzuki and animated by Studio Hibari. The first episode of the anime aired on Japan's Wowow satellite network in a special advance broadcast on February 4, 2007. The regular broadcast schedule began on March 3, 2007.

The story follows a pair of mountain climbers who decide to become astronauts. Ōtagaki says, in the preview special of the anime, that his goal in writing the story was to create a realistic space drama that features the political elements involved in modern space missions. Ken Noguchi, a professional mountain climber, provided inspiration to the creators of Moonlight Mile for their depictions of ascending Mount Everest.^[1] The first season of the anime has multiple but brief sex scenes, which are less common in the second season.

Plot summary[]

Gorou Saruwatari and Jack "Lostman" Woodbridge are mountain climbers who have ascended some of the highest mountains around the world. At the peak of Mount Everest, they see the International Space Station in the sky above and become determined to go into space. At the same time, the International Space Association (ISA) begins the "Nexus" program to research and obtain a new energy source (Helium-3) which has been discovered on the moon. Gorou and Lostman attempt to join the program through different approaches: Lostman becomes a military pilot and Gorou takes a job as a construction worker.

Characters[]

Jack F. Woodbridge, a.k.a. "Lostman" (Voiced by: Hiroaki Hirata (Japanese); John Gremillion (English))
Gorou Saruwatari (Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue (Japanese); Andrew Love (English))
Kousuke Sawamura (Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English))
Steve O'Brien (Voiced by: Kinryū Arimoto (Japanese); Charles C. Campbell (English))
Miguel (Voiced by: Masahito Yabe)
Riyoko Ikeuchi (Voiced by: Rie Tanaka (Japanese); Monica Rial (English))
Maggy Hiraoka (Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami)
Akemi Saruwatari (Voiced by: Yuki Makishima (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis (English))

Anime[]

The anime is split into two seasons. The first season, Lift off, is composed of 12 episodes airing from March 3, 2007 to May 26, 2007. The second, Touch down, is composed of 14 episodes airing from September 13, 2007 to December 13, 2007.

Season 1[]

#	Title	Original air date

01	"To Beyond the Sky" "Sora no mukou he" (宇宙の向こうへ)	February 4, 2007 (2007-02-04)
Gorou and Lostman are inspired to become astronauts after seeing the International Space Station from the peak of Mount Everest. They set out in different ways to achieve that goal.
02	"Neverending Dream" "Hatenaki yume" (果てなき夢)	March 10, 2007 (2007-03-10)
Gorou's skills as a construction worker are tested as he has to rescue another worker who is trapped without causing the building to collapse.
03	"Last Swing" "Rasuto suingu" (ラストスイング)	March 17, 2007 (2007-03-17)
In the United States, Gorou meets with his friend Chris Jefferson, who launches into space to evaluate orbital construction equipment.
04	"Desert's Oath" "Sabaku no chikai" (砂漠の誓い)	March 24, 2007 (2007-03-24)
On a US military mission to Iraq, Lostman's plane is shot down. After leaving captivity, he befriends a local father and son named Achmed and Malik, respectively.
05	"From the City of Stars" "Hoshi no machi kara" (星の街から)	March 31, 2007 (2007-03-31)
After development problems with the Japanese H-3 rocket, Gorou goes to Russia to fly on the Gagarin space shuttle, which also needs more reliability but is closer to completion.
06	"Gamblers" (ギャンブラーズ)	April 8, 2007 (2007-04-08)
Gorou arrives at the International Space Station and helps construct the Horner cargo vessel that travels between the Earth and the Moon.
07	"Reunion" (再会)	April 14, 2007 (2007-04-14)
Lostman launches on the American Space Shuttle Odyssey to meet up with Gorou on the ISS. However, the shuttle is temporarily diverted to a secret military space station.
08	"Returning Alive from Orbit" (軌道からの生還)	April 21, 2007 (2007-04-21)
The German spacecraft Doner Kebab and its pilot, Carl Vilsmeier, have to be rescued before the vessel is expected to re-enter and hit Sydney, Australia.
09	"Moon Walker" (ムーンウォーカー)	April 28, 2007 (2007-04-28)
Gorou tests the Japanese Moon Walker mecha underwater, but there is an accident that ends up crushing and killing a diver.
10	"Current of Doubt" (疑惑の潮流)	May 12, 2007 (2007-05-12)
The Moon Walker accident is investigated to discover who is truly responsible.
11	"The Data Which is Altered" (改竄されたデータ)	May 19, 2007 (2007-05-19)
A corruption scandal is exposed regarding the Moon Walker's development.
12	"Star Fighter" (スターファイター)	May 26, 2007 (2007-05-26)
Lostman travels in the top-secret X-68 Nightmare from Area 51 to test a fighter spacecraft at the military space station Enterprise.

