Freedom Project

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Freedom

Genre	Science fiction
OVA
Directed by	Shuhei Morita
Studio	Sunrise
No. of episodes	6
Released	24 November 2006
Runtime	30 min^[1]

Freedom Project is a 6-part Japanese OVA series commissioned by Nissin Cup Noodles for their 35th anniversary in 2006, with Katsuhiro Otomo — the creator of Akira and Steamboy fame — serving as the character and mecha designer. The director of the series is Shuhei Morita, creator of the award-winning animation short Kakurenbo.

The OVA is animated and produced by Sunrise and distributed by Bandai Visual. "Freedom Committee" is the collective term used for the entire creative team behind Freedom, which includes animators and production staff members who have previously worked on Steamboy.

The theme song for the series, titled "This is Love", is performed by popular J-pop idol Utada Hikaru.

1 Marketing
2 The Story
3 Characters
4 DVD release
5 Trivia
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Marketing

Although Freedom Project is a direct-to-video (DVD) animation, it stands apart from conventional OVA series first by the involvement of Otomo, and also from the collaboration with Nissin Cup Noodles resulting in extensive TV advertising scheduled to run through the duration of the series until its conclusion with Freedom 6.

Publicity for the series began April 11, 2006, with large banners and posters featuring concept sketches of the lead characters Takeru, Kazuma and their vehicles lining Tokyo's busiest train stations, such as Shibuya and Shinjuku — the latter being the busiest railway station in the world with 3 million transiting passengers every day. These initial pencil-work posters were later replaced by fully coloured, CG created versions with finished background art, giving the effect of a work-in-progress animation piece being completed.

At the same time, 30-second television spots were shown on TV — short trailers providing a glimpse of the story to unfold in Freedom 1. The fourth advertising spot is currently being shown on Japanese television [January 1st, 2007], and reveals major plot advances from Freedom 2. Some of these spots were made available on the limited-edition Freedom Previsited DVD (see release notes below).

A special Freedom Project page, a tie-up between Yahoo Japan and Nissin will also stream every episode of the series one week before its dvd release date.

Promotional posters for Freedom in Shibuya Station, Tokyo.

Print ads showcasing Katsuhiro Otomo's sketches for the OVA were also released in magazines nation-wide. Shortly before the Freedom 1 DVD release, many popular media, manga and animation magazines ran articles for the OVA, featuring mecha design descriptions and interviews with staff members.

The largely successful publicity campaign for Freedom Project was very well-received by fans of Katsuhiro Otomo and animation fans in Japan, who saw him returning to his strengths of designing stylish mecha and memorable characters.

[edit] The Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Freedom Project is about a child, Takeru, discovering a secret that could change the very society he depends upon.

A promotional poster for Freedom Project.

Civilization on the Earth was destroyed by a permanent abnormal climate shift. Cities of one-million people had been built on the moon and became the only place where humanity still survived. The remaining population declared the foundation of Republic Eden, then set forth expanding those lunar colonies that loved peace and freedom. However, one boy’s actions would later come to shake Eden’s peaceful existence...

More than 160 years have passed since then. In Eden, children complete their compulsory education program when they are 15 years old. They are then integrated into the society as citizens. During their brief moratorium, they are granted freedom. Like other boys, Takeru decides to take part in a race with his friends using machines particular to the moon, called “Vehicle”. But what distinguishes Takeru is that he has constructed his own vehicle, and by this act, he touches on the secret hidden in Eden.

In the year of 2267, Eden hides two freedoms.

[edit] Characters

Takeru — Age: 15 Height: 170cm A third-generation moon-dweller with a big appetite for Cup Noodles, Takeru has a warm and cheerful personality but is somewhat shy with girls. Takeru has a fascination for visiting the Earth. (Voiced by Daisuke Namikawa.)

Kazuma — Age: 15 Height: 175cm A close friend of Takeru, Kazuma is the quiet and cool type. He has a younger sister Chiyo. (Voiced by Morikubo Shotaro.)

Bisu — Age: 15 Height: 160cm Close friends with Takeru and Kazuma, Bisu has an introverted nature. Although not an accomplished rider, he is an ace with vehicle mechanics.

Taira — Age: 15 Height: 171cm A Tube Race rival that Takeru met and lost out to in Freedom 1. Taira is an extremely accomplished rider and leader of the Tube Racers group called Moon Shine.

Junk — The owner of Moonraker, a garage found in Eden. This was where Takeru's vehicle was repaired and modified in preparation for the Tube Race in Freedom 1.

Aran — A senior member of Freedom living in the subterranean levels of Eden's domes. He provides the high-powered engine for Takeru's damaged vehicle after his disastrous challenge with Taira. Aran also dons an Apollo jacket similar to the one worn by Takeru.

Chiyo — Kazuma's younger sister.

Gosshu — A member of Moon Shine.

Naomi — A member of Moon Shine.

[edit] DVD release

Freedom Previsited, a special limited-edition DVD that was released on October 27, 2006, features a 6-minute prologue of Freedom as well as various staff interviews, and was quickly snapped up by eager fans upon release, many by preorders made through online websites. The DVD is now officially sold out.

Freedom 1, the first episode from the series, was released on DVD on November 24, 2006.

Freedom 2 was released on February 23, 2007.

Freedom 3 will be released on April 25, 2007.

On Tuesday the 9th of January, Bandai Visual announced Freedom Project as a title in its first wave of releases on HD DVD to be released in the Summer of 2007.

[edit] Trivia

The series openly flaunts product placement of the corporate sponsor in numerous scenes where characters are shown consuming Nissin Cup Noodles.

As with most other major film and animation releases in Japan, a wide array of promotional merchandise was marketed before and during the OVA's release, including Nissin Cup Noodles with lead character Takeru printed on the lid, small desktop figurines, a 4 flavours Nissin Cup Noodles bundled Freedom dvd gift set, a limited Nissin Cup Noodle container and badges designed by video rental outlet Tsutaya that came free with the purchase of Freedom 1, among tie-ins with other retailers.

A life-sized version of Takeru's tri-cycle vehicle was specially designed for the launch of Freedom Project and was on display during the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival.