Jun Maeda first captured anime fans in 2010 with Angel Beats, a heartfelt series exploring the struggles of a group of high school students rebelling against perceived injustices in the afterlife.
Now, over a decade later, Maeda brings elements of his beloved creation into a new venture with the video game Heaven Burns Red.
With the success of Heaven Burns Red, Jun Maeda proves that his storytelling magic is far from outdated (Photo: Heaven Burns Red/WRIGHT FLYER STUDIOS and VISUAL ARTS/Key)Maeda’s reputation as a master of emotional storytelling stems from works like Clannad and Air, created during his tenure as co-founder of the visual novel studio Key.
As reported by Comic Natalie, Heaven Burns Red is a mobile RPG co-developed by Key and Light Flyer Studio, featuring Maeda’s original concepts and narratives.
Since its debut in February 2022, the game has hosted several collaborations with Angel Beats, blending characters and themes from the series. In a recent interview, Maeda teased details about a third collaboration event, set to launch on Dec. 27, 2024.
Angel Beats Characters Return in New Heaven Burns Red Event
Unlike many of Maeda’s earlier projects, Angel Beats was initially designed as a television anime before being adapted into other formats. Despite his lack of personal attachment to previous works, the creative team at Light Flyer Studio’s enthusiasm inspired Maeda to revisit Angel Beats.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Maeda admitted, “I have no attachment to past works… The success of Angel Beats was largely due to the producer’s vision and the support of fans, not my involvement.”
In the game, players control Ruka Kayamori, who builds relationships and assembles battle teams to fight extraterrestrial threats called “Cancer.” Much like characters from Angel Beats, Kayamori has a strong musical background, having led the fictional band “She Is Legend.”
The upcoming event will center on Shiori Sekine, bassist of Angel Beats’ Girl’s Dead Monster, a band embodying key themes from the anime.
Maeda explained that developing Sekine’s scenario was challenging since her character lacked an established backstory. “Unlike Irie and Hisako, Sekine had no existing foundation, so her story was created entirely from scratch,” he revealed.
Maeda Reflects on Creativity and Comeback
The enduring popularity of Angel Beats, which now includes OVAs, spinoff manga, and a visual novel adaptation, has reinvigorated Maeda’s passion for storytelling.
“Recovering from being labeled as outdated and untalented has been a huge achievement,” he shared. Energized by this renewed confidence, Maeda is working on a fresh anime project titled Summer Pockets, with its first episode expected to air in April 2025.
Heaven Burns Red became available globally on Nov. 15, 2024, and can be downloaded on iOS and Android platforms. Meanwhile, Angel Beats remains accessible for streaming on Crunchyroll.