Akimoto’s new animated features takes its own liberties with the story. But the latest tale pay tribute to the charm of both the novel and Liman’s live-action movie. But All You Need Is Kill sets itself apart from its predecessors by providing an unparalleled emotional arc. In his entry, Akimoto forgoes the worldwide fire and elite soldiers fighting alien creatures seen in the franchise’s earlier stories. Instead, he reflects the change in science and political warfare in a post-COVID world.

The changes to some of the novel and live action film’s major storylines for All You Need Is Kill amplifies and supports Rita’s decisions. The resilient heroine that Akimoto and Mikami crafted together from the script fuels her to continuously warn her co-workers of their impending doom, despite no one listening because nothing bad has happened during the year they’ve lived with Darol.

Studio 4°C crafted a stunning collection of vibrant colors and dazzling shots from Rita’s point-of-view to intimately reflect her attempts to stop her time loop. The animation remains focused on the heroine’s attempts to reclaim her fate, particularly in the scenes in which she’s working with Kenji to stop their time loop. The Japanese animation studio’s work truly thrives with the mechanical suits the characters wear on their existential journey, which help drive their dynamic, fluid movements.

©Courtesy of GKIDS

Akimoto smartly shifted the focus of the film to Rita’s perspective. The anime feature is the first installment in the franchise to do so. She’s a relatable protagonist who determinedly puts in the work to improve her fighting skills to fend off the Darol. Her loneliness in her time loop also reflects the isolated feeling she experience for years before the alien life force landed on Earth. Rita is the quintessential character who seeks meaning in chaos as she struggles to contend with tragedy.