Trisha Shetty (Editor)

The Sky Crawlers

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Genre
  
Drama, Philosophy

Illustrated by
  
Kenji Tsuruta

Original run
  
June 2001 – 2008

Written by
  
Hiroshi Mori

Published by
  
Chuōkōron-shinsha

Directed by
  
Mamoru Oshii

The Sky Crawlers (スカイ·クロラ, Sukai Kurora) is a Japanese novel series by Hiroshi Mori. First published by Chuōkōron-shinsha in June 2001 and spanning five books, it follows the journeys and tribulations of a group of young fighter pilots involved in dogfight warfare, and is set during an alternate historical period. The series is unlike other works by Mori, noted for his series of mystery novels. The art for the series is illustrated by manga artist Kenji Tsuruta. The series was adapted into an animated film, a video game and a manga series. While the film and game are available in English, the original novels and the manga have not been translated as of February 2010.

Contents

Publishing history

The first book written and published, but meant to be the last in the series, was The Sky Crawlers, first released in June 2001. A shinshobon (refurbished) edition of the book followed on October 2002, while the bunkobon (paper back) edition followed on October 2004.

The first book, chronologically, in the series, None But Air (ナ·バ·テア, Na Ba Tea), was released in June 2004, while the shinshobon edition for this volume followed on October 2004 and the bunkobon edition followed on November 2005. The second book in the series, Down to Heaven (ダウン·ツ·ヘヴン, Daun Tsu Hevun), followed in June 2005, while its shinshobon edition followed on December 2005 and its bunkobon edition followed on November 2006.

The third book in the series, Flutter into Life (フラッタ·リンツ·ライフ, Furatta Rintsu Raifu), followed in June 2006. The fourth book in the series, Cradle the Sky (クレィドゥ·ザ·スカイ, Kureidu Za Sukai), was released on June 25, 2007, while the fifth book Sky Eclipse (スカイ·イクリプス, Sukai Ikuripusu) was released in 2008.

The misplaced publishing order was intended to show there is no need to read the story in the chronological order.

English translation

  • The Sky Crawlers, trans. Ryusui Seiryoin (The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books)
  • The Sky Crawlers: Prologue, Episode 1 (June 2016, ISBN 9781365226526)
  • Tankōbon

    Published by Chuōkōron-shinsha.

  • The Sky Crawlers (スカイ·クロラ, 2001, ISBN 4-12-003158-6)
  • None But Air (ナ·バ·テア, 2004, ISBN 4-12-003541-7)
  • Down to Heaven (ダウン·ツ·ヘヴン, 2005, ISBN 4-12-003644-8)
  • Flutter into Life (フラッタ·リンツ·ライフ, 2006, ISBN 4-12-003739-8)
  • Cradle the Sky (クレィドゥ·ザ·スカイ, 2007, ISBN 4-12-003840-8)
  • Sky Eclipse (スカイ·イクリプス, 2008, ISBN 4-12-003944-7)
  • Novels

    Published by C Novels, a Chuōkōron-shinsha imprint.

  • The Sky Crawlers (スカイ·クロラ, 2002, ISBN 4-12-500781-0)
  • None But Air (ナ·バ·テア, 2004, ISBN 4-12-500871-X)
  • Down to Heaven (ダウン·ツ·ヘヴン, 2005, ISBN 4-12-500921-X)
  • Flutter into Life (フラッタ·リンツ·ライフ, 2007, ISBN 4-12-500986-4)
  • Cradle the Sky (クレィドゥ·ザ·スカイ, 2007, ISBN 4-12-501003-X)
  • Bunko

    Published by Chūkō Bunko, a Chuōkōron-shinsha imprint.

  • The Sky Crawlers (スカイ·クロラ, 2004, ISBN 4-12-204428-6)
  • None But Air (ナ·バ·テア, 2005, ISBN 4-12-204609-2)
  • Down to Heaven (ダウン·ツ·ヘヴン, 2006, ISBN 4-12-204769-2)
  • Flutter into Life (フラッタ·リンツ·ライフ, 2007, ISBN 4-12-204936-9)
  • Cradle the Sky (クレィドゥ·ザ·スカイ, 2008, ISBN 4-12-205015-4)
  • Film

    The novel was adapted into an anime film, directed by Mamoru Oshii, which was released across Japanese theatres by Warner Bros. Japan on August 2, 2008. Animated by Production I.G, the film was written by Chihiro Itō, features character designs by Tetsuya Nishio and music by Kenji Kawai. The series' creator Mori had stated that he felt The Sky Crawlers was the "most difficult" of his works to adapt, and had given his consent to the making of the film after learning of Oshii's involvement as director.

    Video game

    A video game, The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, with a plot serving as a prequel to the 2008 film was developed for the Wii by Project Aces, the same Namco Bandai team that was behind the Ace Combat series. It was released in Japan on October 16, 2008. Xseed Games has released the game in North America on January 12, 2010. It was also released by Namco Bandai Games in Europe on February 26, 2010.

    Manga

    A manga series, based on the game, titled Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, was serialized in the monthly magazine Monthly Comic Blade from November 2008. It was illustrated by Yūho Ueji.

    References

    The Sky Crawlers Wikipedia