It’s Labor Day in the not-too-distant future, and the super-AI Sapientia is unveiling the newest Orbital Elevator. This miracle of technology allows easy and quick travel between Earth and a settlement on the Moon in Moonrise. The celebration is short-lived; an explosion destroys the Orbital Elevator, and a declaration is made: Freedom for the people of the Moon.
Moonrise is the long-anticipated Japanese animated series from Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiramu Arakawa and author Tow Ubukata and it mostly lives up to the hype. Moonrise combines striking visuals, a complex plot, engaging characters, and an intense emotional core to tell the story of Jacob “Jack” Shadow and his companions.
The tragedy that opens the series serves as a call to action for Jack, who not only loses his adoptive parents but is accused of being an accomplice in the bombing. He joins the forces of Earth to fight against the Moon rebels, led by a man called the Moon Devil.
The Meaning of Names
Why the leader of the freedom fighters is called the Moon Devil is a mystery never explained, though in many cultures, moon deities are depicted with crescent crowns that resemble horns. Throughout the series, there are other nods to religion and mythology. Sapientia is a Latin word meaning ”wisdom, memory, or the skilled practice of science”. It is certainly a prescient name for an advanced Artificial Intelligence. The Moon’s capital city, Copernicus, is named after the Polish scientist who originally discovered that the Earth revolves around the Sun. The character Inanna is named after a Sumarian goddess who was given the gift of civilization, much like Sapientia gives the “gift” of civilization on the moon.
Moonrise is symbolic, yet contemporary, take on the mecha genre of anime, with parallels to both modern and classic science fiction. The current use of AI in the real world in terms of making life-or-death decisions in the case of healthcare claims and employment hangs over the plot, making Sapientia a suspicious entity from the very beginning. The characters do not doubt the AI the way the audience does.
Who is Who in Moonrise?
There is a co-dependent dystopia on display in Moonrise. The truth of Jack’s past and future reside within this world, his memories of the Moon at odds with the reality of the attack upon Earth and the actions of Sapientia to bring order. Jack’s ultimate struggle is to come to terms with who he was versus who he is, and what he truly believes in.
The series begins strong, though with limited worldbuilding that leads to many questions, the least of which being the origin of the “Moon Devil” moniker. We are briefly introduced to the Shadow family, but do not get a chance to know them. Sapientia’s existence is taken for granted. We are told this is in the not-too-distant future, but there is little explanation as to how the world got the way it was.
While the worldbuilding is unimpressive, the animation is a feast for the eyes. From the gorgeous soaring Orbital Elevators to the lovely character designs, WIT Studios keeps even the least engaging episodes interesting to watch. While the plot drags halfway through, the artwork keeps the show afloat.
Moonrise is an uneven series with a strong beginning and finish sandwiching a forgettable middle. The characters are engaging, though the Moon’s freedom fighting cadre comes across as unnecessary comic relief. The artwork and animation is breathtaking and manages to pull the production together. Ultimately, Moonrise is a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following the status quo, and what can go wrong when nothing is questioned.
