Square Enix’s sci-fi arcade game Starwing Paradox is making a grand return in the form of a prequel anime film titled As One. Set to premiere in Japanese theaters on August 22, 2025, the film promises to expand the game’s universe with an entirely new story that takes place 20 years before the events of the game.
A Blast from the Past: Starwing Paradox
Starwing Paradox was an arcade mecha action game developed by Square Enix, featuring animation by Sunrise. Released in 2018, the game centered around a war between two alien nations on the planet Meguriboshi, battling over a powerful energy resource called Hoshinochi. Humans from Earth remotely piloted giant humanoid mechas, known as Air Real, to participate in the high-speed 8v8 battles. Despite its all-star creative team and strong voice cast, Square Enix discontinued updates for the game and its companion mobile app in 2020 and shut down the servers in October 2021.
As One: A Prequel Story
Instead of a direct adaptation, As One will explore an original prequel story set two decades before the game’s events. The film centers on Yo, a high school student passionate about music but facing opposition from his parents. He also feels disconnected from his bandmates. One day, he hears a voice in his head crying out for help and becomes enveloped in a bright light. Meanwhile, on the planet Meguriboshi, Rako, a robot mechanic, falls unconscious while trying to stop massive falling space debris. She then meets Yo in her consciousness, which starts the story. The film unfolds against the backdrop of an attempted ceasefire between two warring countries on Meguriboshi.
The Creative Team Behind As One
As One boasts an impressive team of creators:
- Director: Kobun Shizuno, known for directing multiple Detective Conan films.
- Character Designer: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the legendary artist behind Neon Genesis Evangelion and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, returns to redesign the characters for the film. He also designed the characters for the original game.
- Scriptwriters: Shatner Nishida (Lupin III: Prison of the Past), Kana Matsui, and Masaya Honda (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations).
- Mechanical Designer: Ippei Gyōbu (Gundam: Reconguista in G, Synduality), who also participated in the game, is in charge of the mecha design in the anime.
- Production Supervisors and Producers: Joe Teng and Takafumi Yūki.
- Animation Studio: Honoo and StudioGOONEYS.
- Music: Akio Isutzu.
Sadamoto’s Thoughts
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto shared his excitement for the project: “It’s been a while since I last worked on a feature film. Collaborating with a director for the first time and tackling new creative challenges has made this an incredibly stimulating project. I hope everyone will look forward to it”.
Director’s Vision
Director Kobun Shizuno commented on the film’s connection to the original game: “This work serves as a prequel leading into the grand narrative of the original game. It offers an immersive story that will captivate both longtime fans of the game and those completely unfamiliar with it. The heart of the story lies in the melody played by the protagonist, Yo”. He also mentioned that the film would reveal mysteries that were not mentioned in the original game.
Visuals and Hints
Square Enix has revealed concept art and image boards for As One, offering a glimpse into the film’s visuals. One image shows Yo and Rako meeting in a dreamlike space, while another depicts a powerful mecha engaged in battle.
Square Enix’s Request
Square Enix specifically requested the production team to “make something interesting without getting tied to the content in the game”. This led to the decision to create an original story set 20 years before Starwing Paradox.
With time travel, music, and mecha battles, As One aims to be an ambitious sci-fi anime movie that will bring back the world of Starwing Paradox.
