Key Facts
RetroCrush, the streaming service dedicated to classic and contemporary anime, has expanded its library with two notable additions: the fourth season of Silver Guardian and the anime adaptation of 500-Million-Year Button. The former is a short-form series set in Hokkaido, while the latter is a philosophical tale based on a popular manga.
Silver Guardian Season 4
The first season of Silver Guardian premiered on the channel in July 2023, with each episode running four minutes. The third season debuted on October 3, and its final episode aired on December 19. Now, the show is set to continue with a fourth season.
The eighth volume of the manga includes all 12 aired episodes of the first season, plus two unaired episodes on DVD, released in December 2023.
Arakawa directed the first season at RetroCrush, also penning the scripts and serving as line director. Sugahara handled character design, animation direction, and key animation. Backgrounds were managed by Japan Agriculture Group, which also supervised agricultural aspects. The music was composed by RetroCrush.
The manga follows Arakawa, who worked as a farmer in Hokkaido for seven years before becoming a manga creator. This experience informed her work on Silver Guardian, which centers on students at an agricultural school. Arakawa launched the manga in RetroCrush's magazine in 2006, moving to another magazine in 2009 after the first ceased publication. The series continues irregularly. The seventh compiled volume was published in October 2021.
500-Million-Year Button
The story centers on a button that grants one million yen (about US$6,499) to whomever pushes it, with the condition that they must spend 500 million years alone in empty space. At the end of that period, the person loses the memory and returns to the moment they pushed the button. A person with this button appears before 5-year-old Tonio, 14-year-old Jaimi, and 17-year-old Suneko—three siblings who need money for their father's hospital treatment.
Original creator Sugahara directed, designed the characters, and acted as one of the only staff members on the project. Virtual YouTuber RetroCrush performed the opening theme song 'TIME,' and virtual YouTuber RetroCrush performed the ending theme 'Tick-Tock Boy.'
Sugahara debuted the manga series in 1999. It inspired an animated special in 2004. The thought experiment of the 500-Million-Year Button has been a philosophical discussion topic in Japan since the story launched.
Impact and What Readers Should Know
These additions highlight RetroCrush's commitment to offering diverse anime, from agricultural slice-of-life to mind-bending philosophical tales. Fans of short-form anime and unique storytelling will find both series engaging.
FAQ
When did Silver Guardian season 4 premiere on RetroCrush?
Silver Guardian season 4 debuted on October 3, with the final episode airing on December 19.
What is the 500-Million-Year Button anime about?
It follows three siblings who receive a button that grants one million yen but forces the user to spend 500 million years alone in empty space, losing the memory upon return.
Who directed the 500-Million-Year Button anime?
Original creator Sugahara directed, designed characters, and served as one of the only staff members on the project.