Children of the Whales (Japanese: クジラの子らは砂上に歌う, Hepburn: Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau, lit. "Whale Calves Sing on the Sand") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Abi Umeda. The manga is licensed in North America by Viz Media. An anime television series adaptation produced by J.C. Staff aired in Japan from October to December 2017, and was released globally on Netflix in March 2018.
Synopsis
The story focuses on a boy called Chakuro, who lives on a giant vessel called a Mud Whale that drifts over the sea of sand. In the Mud Whale, society is divided into two kinds of people: the Marked, who can move objects with their minds using a strange power called "thymia", at the expense of shortened lifespans, and the Unmarked, people who lack thymia but enjoy longer lifespans. Chakuro and his friends have never seen anyone from the outside world, and they spend their days yearning to explore and learn about it. In year 93 of the vessel's exile, the Mud Whale encounters a lonely island and Chakuro finds a girl inside, starting an adventure that changes the lives of everyone.
The protagonist and narrator of the story. Chakuro is a Marked boy who works as an archivist for the Elders in the Mud Whale hoping that his records will improve life for future generations. Curious and gentled he sometimes dreams to see the world outside the Mud Whale and immediately befriends Lykos after finding her on the abandoned island.
A mysterious girl found on an island that was about to be scavenged by the Mud Whale's people for resources. "Lykos" is not really her name, it actually refers to a mysterious creature that feeds off the emotions of anyone that comes near it. Chakuro simply calls her "Lykos" for the sake of convenience. She is at first reluctant to speak to anyone, but with Chakuro's help she learns to express herself more openly. It is revealed that she is an Apathetia, a thymia user that offers its emotions to a Nous and the younger sister of Orca, a high ranking member of the Allied Empire. She chooses to stay on the Mud Whale and teaches them how to fight.
A Marked boy who is said to possess the greatest potential for thymia in the Mud Whale. He is the leader of the Moles, a group of young people who gained their name because they often break the rules of the Mud Whale and thus spent a lot of time imprisoned in the belly of the ship. Obsessed with leaving the Mud Whale, Ouni has earned a reputation as a troublemaker. When Lykos is found by Chakuro, Ouni sees the opportunity to escape the Mud Whale. During the second invasion by the Allied Empire, he sneaks onto enemy ship with Chakuro, Nibi, Lykos, and Ginshu. After seeing Nibi die, he awakens an unknown power that allows him to use thymia in the belly of Skyros and subsequently destroys it. It is suspected that he is a Daimonas, a thymia user with the ability to destroy Nouses.
An Unmarked man who worked as an assistant for the Council of Elders and was researching a way to extend the life of the Marked. He is Chakuro's friend and Sami's elder brother, he often gives them advice for how they can help the Mud Whale's people. He often clasps his hands, which Chakuro notes is his way to suppress his emotions. He was appointed Mayor of the Mud Whale after the initial invasion by Skyros and told to sink the ship. After refusing he was thrown into jail.
A girl who often helps in the everyday activities of the Mud Whale's people, as a member of the Vigilante Corps. She is energetic and calls Chakuro "Chakky."
An Apatheia of the Allied Empire who stands out for his excessive emotions. He is sadistic and takes pleasure in killing the citizens of the Mud Whale due to their capacity for emotion. During the invasion he was defeated by Shaun, but managed to escape back to the Empire.
Chakuro's friend and Suō's younger sister. She seems to harbor feelings for Chakuro and becomes mildly jealous of Lykos upon seeing how close she and Chakuro become. When a mysterious group of soldiers attack the Mud Whale, she shields Chakuro from their bullets and dies. She returns as a spirit, kisses, and confesses her feelings to Chakuro before disappearing.
An Unmarked woman and former mayor of the Mud Whale.
Media
Manga
Abi Umeda launched the series in the July 2013 issue of Akita Shoten's shōjo manga magazine Monthly Mystery Bonita on June 6, 2013.[4][5] The series has been collected into 23 volumes as of March 2023.[6] The series ended serialization on January 6, 2023.[7]Viz Media announced during their panel at Anime Boston 2017 that they have licensed the manga.[8]
A comedy spin-off manga series was serialized in Monthly Mystery Bonita magazine from April 2018 to June 5, 2021.[9]
An anime adaptation of the series was announced in the February 2017 issue of Mystery Bonita on January 6, 2017.[5][56] The anime adaptation, which was later confirmed to be a television series, is directed by Kyōhei Ishiguro and written by Michiko Yokote, with animation by J.C.Staff, character designs by Haruko Iizuka and music by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. It aired from October 8[57][58] to December 24, 2017, on Tokyo MX and other channels. It ran for 12 episodes and will have two OVA.[59] It was released globally by Netflix in March 2018.[60] The opening theme song "Sono Saki e" (その未来へ) is performed by singer-songwriter RIRIKO, while the ending theme song "Hashitairo" (ハシタイロ) is performed by rionos.[58]
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^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第1巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 1]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第2巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 2]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第3巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 3]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第4巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 4]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第5巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 5]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第6巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 6]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第7巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 7]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第8巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 8]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第9巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 9]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第10巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 10]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第11巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 11]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第12巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 12]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第13巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 13]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第14巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 14]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第15巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 15]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第16巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 16]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第17巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 17]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第18巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 18]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第19巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 19]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第20巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 20]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第21巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 21]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第22巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 22]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
^クジラの子らは砂上に歌う 第23巻 [Kujira no Kora wa Sajō ni Utau Vol. 23]. Akita Shoten (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
