The official website for the upcoming sci-fi anime film AS ONE has released a teaser trailer, confirming the movie’s theatrical release in Japan on August 22, 2025. The site also announced that Ippei Gyoubu, known for his work on recent Gundam anime series, will be responsible for the mechanical designs in the film.
Director Kobun Shizuno, famous for his work on the Case Closed/Detective Conan films, and Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the character designer behind Neon Genesis Evangelion and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, are already confirmed as part of the production team.
Gyoubu’s past mechanical design credits include Mobile Suit Gundam: Reconguista in G (2014-2015), Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015-2017), and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2022-2023). He also worked on the mechanical design for the original Starwing Paradox game, which inspired the anime.
The movie AS ONE is based on Square Enix’s arcade game Starwing Paradox, released in Japan in November 2018. Serving as a prequel, the film takes place 20 years before the events of the game and introduces a new storyline. The title AS ONE refers to “AZ-One,” the pilot and player of the humanoid robot “Aerial” from the original game.
This original movie explores the game’s world and concept, with newly designed characters by Sadamoto, who also contributed to the character design for the original game. The story was developed by director Shizuno and the production team, including the screenwriters.
The plot follows Yoh, a high school student struggling with his future aspirations and personal relationships. One day, while walking through a Shibuya intersection, Yoh hears a voice in his mind pleading for help and is suddenly engulfed in white light.
Meanwhile, in space, the Va Led Sei Kingdom and Ko Country A Slegga are on the verge of a truce ceremony regarding the energy source “Hoshi no Chi” (“star blood”). When a large piece of orbital debris threatens the truce, robot mechanic Rako rushes to save the situation, despite her plane being in the middle of repairs. After managing to move the debris to the ocean, Rako loses consciousness and meets Yoh in a shared coma state.
The story explores the mysterious encounter between Yoh and Rako, and the intertwined fate of the two characters, “two in one.”
Related topics:
- Exclusive Sneak Peek of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle at Mugen Train Re-Release
- Five New Cast Members Join Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Season 2
- “Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback” Surpasses 10 Billion Yen at Japanese Box Office in 19 Days