The Darwin Incident
| The Darwin Incident | |
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Charlie | |
| ダーウィン事変 (Dāwin Jihen) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Shun Umezawa |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Afternoon KC |
| Magazine | Monthly Afternoon |
| Original run | June 25, 2020 – present |
| Volumes | 10 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by |
|
| Written by | Shinichi Inotsume |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | Bellnox Films |
| Licensed by | Amazon Prime Video |
| Original network | TXN (TV Tokyo) |
| Original run | January 7, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 11 |
The Darwin Incident (Japanese: ダーウィン事変, Hepburn: Dāwin Jihen) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shun Umezawa. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon since June 2020. An anime television series adaptation produced by Bellnox Films premiered in January 2026.
By May 2024, the manga had over 1.6 million copies in circulation. In 2022, The Darwin Incident won the 15th Manga Taishō, as well as the Excellence Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival.
Plot
An extremist animal-rights organization, the ALA (Animal Liberation Alliance), carries out a raid on a biological research institute and rescues an injured, pregnant chimpanzee. At an animal hospital she gives birth to Charlie, a rare human–chimpanzee hybrid known as a "humanzee".
Raised by human adoptive parents, Charlie develops physical abilities far beyond those of either humans or chimpanzees. Charlie enters high school at the age of 15, where he befriends a shy girl named Lucy Eldred. As he attends high school, he faces fear, prejudice, and moral conflict. Meanwhile, extremist animal rights groups and powerful institutions clash around his existence.
Characters
- Charlie (チャーリー, Chārī)
- Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki[3] (Japanese); Yenni Ann[4] (English)
- A 15-year-old boy living in Missouri, United States. The world's only "Humanzee", half human and half chimpanzee, was created using genome-editing technology and possesses intelligence that surpasses that of humans and physical abilities that exceed those of chimpanzees. He is calm, but after enrolling in a local high school at the age of 15, he developed a strong interest in humans. On the other hand, having had little interaction with anyone other than his adoptive parents, Gilbert and Hannah, he often behaves in ways that surprise those around him.
- Lucy Eldred (ルーシー・エルドレッド, Rūshī Erudoreddo)
- Voiced by: Mitsuho Kambe[3] (Japanese); Kate Domenech[4] (English)
- Charlie's classmate at Shrews High School. Although she is an honors student with a frank personality and strong drive, she also has a brilliant mind, but she is fed up with the relationships in her town and at high school. For this reason, she has not actively interacted with other people. However, after Charlie rescues her from falling out of a tree, she develops a strong interest in him and becomes his friend.
- Rivera Feyerabend (リヴェラ・ファイヤアーベント, Rivera Faiyaābento)
- Voiced by: Akio Otsuka[3] (Japanese); Sean Tapiero[4] (English)
- Gilbert Stein (ギルバート・スタイン, Girubāto Sutain)
- Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa[5] (Japanese); Roly Gutierrez[4] (English)
- Hannah Stein (ハンナ・スタイン, Hanna Sutain)
- Voiced by: Rina Satō[5] (Japanese); Sara Secora[4] (English)
- Philip Graham (フィリップ・グラハム, Firippu Gurahamu)
- Voiced by: Yōji Ueda[5] (Japanese); Tim PowersEp. 2 credits (English)
- Gare (ゲイル, Geiru)
- Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa[5] (Japanese); Kevin GarciaEp. 5 credits (English)
- A student at Shrews High School who believes in animal rights. Due to his admiration for the ALA, Rivera is able to convince Gare into committing a mass shooting at the school.
