Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor – Heaven and Earth

Fafner: Heaven and Earth / 蒼穹のファフナー Dead Aggressor HEAVEN AND EARTH / Fafner in the Azure: Dead Aggressor - Heaven and Earth

Genres: Action, Drama, Mecha, Military, Sci-Fi
Themes: Mecha, Military
Studios: Xebec
Producers: King Records, KlockWorx, Movic, Production I.G
Licensors: Funimation
Rating: 7.35 / 10
Rank: #2628
Popularity: #5780
Users Listed: 15,698
Users Scored: 6,123
NSFW: No
Last Updated: 11/27/2022
Aired: December 25, 2010 (Fall)
Type: movie
Source: original
Age Rating: PG 13
Episodes: 1

Synopsis:

In 2148, the aftermath of a devastating conflict continues to shape the lives of those on Tatsumiya Island. Kazuki, physically and emotionally scarred from past battles against the Festum, finds renewed purpose in fulfilling a promise to his deceased comrade. When an unidentified lifeform is discovered within a derelict submarine, hope sparks but quickly gives way to uncertainty. The arrival of Misao Kurusu, a enigmatic youth claiming to be a messenger from the past, throws the fragile peace into turmoil.

Misao's presence reignites tensions between humanity and the Festum, forcing the remaining Fafner pilots into a desperate struggle. The narrative explores themes of loss, duty, and the blurred lines between humanity and something else entirely as the pilots confront a new and potentially catastrophic threat – one that could determine the future of two distinct races. The series presents a somber atmosphere, focusing on character-driven conflict amid large-scale battles.

Trailer:

Streaming Platforms:

Crunchyroll

Characters:

Kurusu, Misao (Main) - Voice Actors: Kimura, Ryouhei, McDonald, Joel
Makabe, Kazuki (Main) - Voice Actors: Ishii, Makoto, Solusod, Micah
Chen, Jingjing (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Komatsu, Michiko, Seidel, Lindsay
del Gnoni, Vera (Supporting)
Douma, Hiroto (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Sasaki, Nozomu, Burnett, Chris
Hazama, Youko (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Katsuragi, Nanaho, Mackay, Lydia
Hino, Miwa (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Morohoshi, Sumire, Ballard, Tia
Kamp, Ian (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Terasoma, Masaki, Chandler, Andrew
Kaname, Sakura (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Arai, Satomi, Clark, Leah
Kaname, Kiyomi (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Ishikawa, Shizuka, Clinkenbeard, Colleen
Kasugai, Kouyou (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Irino, Miyu
Kodate, Tamotsu (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Takase, Akimitsu, Huber, Chuck
Kondou, Kenji (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Shiraishi, Minoru, Tindle, Austin
Makabe, Fumihiko (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Tanaka, Masahiko, Mathis, Brian
Makabe, Akane (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Toyoguchi, Megumi, Seman, Jennifer
Marcy, Jeremy Lee (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Endou, Aya, Munoz, Anastasia
Memphis, Canon (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Kobayashi, Sanae, Garrett, Morgan
Minashiro, Soushi (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Kiyasu, Kouhei, Grelle, Jessie James
Minashiro, Tsubaki (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Nakanishi, Tamaki, Kang, Kristi
Mizoguchi, Kyousuke (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Rager, Chris, Hashi, Takaya
Nishio, Ikumi (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Kyouda, Hisako, Erickson, Juli
Nishio, Rina (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Shiraishi, Ryouko, Marchi, Jamie
Nishio, Akira (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Kaji, Yuuki, Bryant, Ben
Tatekami, Seri (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Fukuen, Misato, Saxton, Jad
Toomi, Maya (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Sheh, Stephanie, Matsumoto, Marika
Toomi, Chizuru (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Christian, Luci, Shinohara, Emi
Toomi, Yumiko (Supporting) - Voice Actors: Yukana, Cranz, Cynthia

Staff:

