It has been announced that the TV anime "The Darwin Incident," based on the manga by Shun Umezawa, which was recently selected as the Grand Prize winner at the Manga Taisho 2022 Awards, will be broadcast on TV Tokyo from midnight on January 6, 2026. The official trailer, which uses the opening theme song "Make Me Wonder" by the band Official Hige Dandism (Higedan), has been released on YouTube.
Additional cast members have also been announced, including Toshiyuki Morikawa as Gilbert Stein, Sato Rina as Hannah Stein, Kaito Ishikawa as Gale, and Egashira Hiroya as Leslie K. Lippman/The Major.
Morikawa, who plays Charlie's adoptive father, Gilbert Stein/Bart, commented, "I am truly happy to be playing Gilbert, Charlie's adoptive father. He is a calm person, but he and his wife, Hannah, have deep love for Charlie. I was excited while playing the role, wondering how his emotional movements would color the story. I hope everyone will enjoy the drama and deep themes that are woven by the bond between him and Charlie. I am truly looking forward to seeing you on TV."
Sato, who plays Hannah, Charlie's foster mother and Gilbert's wife, said, "I was amazed by what Charlie, a Humanzee, said, and it made me think a lot. Hannah and Bart love Charlie more than anyone. Because the story is so intertwined with various events, it's important to cherish the everyday things like saying goodbye and goodnight, and being a mother. As a mother to a son myself, I am raising my child and worrying every day. Although we are in different circumstances, what I wish for is for my children to be happy. I see myself in Charlie and am cherishing her love and personality as I go into the recording."
Ueda, who plays Shrews' deputy sheriff, Philip, said, "I never thought I'd ever be involved in an incident that overturns traditional values, and that even if it did happen, it would happen gradually, starting in a big city, but it's now a reality right in front of my eyes... How will I act then? Phil is a man who is close to the viewer's perspective, but because of his job he is forced to face it on the front lines. I find it very rewarding to play the role of someone who wavers and gradually searches for a balanced choice. The 30 minutes will pass in the blink of an eye as you watch the drama unfold with bated breath. Please look forward to it."
Ishikawa, who plays Gail, a student at the same Shrews High School as Charlie and Lucy, said, "I'm looking forward to the film adaptation of The Darwin Incident, which deals with a thought-provoking theme. The character I play, Gail, has strong beliefs, and the strength of those feelings makes him dissatisfied with the world. He also has extraordinary feelings for Charlie, and is very attached to him. I hope you'll look forward to seeing how he interacts with Lucy, Charlie, and the others."
Egashira, who plays Lippman, one of the central figures in ALA, commented, "The character is an excellent former soldier from the US military who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, so it was easy to get over the situation, and it was a really fun role to play, including acting in action scenes! As a fan of the original work, I am very honored to have been able to be involved in The Darwin Incident. I hope that not only fans but many people will enjoy it!"
"The Darwin Incident" has been serialized in Monthly Afternoon (Kodansha) since 2020. Charlie, a "humanzee" born from a human and a chimpanzee, faces human problems such as terrorism, online outrage, and discrimination. The series has sold over 2.2 million copies. It has swept the manga award circuit, winning 10th place in the "This Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2022" Men's Edition, the Excellence Award in the Manga Division at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival, and second place in the "2022 Recommended Comics by Comics Publishers." It was also selected for the Asia section of "BDGest'Arts" at the 50th Angoulême International Comics Festival in France, and is gaining popularity not only in Japan but also overseas.
The anime will be directed by Tsuda Naokatsu and produced by Belnox Films. Atsumi Tanezaki will play Charlie, a "humanzee" born from a human and a chimpanzee, Mitsuho Kanbe will play Lucy Eldred, a girl Charlie meets when he enrolls at the school, and Akio Otsuka will play Rivera Feyerabend.
