{"product_id":"voices-of-a-distant-star-9781945054662","title":"Voices of a Distant Star","description":"\u003ch2\u003eVoices of a Distant Star - Makoto Shinkai Manga\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward-winning director and author Makoto Shinkai offers a romantic sci-fi tale about young love and space adventure, based on his 2003 animated film.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMikako Nagamine is recruited as a pilot to fight in the interstellar war against a force of alien invaders, leaving behind her one true love. Mikako's only connection to Noboru Terao, who continues living the life of an ordinary student, is through cell phone text messages. As Mikako travels light years away, it takes longer and longer for Noboru to receive her messages, until finally one arrives eight years and seven months after she sent it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout This Manga Edition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis paperback edition brings Makoto Shinkai's acclaimed 2003 animated film to the page, combining his signature emotional storytelling with the visual medium of manga. The story explores themes of distance, time dilation, and the enduring power of connection across impossible circumstances. As Mikako ventures deeper into space on her military mission, the communication lag between her and Noboru grows from minutes to hours, days, and eventually years, creating a poignant meditation on love separated by the vast distances of space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePerfect for Fans of Makoto Shinkai\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the \"next Miyazaki,\" Makoto Shinkai has earned international recognition for his emotionally resonant storytelling. This manga adaptation captures the same atmospheric beauty and heartfelt narrative that made the original film a cult classic. Readers familiar with Shinkai's later works will recognize the themes of separation, longing, and the bittersweet nature of connection that define his storytelling style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMakoto Niitsu, better known by his pen name Makoto Shinkai, is a Japanese film director, animator, and voice actor. A native of the Nagano prefecture in Japan, he studied Japanese literature at Chuo University. He traces his passion for creation to the manga, anime, and novels he was exposed to while in middle school. Considered one of the best animators in the world today, he is often called the \"next Miyazaki.\" Shinkai developed his abilities as a video game designer for FalCon, where he worked on the cult-classic role-playing game Ys. Shinkai is unique as an animator, having cut his teeth producing almost all elements of many of his works - from animation to music composition to voice acting. He has won numerous awards: 12th DoGA CG Animation Award; 1st New Tokyo International Animation Festival Grand Prize; 7th Kobe Animation Prize; 6th Mainichi Films Animation Prize; 2007 Asia Pacific Film Award; and the Lancia Platinum Grand Prize (Italy).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vertical Comics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50493288448274,"sku":"9781945054662","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_228c2ae7-8769-4591-818f-faaac8a367bd.jpg?v=1730641792","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/voices-of-a-distant-star-9781945054662","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}