Chino, Takatoshi (Producer)
Cook, Justin (Producer)
Nakanishi, Go (Producer)
Suzuki, Toshimasa (Director, Episode Director, Storyboard)
Mima, Masafumi (Sound Director)
Takahashi, Hideya (Episode Director)
Ubukata, Tow (Script)
KATSU (Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement)
angela (Theme Song Performance)
atsuko (Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Lyrics)
Aisaka, Naoki (Key Animation)
Aizawa, Shuusuke (Key Animation)
Aoki, Takashi (Director of Photography)
Arai, Ken (Background Art)
Araki, Yutaka (2nd Key Animation)
Asaka, Kazuyuki (Assistant Animation Director, Key Animation)
Fujiwara, Natsuko (2nd Key Animation)
Fukunaga, Gen (Executive Producer)
Gotou, Arihiro (Key Animation)
Hatano, Yuusuke (In-Between Animation)
Hidaka, Mayumi (Key Animation)
Higuchi, Kaori (Key Animation)
Hirai, Hisashi (Character Design)
Ichino, Maria (Key Animation)
Imoto, Miho (2nd Key Animation)
Imoto, Kazuaki (2nd Key Animation)
Ishihara, Mitsuru (Key Animation)
Ishikawa, Taketomo (2nd Key Animation)
Ishimori, Ai (2nd Key Animation)
Itou, Yuuji (Animation Director)
Itou, Kuniyuki (In-Between Animation)
Itou, Kaori (2nd Key Animation)
Kiso, Yuuta (Key Animation)
Kitamura, Tomoyuki (Key Animation)
Kouno, Yoshitaka (Animation Director)
Kubota, Maiko (2nd Key Animation)
Kurahashi, Hiromune (Sound Effects)
Matsukawa, Tetsuya (Key Animation)
Matsuoka, Hideaki (Key Animation)
McDonald, Joel (ADR Director)
Mitsuwaka, Takayo (Key Animation)
Mori, Miyuki (2nd Key Animation)
Myoukan, Yuuko (Production Assistant)
Nagata, Yoshitaka (In-Between Animation)
Nagumo, Aya (Key Animation, 2nd Key Animation)
Nakamura, Ryouko (2nd Key Animation)
Nakano, Tsuyoshi (Special Effects)
Nantou, Toshiyuki (Key Animation)
Nishi, Kousuke (Production Manager)
Nishiya, Yasushi (Key Animation, Assistant Animation Director)
... and 30 more staff

Reviews:

User Kasalo_ZIK (Score: 8/10):
Heaven & Earth is an excellent must-watch bridge between the first season of Soukyuu no Fafner and Exodus. If you want to watch Fafner: Exodus, be sure not to miss this movie. The story tells about what happened with Soushi and who is Misao Kurusu. So you will be a bit confused if you miss it. Plot: If you hope to find answers to the questions in this film, that you might have after watching the first season, forget about it! The plot more complicated than was before. Besides the plot is overdosed on different stuff and notions that are typical of Fafner, such as Mir,Core, assimilation, there are also raises issues regarding Festum essences and aspirations. As a result, your brain couldn't stand this. But fans certainly will be satisfied, because the intricate story is one of the main features of Fafner series.nnArt: The graphic has become much more detailed and technological comparing with the first season. The difference is enormous. Animators have tried to make the movie looks fantastic. But if you look at objects in the background, you will see the lack of details. The general style remains the same as in the first season.nnCharacters:nThe focus is on the relationship between Kazuki and Misao. Misao is a mysterious and ambiguous character, and it is exciting to watch him. The rest of the main characters from the first season here get a little attention. The role of the central combat units is performed by characters who were in the background during the whole first season.nnOverall:nFans of the original series certainly will be delighted. The movie is entertaining, sometimes touching, and has impressive animation. The fans of the franchise and mecha genre at all should watch this movie.
User theGodde (Score: 8/10):
Heaven and Earth takes everything that worked from the original series and builds on it. There is a stronger thematic structure and a more focused plot. The story picks up two years after the end of the main series and while it doesn't take full advantage of this change to grow the characters, it still feels like they have settled into a new status quo. That said Heaven and Earth doesn't bother to properly reintroduce the returning characters. If you haven't seen the original series then this show won't make any sense. It doesn't bother re-explaining anything, from Fafners to Festums to Mirs. It's allassuming you're already familiar with these concepts.nnThe animation was a massive step up from the original series. The fights are incredibly dynamic and fluid. The overall quality massively improves upon everything. This movie still holds up today. None of the CG feels dated (if you were even able to spot it). That said it still has the same issue from the main series where all the character designs look very similar. That combined with the introduction of a few new characters and further focus on some lesser side characters from the original series meant there were a lot of new (but similar) faces to differentiate from. nnThe characters were good, but nothing incredible. However the standout here was Kurusu, the new addition. His personal struggle is the heart of the movie, and it's well tied in to the themes and concepts the film focused on. A lot of the side characters had multiple separate arcs that arguably shouldn't have worked, but they were all tied together through the main theme of the cost of war, and it helped to paint the picture of war being a grand but ultimately futile struggle with a terrible toll - something that may not have had the same impact if it had focused on only a few main characters.nnOverall I'd say this is a must watch if you have seen the original series. If you haven't then this is hard to recommend. It comes with the price tag of having to watch through over a dozen episodes of mediocre garbage in the original series to get to this. However if the rest of the franchise continues to be this consistent it might just be worth it.

News:

North American Anime & Manga Releases for July (07/07/2020)
North American Anime & Manga Releases for November (11/04/2015)
FUNimation Entertainment Acquires Soukyuu no Fafner and Hottarake no Shima: Haruka to Mahou no Kagami (10/14/2011)
New Anime of Soukyuu no Fafner Announced (07/09/2011)
New Project of Soukyu no Fafner Announced (12/22/2009)

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Related Anime/Manga:

Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor (anime - Prequel)
Soukyuu no Fafner: Dead Aggressor - Exodus (anime - Sequel)