Warner Bros announced that its upcoming anime adaptation of All You Need Is Kill will premiere at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film has been selected for the Midnight Specials section and is scheduled to screen on June 9, 12, and 13.
Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s All You Need Is Kill 2004 sci-fi novel, the movie will be animated by STUDIO4°C. The novel previously got a 2014 American movie adaptation titled Edge of Tomorrow, which starred Tom Cruise as William Cage (the film’s counterpart to the novel’s protagonist, Keiji Kiriya).
The movie’s title is stylized as ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, and the main voice cast has also been announced:
- Ai Mikami as Rita Vrataski
- Natsuki Hanae as Keiji Kiriya
ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Characters and Main Voice Cast Introduction
Rita Vrataski (CV: Ai Mikami)
Character description: Rita is an 18-year-old volunteer soldier, easily recognized by her striking red hair. Emotionally withdrawn, she has built walls between herself and others. After a work-related accident, she awakens to find herself reliving the same day, trapped in a time loop triggered by an alien invasion.
Comment from Ai Mikami:
“As someone who’s always loved anime, it was like a dream to participate in this project. At the same time, I felt anxious—wondering if I could do justice to a story I admire so much. That anxiety mirrored Rita’s own emotional barriers.
During our first recording session, working with Hanae-san (Keiji’s voice actor), I felt something shift—a strange release of tension. It was then that I realized how special it is to bring a character to life as a voice actor.
This story has appeared in many forms—light novel, manga, and live-action—but the animated version is filled with interpretations only possible through this medium. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering All You Need Is Kill for the first time, I hope you’ll follow Rita and Keiji’s journey toward hope.”
Keiji Kiriya (CV:Natsuki Hanae)
Character description: Keiji is a reserved 20-year-old systems engineer who also volunteers in the military effort. He tries to avoid attention by keeping to himself, but his unexpected encounter with Rita triggers a personal awakening. As the time loop repeats, he confronts death repeatedly and begins to change.
Comment from Natsuki Hanae:
“At first glance, Keiji may seem like just another quiet young man. But as he relives the battlefield over and over, he begins to confront his fears and evolve.
Through my performance, I wanted to carefully express his despair, inner conflict, and the resolve that slowly emerges. A key element is his growing relationship with Rita—someone he meets again and again within the loop.
These transformations are brought vividly to life through STUDIO 4°C’s stunning visuals. I hope audiences will feel the depth of these changes.”
Screening Details at Annecy 2025
- Monday, June 9 – 10:30 PM CET
- Thursday, June 12 – 11:00 PM CET
- Friday, June 13 – 10:00 PM CET
Production Credits
- Original Author: Hiroshi Sakurazaka
- Director: Kenichiro Akimoto
- Studio: STUDIO 4°C
- Producer: Warner Bros. Japan
Background
All You Need Is Kill is a Japanese sci-fi novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, illustrated by Yoshitoshi Abe, originally published by Shueisha in 2004 and later in English by Viz Media. Besides the live-action film, the novel was also adapted into a manga by Ryosuke Takeuchi and Takeshi Obata in 2014, and separately into a graphic novel by Nick Mamatas and Lee Ferguson. The novel earned widespread acclaim, getting a nomination for the 36th Seiun Awards in 2005.
The official synopsis for the anime:
After an unidentified plant from outer space invasion, Rita finds herself trapped in a time loop, forced to relive the same day over and over again. With each loop, she learns. She fights. Her memories and experiences sharpen her skills, turning her into a formidable warrior. Yet, the endless cycle of death and solitude begins to wear her down. Then, she meets Keiji. “I’ve been repeating this day too,” he says. Two lost souls, trapped in an endless war. Could their meeting change fate?
You can watch the previously revealed trailer for the anime below.
Source: Press Release, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Official Website
©Hiroshi Sakurazaka / Shueisha, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Project
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