The highly anticipated anime adaptation of “Orb: On the Movements of the Earth” is set to premiere on October 5th. To the delight of fans, the first episode will be a double feature, showcasing two episodes back-to-back. Additionally, a new promotional video has been released, featuring the opening theme song by the band Sakanaction and the ending theme song by Yorushika. Furthermore, the announcement includes the addition of notable voice actors such as Katsuyuki Konishi, Yuichi Nakamura, and Saya Hitomi to the cast.
The highly anticipated anime adaptation of “Orb: On the Movements of the Earth” is set to premiere on NHK General TV on October 5, 2024, at 11:45 PM. The first broadcast will be a special double feature, showcasing two episodes consecutively. To build excitement, a new promotional video has been released featuring both the opening theme song by Sakanaction and the ending theme song by Yorushika. Additionally, the announcement revealed new additions to the voice cast, including Katsuyuki Konishii, Yuichi Nakamura, and Saya Hitomi, as well as updates on the production staff.
“Orb: On the Movements of the Earth” is a TV anime adaptation of the manga by the young genius author Uoto, which won numerous awards including the 26th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Manga Grand Prize. The story follows individuals who risked their lives and beliefs to prove the heliocentric theory.
Set in a European country in the 15th century, a time when the geocentric theory—the belief that the Earth is the center of the universe—was considered absolute truth and challenging this idea was a grave crime, a young prodigy named Rafal encounters a mysterious scholar, Hubert. Hubert introduces Rafal to the possibility of the heliocentric theory, sparking an uncontrollable intellectual curiosity in the young genius.
Haunted by the question, “What must I sacrifice to know everything about this world?”, Rafal dedicates his knowledge, blood, and even his life to proving the heliocentric theory. The anime follows his journey as he faces a perilous fate. The voice cast includes Sakamoto Maaya as the prodigy Rafau, Tsuda Kenjiro as the heretical inquisitor Novak, and Show Hayami as the enigmatic scholar Hubert.
The newly released PV depicts Rafal, captivated by the beauty and possibility of the heliocentric theory as explained by Hubert, declaring his intention to “move the Earth.” Driven by his insatiable curiosity, the young genius risks everything to prove his theory. Despite the looming threat of Novak, a heretical inquisitor determined to maintain the established order, Rafal remains steadfast in his pursuit of truth, no matter the cost. The accompanying music, “Kaiju” by Sakanaction and “Aporia” by Yorushika, further emphasizes the grandeur and significance of Rafal’s quest.
Additionally, the announcement revealed new additions to the voice cast, including Katsuyuki Konishi as the gladiator Oczy, Yuichi Nakamura as the monk Badeni, and Saya Hitomi as the astronomy research assistant Yolenta. Each cast member has also provided comments regarding the release of the series. Moreover, the staff lineup is equally impressive. The anime is directed by Shimizu Kenji, with series composition by Shingo Irie, character design by Shino Masanori, music by Ushio Kensuke, and sound direction by Koizumi Kisuke.
The TV anime “Orb: On the Movements of the Earth” will premiere on NHK General TV on October 5th at 11:45 PM. The first broadcast will be a special double feature, showcasing two episodes consecutively. Following each episode’s broadcast, the series will be available for worldwide streaming on Netflix and free streaming on ABEMA.