The highly anticipated anime Darwin Jihen (The Darwin Incident), based on the manga by Shun Umezawa, has revealed its main cast. The first PV and the main visual have also been released, highlighting the tension between species and the ethical dilemma that drives the plot.
The protagonist Charlie, a human-chimpanzee hybrid known as "Humanzee," will be played by Atsumi Tanezaki (Anya – Spy x Family). In addition to her, the cast includes Mitsuki Kōbe as Lucy Eldred and veteran actor Akio Ōtsuka as Rivera Fireabend.
The Darwin Incident will be released in January 2026, animated by Bellnox Films.
The series is directed by Naoyuki Tsuda (Black Butler), with Shinichi Inotsume series composition Shinpei Tomooka . The soundtrack is composed by Arisa Hohasama and Mariko Horikawa, and the film is produced by Vernox Films.
Synopsis:
Why are only humans special? In rural Missouri, in the United States, lives Charlie, a young man who is half human and half chimpanzee—a “Humanzee.” He possesses intelligence superior to that of humans and physical abilities that surpass those of a chimpanzee. Upon turning 15, Charlie, encouraged by his human adoptive parents, attends school for the first time. There, he meets Lucy, a brilliant girl who has difficulty communicating with others. However, the peace of school life is short-lived. Because of his unique origin, Charlie becomes a target of the ALA, a terrorist organization that fights for “animal liberation.”.
Finally, the official website also published the second part of a special interview between Umezawa and director Tsuda, discussing the behind-the-scenes aspects of the adaptation.
Source: Official Website