A Spirit of the Sun

About A Spirit of the Sun

Here is what A Spirit of the Sun (太陽の黙示録 A Spirit of the Sun) is about, retold in plain terms: a drama and sci-fi anime by MADHOUSE (2006). At its core: On August 10 2002, the eruption of Mount Fuji, as well as a series of large-scale earthquakes tsunamis inflict tremendous damage to Japan, sending the country into a state of emergency. Furthermore, another massive earthquake hit Japan on August 15, splitting the country into two.

Along the way, while Japanese refugees were taken in by various countries, the Japanese government accepted aid from China and the United States, which eventually caused China to govern the North, and the USA to govern the South. 15 years later, the Japanese refugees residing in Taiwan and the Taiwanese citizens find themselves clashing with one another, due to job competition and the unimproving conditions of the Japanese refugees. Genichiro Ryu is a survivor of the catastrophic events that took place in Japan, but was raised in Taiwan by a couple who adopted him.

As a drama title, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Voice work is led by Youji Matsuda as Genichirou Ryuu and Akio Ootsuka as Yang. If you count yourself among viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action, put it on your list. With 2 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

MADHOUSE is the studio behind A Spirit of the Sun, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on drama, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. With a 5.9/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Youji Matsuda voicing Genichirou Ryuu gives the lead role a recognizable voice. Released in 2006, it competed with that season's other new series for attention.