- Lesley K. Lippman (レスリー・K・リップマン, Resurī Kei Rippuman)
- Voiced by: Hiroya Egashira[5] (Japanese); Charles Sothers[4] (English)
- Dafne M. Linares (ダフネ・M・リナレス, Dafune M Rinaresu)
- Voiced by: Yoko Soumi[6] (Japanese); Nicole QuintanaEp. 5 credits (English)
- Roy Navarro (ロイ・ナヴァロ, Roi Navaro)
- Voiced by: Izo Oikawa[6] (Japanese); Rene GranadoEp. 5 credits (English)
- Ronnie Schulz (ロニー・シュルツ, Ronī Shurutsu)
- Voiced by: Yasuhiro Kikuchi[7] (Japanese); Heath MartinEp. 7 credits (English)
- Maurice Williams (モリス・ウィリアムズ, Morisu Wiriamuzu)
- Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki[8] (Japanese); Marcus RothenbergEp. 8 credits (English)
- Kyle Foster (カイル・フォスター, Kairu Fosutā)
- Voiced by: Toshiki Watanabe[8] (Japanese); Chris VandepasEp. 8 credits (English)
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Shun Umezawa, The Darwin Incident started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon on June 25, 2020.[9] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on November 20, 2020.[10] As of December 23, 2025, ten volumes have been released.[11]
During their panel at Anime NYC 2022, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga,[12][13] with the first volume released on September 5, 2023.[14]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 20, 2020[15] | 978-4-06-521398-8 | September 5, 2023[14] | 978-1-64-729316-1 | ||
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| 2 | May 21, 2021[16] | 978-4-06-523314-6 | November 7, 2023[17] | 978-1-64-729317-8 | ||
| ||||||
| 3 | November 22, 2021[18] | 978-4-06-525778-4 | January 23, 2024[19] | 978-1-64-729318-5 | ||
| ||||||
| 4 | April 21, 2022[20] | 978-4-06-527946-5 | March 5, 2024[21] | 978-1-64-729337-6 | ||
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| 5 | March 23, 2023[22] | 978-4-06-531026-7 | May 7, 2024[23] | 978-1-64-729343-7 | ||
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| 6 | November 22, 2023[24] | 978-4-06-533687-8 | July 9, 2024[25] | 978-1-64-729355-0 | ||
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| 7 | May 22, 2024[26] | 978-4-06-535534-3 | June 10, 2025[27] | 978-1-64-729453-3 | ||
| ||||||
| 8 | November 21, 2024[28] | 978-4-06-537463-4 | September 23, 2025[29] | 978-1-64-729492-2 | ||
| ||||||
| 9 | May 22, 2025[30] | 978-4-06-539468-7 | February 24, 2026[31] | 978-1-64-729576-9 | ||
| ||||||
| 10 | December 23, 2025[11] | 978-4-06-541466-8 | October 20, 2026[32] | 978-1-64-729632-2 | ||
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Anime
In May 2024, it was announced that the manga would receive an anime television series adaptation.[33] The series is produced by Bellnox Films and directed by Naokatsu Tsuda, with Katsuichi Nakayama serving as series director, Shinichi Inotsume overseeing series composition, Shinpei Tomooka designing the characters, and Alisa Okehazama and Mariko Horikawa composing the music.[34] It premiered on January 7, 2026, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates.[5][f] The opening theme is "Make Me Wonder", performed by Official Hige Dandism, while the ending theme is "Turn It Up", performed by Ako.[35][36]
The series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.[37]
Episodes
| No. | Title [38][39] | Directed by [g] | Written by [g] | Storyboarded by [g] | Original release date [40][f] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Humanzee"[h] | Naokatsu Tsuda & Katsuichi Nakayama | Shinichi Inotsume | Naokatsu Tsuda & Katsuichi Nakayama | January 7, 2026 |
| 2 | "ALA (Animal Liberation Alliance)"[h] | Katsuya Asano | Shinichi Inotsume | Taizo Yoshida | January 14, 2026 |
| 3 | "Heterosis" Transliteration: "Heterōshisu" (Japanese: ヘテローシス) | Tatsuya Kyōgoku | Shinichi Inotsume | For(wal)k | January 21, 2026 |
| 4 | "One of a Kind"[i] | Shinpei Tomooka & Katsuya Furumoto | Shinichi Inotsume | Hideki Nagamachi | January 28, 2026 |
| 5 | "The Struggle for Rights" Transliteration: "Kenri no Tame no Tōsō?" (Japanese: 権利のための闘争?) | Katsuichi Nakayama | Anna Kawahara | Katsuichi Nakayama | February 4, 2026 |
| 6 | "Direct Action" Transliteration: "Chokusetsu Kōdō" (Japanese: 直接行動) | Tatsuya Kyōgoku | Shinichi Inotsume | Tatsuya Kyōgoku | February 11, 2026 |
| 7 | "Red Pill" Transliteration: "Reddo Piru" (Japanese: レッド・ピル) | Mineo Ōe & Fuko Abe | Shinichi Inotsume | Taizo Yoshida | February 18, 2026 |
| 8 | "Visitors" Transliteration: "Hōmon-sha" (Japanese: 訪問者) | Hirofumi Ogura | Shinichi Inotsume | Taizo Yoshida | February 25, 2026 |
| 9 | "Bluebeard's Castle" Transliteration: "Aohige no Shiro Nite" (Japanese: 青髭の城にて) | Tatsuya Kyōgoku | Shinichi Inotsume & Anna Kawahara | Tatsuya Kyōgoku | March 4, 2026 |
| 10 | "Door to Accelerated Advancement" Transliteration: "Kasoku Suru Tobira" (Japanese: 加速する扉) | Erika Toshimitsu | Shinichi Inotsume | Hideki Nagamachi | March 11, 2026 |
| 11 | "Transfer of Ownership" Transliteration: "Shoyū Ken no Iten" (Japanese: 所有権の移転) | Katsuya Asano | Anna Kawahara | Katsuya Asano | March 18, 2026 |
| 12 | "Sexual Dimorphism" Transliteration: "Seiteki Futanari" (Japanese: 性的二形) | TBA | TBA | TBA | March 25, 2026 |
Reception
By May 2024, the manga had over 1.6 million copies in circulation.[42] It ranked 10th on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022 list of best manga for male readers.[43] The series won the 15th Manga Taishō in 2022.[44][45][46] The series ranked second on the Publisher Comics' Recommended Comics of 2022.[47] It won an Excellence Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022.[48] It was ranked fifth at the first Late Night Manga Award hosted by Bungeishunjū's Crea magazine in 2022.[49] It was nominated for the 47th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2023;[50] it was also nominated for the 48th edition in the same category in 2024.[51] The manga was awarded the French 17th ACBD's Prize "Asie de la Critique" in 2023.[52] It was nominated for the Japan Society and Anime NYC's first American Manga Awards in the Best New Manga category in 2024.[53]
Notes
- ^ "Observation" in the original Monthly Afternoon release.
