Knights of Sidonia

Not to be confused with Knights of Cydonia.
Knights of Sidonia

First volume cover of Knights of Sidonia by Tsutomu Nihei depicting the series' protagonist, Nagate Tanikaze, on top of the hand of his Tsugumori mecha.
シドニアの騎士
(Shidonia no Kishi)
Genre Mecha[1]
Manga
Written by Tsutomu Nihei
Published by Kodansha
English publisher
Demographic Seinen
Imprint Afternoon KC
Magazine Afternoon
Original run April 25, 2009 – ongoing
Volumes 14
Anime television series
Directed by Kōbun Shizuno
Written by Sadayuki Murai
Music by Noriyuki Asakura
Studio Polygon Pictures
Licensed by
Sentai Filmworks
Network MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS, AT-X
English network Netflix
Original run April 11, 2014 – June 27, 2014
Episodes 12
Anime television series
Sidonia no Kishi: Dai-kyū Wakusei Sen'eki
Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita
Written by Sadayuki Murai
Music by Noriyuki Asakura
Studio Polygon Pictures
Network MBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS
Original run April 10, 2015 – ongoing

Knights of Sidonia (Japanese: シドニアの騎士 Hepburn: Shidonia no Kishi) is a manga series by Tsutomu Nihei, published by Kodansha in their magazine Afternoon. The manga series has been published in English in North America by Vertical. An anime television series adaptation, produced by Polygon Pictures, aired between April and June 2014 and a second season started airing on April 2015. The localized series is available for streaming exclusively on Netflix in all its territories as part of its original programming.

Plot

Setting

The story is set in the year 3394, a thousand years after humans flee from Earth, after it was destroyed by shapeshifting gigantic alien monsters called Gauna (奇居子（ガウナ）), aboard massive spaceships created from the remains of the planet. One such ship is the "Sidonia", which has developed its own human culture closely based on that of Japan, where human cloning, asexual reproduction, and human genetic engineering, such as granting humans photosynthesis, are commonplace. It is also revealed that the top echelons of this society have secretly been granted immortality. With a population of over 500,000 people, Sidonia is possibly the last human settlement remaining as the fates of the other ships are unknown.

Little is known about the true nature of the Gauna or their motivation for attacking humanity. Each Gauna has a near invulnerable core protected by a huge mass of material known as the "placenta" (胞衣 ena), most commonly called "Ena". Once the placenta is shed away and the core is destroyed, the Gauna's body disintegrates.[2]

Sidonia is defended by large mechanized weapons called Gardes (衛人 Morito) whose weaponry and mobility is powered by "Heigus particles" (ヘイグス粒子 Heigusu Ryūshi),[3] armed with a high-output cannon for long range assaults and a special spear known as "Kabizashi" for close combat. The tip of the kabizashi is made of an elusive material which has the unique property of being able to destroy a Gauna's core. Later the Guardians are also equipped with firearms whose ammo have the same material of the Kabizashi after a means to artificially mass-produce it is discovered. Most people in the surviving human population are screened and drafted as Guardian pilots at a young age, if they are shown to be capable of piloting them.

Story

The story follows the exploits of Nagate Tanikaze, who lived in the underground layer of Sidonia since birth and was raised by his grandfather. Never having met anyone else, he trains himself in an old Guardian pilot simulator every day, eventually mastering it. He emerges to the surface and is selected as a Guardian pilot after his grandfather's death with hope he can defend Sidonia from the Gauna's attack using all the combat expertise Grandfather Nagate taught him.

Media

Manga

The manga is written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei. It debuted in Kodansha magazine Afternoon's June issue in 2009. Since then, 12 tankōbon have been released.[4] The manga has been licensed in North America by Vertical,[5] who released the first twelve volumes in English between February 5, 2013, and December 2, 2014.[6][7]

