Ep. 079「Stardust Memory」｜未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future Official Website

EPISODE 079

Ep. 079「Stardust Memory」

Episode 079 Stardust Memory Animation Production LinQ

SYNOPSIS

Yoshimura, a space janitor who has spent 10 years collecting space debris is urged to retire by his boss, due to advances in AI technology. His replacement is a young pilot named Umi. While Umi takes her training seriously, Yoshimura remains unmotivated. However, the two soon find themselves facing a critical emergency.

CHARACTERS

Yoshimura

CV Koichi Yamadera

A long-time pilot of a space debris collection vessel.
He carries the painful memory of losing his daughter in a space debris collision.
Umi Nagahama

CV Saori Hayami

A newly assigned co-pilot on the space debris collection vessel, working under Yoshimura.

STAFF&CAST

Animation Production: LinQ

STAFF

Director: Norio Kashima
Screenplay: Yasushi Hirano
CG Director: Tatsuya Kouno
Character Design: smakidori
Character Supervisor: Yuta Hatayama
Mechanical Designer: Kenji Teraoka
Director of Photography: Maki Ueda

CAST

Yoshimura: Koichi
Yamadera
Umi Nagahama: Saori Hayami
SDK/Kanon: Mariya Ise
Sanders: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Jackson: Tsuyoshi Koyama
MR. ONION: Kenichi Ogata
Narrator: Mari Yokoo

Executive Producer : Masuo Ueda

When I heard that Yanmar was making an anime, I was shocked. It was like being hit on the head with a hammer. And a robot anime at that!? And it doesn’t even have weapons? A non-combat, weaponless robot?

I started my anime career with Mobile Suit Gundam and never imagined that at this age, I'd be working on another robot anime.

However, as I learned more, I became fascinated by the project's challenging nature and the team's enthusiasm. Now, I am deeply engrossed in it. This might be my last major project in my anime career, and I am incredibly happy to be part of this exciting endeavor.

Masuo Ueda

Chief Branding Officer (CBO),
Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. : Akihiro Nagaya

Anime is a medium that creates an immersive story and universe, it can also reflect Yanmar's future vision. The narrative themes—the relationship between humans and machines, coexistence with nature, and characters growing through believing in their potential—align fundamentally with Yanmar's "HANASAKA" values and our driving force of "WAKUWAKU" (excitement and passion).
We aim to create a unique worldview where the fictional anime universe and our real world influence each other. This is our ambitious project, brought to life through Japan's renowned anime artistry.
We hope that Yanmar's "WAKUWAKU" spirit resonates with viewers of this anime, inspiring powerful steps toward creating a more prosperous society.

Akihiro Nagaya

Composer : Noriyasu Agematsu （Elements Garden）

As both a musician and an anime creator, I was deeply moved by Yanmar's vision to convey hope for the future to the world through anime. The journey of how a company specializing in construction and agricultural machinery ventured into robot anime production was so inventive and full of a spirit of challenge, and it made me decide to accept the offer, thinking, "If there’s any way I can contribute, I want to help." When composing this piece, I carefully considered how to express the world of 未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future and create music that would deeply connect with V.W.P's young and dedicated fans. Lyricist Hibiki has crafted each word with precision, viewing young people's struggles not just as personal challenges but as part of a cosmic narrative, while still grounding them in everyday reality. I sincerely hope that this anime becomes a source of solace for people all around the world.

Noriyasu Agematsu

Producer : Akihiro Tomita

未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future feels like a "mythology for a new era" offering both imaginative and realistic challenges for today’s younger generation as they navigate the present and shape the future. While it was certainly a pleasure to be in charge of the theme song for such an outstanding anime work, I feel honored to have worked on its production alongside Noriyasu Agematsu and Yusuke Takeda from Elements Garden, and to collaborate with the wonderful members of V.W.P. I hope everyone will enjoy the series along with the theme song, "AI=UTA."

