Sonny Boy (TV series)
Sonny Boy is an original Japanese anime television series animated by Madhouse and written and directed by Shingo Natsume. The series aired from July to October 2021.
| Sonny Boy | |
Key visual of Sonny Boy | |
| Genre | Science fiction, survival[1] |
|---|---|
| Created by | Shingo Natsume |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Shingo Natsume |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Shingo Natsume |
| Music by | Various[a] |
| Studio | Madhouse |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | Tokyo MX, KBS, SUN, BS Asahi, RAB |
| Original run | July 16, 2021 – October 1, 2021 |
| Episodes | 12 |
Sonny Boy utilizes non-traditional storytelling, occasionally skipping over major events and instead focusing on various characters' reactions to those events. While fantasy elements are present, the show primarily uses its setting to explore psychological themes such as identity, social expectation, freedom, and loneliness.[2]
Plot Edit
Midway through a seemingly endless day of summer vacation, third-year middle school student Nagara and his class, along with transfer student Nozomi and the aloof and mysterious Mizuho, are suddenly transported to an alternate dimension. The group calls the new dimension "This World", and finds it has its own set of rules and physics. Over time, while trying to get back home, they realize that they have individual supernatural abilities, but also find it difficult to navigate their own interpersonal relationships.
The class later splits into two groups due to internal conflicts. As both the groups continue journeying to find their way back home, they discover many other students who have spent thousands of years in other "This Worlds".
Characters Edit
- Nagara (長良)
- Voiced by: Aoi Ichikawa[3] (Japanese); Derick Snow[4] (English)
- Nozomi (希)
- Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi[3] (Japanese); Luci Christian[4] (English)
- Mizuho (瑞穂)
- Voiced by: Aoi Yūki[3] (Japanese); Tia Ballard[4] (English)
- Asakaze (朝風)
- Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi[3] (Japanese); Daman Mills[4] (English)
- Rajdhani (ラジダニ, Rajidani)
- Voiced by: Hiroki Gotō[5] (Japanese); Siddhartha Minhas[4] (English)
- Hoshi (明星)
- Voiced by: Ami Naitō[5] (Japanese); Ry McKeand[4] (English)
- Pony (ポニー, Ponī)
- Voiced by: Hana Sato[5] (Japanese); Lauren Landa[4] (English)
- Cap (キャップ, Kyappu)
- Voiced by: Yōji Ueda[5] (Japanese); Patrick Seitz[4] (English)
- Hayato (はやと)
- Voiced by: Shōta Yamamoto[5] (Japanese); David Matranga[4] (English)
- Shanghai (上海, Shanhai)
- Voiced by: Kana Ogino[5]
Production and release Edit
The anime television series was announced on April 28, 2021. The series was animated by Madhouse and written and directed by Shingo Natsume, with original character designs provided by Hisashi Eguchi and Norifumi Kugai adapting the designs for animation. While the first episode was given an early premiere on June 19, 2021,[6] the series officially aired from July 16 to October 1, 2021 on Tokyo MX and other channels.[3][b] Ging Nang Boyz performed the series' theme song "Shōnen Shōjo".[1]
The series was licensed outside of Asia by Funimation.[8] On September 14, 2021, Funimation announced the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on September 16.[4] Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll.[9] Medialink licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia and streamed it in their YouTube channel.[10]
Episode list Edit
| No. | Title [11][c] | Directed by [11] | Written by [11] | Storyboarded by [11] | Original air date [13][b] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Island at the Far End of Summer" Transcription: "Natsu no Hate no Shima" (Japanese: 夏の果ての島) | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | July 16, 2021[d] |
| 2 | "Aliens" Transcription: "Eirianzu" (Japanese: エイリアンズ) | Tomoya Kitagawa | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | July 23, 2021 |
| 3 | "The Cat Who Wore Sandals" Transcription: "Geta o Haita Neko" (Japanese: 下駄を履いたネコ) | Keiichirō Saitō | Shingo Natsume | Keiichirō Saitō | July 30, 2021 |
| 4 | "The Great Monkey Baseball" Transcription: "Idainaru Monkī Bēsubōru" (Japanese: 偉大なるモンキー・ベースボール) | Imu Gahi | Shingo Natsume | Yoshiaki Kawajiri | August 6, 2021 |
| 5 | "Leaping Classrooms" Transcription: "Tobu Kyōshitsu" (Japanese: 跳ぶ教室) | Rei Ishikura | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | August 13, 2021 |
| 6 | "The Long Goodbye" Transcription: "Nagai Sayonara" (Japanese: 長いさよなら) | Tomoya Kitagawa | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | August 20, 2021 |
| 7 | "Road Book" Transcription: "Rōdo Bukku" (Japanese: ロード・ブック) | Kento Matsui | Shingo Natsume | Yoshiaki Kawajiri | August 27, 2021 |
| 8 | "Laughing Dog" Transcription: "Warai Inu" (Japanese: 笑い犬) | Keiichirō Saitō | Shingo Natsume | Keiichirō Saitō | September 3, 2021 |
| 9 | "This Salmon Chazuke Is Missing Its Salmon Nya" Transcription: "Kono Sake Chazuke, Sake Wasureteru Nya" (Japanese: この鮭茶漬け、鮭忘れてるニャ) | Atsushi Kashiwa | Shingo Natsume | Keisuke Kojima | September 10, 2021 |
| 10 | "Summer and the Demon" Transcription: "Natsu to Shura" (Japanese: 夏と修羅) | Tomoya Kitagawa Kento Matsui | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | September 17, 2021 |
| 11 | "The Young Man and the Sea" Transcription: "Shōnen to Umi" (Japanese: 少年と海) | Nichika Ōno | Shingo Natsume | Norifumi Kugai | September 24, 2021 |
| 12 | "Two Years' Vacation" Transcription: "Ni Nenkan no Kyūka" (Japanese: 二年間の休暇) | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | October 1, 2021 |
