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 | |
Genre | Science fiction, survival[1] |
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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 series primarily uses its setting to explore psychological themes such as identity, social expectation, freedom, and loneliness.[2]
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".
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]
No. | Title [11][c] | Directed by [11] | Written by [11] | Storyboarded by [11] | Original air date [13][b] |
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1 | "The Island at the Far End of Summer" Transliteration: "Natsu no Hate no Shima" (Japanese: 夏の果ての島) | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | July 16, 2021[d] |
2 | "Aliens!" Transliteration: "Eirianzu" (Japanese: エイリアンズ) | Tomoya Kitagawa | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | July 23, 2021 |
3 | "The Cat Who Wore Sandals" Transliteration: "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" Transliteration: "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" Transliteration: "Tobu Kyōshitsu" (Japanese: 跳ぶ教室) | Rei Ishikura | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | August 13, 2021 |
6 | "The Long Goodbye" Transliteration: "Nagai Sayonara" (Japanese: 長いさよなら) | Tomoya Kitagawa | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | August 20, 2021 |
7 | "Road Book" Transliteration: "Rōdo Bukku" (Japanese: ロード・ブック) | Kento Matsui | Shingo Natsume | Yoshiaki Kawajiri | August 27, 2021 |
8 | "Laughing Dog" Transliteration: "Warai Inu" (Japanese: 笑い犬) | Keiichirō Saitō | Shingo Natsume | Keiichirō Saitō | September 3, 2021 |
9 | "This Salmon Chazuke Is Missing Its Salmon Nya" Transliteration: "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" Transliteration: "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" Transliteration: "Shōnen to Umi" (Japanese: 少年と海) | Nichika Ōno | Shingo Natsume | Norifumi Kugai | September 24, 2021 |
12 | "Two Years' Vacation" Transliteration: "Ni Nenkan no Kyūka" (Japanese: 二年間の休暇) | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | Shingo Natsume | October 1, 2021 |
The Sonny Boy Soundtrack was released on September 8, 2021.[15][16] Shinichirō Watanabe served as the musical advisor.[17][e]
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]