# First Squad

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_Squad
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_Squad.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Squad
> Source revision: 1341643886
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

2009 film directed by Yoshiharu Ashino

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2013)

First Squad: The Moment of Truth Kana ファースト・スクワッド Directed by Yoshiharu Ashino[1] Written by Aljosha Klimov Misha Shprits Produced by Eiko Tanaka Aljosha Klimov Misha Shprits Starring Elena Chebaturkina Michael Tikhonov Ludmila Shuvalova Damir Eldarov Irina Savina Aleksandr Gruzdev Sergei Aisman Cinematography João da Costa Pinto Sergey Akimov Kumiko Sakamoto Music by DJ Krush The 3ug3reeder Production companies Studio 4°C Molot Entertainment Film Company Distributed by Molot Entertainment Film Company Release dates May 13, 2009 (2009-05-13) (Cannes) October 15, 2009 (2009-10-15) (Russia) Running time 73 minutes Countries Russia Japan Language Russian Box office $ 292 377[2]

***First Squad: The Moment of Truth*** ([Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): ファーストスクワッド *Fāsuto sukuwaddo*, [Russian](/source/Russian_language): Пе́рвый отря́д, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Russian): *Perviy otryad*) is a Russian-Japanese [animated film](/source/Animation) directed by Yoshiharu Ashino. The film is a joint animation project of Japan's [Studio 4°C](/source/Studio_4%C2%B0C) and Russia's Molot Entertainment. It won the *[Kommersant](/source/Kommersant)* newspaper's prize.[3]

## Plot

Set during the opening days of [World War II](/source/World_War_II) on the [Eastern Front](/source/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II)) (autumn and winter of 1941/1942). Its main cast are a group of [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) teenagers with extraordinary abilities; the teenagers have been drafted to form a special unit to fight the invading [German army](/source/Wehrmacht). They are opposed by a [Schutzstaffel](/source/Schutzstaffel) (SS) officer who is attempting to raise from the dead a supernatural army of crusaders from the 12th-century Order of the Sacred Cross (i.e. the [Teutonic Knights](/source/Teutonic_Order)) and enlist them in the [Nazi](/source/Nazi) cause.

Most of the teenage crew die, except for the protagonist Nadya. She is taken to a secret Soviet lab that studies supernatural phenomena, especially contacts with the dead. Nadya's task is to dive into the world of the dead for reconnaissance. There, in the Gloomy Valley, she meets her dead friends and persuades them to continue fighting.

## Voice Cast

Character Russian voice actor English voice actor Nadya Elena Chebaturkina Cassandra Lee Morris Leo Michael Tikhonov Joey Morris Zena Ludmila Shuvalova Carrie Keranen Marat Damir Eldarov Tony Oliver Valya Irina Savina Bryce Papenbrook General Below Aleksandr Gruzdev Michael McConnohie Baron Von Wolff Sergei Aisman Phineas

## History

The film is an adaptation of a music video for the song "Наша с тобой победа" ("Our victory") by Russian rap artist [Ligalize](/source/Ligalize), which was released on May 9, 2005. The video, which depicted a battle between the Soviet [Pioneers](/source/Vladimir_Lenin_All-Union_Pioneer_Organization) and Nazi armies, was directed by Daisuke Nakayama, and produced by Aljosha Klimov and Misha Shprits. The Nazis are shown to be in possession of [mecha](/source/Mecha) and various supernatural powers. Among the featured locations are the [Palace of the Soviets](/source/Palace_of_the_Soviets) and [Mayakovskaya metro station](/source/Mayakovskaya_(Moscow_Metro)), Moscow. In 2006, the video won an award at the MTV Russian Music Awards for best hip-hop video[4].

When it was released at feature-length in 2009, the film (whose expanded title is “First Squad: the Moment of Truth”) was the winner of the Kommerstandt Weekend Prize at the [Moscow International Film Festival](/source/Moscow_International_Film_Festival), as well as the Asteroide Award at the [Trieste Science+Fiction Festival](/source/Trieste_Science%2BFiction_Festival) in Italy[5].

The film was also adapted as a graphic novel of the same name, by creators Aljosha Klimov and Misha Shprits, alongside the acclaimed manga artist Enka Sugihara[6]. It was published in October 2020 by [eigoMANGA](/source/EigoMANGA).

## Production

In 2007, it was announced that a motion picture titled *First Squad: The Moment of Truth*[7] was in the works. Film is produced by [Studio 4°C](/source/Studio_4%C2%B0C) and recently created for this purpose studio Molot Entertainment, distributed by [Amedia](/source/Amedia). Directed by Studio 4 °C director and animator Yoshiharu Ashino, cowritten and produced by Aljosha Klimov, Misha Shprits, with [Eiko Tanaka](/source/Eiko_Tanaka), featuring character development by Hirofumi Nakata, and music by Japanese musician [DJ Krush](/source/DJ_Krush).

