Announcement of “The Darwin Incident” Anime Premiere in January 2026: An Exciting Story About Identity and Terrorism
In exciting news for anime fans, the TV anime series “The Darwin Incident” is scheduled to premiere in January 2026 on Tokyo MX and its affiliates. This announcement comes with the release of an initial promotional video that reveals the main staff, heightening anticipation for this adaptation of a popular manga.
Story of the Anime
“The Darwin Incident” tells the story of Charlie, a half-human, half-chimpanzee (humanzee) born from biological experiments. After his pregnant mother is rescued during an operation by an animal rights organization, Charlie is raised by human parents for fifteen years. However, he faces difficulties adapting to society due to his dual nature, causing tensions within the community. Charlie meets a smart girl named Lucy at high school, and they develop a strong friendship. But things complicate when a vegan terrorist organization (ALA – Animal Liberation Alliance) tries to recruit him as a symbol for their cause, leading to a radical change in how people view him and his family. The story explores deep themes like identity, animal rights, and terrorism, making it a controversial cinematic work.
Background of the Manga
The anime is inspired by the manga of the same name, written and illustrated by Shun Umezawa, and published by Kodansha in Monthly Afternoon magazine since June 2020. So far, 9 volumes have been released, and it has been licensed in English by Kodansha USA. The manga has won awards, including the Manga Taisho Award, and is considered a sci-fi work blending with social drama.
Production Team and Cast
The anime is produced by Bellnox Films studio, directed by Naokatsu Tsuda (known for directing JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), with Katsuyoshi Nakayama as series director. Shinichi Inotsume handles the scriptwriting, while the music is composed by Eishi Segawa and Mariko Horikawa. The main voice cast includes:
- Atsumi Tanezaki as Charlie
- Mitsuki Saiga as Lucy Eldred
- Akio Otsuka as Rivera Vierabend
These details were revealed in the first promotional video, which showcases glimpses of the animation and story.
‘THE DARWIN INCIDENT’ New Anime Officially Premieres January 2026! pic.twitter.com/ARktj02BOJ
— Anime Updates (@animeupdates__) October 24, 2025
Audience Expectations
With the premiere approaching in January 2026, anime fans expect “The Darwin Incident” to be one of the standout works of the winter season, especially with its unique blend of sci-fi and social discussions. It will be streamed on Crunchyroll and other platforms, making it available to a global audience.
This work is an exciting addition to the anime world, and we will follow new developments about it.
