Every year when January rolls around, anime fans are often treated to a taste of what the year ahead has to offer. Production companies are keen to build hype around their upcoming shows and movies months before their release, and in December of 2021, audiences were treated to a taste of something refreshingly new.
Bubble immediately drew attention when its teaser trailer was released thanks to its breathtaking visuals, intriguing premise, and the incrediby talented staff lined up to create this masterpiece. From the animators to the voice actors, nearly everyone involved seems to be a titan of the anime industry, and if everythings goes well, Bubble has the potential to become an instant classic.
10 Bubble Has A Gravity-Defying Plot
Set in Tokyo, Japan, Bubble follows protagonist Hibiki as he navigates a time after bubbles that break the laws of gravity began descending on the world. This strange phenomenon leads to Tokyo becoming a playground for parkour-loving youngsters who have lost their families, with these young people participating in battles that take advantage of their new, peculiar environment.
When Hibiki makes a reckless move one day and lands in the gravity-shifting sea, he is saved by Uta, a unique girl with mystical powers. When they meet, they hear an unusual sound only they seem to be able to hear, and the film explores what this sound means for them and why they have been led to one another.
9 It’s A Completely Original Work
Bubble isn’t an anime series adaptation based on a manga or webtoon, it’s a piece of media that stands completely on its own. There’s no pre-existing lore to consume or understand for viewers to be able to gain the full experience, which makes sense, considering Netflix is doing a worldwide release and would want as many people as possible to tune in. Though that doesn’t mean Bubble hasn’t taken inspiration from other sources, in the context of Japanese media, Bubble is unique.
8 The Premiere Date Has Already Been Announced
If there are no hitches in the post-production process, Bubble is expected to appear worldwide on Netflix on April 28, 2022, though it’ll first have early screenings at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
That means audiences be able to gain a further understanding of just how well all of Bubble’s incredible components come together rather soon. Those living in Japan also have the option of watching Bubble in theatres, with the movie receiving a theatrical release from May 13 onwards.
7 It’s Animated By Wit Studio
While Wit Studio is known best for its work on Attack On Titan, the studio is also responsible for 2021 sleeper hit Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song, Great Pretender, and The Ancient Magus’ Bridge, among other brilliant productions.
The animators certainly won’t have any trouble animating Hibiki’s parkour escapades, especially after spending so many years animating the scouts swinging around on their ODM gear.
6 It Shares A Director With Attack On Titan And Kabaneri Of The Iron Fortress
Audiences are likely to be in for a spectacle with Tetsuro Araki at the helm, the mastermind behind bringing Eren Jaeger’s complicated yet stunning story to life. Tetsuro’s work has always excelled at dealing with massive scale, which will fit well with Bubble‘s potential for large setpieces and dramatic showdowns.
5 The Writing Has A Very Strong Foundation
Written by the same person that brought Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Psycho-Pass to screens worldwide, the production team behind Bubble didn’t spare any expense in getting Gen Urobuchi, one of the most renowned writers in the anime industry, to lend his skill.
Both Madoka Magica and Psycho-Pass are character-driven franchises famous for making audiences gasp in shock at certain points, which could be an indication that Bubble won’t be as carefree as it may first seem.
4 The Voice Actors Include Both Voice-Acting and Live-Action Veterans
Amongst the roster of voice actors who have been brought onboard for Bubble are Marina Inoue (Armin Arlert from Attack On Titan), Yuki Kaji (Eren Jaeger from Attack On Titan and Shouto Todoroki from My Hero Academia), and Mamoru Miyano (Iketeru Daga from Uramichi Oniisan).
However, cast in the lead role of Hibiki himself is Jun Shison, a member of male actor groups D-BOYS and D2 who often lends himself to live-action projects rather than voice-acting roles. There’s no doubt he’ll breathe some life into the role of Hibiki, standing alongside voice-acting veterans to curate an incredible experience.
3 The Visuals Are Vibrant, Bubbly, And Often Iridescent
Not much needs to be said about Bubble‘s visuals because the trailer itself is so impressively strong. From the opening moments being filled with iridescent bubbles to the glimpses of the overgrown and luminescent Tokyo, every moment of the trailer is a feast for the eyes and leaves the viewers wanting more.
Bubble is being produced by Wit Studio, so impressive visuals are to be expected. However, Bubble incorporates color and vibrancy into its world in a way that makes it almost dreamlike, which shouldn’t go without acknowledgment.
2 The Soundtrack Is Created By Hiroyuki Sawano
Bubble shares a large amount of its talent with global success Attack On Titan, and that includes composer Hiroyuki Sawano. He’s not only worked on the series since its first season but has continued to contribute incredibly atmospheric pieces throughout, including his work on the final, most recent season. He’s also done work on The Seven Deadly Sins, Seraph Of The End, and Blue Exorcist.
1 It Pulls Inspiration From Mermaids
Writer Gen Urobuchi has been quoted saying that he “thought about playing around with a traditional mermaid story”, which is what led him to write Hibiki and Uta’s story. Uta herself seems to be the character inspired by the mermaid stories in question, saving Hibiki from his plunge into the gravity-defying sea.
If so, audiences can start to theorize on what kind of ending Urobachi might give them. The original The Little Mermaid ended tragically, with Ariel dissipating into seafoam after losing her love. It remains to be seen if Hibiki and Uta avoid the same fate.
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