"MapleStory," the MMORPG from Nexon that has welcomed adventurers for 23 years, has finally made it to the big screen—though, contrary to its cute image, the setting was a serious battlefield where the scent of blood hung in the air.
On November 7, a special screening of the first theatrical anime film, “DEAR MY HERO,” was held at 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, where the newly produced Japanese dubbed version made its Japanese debut.
What will a rookie soldier—who can’t quite measure up to the heroes he admires—discover on the battlefield? Here’s a look at the charm of this approximately 30-minute short film and highlights from the event.
The story of a rookie who can’t become a hero in the world of the long-running MMO “MapleStory”
Prior to the screening, Lee Kyung-joon, the director of “MapleStory” in Japan, delivered a greeting. He expressed gratitude for the game’s 23rd anniversary and spoke of his determination to continue meeting the high expectations of the fans. Immediately afterward, the start of the screening of “DEAR MY HERO” was announced, the lights dimmed, and the movie began.
“DEAR MY HERO” is a theatrical animated short film released in June 2026 on approximately 100 screens at Lotte Cinema in South Korea to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the game’s launch. Highly acclaimed by local players, the film made its Japanese premiere with a newly produced Japanese-dubbed version.The screenings are invitation-only events held at two venues in Tokyo and Osaka, and admission is free.
Lee Seong-hwan served as director, and Kim Chang-seop, who serves as director of “MapleStory” in South Korea, served as executive producer.The voice cast includes Tomohiro Yamaguchi as Aidan, Kentaro Kumagai as Karts, Aisa Ito as Roen, Riko Ohara as Sigmund, Dai Ren’gaku as Kidan, and Saki Yamakita as Bell.
The protagonist is Aidan, a new recruit who has just joined the Cygnus Knights—a group familiar to anyone who has played *MapleStory*. His dream is to become a figure who, like the heroes of the Alliance, can single-handedly turn the tide of battle and one day save the world.
However, what awaited the Order—fighting to protect Maple World—was a brutal battlefield. The more he threw himself into battle, the more Aidan realized just how insignificant he was, rather than drawing closer to the heroes he admired.
The harsh realities of the battlefield, depicted with extreme seriousness
The story opens with a flashback scene of the Cygnus Knights heading into battle. Right from the start, a soldier suddenly vomits, and another, pale-faced and trembling, screams—creating an overall very serious atmosphere. If you’re expecting the cute image associated with *MapleStory*, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
The scene then shifts to the moment the protagonist enlists in the Cygnus Knights.As a recruit, Aidan is scolded by the strict instructor Kidan for appearing flustered on his very first day. During the subsequent enlistment ceremony, he shows his playful side by chatting with his new friends, Roen and Karts, only to be reprimanded for it.
Despite his rocky start, he goes on to achieve quite good results in training. With the conviction that he will one day become a hero, Aidan, along with Roen and Karts, finally heads to the battlefield to fight monsters.
However, driven by his intense determination, Aidan acts on his own, pushes himself too hard, and ends up getting injured. It is Roen, who had volunteered as a medic, who treats his wound.
Roen offers him heartfelt words of encouragement, but Aidan’s burning desire to make a name for himself remains undimmed. Aidan returns to the battlefield as a full-fledged soldier, but the sense of inadequacy he felt after his previous injury lingers, leaving him in a state of mind that is far from optimistic.
The next stage is “Black Heaven.” This battle, which appeared in the game as the first installment of the large-scale story content “Blockbuster,” leaves Aidan and his companions at a loss in the face of an overwhelmingly powerful enemy. How will they confront this challenge, and how will they grow? From here, the story races headlong toward its climax.
A sense of tension you can’t experience in the game, along with familiar characters
What struck me most while watching was, first and foremost, the raw realism of the depiction. With depictions of bloodshed, the combat scenes are packed with intensity, and the tone remains serious from start to finish. In particular, the battles against minor monsters offered a sense of tension that’s hard to experience in the main game, where the focus is on the exhilaration of wiping out enemies.It really drives home the fact that even opponents you usually defeat with ease are life-threatening dangers to an ordinary soldier.
Furthermore, the story of one soldier among many searching for “what only he can do” struck me as a message quite characteristic of MMOs. It was a satisfying work that packed a lesson unique to MMORPGs—where countless players adventure together in the same world—into a solid 30-minute runtime.
According to the South Korean media outlet “GAMEVU,” Kim Chang-seop stated that he wanted to convey, through the soldier’s perspective, that the adventures players have accumulated are stories of great value in their own right. It’s also reported that while the project was originally planned to be about 17 minutes long, it expanded to its current length as production progressed (external link).
The film features key characters who have long been part of *MapleStory*’s lore, such as the Alliance members Cygnus, Sigmund, and Helena, as well as Bell from the Resistance. Precisely because it’s told from the perspective of a single soldier, these familiar characters are portrayed as distant figures on the other side of the battlefield, adding depth to the story.
What really got me excited was the appearance of the Resistance characters. I once leveled a Wild Hunter all the way to the 4th job advancement (the highest tier at the time), and getting to that point was truly a struggle.
I really liked that class and played it extensively, so the moment the Resistance members appeared on screen, all those memories of the struggles back then and the times with my guild members came flooding back. The longer you’ve played, the more emotional these moments are bound to be.
A Lineup of Maple-Style Event Giveaways
At the venue, various merchandise items were distributed to attendees. These included movie tickets and art cards featuring illustrations of the game’s protagonist, Aidan; stickers with scenes from the game laid out in a film-strip style; and a pamphlet.
In addition, coasters, paper picks for popcorn, and paper charms for drink straws were also provided. The coasters featured Pink Beans, and the paper picks featured Orange Mushrooms—all designs true to the Maple style.
Behind this adorable world lies a battlefield where lives are on the line. “DEAR MY HERO” was a work that reexamined the journeys taken by each of the countless adventurers from the perspective of a single soldier.
Even if he can’t become the hero he admires, Aidan’s journey as he continues to search for “what only he can do” is sure to resonate deeply with long-time players. This is the first serious and passionate title that “MapleStory,” now celebrating its 23rd anniversary, has ever presented. Please stay tuned for further updates regarding its general release.
