by Movie “Peleliu” Paradise Becomes Hell – Stills Showing the Friendship Between Tamaru (CV: Itagaki Rikito) and Yoshiki (CV: Nakamura Tomoya) Revealed “Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise” depicts the Battle of Peleliu Island, which began on September 15, 1944, when the war situation in Japan was already deteriorating, and the 34 soldiers who remained hidden for two years, unaware of the end of the war, and survived until the end.
The original manga by Kazuyoshi Takeda, serialized in Hakusensha’s “Young Animal” magazine, depicts the madness of war as a daily occurrence with a charming yet overwhelming realism, winning the Excellence Award at the 46th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.
This new milestone in war manga, which has received rave reviews from creators worldwide, is finally being adapted into a theatrical anime. Itagaki Rikito plays the protagonist, Tamaru Hitoshi, a kindhearted aspiring manga artist, while Nakamura Tomoya plays his trusty partner, Yoshiki Keisuke. These two actors, known for their solid performances and frequent appearances in popular works, passionately portray young soldiers trying to survive on a brutal battlefield.
The theme song, “Something Like a Miracle,” is sung by Mone Kamishiraishi, who is active not only as an actress but also as a singer. On a beautiful tropical island, battle after battle, hunger, thirst, and infectious diseases… Young soldiers lose their lives one after another, yearning for their families and their hometowns. Tamaru and Yoshiki desperately try to survive in this brutal world. Suicide was not permitted, and only 34 out of 10,000 survived on the hellish battlefield of Peleliu Island. What did these young men think and live through? A total of 13 stills have been unveiled, capturing every highlight of the film from passionate friendship to vivid battlefield scenes. Scenes include a glimpse of the strong bond between protagonist Tamaru and his trusty partner Yoshiki, as well as scenes of the Japanese troops coming under intense gunfire from the American military, and a beautiful paradise transformed into a hellish sea of blood after a fierce battle. Scenes of Yoshiki supporting each other as they climb a sheer cliff, blowing bubbles under a starry sky while Tamaru calmly watches, evoke the irreplaceable friendship between young men struggling to survive in a harsh environment.
Meanwhile, scenes of Japanese soldiers charging through nighttime gunfire with expressions of determination offer a glimpse into the devastating battlefield that caused immense damage. Additionally, the film includes scenes that capture the individual personalities and lives of each soldier, such as Tamaru being appointed Merit Officer by Lieutenant Shimada (voiced by Hirosato Amano), and Yoshiki, with a terrifying expression, attacking an American soldier to save Tamaru during a battle in the pouring rain. Even in the harshest of battles, soldiers continue to fight, holding on to a glimmer of hope and determination in their hearts, believing in Japan’s victory and returning home alive. This story weaves together the human drama of comrades and the endless damage that continues to befall them. Anticipation is building for this unadorned, realistically rendered battlefield drama.
The animated film “Peleliu: Guernica in Paradise” will be released nationwide on December 5, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. We look forward to hearing more updates. “Peleliu: Guernica in Paradise” Nationwide release on Friday, December 5, 2025 Cast: Itagaki Rikoto / Nakamura Tomoya, Amano Hirosato, Fujii Yuta, Mogi Takamasa, Mikami Eiji Theme song: Kamishiraishi Mone “Something Like a Miracle” (UNIVERSAL MUSIC / Polydor Records) Original work: Takeda Kazuyoshi “Peleliu: Guernica in Paradise” (Hakusensha, Young Animal Comics) Director: Kuji Goro Screenplay: Nishimura Junji, Takeda Kazuyoshi Character design and chief animation director: Nakamori Ryoji Prop design: Iwahata Goichi, Suzuki Noriyoshi Mechanical design: Kaoru Kamiki Art setting: Nakashima Mika, Saruya Katsumi (Studio MAO) Concept board: Mashiki Takamasa, Takeda Yusuke (Bamboo) Art director: Iwatani Kuniko, Kato Hiroshi, Sakagami Hirofumi (Totonyan) Color design: Aki Watanabe, Kazumi Hasegawa (Studio Toys) Director of photography: Shinichi Igarashi (Studio Twinkle) 3DCG director: Tetsuya Nakano (GEMBA) Shinichiro Takahashi (the character for “taka” is pronounced “hashigo-daka”) (STUDIO Katyusha) Editing: Toshihiko Kojima (Okayasu Promotion) Historical research: Takaaki Suzuki Sound director: Chikako Yokota Sound production: HALF H.P. STUDIO Music: Kenji Kawai Production: Shin-Ei Animation x Fuji Distribution: Toei (C) Kazuyoshi Takeda, Hakusensha / 2025 “Peleliu: Guernica in Paradise” Production Committee
