Gibiate is an upcoming anime series produced by Yoshitaka Amano (Vampire Hunter D; Final Fantasy video game series) and written by Ryō Aoki (Bonjour Sweet Love Patisserie) that’s set to release in July 2020. The series is a collaboration from some of the biggest names in the Japanese entertainment industry, spanning anime, music, and video games.

The third promotional video for the anime series has dropped and features a teaser of the ending theme ENDLESS ~Jikan o Koete~ by Sugizo (Luna Sea/X Japan) and Maki Ohguro. Check it out below.

“Gibiate” Anime 3rd Promotional Video

The song will be released on music streaming and download platforms on May 18, 2020. It sings of hope for the future.

A ballad version of the ending song entitled ENDLESS ~Yami o Koete~ has also been announced to give people courage during the current turbulent time with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be release for charity on June 1, 2020 on the Gibiate anime’s official website. All proceeds will go towards helping key workers and measures to tackle the novel coronavirus.

Ryo Aoki, Anime Production Committee Chairman | Message (Excerpt)

“Firstly, to all the people of the world, including JapanーI sympathise with all of your worries, and with having to stay at home at the behest of your country and municipality. Humanity is suffering at the jaws of the novel coronavirus. It has already been three months. Gibiate has been affected too. We had originally scheduled to have our all-star cast attend an enormous event in Shanghai on May 1 where we would watch the final promotional video together and watch a performance of the ending song. We were also going to have a pre-screening of the series at Anime Expo in Los Angeles in July, which we had already announced, but that has had to be cancelled too. We’ve had to isolate in the middle of the final voice recordings. We also thought the timing of the show’s release questionable too with the story itself centred on a virus.”

“Can we still go ahead with [the] July [release]? Will we have to isolate and postpone? Is it possible to go ahead with production with strict safety measures? Would it cause displeasure amongst our viewers? We’ve stressed and worried over many matters, and we’ve come up with a single answer. The planning of Gibiate goes back 4 years, and since then the theme of the show has always been ‘to live.’ The heroine of the story, Sensui, carves a beam of light for humanity, which is suffering as a result of the virus, and finds a ray of hope. In the story, we see the way of life for men in the time it is setーa time where the notions of life and death are much more close to home. We have a roster of top talent in our Gibiate cast. Right now, people are suffering because of this virus and have no choice but to self-isolate. We believe our warm and welcoming fans, who have shown us hope for this series, will give us energy and courage. We will overcome the difficult production, as well as the lack of publicityーa result of the cancelling of events. And so we have decided to go ahead with the schedule July release.”

“However, due to the timing of the series’s release, the key theme of the story [the virus] has made terrestrial broadcast on flagship stations difficult. Therefore, it is with our sincerest apologies that it will not be shown on flagship stations. I wish for you all to take care and to support Gibiate in July in whatever way you can. In these current times, we pray to enliven the world even if just a little with the power of entertainment.”

*Translated from Japanese by MMN

Gibiate Summary

Japan, 2030. A virus has infected humans throughout the world. Infected people turn into different forms of monsters based on their ages, sexes and races. The virus is named ‘Gibia’ – after being rich in variety like gibier.  Just then, a pair of samurai and ninja appeared in such a blighted wasteland of Japan. They both travelled from the early Edo period, fighting together with help from a doctor who tries to find cure for Gibia.  Facing ceaseless attacks from Gibia, and outlaws that attack travellers for food, they start the dangerous journey with enemies all around.