Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 is a Japanese animetelevision series that premiered on Fuji TV's noitamina timeslot on July 9, 2009, where it ended its original run on September 17 in that same year. Directed by Masaki Tachibana and written by Natsuko Takahashi, it is an original series co-produced by Bones and Kinema Citrus. The 11-episode series centres on two young siblings, Mirai and Yūki, and single mother Mari who the two meet in the aftermath of a major earthquake hitting the Japanese capital, placed in the near future. It won the Excellence Prize in the Animation category at Japan's Media Arts Festival in 2009. It was announced that the series has been licensed for a release in North America by Maiden Japan released on April 2013.
Plot
After a massive earthquake in Tokyo 25 km under the sea at a magnitude of 8.0, two young siblings Mirai and Yūki, who were visiting a robot exhibition in Odaibaat the beginning of their summer vacation, struggle to reach their parents in their house in Setagaya, assisted by a female motorcycle courier named Mari, who is striving to reach her own daughter and mother in Sangenjaya. Together, the three of them brave the partly ruined city and try their best to make it home safely.
Characters
Mirai Onozawa is a first-year middle school student who attends Rika Girls Academy, a prestigious and selective middle school. At the beginning of the series, she is unsure of what she wants to become later in life, but starts to change this outlook after the earthquake.
Yūki Onozawa is in his third year of elementary school and enthusiastic about robots. He has a somewhat distant relationship with his sister, and does not like to let others know when he is tired or ill.
Mari Kusakabe is a motorcycle courier who assists Mirai and Yūki reach their parents' home after the earthquake happens. They make a promise to reach their home together.
Seiji Onozawa, Mirai and Yūki's father, is injured while at work when the earthquake occurs.
Masami Onozawa is Mirai and Yūki's mother. The earthquake occurs on her birthday.
Mayu is one of Mirai's friends from school. She is seen taking care of her younger siblings while her mother is in a nearby hospital.
Yuka is Mirai's other friend from school. Because of her laziness she tends to do poorly in her studies.
Risa another classmate of Mirai's. She comes from a rich family and owns a summer house in Canada that was built by her father.
Itsuki is Yuki's best friend who is in the same class as him. Before the earthquake, he and Yuki along with their school teacher planted a tree in their school's yard.
Hina Kusakabe is Mari's daughter age 3 to 5 years old. While Hina's mother was out searching for her, she was staying with her grandmother during the earthquake.
Kento Nonomiya is a middle school boy who becomes friends with Mirai in episode 7. Just like Yuki he is a big fan of robots.
Development and production
The series was first announced at the 2009 Tokyo Anime Fair, denoting that it would replace Eden of the East in Fuji TV's noitamina well-rated anime timeblock and would be co-produced by Bones and Kinema Citrus. The series' setting is based upon the prediction that there is 70% or higher chance of an earthquake measuring 7.0 magnitude on the Richter scale hitting Tokyo in the next 30 years, with the series illustrating the consequences of a magnitude 8.0 earthquake affecting the city. Bones stated that it would try to realistically depict the after-effects of such a situation and that it would collect and tabulate research on previous earthquakes and interview individuals who were affected by them. The series features the efforts of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Coast Guard, Tokyo Fire Department and Tokyo Disaster Medical Assistance Team in assisting recovery efforts after the initial earthquake and its recurring aftershocks. FNNnewscasterChristel Takigawa also features as a guest, reporting on the earthquake and assuming the role of a "navigator" during the series.
Media
The series uses two pieces of theme music. "Your Song" by abingdon boys school is used for the opening theme, while "M/elody" by Shion Tsuji is used for the ending. This series was broadcast only in Italy on Italian television channelRai 4 on August 22, 2011 and ended September 5, 2011 for a time ranging from 10.45am and 11.00am.
