Sonny Boy (TV series)

Sonny Boy (TV series)
Sonny Boy is an original Japanese anime television series animated by Madhouse and written and directed by Shingo Natsume. The series aired from July to October 2021.
Sonny Boy utilizes non-traditional storytelling, occasionally skipping over major events and instead focusing on various characters' reactions to those events. While fantasy elements are present, the show primarily uses its setting to explore psychological themes such as identity, social expectation, freedom, and loneliness.
Plot
Midway through a seemingly endless day of summer vacation, third-year middle school student Nagara and his class, along with transfer student Nozomi and the aloof and mysterious Mizuho, are suddenly transported to an alternate dimension. The group calls the new dimension "This World", and finds it has its own set of rules and physics. Over time, while trying to get back home, they realize that they have individual supernatural abilities, but also find it difficult to navigate their own interpersonal relationships.
The class later splits into two groups due to internal conflicts. As both the groups continue journeying to find their way back home, they discover many other students who have spent thousands of years in other "This Worlds".
Characters
Production and release
The anime television series was announced on April 28, 2021. The series was animated by Madhouse and written and directed by Shingo Natsume, with original character designs provided by Hisashi Eguchi and Norifumi Kugai adapting the designs for animation. While the first episode was given an early premiere on June 19, 2021, the series officially aired from July 16 to October 1, 2021 on Tokyo MX and other channels. Ging Nang Boyz performed the series' theme song "Shōnen Shōjo".
The series was licensed outside of Asia by Funimation. On September 14, 2021, Funimation announced the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on September 16. Following Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll, the series was moved to Crunchyroll. Medialink licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia and streamed it in their YouTube channel.
Episode list
Soundtrack
The Sonny Boy Soundtrack was released on September 8, 2021. Shinichirō Watanabe served as the musical advisor.
Ging Nang Boyz – 少年少女
Sunset Rollercoaster – Broken Windows
Sunset Rollercoaster – Seagull
VIDEOTAPEMUSIC – Summer Storm
The Natsuyasumi Band – Tune from diamond
mitsume – 夜釣り
Sunset Rollercoaster – Let There Be Light Again
Ogawa & Tokoro – Beacon
Mid-Air Thief – Yamabiko’s Theme
Mid-Air Thief – Kodama’s Theme
Ogawa & Tokoro – Soft Oversight
mitsume – ソウとセイジ
Kaneyorimasaru – Kyo no Uta
The Natsuyasumi Band – Lightship
mitsume – スペア
toe – サニーボーイ・ラプソディ
Conisch – Lune
Conisch – Jugement
Conisch – Tour
Conisch – Soleil
Conisch – 旅立ちの日に
Reception
Accolades
Sonny Boy received the Excellence Award in the animation category at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival. The series was nominated in two categories in the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards Anime of the Year and Director of the Year. The series was also nominated for the Anime Trending Awards in four categories "Best in Original Screenplay", "Best in Sceneries and Visuals", "Mystery or Psychological Anime of the Year" and "SciFi or Mecha Anime of the Year".
Critical reception
Notes
References
External links
Anime official website
Anime with original screenplays
Crunchyroll anime
Madhouse (company)
Medialink
School life in anime and manga
Science fiction anime and manga
Survival anime and manga
Tokyo MX original programming
Anime and manga about parallel universes