by The TV anime series “Darwin Incident,” which will begin airing in January 2026, is garnering significant attention online. The series is based on a popular manga by Umezawa Shun, winner of the Grand Prize at the 2022 Manga Awards. Its appeal lies in the way it poses sharp questions about the nature of human society and common sense through its “half-human, half-chimpanzee” protagonist.
Before the anime begins airing in January, let’s take a look back at the story and appeal of this work.
A sharp perspective that shakes common sense
The story centers on Charlie, a “humanzee” hybrid born between a human and a chimpanzee. At age 15, he enrolls in high school, but his school life is anything but smooth sailing. With his noticeable body hair and somewhat chimpanzee-like facial features, Charlie isn’t accepted by everyone as a “normal student.” Some give him curious glances, while others openly keep their distance.
Raised by loving human parents, Charlie strives to live a normal high school life and gradually grows through his interactions with friends. His classmate, Lucy, is a supportive figure. Though intelligent, she’s often labeled a “nerd” at school and struggles to relate to others.
However, she’s one of the few people who understands Charlie and accepts his idiosyncrasies without prejudice, treating him as a friend. Even when Charlie displays his extraordinary physical abilities in gym class, shocking everyone around him, Lucy is the only one to smile brightly and praise him, saying, “Wow!” and “How much more can you do if you try?” These casual comments are a great relief for Charlie. When this work was selected for the Grand Prize at the 2022 Manga Awards, the selection committee even described it as a “Reiwa-era Parasyte.”
The reason for this is Charlie’s perspective, the “foreign body.” “Why can’t we kill and eat humans?” “Is there a reason why humans are special?” Charlie’s questioning of the “stereotypes” of human society is reminiscent of the relationship between Shinichi Izumi and Migi in the classic manga “Parasyte .” Migi, as an emotionless living being, rationally observes human activities.
Human ego is sharply portrayed through the biological instinct of “predation.” From Charlie’s perspective, this film also raises questions such as “What is justice?” “Is violence evil?”, and “Are there superior or inferior forms of life?” Furthermore, behind the scenes of peaceful school life, the radical terrorist organization “ALA (Animal Liberation Alliance)” operates.
The film depicts terrorism, discrimination, and ideological rampages lurking behind the scenes of peaceful daily life, and its suspenseful developments are reminiscent of the thrills of “Parasyte.” While Charlie possesses exceptional intelligence and a deep sense of empathy, he is constantly struggling with identity issues stemming from his childhood, when he was deemed “different.” His determination to find his place in the world and confront those around him is both poignant and powerful. “What is a human being?” “How should we deal with discrimination?” – the themes of this film, which highlight the contradictions and cruelty of human society, should serve as poignant messages for us living today. How will the unique worldview of “Darwin’s Incident” be portrayed in anime? With the series set to begin airing in January 2026, prepare yourself now for the questions this shocking series will pose.