## Release

The film has been shown at [Cannes Film Festival](/source/Cannes_Film_Festival),[8] [Locarno Film Festival](/source/Locarno_Film_Festival),[9] [Fantasporto](/source/Fantasporto)[10] and Fantasia film festival.[11]

The film was released in North America on Blu-Ray and DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment on January 17, 2012.[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [First Squad info](http://www.generalworks.com/databank/movie/title2/fsquad.html) (in Japanese)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)"](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1343712/?ref_=bo_se_r_1). *Box Office Mojo*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["4°C's *First Squad* Wins Award at Moscow Int'l Fim Fest"](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-30/4c-first-squad-wins-award-at-moscow-intl-fim-fest). [Anime News Network](/source/Anime_News_Network). 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** megafat (2019-01-31). ["First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009) – Anime Review"](https://cultclassicanime.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/first-squad-the-moment-of-truth-2009-anime-review/). *Cult Classic Corner - Anime*. Retrieved 2026-01-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [*First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009) - Awards - IMDb*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343712/awards/). Retrieved 2026-01-03 – via m.imdb.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Shprits, Misha (Oct 2020). *First Squad: the Moment of Truth*. [eigoMANGA](/source/EigoMANGA). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-578-59923-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-578-59923-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [First Squad](http://www.first-squad.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180819231147/http://www.first-squad.com/) 2018-08-19 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) — official site

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Studio 4C Goes To War In Russia! Brand New Trailer For Russian Anime FIRST SQUAD!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091001195409/http://twitchfilm.net/news/2009/04/studio-4c-goes-to-war-in-russia-brand-new-trailer-for-russian-anime-first-s.php). Twitch. 2009-04-29. Archived from [the original](http://twitchfilm.net/news/2009/04/studio-4c-goes-to-war-in-russia-brand-new-trailer-for-russian-anime-first-s.php) on 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2009-09-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["FIRST SQUAD"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090828063444/http://www.pardo.ch/jahia/Jahia/home/film/cache/bypass?appid=11456_34&appparams=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pardo.ch%2Fjpwacatalog%2Fpardo%2Ffilm.do%3Fid%3D320621&resetAppSession=true). Locarno. 2009-04-29. Archived from [the original](http://www.pardo.ch/jahia/Jahia/home/film/cache/bypass?appid=11456_34&appparams=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pardo.ch%2Fjpwacatalog%2Fpardo%2Ffilm.do%3Fid%3D320621&resetAppSession=true) on 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2009-09-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Lista de filmes - Fantasporto 2010"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100327102307/http://jn.sapo.pt/Dossies/dossie.aspx?content_id=1503295&dossier=Fantasporto). Jornal de Notícias. Archived from [the original](https://jn.sapo.pt/Dossies/dossie.aspx?content_id=1503295&dossier=Fantasporto) on March 27, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["First Squad: The Moment of Truth, MONTREAL PREMIERE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170824135659/http://www.fantasiafestival.com/2010/en/films/film_detail.php?id=11). Fantasia Festival. 2010-07-10. Archived from [the original](http://www.fantasiafestival.com/2010/en/films/film_detail.php?id=11) on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2010-07-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Manga & Anchor Bay to release Redline and First Squad – EclipseMagazine"](https://eclipsemagazine.com/manga-anchor-bay-to-release-redline-and-first-squad/). Retrieved 2026-01-13.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.first-squad.com)

- [*First Squad*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343712/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [*First Squad*](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10231) (OVA) at [Anime News Network](/source/Anime_News_Network)'s encyclopedia

v t e Studio 4°C Films Memories (1995) Spriggan (1998) Gondora (1998) Dimension Loop (2001) Princess Arete (2001) Comedy (2002) Mind Game (2004) Tekkonkinkreet (2006) Tamala's "Wild Party" (2007) Genius Party (2007) Genius Party Beyond (2008) First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009) My Last Day (2011) Medusa's Revenge (2012) Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg of the King (2012) Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II – The Battle for Doldrey (2012) Drive Your Heart (2013) Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III – The Advent (2013) Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013) Tuzuki: Love Assassin (2014) Turnover (2015) Kanojo ga Kanji wo Suki na Riyū (2015) Harmony (2015) Red Ash: Gearworld (2017) Mutafukaz (2017) Children of the Sea (2019) Poupelle of Chimney Town (2020) Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) ChaO (2025) All You Need Is Kill (2026) Television series Piroppo (2001) Tweeny Witches (2004) Kimagure Robot (2004) Transformers: Animated (2008) ThunderCats (2011) Chiisana Hana no Uta (2013) Future Kid Takara (2025) OVAs / ONAs Noiseman Sound Insect (1997) Eternal Family (1997) Uraroji Diamond (2000) Digital Juice (2001) Sweat Punch (2001–2002) Amazing Nuts! (2006) Hijikata Toshizō: Shiro no Kiseki (2004) Tweeny Witches: The Adventures (2007) Detroit Metal City (2008) Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind (2009) Kuro no Sumika: Chronus (2014) Phoenix: Eden17 (2023) Animated segments The Animatrix (2003, 4 segments) Ani*Kuri15 (2007–2008, 5 segments) Batman: Gotham Knight (2008, 2 segments) Halo Legends (2010, 2 segments) Video games Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (2001) Summon Night 3 (2003) Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed (2004) Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (2004) Rogue Galaxy (2005) Lunar Knights (2006) Jeanne D'Arc (2006) Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (2006) Street Fighter IV (2008) .hack//Link (2010) Catherine (2011) Hard Corps: Uprising (2011) Asura's Wrath (2012) Toukiden: The Age of Demons (2013) Metal Max 4: Gekkō no Diva (2013) Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE (2015) Guardian's Violation (2015) Doodle Champion Island Games (2021) People Kōji Morimoto Eiko Tanaka Michael Arias Category

