Yanmar Holdings’ original anime project, Miru: Paths To My Future, is set to premiere in April 2025 in Japan, showcasing a unique omnibus series. The official website has revealed the story and cast details for each of the five episodes, promising a diverse and engaging narrative. The anime explores themes of environmentalism and the future, featuring a robot named MIRU who travels through time to help people and inspire positive change.
Episode Breakdown: Stories and Cast
Each episode of Miru: Paths To My Future features a distinct storyline, animation studio, and cast of characters. Masuo Ueda (Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space) serves as executive producer for the series.
Episode 079: “Stardust Memory”
- Story: Yoshimura, a seasoned space debris collector, faces potential retirement due to AI advancements. His replacement, a young pilot named Umi, takes her training seriously, while Yoshimura remains unmotivated. However, a critical emergency forces them to work together.
- Animation Production: LinQ
- Director: Norio Kashima
- Script: Yasushi Hirano
- Character Design: Sumakidori
- Mecha Design: Kenji Teraoka
- Cast:
- Kōichi Yamadera as Yoshimura
- Saori Hayami as Umi Nagahama
- Mariya Ise as SDK/Kanon
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Sanders
- Tsuyoshi Koyama as Jackson
- Kenichi Ogata as MR. ONION
- Mari Yokoo as Narrator
Episode 101: “The King of the Forest”
- Story: Mario, a tour guide living in a tropical rainforest, witnesses the forest’s gradual changes. He discovers an illegal gold mining site, prompting him to confront the environmental issues. The episode is inspired by Japan’s classic “Yanboh and Marboh Weather Forecast.”
- Animation Production: TriF Studio
- Director/Character Design: Okamoto
- Script: Aya Matsui
- Animation Director: Shoko Miyano
- Cast:
- Tomohiro Ōno as Mario vasco Debritto
- Anna Nagase as Young Mario
- Junpei Morita as Mario’s grandfather
- Yasuyuki Kase as Mario’s father
- Honoka Kuroki as Clara
- Makoto Furukawa as ???
Episode 217: “Londonderry Air”
- Story: Ame, a music student working at a construction site to fund her piano studies, finds solace playing a public piano. Her talent is recognized, leading to an invitation to participate in an AI demonstration experiment. Miru plays a key role in her journey.
- Animation Production: Scooter Films x Shirogumi Inc.
- Director: Tomohiro Kawamura
- Character Design: Jino
- Script: Kazuho Hyodo
- Cast:
- Chika Anzai as Ame
- Yoshimasa Hosoya as Miru
- Ami Koshimizu as Big Sis
- Daisuke Hirakawa as Professor
Episode 630: “Re: MIRU”
- Story: Set in a world facing division, conflict, and escalating global warming, a young diplomat named Toshi returns home after a successful negotiation, only to face new challenges. The episode explores themes of environmental responsibility and the potential for creative solutions.
- Animation Production: REIRS
- Director: Naofumi Mishina
- Script: Yasushi Hirano
- Character Draft: Saeko Suzuki
Episode 926: “Wait, I’ll Be There”
- Story: This episode tells the origin story of Airu, an energetic girl, and Pochimaru, a mysterious robotic dog.
- Animation Production: LARX x Studio Hibari
- Director: Saori Nakashiki
- Character Designer/Executive Producer: Terumi Nishii
- Script: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
Thematic Elements and Production
Miru: Paths To My Future is produced by Yanmar Holdings, a Japanese machinery manufacturer. The anime aims to inspire viewers with the message that “the future is in our hands.” The series emphasizes peaceful solutions to global problems, with MIRU, a robot capable of time travel, facilitating positive change through understanding and support. The staff has intentionally avoided traditional hero/villain tropes, focusing on nuanced storytelling and character development.