Volume list

No.Japanese release dateJapanese ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1 September 23, 2009[8]ISBN 978-4-06-314597-7February 5, 2013[6]ISBN 978-1-935654-80-3
  • 01. "Tanikaze Nagate's Choice" (谷風長道の選択 Tanikaze Nagate no Sentaku)
  • 02. "Tanikaze Nagate's First Sortie" (谷風長道の初陣 Tanikaze Nagate no Uijin)
  • 03. "Yamano Eiko's Starry Sky" (山野栄子の星空 Yamano Eiko no Hoshizora)
  • 04. "Kunato Norio's Rage" (岐神海苔夫の激昂 Kunato Norio no Gekikō)
  • 05. "Akai Mochikuni's Glory" (赤井持国の栄光 Akai Mochikuni no Eikō)
2 February 23, 2010[9]ISBN 978-4-06-310633-6April 16, 2013[10]ISBN 978-1-935654-81-0
  • 06. "Akai Mochikuni's Kabizashi" (赤井持国のカビザシ Akai Mochikuni no Kabizashi)
  • 07. "Search for Hoshijiro Shizuka" (星白閑の捜索 Hoshijiro Shizuka no Sōsaku)
  • 08. "Tanikaze Nagate's Return to the Warship" (谷風長道の帰艦 Tanikaze Nagate no Kikan)
  • 09. "Salute to Hoshijiro Shizuka" (星白閑の敬礼 Hoshijiro Shizuka no Keirei)
  • 10. "The 28th Captain's Decision" (第二十八代艦長の決断 Dai Ni Jū Hachi-dai Kanchō no Ketsudan)
3 July 23, 2010[11]ISBN 978-4-06-310680-0June 4, 2013[12]ISBN 978-1-935654-82-7
  • 11. "Hoshijiro Shizuka's Homeward Voyage" (星白閑の帰艦 Hoshijiro Shizuka no Kikan)
  • 12. "Tahiro Numi's Weekly Meal" (田寛ヌミの週一食 Tahiro Numi no Shūichishoku)
  • 13. "The Sighs of Shinatose Izana" (科戸瀬イザナの溜息 Shinatose Izana no Tameiki)
  • 14. "The Immortal Ship Committee" (不死の船員会 Fushi no Sen'in-kai)
  • 15. "Saitō Hiroki's Rampage" (斎藤ヒロキの暴走 Saitō Hiroki no Bōsō)
4 December 22, 2010[13]ISBN 978-4-06-310716-6August 6, 2013[14]ISBN 978-1-935654-89-6
  • 16. "Shinatose Izana's First Sortie" (科戸瀬イザナの初陣 Shinatose Izana no Uijin)
  • 17. "Tanikaze Nagate's Decision" (谷風長道の決意 Tanikaze Nagate no Ketsui)
  • 18. "Scientist Ochiai's Daughter" (科学者落合の娘 Kagakusha Ochiai no Musume)
  • 19. "The Dream Shinatose Izana Saw" (科戸瀬イザナが見た夢 Shinatose Izana ga Mita Yume)
  • 20. "Kunato Norio's Emotional Turmoil" (岐神海苔夫の葛藤 Kunato Norio no Kattō)
5 May 23, 2011[15]ISBN 978-4-06-310753-1October 15, 2013[16]ISBN 978-1-935654-99-5
  • 21. "Benizusume's Gaze" (紅天蛾の眼差し Benisuzume no Manazashi)
  • 22. "Scientist Ochiai's Conspiracy" (科学者落合の陰謀 Kagakusha Ochiai no Inbō)
  • 23. "Asteroid's Approach" (小惑星の接近 Shōwakusei no Sekkin)
  • 24. "723's Embrace" (７２３の抱擁 723 no Hōyō)
  • 25. "First Platoon's Struggle" (第一小隊の奮闘 Dai Ichi Shōtai no Funtō)
6 October 21, 2011[17]ISBN 978-4-06-310783-8December 10, 2013[18]ISBN 978-1-932234-91-6
  • 26. "Asteroid's Impact" (小惑星の衝突 Shōwakusei no Shōtotsu)
  • 27. "Toha Heavy Industries' Return" (東亜重工の再始動 Tōa Jūkō no Saishidō)
  • 28. "Placenta Hoshijiro's Impregnation" (エナ星白の受胎 Ena Hoshijiro no Jutai)
  • 29. "Shinatose Yure's Hesitation" (科戸瀬ユレの逡巡 Shinatose Yure no ShunJun)
  • 30. "Honoka Ren's Determination" (仄煉の決意 Honoka Ren no Ketsui)
7 March 23, 2012[19]ISBN 978-4-06-387812-7February 11, 2014[7]ISBN 978-1-939130-02-0
