Terra e (To Terra)
I just discovered a manga series this week called Terra e (To Terra), written and drawn by Takemiya Keiko from 1977-1980, being released this year by Vertical. It is also a movie produced in 1980 and just this year is now a 24-episode anime which started to air last month, I think.
It is a science fiction work about humanity who had to leave their home planet Terra (I guess it's "Earth") due to their gradual destruction to its ecosystem and natural resources. That said, it was decided amongst the general populace that the conduct and emotions of everyone had to be controlled in order to avoid such a recurrence. Now everyone is under the social order of "Universal Control" where humanity is now multiplied by the advances of technology instead of through natural childbirth. Once "born" they are raised by foster parents until the age of 14 and additionally socially conditioned through UC like everyone else. Once 14 they have to go through mandatory "maturity checks" where their brains are scanned for ESP abilities; should none be found their memories are wiped and are then sent to another planet where they will be conditioned to be proud, contributing adult citizens of Terra. However, should ESP abilities be found (which is due to the technological creation of humans and how they adapt thereof as they grow) such people are called "Mu" and would be seen as disrupting the newly constructed order of society and would be outcast. Such a thing has happened to 14-year-old Jomy, and once rejected by his society was taken in by the Mu people and trained by their leader Soldier Blue to be his successor in leading the Mu people back to their homeland "Terra," as well as to challenge "normal" humanity of their status as deserving citizens towards that goal. Other notable characters - Keith Anyan, Physis, Sam, Shiroe - play key roles in how the "war" will turn out.
This work was, to me, very reminiscent of Matsumoto Reiji's works: questioning the morals of the current social order as well as how your own works with it, the importance of the integrity of character no matter what your roots, standing up for your beliefs, the painful-yet-necessary realizations of the "real" world, and the fleetingness of life and how it should be cherished. Takemiya totally makes it her own with her unique story-telling ability and artwork; she is recognized as being a revolutionary in how shoujo manga can and could be told (though Terra is not a shoujo manga per se). It's currently being released as two tankoubans per volume; three volumes in total will be released. Once I've finished the manga I will definitely see the movie and TV anime!
It is a science fiction work about humanity who had to leave their home planet Terra (I guess it's "Earth") due to their gradual destruction to its ecosystem and natural resources. That said, it was decided amongst the general populace that the conduct and emotions of everyone had to be controlled in order to avoid such a recurrence. Now everyone is under the social order of "Universal Control" where humanity is now multiplied by the advances of technology instead of through natural childbirth. Once "born" they are raised by foster parents until the age of 14 and additionally socially conditioned through UC like everyone else. Once 14 they have to go through mandatory "maturity checks" where their brains are scanned for ESP abilities; should none be found their memories are wiped and are then sent to another planet where they will be conditioned to be proud, contributing adult citizens of Terra. However, should ESP abilities be found (which is due to the technological creation of humans and how they adapt thereof as they grow) such people are called "Mu" and would be seen as disrupting the newly constructed order of society and would be outcast. Such a thing has happened to 14-year-old Jomy, and once rejected by his society was taken in by the Mu people and trained by their leader Soldier Blue to be his successor in leading the Mu people back to their homeland "Terra," as well as to challenge "normal" humanity of their status as deserving citizens towards that goal. Other notable characters - Keith Anyan, Physis, Sam, Shiroe - play key roles in how the "war" will turn out.
This work was, to me, very reminiscent of Matsumoto Reiji's works: questioning the morals of the current social order as well as how your own works with it, the importance of the integrity of character no matter what your roots, standing up for your beliefs, the painful-yet-necessary realizations of the "real" world, and the fleetingness of life and how it should be cherished. Takemiya totally makes it her own with her unique story-telling ability and artwork; she is recognized as being a revolutionary in how shoujo manga can and could be told (though Terra is not a shoujo manga per se). It's currently being released as two tankoubans per volume; three volumes in total will be released. Once I've finished the manga I will definitely see the movie and TV anime!