Season 2[]

#	Title	Original air date

01	"Moving Out to Space" "Ugokidashita Uchuu" (動き出した宇宙)	September 13, 2007 (2007-09-13)
As the crewed cislunar transport Galileo is being built, Lostman performs a combat exercise with five other X-77 Star Fighters.
02	"Memories of the Viola" "Omoide no Viola" (思い出のヴィオラ)	September 20, 2007 (2007-09-20)
Two Italians, Paulo and his adopted son Miguel, visit the ISS on the Space Shuttle Vanguard.
03	"A Hero's Return" "Eiyuu no Kikan" (英雄の帰還)	September 27, 2007 (2007-09-27)
During the construction of Galileo, a large solar panel comes loose and has to be retrieved, leading to the discovery of a lost cosmonaut who was going to land on the Moon in June 1969.
04	"Cold War Resumes" "Reisen Futatabi" (冷戦再び)	October 4, 2007 (2007-10-04)
The Chinese government launches a crewed anti-satellite weapon, and Lostman is sent on a secret mission to destroy it. The life of Gorou's family is also seen.
05	"Dogfight" (ドッグファイト)	October 11, 2007 (2007-10-11)
The American Star Fighters attack the Chinese combat ship Yǎolóng (咬龍). Both sides end up damaged.
06	"Rocket Boys" (ロケットボーイズ)	October 18, 2007 (2007-10-18)
Malik builds model rockets in the US and faces anti-Arab racism and stereotyping.
07	"Twelve Pioneers" "Juuninen Kaitakusha" (12人の開拓者)	October 25, 2007 (2007-10-25)
The crew of the first lunar expedition, including Gorou, is announced, and launches on the next-generation space shuttle Orion. Lostman prepares to go to the Moon.
08	"Orion's Shield" "Orion no Tate" (オリオンの盾)	November 1, 2007 (2007-11-01)
Orion docks to Galileo, but a large solar storm threatens the crew in low Earth orbit.
09	"Maggy's SHOW" (マギー'S SHOW)	November 8, 2007 (2007-11-08)
The idol journalist Maggy Hiraoka visits the ISS, where she notices a suspicious military robot, and Galileo, before it leaves for the Moon.
10	"Crisis" (クライシス)	November 15, 2007 (2007-11-15)
A debris strike during a spacewalk puts Maggy in danger. After being rescued, a large debris field hits the ISS.
11	"Guardian of the Sky" "Tenkuu no Shougosha" (天空の守護者)	November 22, 2007 (2007-11-22)
Maggy controls the secret X-0 Guardian robot via a neural interface to rescue the ISS crew. The ISS and Orion are damaged, so all survivors on board go to the Moon together on Galileo.
12	"Moon Base" (ムーンベース)	November 29, 2007 (2007-11-29)
Galileo releases the Copernicus lander which arrives at the Moon on May 11, 2015. The crew uses containers from the Horner to assemble a lunar base.
13	"Tears of the Moon" (月の涙)	December 6, 2007 (2007-12-06)
The second lunar expedition team travels to the Moon on the Horner. Gorou is informed of his mother's death.
14	"My Sweet Home" (マイ・スイート・ホーム)	December 13, 2007 (2007-12-13)
As the lunar base continues to develop, Gorou pays respects to his mother. Fatima, one of the civilian crew, becomes stranded and accidentally discovers American military activity on the far side of the Moon.

Music[]

Original soundtrack: Kan Sawada
1st Ending theme: "Scarecrow" by the pillows
2nd Ending theme: "BOAT HOUSE" by the pillows

Licensing in the United States[]

ADV Films acquired the license for U.S. distribution of Moonlight Mile on July 21, 2007 for $156,000.^[2] This was announced at Otakon 2007. The series began its US DVD release on March 3, 2008 and the third and final volume came out on 05/20/2008. A box to hold all three volumes was released with the second volume. As it is currently known, only the first season LIFT Off has been licensed for a North American release. In July 2008, the anime became one of over 30 ADV titles transferred to Funimation.^[3]

References[]

^ Yasuo Ōtagaki, Ken Noguchi (2007). Moonlight Mile Interview Special! (Television special). Japan: WOWOW.
^ "ADV Court Documents Reveal Amounts Paid for 29 Anime Titles - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
^ Anime from FUNimation Entertainment - THE BEST IN ANIME Archived 2008-07-10 at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

Moonlight Mile (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

[1] Yasuo Ōtagaki, Ken Noguchi (2007). Moonlight Mile Interview Special! (Television special). Japan: WOWOW.

[2] "ADV Court Documents Reveal Amounts Paid for 29 Anime Titles - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2012-03-15.

[3] Anime from FUNimation Entertainment - THE BEST IN ANIME Archived 2008-07-10 at the Wayback Machine

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