Akihiro Tomita

Director : Norio Kashima

We invite you to join Yoshimura, a debris collection pilot, on his journey through grief as a parent. This story illustrates the Butterfly Effect, demonstrating how even minor factors—such as the presence of space debris— can trigger a devastating chain reaction, leading to the loss of Yoshimura's daughter, a young space pilot. The story begins ten years after his tragic loss when a promising young pilot becomes his partner. The dynamic between this seasoned veteran and the young pilot sets off an unexpected chain of events. We hope you enjoy the full CGI animation, portraying their determination to avert another tragedy.

as Yoshimura : Koichi Yamadera

"An aging debris collection pilot forced into retirement by AI"—this role is an absolute challenge for me, both in terms of its setting and the character’s age! I was really moved by the true reason behind his desperation to hold onto his job, despite being labeled an "old fogey." Having the chance to read not just the anime script but also the earlier-stage scenario really deepened my understanding of the story. I also felt incredibly lucky that the entire voice cast could gather and record together. I was especially inspired by Saori Hayami’s incredible performance as Umi.

A truly fitting first episode for this captivating anthology series—don’t miss it!

as Umi Nagahama : Saori Hayami

Umi is a lively and straightforward girl who speaks her mind, even to those older than her. At first glance, she seems blunt, but she actually has a strong sense of empathy and consideration for others. The dialogue had a great rhythm, making the recording sessions a lot of fun.

未ル(Miru) is an anthology series that explores a single world through various perspectives and expressions. I hope you enjoy its unique storytelling!

Director : Okamoto

Growing up in a rural part of Japan where anime broadcasts were limited, the "Yanboh and Marboh Weather Forecast" was a cherished part of my childhood.
In this episode, we explore the story of a young man pursuing his childhood dreams. My heartfelt wish is that his journey becomes "a butterfly's wingbeat," inspiring and shaping someone's future.

Director : Tomohiro Kawamura

"Who am I?" "Why have I come to this era?" These questions guide the journey of MIRU, a robot whose destiny forever changes after an encounter with a young pianist. We invite you to enjoy this unique episode, designed as an intriguing "Episode 0."

Director : Naofumi Mishina

During our daily production meetings, the staff exchange ideas about concepts that would visually captivate our audience. Meanwhile, I find myself creating a story about a bleak future. There's an odd satisfaction in this juxtaposition, and I'm looking forward to the final result.

Director : Saori Nakashiki

Greetings, this is Nakashiki, the director of episode 926 of 未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future. This episode serves as an origin story featuring the energetic girl Airu and the mysterious robotic dog Pochimaru. I hope their journey toward a future full of flowers will leave a lasting impression in your hearts!

Artist : MIYAVI

Yanmar's heartfelt passion in stating: "We want to create opportunities to inspire excitement about the future together with the next generation," really inspired me to take on the challenge of creating the song "Find A Way." This track serves as the ending theme for the anime 未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future, which connects the world of anime and reality. It also represents an ambitious project to reimagine the iconic “The Yanboh & Marboh Song” that I grew up hearing as a child in Osaka. As a musician, I feel deeply honored to be part of this project.

By working together with others, we can discover unseen possibilities and pave new paths.

As a solo artist, I sometimes feel a sense of envy when I see young musicians performing and enjoying their creative journeys with bands and friends. However, I realize that even as a solo artist, I rely heavily on the support of many people to bring a live performance to life—my manager, fellow performers, stage directors, and other staff. There are things you can't achieve alone, but when you have a team or companions, you can accomplish much more. I believe that by continuing to take on challenges, our actions can contribute to a brighter future—and that we can continue to bloom and thrive through these efforts. The characters in the anime deeply resonate with the core message of this song in that they face inner conflicts but ultimately find companions, help each other, and push forward toward the future. If this work inspires even one person to take a new step toward their future, there could be no greater joy for me as a creator.

未ル(Miru): Paths To My Future