Unveiling the Exotic Wonders of Sand Land: Your Ultimate Summer 2023 Guide

If you're into anime, you've probably heard of Dragon Ball, a classic that's loved by both avid fans and casual viewers. And if you know Dragon Ball, you must be familiar with its original creator, Akira Toriyama. What many may not realize, however, is that Toriyama has produced many other amazing stories throughout his career. Some are long, like Dr. Slump, while others are shorter but still just as enjoyable as Dragon Ball. One of those shorter manga is Sand Land, which was first published in 2000 and recently received an anime adaptation in 2023.

The Story

The story of Sand Land unfolds in a barren wasteland that lacks water. The government holds complete control over the only water supply in the country, selling it at exorbitant prices. The dire situation prompts demon people to resort to robbing government officials in order to acquire even a single bottle of water.

One fateful day, an elderly sheriff pays a visit to the demon village and implores their aid in locating a mythical lake which could potentially serve as a new water source for the populace. With the desperation for water prevailing among all, the prince of the demon clan, Beelzebub, agrees to assist him. Thus commences the journey of an elder statesman, the demon prince, and a seasoned rogue named Thief, as they traverse the arid land in search of the legendary water reservoir. Along their expedition, they encounter an array of absurd criminals, an inept government army, and inadvertently unearth one of the government's most guarded secrets - an insight into their insatiable greed.

The Characters

In Sand Land, there are three main characters: Rao, an enigmatic old sheriff who conceals his true identity; Beelzebub, an energetic and kind-hearted demon prince; and Thief, an elderly and grumpy demon who proves to be more useful than expected. Along their journey, they will encounter various other characters, including the notorious criminal group known as the Swimmers and the Sand Land military's small tank division.

Kazuhiro Yamaji will lend his voice to the character of Rao, known for his iconic portrayals in anime such as Kenny Ackerman in Attack on Titan, Silver Fang in One Punch Man, and most recently Rozan Shinoyama in Death Mount Dead Play. Mutsumi Tamura, renowned for her role as Alibaba in Magi: The Kingdom of Magic and Taiju Oki in Dr. Stone, will voice Beelzebub. Thief will be voiced by Cho, the talented actor behind Brook in One Piece and Kazuo Yamashita in Kengan Ashura.

The Staff And Animation

Sand Land is a collaborative effort between Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima, resulting in a full CGI movie. Similar to the recent Dragon Ball movie, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, which received positive feedback, Sand Land aims to captivate audiences. Toshihisa Yokoshima, an experienced director, will helm the project, marking his first venture into a mainstream title. Hayashi Mori, known for his work on the acclaimed film Drifting Home, has transformed Akira Toriyama's manga into a screenplay. Yoshikazu Iwanami, recognized for his contributions to Ajin: Demi Human and Fate/Zero, is the sound director. The film's theme song, titled "Utopia," will be performed by "imase."

Release Date

Content:

Sand Land, a part of the Summer 2023 anime lineup, is set to debut in Japan on August 18, 2023. However, there is no information regarding its global release or availability on streaming platforms outside of Japan at this time. More details are expected to be revealed closer to the official Japanese release date, so be sure to stay tuned for updates.

Additionally, in an exciting announcement made during the Summer Game Fest on June 8th, Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed plans for a game adaptation of Sand Land. This action RPG will be developed by ILCA using the Unreal Engine 5 and will be available for Playstation 4/5, Xbox Series S/X, and Windows PC. Although no official release date has been announced for the game yet, fans can anticipate its arrival in the future.