Moonrise, based on the fantasy sci-fi novel by Tow Ubukata, is a new Netflix anime exclusive produced by Wit Studio. It's clear that both, Netflix and Wit Studio, are holding nothing back as this anime series has been three years in the making. The trailer alone promises an ambitious blend of grounded sci-fi elements, an emotional story with rich characters, and a ton of political tension and fascinating action. While the anime series feels quite ambitious and original, there are a lot of elements within its DNA that can be traced back through the medium's canon.

The story is set in a not-too-distant future, when humanity has established a loosely organized world government and handed the reins over to an AI network called Sapientia. The AI hands out rational decisions and the people of Earth comply. There's more boiling under the surface, however, as the boiling tension between the Moon...