Zipang
Summary: A Ripple in Time Turns the Crucial Tide of WWII.
Scheduled for routine military exercises, Commander Kadomatsu and the crew of Japan's newest and most modern Battlecruiser, The Mirai, are ready to test out the ship's state-of-the-art Aegis System. Instead, they find themselves transported back to June 4th, 1942—date of the crucial Battle of Midway, where the Japanese fleet was dealt a crippling blow. When an overzealous Kadomatsu rescues one of the battle's victims, Kusaka, from a sinking zero fighter, the Mirai's fate is sealed. The crew pledges not to do anything to alter the past further. However, they're now forced to fight a U.S. submarine in a battle that should never have occurred. Thus setting off a chain of events that may forever change the flow of history!
(Source: Geneon Entertainment USA, edited)
Description
A Ripple in Time Turns the Crucial Tide of WWII.
Scheduled for routine military exercises, Commander Kadomatsu and the crew of Japan's newest and most modern Battlecruiser, The Mirai, are ready to test out the ship's state-of-the-art Aegis System. Instead, they find themselves transported back to June 4th, 1942—date of the crucial Battle of Midway, where the Japanese fleet was dealt a crippling blow. When an overzealous Kadomatsu rescues one of the battle's victims, Kusaka, from a sinking zero fighter, the Mirai's fate is sealed. The crew pledges not to do anything to alter the past further. However, they're now forced to fight a U.S. submarine in a battle that should never have occurred. Thus setting off a chain of events that may forever change the flow of history!
(Source: Geneon Entertainment USA, edited)
Zipang Pictures
Zipang Review
Zipang — A Ripple in Time Turns the Crucial Tide of WWII. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Action, Drama, Sci-Fi conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.49). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Zipang offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Kadomatsu, Yosuke
Main
Inada, Tetsu
Japanese
Kadomatsu, Yosuke
Main
Kaufmann, Mark R.
English
Kusaka, Takumi
Main
Touchi, Hiroki
Japanese
Kusaka, Takumi
Main
Choong, Edward Choy Keng
English
Umezu, Sabure
Main
Yara, Yuusaku
Japanese
Umezu, Sabure
Main
Murray, Joe
English
Ishiwara, Kanji
Supporting
Tatsuta, Naoki
Japanese
Ishiwara, Kanji
Supporting
Murray, Joe
English
Katagiri
Supporting
Kawamoto, Naru
Japanese
Kikuchi, Masayuki
Supporting
Pistore, Paul
English
Kikuchi, Masayuki
Supporting
Hoshino, Takanori
Japanese
Momoi, Sachiko
Supporting
Iseki, Yoshiko
Japanese
Momoi, Sachiko
Supporting
Su Ping, Chio
English
Oguri, Kouhei
Supporting
Ueda, Yuuji
Japanese
Oguri, Kouhei
Supporting
Meldrum, Jamie
English
Taki, Eiichirou
Supporting
Ishizuka, Unshou
Japanese
Tsuda, Kazuma
Supporting
Nojima, Kenji
Japanese
Tsuda, Kazuma
Supporting
RayRay
English
Tsuda, Kazuma
Supporting
Pistore, Paul
English
Yamamoto, Isoroku
Supporting
Tobayama, Bunmei
Japanese
Staff
Iijima, Kouji
Producer
Naruke, Yoshinori
Producer
Furuhashi, Kazuhiro
Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition
Hiramitsu, Takuya
Sound Director
Hiramuki, Tomoko
Episode Director
Matano, Hiromichi
Episode Director, Storyboard
Matsushita, Yukihiro
Episode Director, Storyboard
Okamoto, Hideki
Episode Director
Takeda, Yuuichirou
Script
Kodera, Katsuyuki
Storyboard
Nishimura, Hiroyuki
Storyboard
Soeta, Kazuhiro
Storyboard, Animation Director
Yamanaka, Eiji
Storyboard
AUDIO RULEZ
Theme Song Performance
BEGIN
Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Arrangement
Endou, Eiichi
Key Animation
Fujii, Fumino
Key Animation
Hiruma, Takashi
Background Art
Karatani, Ayako
Key Animation
Kasahara, Akira
Animation Director