Akira Toriyama’s SAND LAND manga anime adaptation to premiere on August 18

Fans of Akira Toriyama’s works, particularly his manga series, have something to look forward to this August 18. The teaser website for the SAND LAND Project announced that a SAND LAND anime film adaptation will be released in Japanese theatres on this date. The announcement was made on World Water Day, and the animation will be produced by Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima. Here’s what we know so far.

A short-lived manga

SAND LAND is a short series that Toriyama published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from May to August 2000. Despite its brief serialization, the manga garnered a following among Toriyama’s fans. Shueisha compiled the series into a single book volume in November 2000. Viz Media publishes the manga in English.

About SAND LAND manga

The story is set in a far future where the earth has been destroyed by war, leaving a barren wasteland where water is scarce and controlled by a greedy king. The protagonist, Sheriff Rao, enlists the help of the king of the demons in search of a long-lost lake. Accompanying him are the king’s son, Beelzebub, and Thief, his assistant, as they embark on a journey across the desert, facing challenges such as dragons, bandits, and the king’s army. (Also Read: Solo Leveling anime adaptation to hit screens in winter 2024)

Akira Toriyama’s renowned works

Akira Toriyama is a renowned manga artist and character designer. It all started in 1980 with the debut of his first serialized manga, Dr. Slump, which quickly became a hit and spawned two animated series and numerous movies. But it was his magnum opus, Dragon Ball, which propelled him to superstardom. Running from 1984 to 1995, this epic saga of martial arts and friendship continues to capture the hearts of generations. Beyond manga, Toriyama’s talents extend to video games, where he serves as the character designer for iconic titles such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon.

SAND LAND anime film production

Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima are collaborating on the animation production. The film adaptation was initially announced as a “screen adaptation” in December. Fans are eagerly anticipating more news about the upcoming film, such as who will direct and who will compose the music. The website features character visuals that tease what fans can expect from the upcoming adaptation.

Fans of Akira Toriyama’s works can’t wait to see what the SAND LAND anime film adaptation has in store for them. Despite being a short-lived manga, the story is intriguing and promises to be an exciting adventure. The animation is being produced by an impressive collaboration of animation studios, and fans are excited about what this team can achieve. All that’s left to do is wait patiently for August 18 and hope that the film adaptation lives up to the hype.