In the wake of Akira Toriyama’s unfortunate passing, Disney+ has firmed up the release date for Sand Land: The Series. The anime adaptation, based on the Dragon Ball creator’s one-volume manga, will come to the streaming service on 20 March with 13 episodes in tow.
Set to build upon the Sand Land anime film, it showcases never-before-seen clips from the feature, iconic manga scenes, and a fresh narrative crafted by Toriyama himself. The show will also introduce new characters, joining familiar faces like Fiend Prince Beelzebub, Sheriff Rao, and Thief.
The synopsis is as follows:
“Sand Land: The Series transports viewers to a world where the water supply is all but dried up, with the small amount remaining controlled by a greedy king. Tired of suffering under the king’s rule, Sheriff Rao reaches out to Sand Land’s demons for help, with the group setting off on a journey to discover the “Legendary Spring”.
This collaboration between Sunrise (Mobile Suit Gundam, Love Live!), 3DCG animation studio Kamikaze Douga (Pop Team Epic, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), and ANIMA is directed by Toshihisa Yokoshima, known for his work on Tales of Crestoria: The Wake of Sin. Hayashi Mori, of Cells at Work! fame, will pen the script, with Yūgo Kanno (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders) serving as composer.
Mutsumi Tamura, who portrayed Beelzebub in the Sand Land film, is reprising her role in the anime series, alongside Kazuhiro Yamaji’s Rao (Kenny Ackerman in Attack on Titan Season 3) and Chō’s Thief (Regro in Mashle: Magic and Muscles). Satoshi Tsuruoka (Berserker of Red in Fate/Apocrypha) and Nobuo Tobita (Kamille Biden in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam) round out the main cast, playing General Are and Supreme Commander Zeu respectively.
Slated for a 20 March debut on Disney+, Sand Land: The Series joins Bandai Namco’s action RPG adaptation in expanding Toriyama’s imaginative universe. The late manga artist passed away on 1 March, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy that also includes Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, as well as character design stints on the Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon, and Dragon Quest series.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
Trinity Sun