Soundtrack Edit
The Sonny Boy Soundtrack was released on September 8, 2021.[15][16] Shinichirō Watanabe served as the musical advisor.[17][e]
- Ging Nang Boyz – 少年少女
- Sunset Rollercoaster – Broken Windows
- Sunset Rollercoaster – Seagull
- VIDEOTAPEMUSIC – Summer Storm
- The Natsuyasumi Band – Tune from diamond
- mitsume – 夜釣り
- Sunset Rollercoaster – Let There Be Light Again
- Ogawa & Tokoro – Beacon
- Mid-Air Thief – Yamabiko’s Theme
- Mid-Air Thief – Kodama’s Theme
- Ogawa & Tokoro – Soft Oversight
- mitsume – ソウとセイジ
- Kaneyorimasaru – Kyo no Uta
- The Natsuyasumi Band – Lightship
- mitsume – スペア
- toe – サニーボーイ・ラプソディ
- Conisch – Lune
- Conisch – Jugement
- Conisch – Tour
- Conisch – Soleil
- Conisch – 旅立ちの日に
Reception Edit
Accolades Edit
Sonny Boy received the Excellence Award in the animation category at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival.[18] The series was nominated in two categories in the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Anime of the Year and Director of the Year.[19] The series was also nominated for the Anime Trending Awards in four categories "Best in Original Screenplay", "Best in Sceneries and Visuals", "Mystery or Psychological Anime of the Year" and "SciFi or Mecha Anime of the Year".[20][21]
Critical reception Edit
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Notes Edit
- ^ The series utilizes multiple tracks by several composers throughout its run and does not credit any specific composers for the series' OST as a whole (with the exception of Conisch who composed the musical score for Episode 10).
- ^ a b Tokyo MX listed the series premiere at 24:30 on July 15, 2021, which is July 16 at 12:30 a.m.[7]
- ^ All English titles are taken from Funimation.[12]
- ^ This episode was pre-screened on June 19, 2021.[14]
- ^ Tracklist from the official CD and Spotify tracklist.
References Edit
- ^ a b Loo, Egan (April 28, 2021). "One-Punch Man Helmer Shingo Natsume, Madhouse Reunite for Sci-Fi Survival Anime Sonny Boy". Anime News Network. from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Law and Order with Sonny Boy Director Shingo Natsume". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Loo, Egan (May 13, 2021). "Sci-Fi Survival Anime Sonny Boy Unveils Cast, July 15 Debut". Anime News Network. from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Friedman, Nicholas (September 14, 2021). "Sonny Boy English Dub, Cast and Crew Revealed". Funimation. from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Loo, Egan (July 1, 2021). "Madhouse's Sonny Boy Sci-Fi Anime Announces 6 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Loo, Egan (June 17, 2021). "Madhouse's Sonny Boy Sci-Fi Anime Posts New Video, Visual". Anime News Network. from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "On'ea/On Demando｜Terebi Anime "Sonny Boy -Sanī Bōi-" Kōshiki Saito" On Air/On Demand｜TVアニメ『Sonny Boy -サニーボーイ-』公式サイト [On Air/On Demand｜TV Anime "Sonny Boy" Official Website]. anime.shochiku.co.jp (in Japanese). from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Medellin, Alejandro (April 30, 2021). "Sonny Boy From One Punch Man Director and MADHOUSE Comes to Funimation". Funimation. from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Cardine, Kyle (May 6, 2022). "Trigun, Space Dandy and More Funimation Titles Come to Crunchyroll in May [UPDATED]". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ "Ani-One July New Anime Release!! Sci-fi anime《Sonny Boy》will be streaming on Ani-One this July!". Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Sutōrī｜Terebi Anime "Sonny Boy -Sanī Bōi-" Kōshiki Saito" Story｜TVアニメ『Sonny Boy -サニーボーイ-』公式サイト [Story｜TV Anime "Sonny Boy" Official Website]. anime.shochiku.co.jp (in Japanese). from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Sonny Boy | Watch on Funimation". Funimation. from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Hōsō Jōhō｜Sonny Boy -Sanī Bōi-｜Anime｜Tōkyō Emu Ekkusu" 放送情報｜Sonny Boy -サニーボーイ-｜アニメ｜TOKYO MX [Broadcast Information｜Sonny Boy｜Anime｜Tokyo MX]. Tokyo MX (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Terebi Anime "Sonny Boy -Sanī Bōi-" Kōshiki Saito" TVアニメ『Sonny Boy -サニーボーイ-』公式サイト [TV Anime "Sonny Boy" Official Website]. anime.shochiku.co.jp (in Japanese). from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "銀杏、ミツメ、なつやすみバンドら楽曲収録「Sonny Boy」サントラのトレイラー公開（動画あり）". Natalie (in Japanese). July 15, 2021. from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ "ミツメ、toe、なつやすみバンドら楽曲収録「Sonny Boy」サントラ第2弾のトレイラー公開（動画あり）". Natalie (in Japanese). September 2, 2021. from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Loo, Egan (June 3, 2021). "Sonny Boy Sci-Fi Anime Unveils Musical Artists With Input by Cowboy Bebop's Shinichiro Watanabe". Anime News Network. from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 13, 2022). "Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Sonny Boy, Oddtaxi, More Win Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (February 9, 2022). "Attack on Titan the Final Season Part 1 is Anime of the Year". Anime News Network. from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "Official Results - 8th Anime Trending Awards". Anime Trending Awards. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "Official Results - 8th Anime Trending Awards". Anime Trending Awards. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
External links Edit
- Anime official website (in Japanese)
- Sonny Boy (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia