Disney+ Star Japan has announced that Akira Toriyama’s (of Dragon Ball fame) Sand Land is set to receive an anime series adaptation titled SAND LAND: THE SERIES.
Scheduled for an exclusive worldwide release on Disney+ in Spring 2024, the anime will showcase never-before-seen clips from the Sand Land anime film, iconic scenes from the original manga, and a fresh narrative crafted by Toriyama himself, extending the story told in the film. The series’ anime film premiered in Japan on 18 August, and is slated for a North American release in 2024.
The series will reunite audiences with familiar faces, featuring the return of the film’s cast and staff. Toshihisa Yokoshima, renowned for works such as Tales of Crestoria: The Wake of Sin, will resume the directorial role, with Hiroshi Koujina serving as the direction adviser. Hayashi Mori, who worked on Cells at Work! Code Black, will pen the script, while Yoshikazu Iwanami (Ajin) will direct the sound, and Yūgo Kanno (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders) will compose the musical score.
Originally serialised in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from May to August 2000, Sand Land is a brief, one-volume manga with a captivating narrative. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where war has ravaged Earth, as the tale revolves around Sheriff Rao’s quest for a vanished lake, drawing assistance from the king of demons, which brings Beelzebub and his assistant, Thief, into the picture. Together, this unconventional trio embarks on a desert journey, encountering dragons, bandits, and their most formidable adversary — the King’s army.
Excitement surrounding Sand Land doesn’t end with the anime series; an action role-playing game is in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, promising an immersive gaming experience inspired by Toriyama’s imaginative universe.