The Sky Crawlers
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese novel
series by Hiroshi Mori
. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha
in June 2001 and spanning five books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilot
s involved in dogfight
warfare, and is set during an alternate historical period. The series is unlike other works by Mori, noted for his series of mystery novels. The art for the series is illustrated by manga artist
Kenji Tsuruta
. The series was adapted into an animated film
, a video game
and a manga series. While the film and game are available in English, the original novels and the manga have not been translated .
(paper back) edition followed on October 2004.
The first book, chronologically, in the series, , was released in June 2004, while the shinshobon edition for this volume followed on October 2004 and the bunkobon edition followed on November 2005. The second book in the series, , followed in June 2005, while its shinshobon edition followed on December 2005 and its bunkobon edition followed on November 2006.
The third book in the series, , followed in June 2006. The fourth book in the series, , was released on June 25, 2007, while the fifth book was released in 2008.
The misplaced publishing order was intended to show there is no need to read the story in the chronological order.
film, directed by Mamoru Oshii
, which was released across Japanese theatres by Warner Bros. Japan
on August 2, 2008. Animated by Production I.G, the film was written by Chihiro Itō, features character designs by Tetsuya Nishio and music by Kenji Kawai
. The series' creator Mori had stated that he felt The Sky Crawlers was the "most difficult" of his works to adapt, and had given his consent to the making of the film after learning of Oshii's involvement as director.
, with a plot based on the 2008 film was developed for the Wii
by Project Aces, the same Namco Bandai
team that was behind the Ace Combat
series. It was released in Japan on October 16, 2008. Xseed Games
has released the game in North America on January 12, 2010.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
series by Hiroshi Mori
Hiroshi Mori (writer)
is a Japanese writer and engineer. He is famous for writing mystery novels – particularly his debut work The Perfect Insider, which won him the first Mephist Award in 1996 – but he considers himself to be a researcher as well as craftsman....
. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha
Chuokoron-Shinsha
is a Japanese publisher. It was established in 1886, under the name . In 1999, it was acquired by The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, subsequently changing its name to Chūōkōron-shinsha.-Profile:...
in June 2001 and spanning five books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
s involved in dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
warfare, and is set during an alternate historical period. The series is unlike other works by Mori, noted for his series of mystery novels. The art for the series is illustrated by manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Kenji Tsuruta
Kenji Tsuruta
is a Japanese manga artist. Among his most famous works is the science fiction series Spirit of Wonder, which has been adapted into an anime series and brought him much acclaim.-Profile:...
. The series was adapted into an animated film
The Sky Crawlers (film)
is a 2008 Japanese anime film, directed by Mamoru Oshii. It is an adaptation of Hiroshi Mori's novel of the same name. It was released across Japanese theatres by Warner Bros. Japan on August 2, 2008. Animated by Production I.G, the film was written by Chihiro Itō, featuring character designs by...
, a video game
The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
is an arcade-style combat flight simulator for the Wii based on the 2008 anime film adaptation of Hiroshi Mori’s novel series The Sky Crawlers. Developed by Access Games, the game was released in Japan by Namco Bandai Games on October 16, 2008. Xseed Games released the game in North America on...
and a manga series. While the film and game are available in English, the original novels and the manga have not been translated .
Publishing history
The first book written and published, but meant to be the last in the series, was The Sky Crawlers, first released in June 2001. A shinshobon (refurbished) edition of the book followed on October 2002, while the bunkobonBunkobon
In Japan, bunkobon are small-format paperback books, designed to be affordable and portable.The great majority of bunkobon are A6 in size...
(paper back) edition followed on October 2004.
The first book, chronologically, in the series, , was released in June 2004, while the shinshobon edition for this volume followed on October 2004 and the bunkobon edition followed on November 2005. The second book in the series, , followed in June 2005, while its shinshobon edition followed on December 2005 and its bunkobon edition followed on November 2006.
The third book in the series, , followed in June 2006. The fourth book in the series, , was released on June 25, 2007, while the fifth book was released in 2008.
The misplaced publishing order was intended to show there is no need to read the story in the chronological order.
Film
The novel was adapted into an animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
film, directed by Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Ghost in the Shell, and Patlabor 2...
, which was released across Japanese theatres by Warner Bros. Japan
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
on August 2, 2008. Animated by Production I.G, the film was written by Chihiro Itō, features character designs by Tetsuya Nishio and music by Kenji Kawai
Kenji Kawai
, born April 23, 1957 in Shinagawa, Tokyo, is a Japanese music composer, for motion pictures, anime movies, video games and televised programs. He has contributed to the musical scores for numerous films from Japan and other countries in Asia, working in film genres as diverse as anime, horror,...
. The series' creator Mori had stated that he felt The Sky Crawlers was the "most difficult" of his works to adapt, and had given his consent to the making of the film after learning of Oshii's involvement as director.
Video game
A video game, The Sky Crawlers: Innocent AcesThe Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces
is an arcade-style combat flight simulator for the Wii based on the 2008 anime film adaptation of Hiroshi Mori’s novel series The Sky Crawlers. Developed by Access Games, the game was released in Japan by Namco Bandai Games on October 16, 2008. Xseed Games released the game in North America on...
, with a plot based on the 2008 film was developed for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
by Project Aces, the same Namco Bandai
Namco Bandai
, also known as the Bandai Namco Group, is a Japanese holding company formed from the merger of Namco and Bandai. It has interests in toys, video games and arcades, anime, and amusement parks. The new entity was founded on September 29, 2005...
team that was behind the Ace Combat
Ace Combat
Ace Combat is a hybrid arcade-simulation flight action video game series featuring 12 games, published by the Japanese company Namco Bandai Games...
series. It was released in Japan on October 16, 2008. Xseed Games
XSEED Games
XSEED redirects here. For the proposed supertall structure see X-Seed 4000.Xseed Games is a video game publisher and distributor founded by former members of Square Enix USA. Their goal is to bring high-quality interactive entertainment to the North American market...
has released the game in North America on January 12, 2010.
Manga
A manga series, based on the game, titled Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, was serialized in the monthly magazine Monthly Comic Blade from November 2008. It was illustrated by Yūho Ueji.External links
- Official novel website
- Director Mamoru Oshii on modern misery and blue-sky ideas.
- "Sky Crawlers" -(The Encyclopedia of Science FictionThe Encyclopedia of Science FictionThe Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is an English language reference work on science fiction.- Publication history :The first edition, edited by Peter Nicholls with John Clute and Brian Stableford appeared in 1979, published by Granada. It was retitled The Science Fiction Encyclopedia in the US...
)