First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)

A bold Soviet-Japanese animated feature that plunges supernatural teen soldiers into the chaos of World War II's Eastern Front.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Первый отряд
  • Release Year: 2009
  • Directed by: Yoshiharu Ashino, Vladimir Zhelezniakov et al.
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Fantasy, Animation, Action, Sci-Fi
  • Runtime: 1h 13m
  • Original Language: Russian
  • Spoken Languages: Japanese, German, Russian
  • Release Date (Theatrical): May 13, 2009 (Australia - M), October 15, 2009 (United States)
  • Alternative Titles: First Squad (US), First Squad : Le Moment de Vérité (FR), ファースト・スクワッド (JP), Pervyi Otryad (RU), 幽冥特工 (CN)
  • Production Companies: Molot Entertainment, STUDIO4℃, Golden Network Asia
  • Production Countries: Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Germany

First Squad: The Moment of Truth - Plot

Set during the opening days of World War II on the Eastern Front. Its main cast are a group of Soviet teenagers with extraordinary abilities; the teenagers have been drafted to form a special unit to fight the invading German army. They are opposed by a Schutzstaffel officer who is attempting to raise from the dead a supernatural army of crusaders from the 12th-century Order of the Sacred Cross.

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First Squad: The Moment of Truth - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Yoshiharu Ashino
  • Vladimir Zhelezniakov
  • Alexey Klimov

Main Cast

  • Sergei Aisman
  • Michael Beskorovainy
  • Elena Chebaturkina
  • Damir Eldarov
  • Olga Golovanova
  • Alexander Gruzdev
  • Artem Kipnis
  • Rudolf Pankov
  • Mikhail Tikhonov
  • Nikita Prozorovsky

Writers

  • Misha Shprits
  • Alexey Klimov

Producers

  • Eiko Tanaka
  • Alexey Klimov
  • Misha Shprits
  • Yury Stepanov

First Squad: The Moment of Truth - FAQs

Where can you stream First Squad: The Moment of Truth?

First Squad: The Moment of Truth is available to stream for free on Tubi TV, Plex, and Plex Channel. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. MovieSphere+ on Amazon Channel offers it via flatrate subscription.

Is First Squad: The Moment of Truth based on a true story?

No, the film is a work of fiction. While it is set against the historically real backdrop of the Eastern Front during World War II, the story of Soviet teenagers with supernatural abilities and a resurrected crusader army is entirely fictional, blending historical atmosphere with fantasy and anime storytelling.

What is First Squad: The Moment of Truth about?

Set during the early days of WWII on the Eastern Front, the film follows a group of Soviet teenagers with extraordinary powers recruited into a special unit. They must stop a Nazi SS officer who is attempting to resurrect a supernatural army of 12th-century crusaders to aid the German invasion.

Who directed First Squad: The Moment of Truth?

The film was co-directed by Yoshiharu Ashino, Vladimir Zhelezniakov, and Alexey Klimov. It was produced as a joint international venture involving studios from Japan, Russia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany, with Japanese animation studio STUDIO4℃ handling the animation production.

Who are the main voice actors in this film?

The voice cast includes Sergei Aisman as Baron Von Wolff, Elena Chebaturkina as Nadya Ruslanova, Damir Eldarov as Marat, Mikhail Tikhonov as Leo, Nikita Prozorovsky as Obergruppenfuhrer SS Linz, Irina Savina as Valya, and Ludmila Shuvalova as Zena, among others.

What genre is First Squad: The Moment of Truth?

First Squad: The Moment of Truth blends several genres: Fantasy, Animation, Action, and Science Fiction. It is particularly notable as a rare co-production between Russian and Japanese studios, combining Soviet historical aesthetics with Japanese anime visual style and supernatural storytelling conventions.

How long is First Squad: The Moment of Truth?

First Squad: The Moment of Truth has a runtime of 73 minutes, making it a relatively compact feature-length animated film. It was released in Australia on May 13, 2009, and reached the United States on October 15, 2009.

What languages is First Squad: The Moment of Truth available in?

The film's original language is Russian, and it features spoken dialogue in Japanese, German, and Russian. As an international co-production spanning Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, and Germany, the multilingual nature of the film reflects its diverse production origins and unique cross-cultural creative collaboration.

More About First Squad: The Moment of Truth

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