Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Interviews » INTERVIEW: Studio BONES Shares the Star Trek Inspiration for ‘Metallic Rouge’

INTERVIEW: Studio BONES Shares the Star Trek Inspiration for ‘Metallic Rouge’

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez07/06/20234 Mins ReadUpdated:12/16/2024
Metallic Rouge - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Metallic Rouge is the original animated series from Studio BONES celebrating the studio’s 25th anniversary coming January 2024. A wholly original production, the series features work from Chief Director Yutaka Izubuchi, with Motonobu Hori as Director, Toshihiro Kawamoto as Character Designer, and music from Taisie Iwasaki. With only an announcement trailer,  there isn’t too much known about the series, and with original animation, that’s exciting.

Metallic Rouge takes place in a world where humans and androids, known as Nean, coexist. We follow Rouge, a Nean girl, who is on a mission on Mars with her partner Naomi. The mission: Murder nine Nean who are leading a rebellion against the human government. At Anime Expo 2023, we got the chance to speak with Masahiko Minami,  President of Studio Bones, and Toshihiro Kawamoto, the Character Designer & Animation Director of Metallic Rouge. 

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

One of the immediate things that stood out about Metallic Rouge was that while fans who saw the trailer may immediately connect this new cyberpunk series with Blade Runner, the actual science fiction inspiration comes from Star Trek. Masahiko Minami explained, “Working on the original story, first of all, we had communication with the supervision editor Yutaka Izubuchi (Chief Director and Head Writer on Metallic Rouge), before we actually did the story and the anime itself, we needed to build a world. Honestly, what came up was the title at the time, and we kept relating it back to Star Trek.

“In Star Trek, for example, you have the human race that is populating and expanding in space. Then you have the overdevelopment of technology and the overuse of technology. Within that context, you have many different stories that develop within that one world. In [Metalic Rouge] we have a solar system and a world that is created, but on a smaller scale, we have just one girl, Rouge. We wanted to focus on creating that story around her.”

Because Metallic Rouge is an original story, building a new world is both a large undertaking but a fantastic creative endeavor. On that point, Minami explained, “In terms of an original anime, you have to build it from zero. It’s the animation staff that has to do that building from scratch.” He continued, calling out the dedication of the studio BONES staff, “You have the person who made the original concept who is the most important creator in this context, but the people who have the most know-how about the animation are going to be our staff. In that sense, the staff that does the animation have to have all of the skills to [build this all from zero], and that’s critical to create a good anime. We are putting all of that skill into creating an original work and not an adapted one.”

And that skill is clear in just the small amount of animation fans got to see in the trailer for Metallic Rouge. For us, one part of that trailer stuck out was the transformation. Akin to that of magical girls in light and grace, dissimilar to that of say a superhero or Kamen Rider, Rouge’s transformation brings back the sailor senshi vibrancy, and that was intentional.

Metallic Rouge - But Why Tho

When we asked about the connection between Rouge’s transformation and magical girls, Kawamoto responded, “The idea of having her transform within this series—there is a light that appears above her, and she transforms—that’s an idea that came from Izabuchi-san.”

Minami followed up with an explanation, “We’re talking about the transformation of a female character so instead of making it this mechanical transformation like iron man, we wanted it to be more suave and a softer transition in the transformation. Because of that, there is an aspect where it will resemble magical girls.”

With little information about Metallic Rouge out, we wanted to know what exactly Minami and Kawamoto were excited for fans to experience. While Minami kept his answer short, suggesting to watch the promotional video for the series, Kawamoto was excited for fans to see the world that studio BONES had created and to do so week by week. Kawamoto said, “…All we have right now is in the promotional clip, but out of all of the ideas of what we had, that clip is 1/100th of what we had. I want viewers to watch and enjoy and savor each new episode one at a time as the new world unfolds. I am excited for viewers to watch it all episode by episode.”

Metallic Rouge is blending sci-fi, magical girls, Star Trek, and a vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic into a series that I know I can’t wait to see.

Metallic Rouge is slated to release in January of 2024 for the Winter Anime season. 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Episode 25 — “Hidden Inventory”
Next Article Can ‘The Witcher’ Survive without Henry Cavill
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

NOMELON NOLEMON

Nomelon Nolemon Share Their Favorite Mech, What They’re Watching And More At AX205

07/03/2025
Madden NFL 26 Miami Dolphins presentation

Madden NFL 26’s Dev Explains Franchise Mode’s Largest Update In a Decade

07/02/2025
Dylan O'Brien and River Gallo star in 'Ponyboi'

River Gallo and Dylan O’Brien Discuss Good Vibes and Shooting ‘Ponyboi’

06/27/2025
Possessors promotional key art from Heart MAchine and Digital Devolver

Why Anime Like Jujutsu Kaisen & Bad Relationships Inspired ‘Possessor(s)’

06/27/2025
61st Wardeame In Warframe's Isleweaver update

The 61st Warframe Oraxia is Gorgeous – We Asked The Devs How She Came To Be

06/26/2025
Diablo Immortal Druid promotional image

‘Diablo Immortal’s’ Druid May Be the Best Diablo Druid To Date

06/26/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here