Steins;Gate 0

Synopsis

Steins;Gate follows the members of the Future Gadget Laboratory: Rintaro Okabe, Kurisu Makise, Mayuri Shiina, Itaru “Daru” Hashida, Suzuha Amane, Urushibara Ruka, Faris Nyannyan, and Kiryu Moeka.

In an attempt to create a time machine, the group manage to modify their microwave into a machine that can send text messages to the past, thus changing the course of time. This ability is then used in a variety of ways like by Ruka to change her sex and by Faris to save her father.

The group is then tracked down by SERN, an extremely powerful research organization. While this group only has a prototype time machine, it’s discovered that in the near future they monopolize the production and use of time machines. Seeing the threat that the Future Gadget Laboratory poses, SERN set out to destroy them.

SERN’s actions result in the death of Mayuri which Okabe desperately tries to prevent. He undoes the previous D-mails and finds that undoing all of them returns him to the original timeline, but in doing so, Kurisu dies. He’s thus forced to fake her death in order to prevent her father from killing her, stealing her research, and ultimately causing World War III.

Steins;Gate 0 is set in the Beta worldline in which Okabe not only fails to prevent the death of Kurisu, but accidentally kills her himself. He falls into a deep depression until several months later he meets Maho Hiyajo, a neuroscientist who worked alongside her...

Background

First released on Oct. 15, 2009 as a visual novel video game by 5pb. and Nitroplus on the Xbox 360, Steins;Gate is a time travel-focused science fiction series. It then went on to be ported on multiple consoles before being adapted into a manga, anime, and more.

The first anime adaptation aired from Apr. 6, 2011 through Sept. 14, 2011, and also had several OVAs in addition to a movie. It was well-received by critics for its writing, story, and acting, and an English dub was also produced by FUNimation.

It was then revealed in the summer of 2017 that Steins;Gate 0, the sequel to the original game, would also be adapted into an anime airing in April 2018 with many of the original cast and staff members reprising their roles. The original visual novel was released in Japan on Dec. 10, 2015.

Anime Adaptation

While Jukki Hanada (Chobits, K-On!) is returning to work on the series composition, new talent has been brought on, as well, including Kenichi Kawamura (Rozen Maiden, Parasyte -the Maxim-) as director and Tomoshige Inayoshi (Buddy Complex, The Girl Who Leapt Through Space) as character designer.

Many of the original voice actors are reprising their roles, as well, including Mamoru Miyano as Rintaro Okabe, Asami Imai as Kurisu Makise, Kana Hanazawa as Mayuri Shiina, Halko Momoi as Faris Nyannyan, Saori Goto as Moeka Kiryuu, Tomokazu Seki as Itaru Hashida, Yu Kobayashi as Ruka Urushibara, and Yukari Tamari as Suzuha Amane.

Characters

Rintaro Okabe (CV: Mamoru Miyano)
Also known as either “Okarin” or by his mad scientist pseudonym Kyouma Hououin, Okabe is an unstoppable eccentric. Through his time travel experience he’s found that he’s the only one with the ability to notice changes between the different timelines: his so-called “Reading Steiner.” Despite seeming paranoid and arrogant, he cares deeply for his friends and often feels powerless.

Kurisu Makise (CV: Asami Imai)
Already published in academic journals, Kurisu is a brilliant neuroscience researcher and close friend of Okabe’s. Although she can come across as cold, she quickly warms up to the members of the Future Gadget Laboratory.

Mayuri Shiina (CV: Kana Hanazawa)
Well-known for her cute demeanor, catch phrases, and nicknames (including calling herself Mayushii, calling Okabe Okarin, and her distinct greeting “Tutturuu”), Mayuri is an extremely sweet girl and cosplayer. She sometimes comes across as airy, but frequently displays an extraordinarily empathetic side and talent for reading those around her.

Suzuha Amane (CV: Yukari Tamura)
Initially appearing as a part-timer at the Braun Tube Workshop, it’s revealed in the original series that Suzuha is a resistance fighter dedicated to preventing SERN from creating a time machine, and also that she’s the daughter of Daru.

Itaru Hashida / Daru (CV: Tomokazu Seki)
Best-known by his nickname Daru, Itaru is a skilled programmer and hacker with a severe lack of naming talent who’s extremely familiar with otaku culture, and is also a huge fan of Faris. It’s revealed in the original series that he’s Suzuha’s father, and that he and Okabe become founders of the resistance against SERN.

Maho Hiyajo (CV: Sayuri Yahagi)
Maho is an associate of Kurisu’s and a fellow research assistant specializing in neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Ruka Urushibara (CV: Yu Kobayashi)
A close friend of Mayuri’s, Ruka works at a shrine and is an extremely shy young boy. Due to his feminine appearance he’s often mistaken as a girl, and he even uses D-mail to send a message to his pregnant mother, telling her to eat more vegetables so he can be reborn as a girl. The attempt is a success, although Okabe is forced to undo the change in an attempt to achieve 1% divergence.

Akiha Rumiho / Faris NyanNyan (CV: Momoi Haruko)
Faris has strong roots to the Steins;Gate location of Akihabara as her family is wealthy and owns much of Akiba. Despite this, she works as an extremely popular waitress and the owner of a moe cafe. In the original series, it is revealed that her father died, and she uses D-mail in an attempt to bring him back.

Kiryuu Moeka (CV: Gotou Saori)
First introduced as a supremely shy woman who only communicates through texts, Moeka is revealed to be an agent of SERN and carries out their orders to kill Mayuri.

Cast

Rintaro Okabe: Mamoru Miyano
Kurisu Makise: Asami Imai
Mayuri Shiina: Kana Hanazawa
Suzuha Amane: Yukari Tamura
Itaru Hashida: Tomokazu Seki
Maho Hiyajo: Sayuri Yahagi
Ruka Urushibara: Yu Kobayashi
Rumiho Akiha: Haruko Momoi
Moeka Kiryuu: Saori Goto

Staff

Original Work: Chiyomaru Shikura, Nitroplus
Director: Kenichi Kawamura
Writer: Jukki Hanada
Character Designer: Inayoshi Tomoshige
Original Character Designer: huke
Studio: WHITE FOX

Theme Music

Opening Theme: “Fatima” by Kanako Ito
Ending Theme: (title TBA) by Zwei

Broadcast Information

Broadcasts begin in April 2018

Official Links

Website (Japanese)
Anime Site (Japanese)
Twitter (Japanese)