v t e Sony theatrical animated features Sony Pictures Animation Open Season (2006) Surf's Up (2007) Open Season 2 (2008)IR Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) Open Season 3 (2010)IR The Smurfs (2011) Arthur Christmas (2011) The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012) Hotel Transylvania (2012) The Smurfs 2 (2013) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) Goosebumps (2015) Open Season: Scared Silly (2015)IR Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017) The Emoji Movie (2017) The Star (2017) Peter Rabbit (2018) Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)LR Wish Dragon (2021)IR Vivo (2021)LR Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)IR Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) KPop Demon Hunters (2025)LR Fixed (2025)LR Goat (2026) Upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027) Madhouse Memories (1995) Metropolis (2001) Tokyo Godfathers (2003) Paprika (2006) Aniplex/Funimation/Crunchyroll Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture (1997) Tekkonkinkreet (2006) Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016) Your Name (2016) Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale (2017) Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (2018) My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019) Violet Evergarden: The Movie (2020) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020) Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (2020) Sing a Bit of Harmony (2021) My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021) Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night (2021) Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (2021) Sword Art Online Progressive: Scherzo of Deep Night (2021) Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village (2022) The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie (2022) Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) One Piece Film: Red (2022) Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – The First Kiss That Never Ends (2022) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Movie – Scarlet Bond (2023) Suzume (2023) Psycho-Pass Providence (2023) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training (2024) Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out (2024) Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid (2024) Spy × Family Code: White (2024) Live-action/animated Stuart Little (1999) Stuart Little 2 (2002) Pixels (2015) Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021) Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024) Paddington in Peru (2025) Co-productions 1001 Arabian Nights (1959) The Magic World of Topo Gigio (1961) The Little Prince and the Eight-Headed Dragon (1963) Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964) The Man Called Flintstone (1966) Jack and the Beanstalk (1974) American Pop (1981) Heavy Metal (1981) Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986) Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw (1988) The Swan Princess (1994) Manuelita (1999) The Trumpet of the Swan (2001) Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) Eight Crazy Nights (2002) The Triplets of Belleville (2003) Steamboy (2004) Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005) Monster House (2006) Persepolis (2007) The Sky Crawlers (2008) Waltz with Bashir (2008) Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)IR First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)IR Planet 51 (2009) The Illusionist (2010) Legend of the Millennium Dragon (2011) The Adventures of Tintin (2011) Adventures in Zambezia (2012) Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012) IR Resident Evil: Damnation (2012) LR The Angry Birds Movie (2016) Sausage Party (2016) The Red Turtle (2016) Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)LR Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars (2017)LR Ruben Brandt, Collector (2019) LR Tabaluga (2019)LR The Barkers: Mind the Cats! (2020) IR Secret Magic Control Agency (2021)IR Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022)IR Perlimps (2022)IR Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)IR The Garfield Movie (2024) Scarlet (2025) Franchises The Swan Princess (1994–2023) Stuart Little (1999–2005) Final Fantasy (2001–2016) Open Season (2006–2015) Resident Evil (since 2008) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009–2013) The Smurfs (2011–2017) Starship Troopers (2012–2017) Hotel Transylvania (2012–2022) Marvel Anime (2013–2014) Goosebumps (2015–2018) The Angry Birds Movie (2016–2019) Sword Art Online (since 2017) Peter Rabbit (2018–2021) My Hero Academia (since 2018) Spider-Verse (since 2018) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (since 2021) Dragon Ball (since 2022) Garfield (since 2024) See also Sony Pictures Animation Unproduced projects Sony Pictures Imageworks Crunchyroll, LLC Madhouse Sony Pictures Television Kids Adelaide Productions Screen Gems Cartoons United Productions of America IR International release LR Limited release

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [First Squad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Squad) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Squad?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.