Key Facts

• Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise premieres on December 5
• Rihito Itagaki voices protagonist Hitoshi Tamaru
• Tomoya Nakamura voices supporting character Keisuke Yoshiki
• The story is set during the Battle of Peleliu in 1944
• Itagaki visited Peleliu Island prior to recording

The anime film Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise, adapted from Kazuyoshi Takeda’s manga depicting the Battle of Peleliu with stylized characters, will be released on December 5. Rihito Itagaki voices Hitoshi Tamaru, a gentle young man aspiring to become a manga artist, while Tomoya Nakamura plays his trusted companion, Keisuke Yoshiki. The film portrays their struggle to survive during one of World War II’s most brutal battles.

Rihito Itagaki and Tomoya Nakamura Lead the Cast

The voice cast for Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise has been announced. Rihito Itagaki will play Hitoshi Tamaru, a 21-year-old Japanese soldier who serves as an “Achievement Record Officer,” documenting the final moments of fallen comrades for their families. Tomoya Nakamura will voice Keisuke Yoshiki, Tamaru’s dependable fellow soldier and emotional support in the harsh wartime environment.

Prior to recording, Itagaki visited Peleliu Island in Palau, where the actual battle took place. He explored remaining war sites and reflected on the young soldiers who fought and died there. His experience informed his approach to portraying Tamaru's complex emotions under extreme conditions.

A Harsh Setting Behind a Stylized Design

Despite its three-headed character designs, the film delivers an unflinching depiction of the Pacific War’s brutality. Set in 1944, the story follows Tamaru and Yoshiki as they endure hunger, disease, and relentless attacks on Peleliu Island. Japanese troops, numbering around 10,000, face over 40,000 American soldiers in a drawn-out, desperate conflict.

The film illustrates the psychological and physical toll of war, focusing on the relationship between Tamaru and Yoshiki. Tamaru must often fictionalize or beautify the accounts of his fallen friends, torn between truth and hope for the families waiting back home. The movie presents a sobering look at the cost of survival under extreme duress.

Story and Themes of Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise

Set during the final months of World War II, Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise centers on Hitoshi Tamaru, an aspiring manga artist who is assigned a unique role: to write accounts of his fallen comrades for their families. These embellished “achievement reports” are a means of preserving dignity amid a hopeless battlefield.

The film explores the emotional struggles of young soldiers facing death at every moment. Tamaru and Yoshiki form a deep bond as they try to support each other through a battle that left only 34 Japanese survivors. The story emphasizes the humanity behind every uniform and the universal desire to return home.

The teaser trailer opens with Tamaru’s line: “Mother, are you doing well? I’m working as an Achievement Record Officer for fallen comrades.” The film uses such moments to highlight both the personal and historical dimensions of wartime memory.

Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise Trailer

Source : ORICON NEWS