Maboroshi, also known as Alice and Therese's Illusory Factory, is studio MAPPA's latest anime film, which is already available on Netflix. It's not surprising that you might be wondering if Maboroshi is based on a manga.
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What Is Maboroshi About?
Mari Okada’s Maboroshi anime film centers around a strange town where the flow of time has stopped after an explosion happened at a steel factory and a crack appeared in the sky.
It left all the roads out of town blocked, trapping the town’s residents in an eternal winter.
All the residents believe that if they don’t change, everything will return to normal.
They decided to submit an identification form that included not only their address, name, and age but also their hairstyle, hobbies, and the people they liked and disliked, so they wouldn’t forget who they are now.
The story is told through the eyes of 14-year-old Masamune Kikuiri, who abandoned his dreams for the future and began to live a boring life amidst the chaos.
One day, Masamune’s classmate Mutsumi took him out to the No. 5 blast furnace, which is off-limits to everyone.
There, Masamune encounters a mysterious girl who acts like a wild wolf but is unable to speak or show emotion.
In a town where even time has stopped and change has been forbidden, the wolf girl is the only one who continues to grow.
Is Maboroshi on Netflix Based on a Manga?
No, the Maboroshi film on Netflix is not based on a manga at all. It is an original animation film with an original screenplay written by Mari Okada and storyboards created by Masahiro Ando and Tadashi Hiramatsu.
The Maboroshi film was first announced in 2021 and had a theatrical release on September 15, 2023, which makes it almost two years in production.
Fans thought the film would never be released due to a lack of updates until more information was announced in June 2023.
Could There Be a Maboroshi Manga in the Future? Our Predictions
If the Maboroshi film is successful enough, there’s a huge chance that a manga adaptation will be on the horizon.
If it gains enough audience and interest worldwide, particularly in Japan, it may inspire a manga adaptation shortly after the film’s Netflix premiere.
Meanwhile, Maboroshi already has a novel, which Kadokawa Bunko released on June 13, 2023.
If and when a manga adaptation is announced, this article will be updated.
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