On September 29th, the platform Funimation announced that it would take care of the distribution of the anime adaptation of the light novels Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu (Moon, Laika and the blood-sucking princess) in Latin America. For the whole of the West, however, it was decided to leave out the literal translation of the title in order to convert it into Irina: The vampire cosmonaut (Irina: The vampire cosmonaut).
The original title in Japanese, Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu, Translated as “The moon, Laika and the vampire princess“This is a more complete composition referring to.. moon (the goal of the space race), Laika (the dog cosmonaut sent by the Soviets in 1957) and Nosferatu (a word for the undead and vampires). Actually, Keisuke Masano, the author of the original light novels, commented on that decision on Twitter, noting that he had to do the following:
«The information from abroad was published, but I cannot access the link from Japan. In the Japanese version of the title, I gave priority to the sense of language and atmosphere of the seventy-five syllables (also because I found them difficult to understand), but in the English version I tried to make them more understandable. For example what they do at Pixar. For your information, the title hasn’t changed by itself».
The series is slated to premiere in Japan on October 3, but its first two episodes premiered at an online event on September 4. Masano and Karei began to publish the light novels through the publisher’s label Gagaga bunko from Shogakukan in December 2016. Also a manga adaptation by Hougu souji has been published since March 2018.
Production team
- Akitoshi Yokoyama (Cutie Honey Universe, Photokano) is responsible for directing the anime in the studios Arvo animation.
- Keisuke Masano (Egao no Daika) is responsible for writing and maintaining the scripts.
- Hiromi kato (Fantasista Doll, Guilty Crown, Monster Musume no Oisha-san) is responsible for character design.
- Yasunori mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Black Butler: Book of Circus, Inazuma Eleven) is responsible for composing the soundtrack.
Synopsis from Tsuki to Laika to Nosferatu
The first astronaut in human history was a vampire girl. After the end of World War II, the superpowers that divided the world, the Federal Republic of Zirnitra in the east and the United Kingdom of Arnack in the west, launched their territorial ambitions into space. Both countries compete fiercely for development. Eastern history 1960. Gergiev, head of the republic, announces the manned space program “Project Mechtat (Dream)”, which, if successful, would be mankind’s first heroic deed.
At that moment, Lev Leps, a replacement astronaut candidate, is assigned to carry out a top-secret mission. The “Nosferatu Project” – a program that experiments with vampires before manned missions – will use Irina Luminesk as a test subject, and Lev will have to monitor and train her. Despite being held back by the walls of race and the ego of nations, Lev and Irina share a real feeling when referring to the universe.
Source: Official Twitter account
(c) 牧野 圭 祐 ・ 小学 館 / 「月 と ラ イ カ と 吸血 姫」 製作 委員会
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