Image from here

This might become one a modern masterpiece.

Title: 宇宙兄弟, Uchuu Kyoudai, Space Siblings

Animation Production: A-1 Pictures

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life

Airs: 04/01 07:00 Yomiuri/Nippon TV

Website: http://www.ytv.co.jp/uchukyodai/

One night in 2006, when they were young, the two brothers Mutta (born 1993) and Hibito (born 1996) saw what appeared to be a UFO heading for the moon. They decided that night to both become astronauts and travel out into space.

In 2025, Hibito has become an astronaut, and he's going to go to the moon. Mutta ended up following a more traditional career path with an auto development company. However, Mutta just ruined his career through a violent altercation with his boss. Now, not only has he lost his job, he appears to be blacklisted in the entire industry. Maybe this is a rare opportunity for Mutta to once again chase his childhood dream and become an astronaut like his little brother!

Kenn's Comment: Haven't read the manga yet (gasp), but I'll definitely get to it when I have the chance. It's a multi-award winning work, and has nothing but praise sang about it. Don't be surprised to find it in Manga of the Week in the near future (that being something like June-ish). 

Anywho, the crew behind this one is quite something. Watanabe Ayumu (director) has basically Doraemon movies under his belt. That's about it. Doesn't sound like much, but that's a whole crap tonne of creds there. In charge of the music is Watanabe Toshiyuki, who doesn't seem to have any recent work, but lots of works further back. 

Anywho, it seems that this one will run for the whole year. Yes, the whole year. There's more than enough source material (16 ongoing volumes) to supply that lengthy run, so I'm just hoping that this one turns out well. We might be watching a future World Masterpiece Theater program!

Oh, and the manga also has a Live-Action adaptation, for those interested.