- ^ "Raid" in the original Monthly Afternoon release.
- ^ "One" (rendered in Latin-script) in the Japanese release.
- ^ "Ally of Justice" (セイギノミカタ, Seigi no Mikata) in the original Monthly Afternoon release.
- ^ "Suggestion" in the Japanese release.
- ^ a b TV Tokyo listed the series premiere on January 6 at 24:00, which is effectively January 7 at midnight JST.[41]
- ^ a b c Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
- ^ a b Stylized in all caps.
- ^ This episode is titled "ONE" in the Japanese version.
References
- ^ 『マンガ大賞2022』で大賞に輝いた作品『ダーウィン事変』の魅力 人間とチンパンジーから生まれた“ヒューマンジー”の全く新しいヒーロー像に注目. Nippon Broadcasting News Online (in Japanese). Nippon Broadcasting System. April 27, 2022. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ マンガ大賞2022『ダーウィン事変』が大賞に決定 半分ヒトで半分チンパンジーが主人公の社会派サスペンス. Nippon News Network (in Japanese). Nippon Television. March 28, 2022. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 24, 2025). "The Darwin Incident TV Anime Reveals Main Cast in 1st Promo Video". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Darwin Incident (2026)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 12, 2025). "Darwin Incident TV Anime Reveals Video, More Cast, January 6 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
- ^ a b TVアニメ『ダーウィン事変』公式 [@darwins_anime] (February 4, 2026). TVアニメ『#ダーウィン事変』 追加キャラクター&キャスト解禁 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ TVアニメ『ダーウィン事変』公式 [@darwins_anime] (February 17, 2026). TVアニメ『#ダーウィン事変』 追加キャラクター&キャスト解禁 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ a b TVアニメ『ダーウィン事変』公式 [@darwins_anime] (February 25, 2026). TVアニメ『#ダーウィン事変』 追加キャラクター&キャスト解禁 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ うめざわしゅんの新連載「ダーウィン事変」がアフタで、第1話をCCライセンスで提供. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 25, 2020. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ 半分ヒトで半分チンパンジーの主人公を描く、うめざわしゅん「ダーウィン事変」1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ a b 【12月23日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Fall 2023 New Print Licensing Announcement". Kodansha USA. November 23, 2022. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ^ Hazra, Adriana (November 25, 2022). "Kodansha USA Licenses Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir, 15 More Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Mateo, Alex (September 5, 2023). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, September 3–9". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ 【11月20日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
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- ^ Mateo, Alex (January 25, 2024). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, January 21–27". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ 【4月21日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 21, 2022. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (March 6, 2024). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, March 3–9". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ 【3月23日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 23, 2023. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (May 8, 2024). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 5–11". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ 【11月22日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 22, 2023. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "The Darwin Incident 6". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ 【5月22日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 22, 2024. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (June 12, 2025). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 8–14". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
- ^ 【11月21日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "The Darwin Incident 9". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "The Darwin Incident 10". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna; Mateo, Alex (May 21, 2024). "Shun Umezawa's Darwin Incident Manga Gets TV Anime Adaptation". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (November 20, 2024). "Darwin Incident Anime Unveils Teaser Visual, Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (December 10, 2025). "Offiical HIGE DANDISM Perform Opening Theme Song for The Darwin Incident TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
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Further reading
- 進化論を揺るがす“人間×チンパンジーのハイブリッド少年”が立ちむかう、テロ組織との戦い!. Da Vinci News (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on July 17, 2021.
External links
- The Darwin Incident official manga website at Monthly Afternoon (in Japanese)
- The Darwin Incident official anime website (in Japanese)
- The Darwin Incident (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia