Netflix’s new sci-fi anime, Moonrise, represents a high-profile collaboration designed to captivate both new and seasoned anime fans. Despite Netflix’s potentially insufficient promotion prior to release, the collaborative effort includes director Masashi Koizuka from Wit Studio (Attack on Titan), character designer Hiromu Arakawa from Fullmetal Alchemist, and scriptwriter Tow Ubukata (Fafner in the Azure). The series promised a space opera akin to the styles of Star Wars and Space Battleship Yamato, setting high expectations before any footage was available. However, the series’ narrative attempts to juggle its engaging sci-fi action scenes and animation, which at times leads to an uneven viewer experience within Netflix’s binge-watch model.
Moonrise is set in a near-future utopia devoid of racial discrimination, war, pollution, and prejudice, primarily due to a global AI network named Sapientia, which governs the world’s political landscape. Earth endeavors to manage past issues with a lunar development project, sending criminals and pollutants to the moon, which sparks a civil war among three factions: a rebel moon army, lunar loyalists to Sapientia, and Earth’s unified military. The storyline centers on Jack Shadow, a character driven by personal loss who aims to neutralize the rebel leader Bob Skylum, "the king of the moon," only to discover a childhood friend among the opposition.
The anime channels Hollywood-level space opera grandeur, brought to life through impressive CG space freighters and intricately drawn fight scenes, reminiscent of the acrobatics in Attack on Titan and aspects of Destiny 2. Politically charged themes resonate with the socio-political climate of 2025, where disenfranchised moon rebels criticize the economic privilege of Earth’s inhabitants. A unique magical element called "engrave" allows characters to transform special matter into energy-based weapons, contributing to the anime’s stylized appeal.
Hiromu Arakawa’s character designs add a distinctive touch, with diverse physiques and ethnicities enriching the series and reflecting real-world diversity. However, Moonrise struggles to consistently balance its narrative, particularly past its midpoint, where themes and story clarity begin to wane.
The storytelling approach leaves gaps, with characters casually referencing years passing between scenes, creating confusion for viewers attempting to follow motivations and dynamics. Despite attempting to interweave numerous elements in an 18-episode run—an ambitious length compared to a typical 12-episode season—Moonrise grapples with narrative cohesion. Rather than a fully realized story, it presents a rushed semblance, like a finale collapsing under its scope.
Supporting characters, although visually compelling, are largely underdeveloped. Scenes potentially providing depth, like ending sequences, are often circumvented by Netflix autoplay, resulting in essential character insights being missed.
The series’ resolution is muddled by an abrupt introduction of new elements that detract from its initial political intrigue. Although action sequences promise sci-fi magnificence, the incomplete narrative and disengaging conclusion reduce its potential commentary to a subpar iteration of its premise. All 18 episodes of Moonrise are now available for streaming on Netflix.