  • 31. Hoshijiro Shizuka's Daughter (星白閑の娘 Hoshijiro Shizuka no Musume)
  • 32. Shiraui Tsumugi's Debut (白羽衣つむぎの御目見え Shiraui Tsumugi no Omemie)
  • 33. Shiraui Tsumugi's Ability (白羽衣つむぎの能力 Shiraui Tsumugi no Nōryoku)
  • 34. Ocarina's Reduction: Part One (オカリナ攻略戦　前編 Okarina Kōryaku Sen Zenpen)
  • 35. Ocarina's Reduction: Part Two (オカリナ攻略戦　後編 Okarina Kōryaku Sen Kōhen)
8 July 23, 2012[20]ISBN 978-4-06-387833-2April 8, 2014[21]ISBN 978-1-939130-21-1
  • 36. Large Mass' Union Ship's Rumbling (大シュガフ船の鳴動 Dai Shugafu-sen no Meidō)
  • 37. Shiraui Tsumugi's Wish (白羽衣つむぎの願望 Shiraui Tsumugi no Ganbō)
  • 38. Shiraui Tsumugi's Yearning (白羽衣つむぎの思慕 Shiraui Tsumugi no Shibo)
  • 39. Entering Lem-IX (惑星ナインへの侵入 Wakusei Nain e no Shinnyū)
9 December 21, 2012[22]ISBN 978-4-06-387853-0June 3, 2014[23]ISBN 978-1-939130-22-8
  • 40. Mere Two Unit's Rescue Party (たった二機の救出部隊 Tatta Ni Ki no Kyūshutsu Butai)
  • 41. Nagate Tanikaze's Land Battle (谷風長道の陸戦 Tanikaze Nagate no Rikusen)
  • 42. Shizuka Hoshijiro's Image (星白閑の形象 Hoshijiro Shizuka no Keishō)
  • 43. Pilot Tsuruuchi's Melancholy (弦打操縦士の憂鬱 Tsuruuchi Sōjūshi no Yūutsu)
  • 44. Midorikawa Yuhata's Decision (緑川纈の決断 Midorikawa Yuhata no Ketsudan)
10 May 23, 2013[24]ISBN 978-4-06-387886-8August 5, 2014[25]ISBN 978-1-939130-90-7
  • 45. The Honoka Sisters' House Search (仄姉妹の家宅捜査 Honoka Shimai no Kataku Sōsa)
  • 46. Kanata's Birth: Part One (かなたのはじまり　前編 Kanata no Hajimari Zenpen)
  • 47. Kanata's Birth: Part Two (かなたのはじまり　後編 Kanata no Hajimari Kōhen)
  • 48. Development of the Critically Unstable Weapon (臨界不測兵器の開発 Rinkai Fusoku Heiki no Kaihatsu)
  • 49. Tanikaze Nagate's Secret Mission (谷風長道の極秘任務 Tanikaze Nagete no Gokuhi Ninmu)
11 October 23, 2013[26]ISBN 978-4-06-387928-5October 7, 2014[27]ISBN 978-1-939130-91-4
  • 50. Remnants of the Pacifists (非武装主義者の痕跡 Hibusōshugisha no Konseki)
  • 51. Rescue of a Shipwrecked Sailor (遭難者の救出 Sōnansha no Kyūshutsu)
  • 52. The Struggle of Hiyama Lala (ヒ山ララァの奮闘 Hiyama Rarā no Funtō)
  • 53. Large Mass' Union Ship's Presence (大シュガフ船の存在 Daishugafusen no Sonzai)
  • 54. Ichigaya Teruru's Conversion (市ヶ谷テルルの転向 Ichigaya Teruru no Tenkō)
12 March 20, 2014[4]ISBN 978-4-06-387965-0December 2, 2014[28]ISBN 978-1-939130-99-0
  • 55. Launch of the Mizuki (水城の出艦 Mizuki no Shukkan)
  • 56. The Protean Gauna (不定形のガウナ Futeikei no Gauna)
  • 57. Honoka Shō's Rescue (仄炒の救出 Honoka Shō no Kyūshutsu)
  • 58. Mizuki's Power (水城の能力 Mizuki no Nōryoku)
  • 59. The Lem Star's Gravitation (恒星レムの引力 Kōsei Remu no Inryoku)
13 August 22, 2014[29]ISBN 978-4-06-3879919March 10, 2015[30]ISBN 978-1-941220-32-0
  • 60. Installment of the Semi-Autonomous Converter System (半自律式転換機構の設置 Han-jiritsushiki Tenkan Kikō no Setchi)
  • 61. The New Pilots' First Battle: Part One (新操縦士の初陣　前編 Shinsōjūshi no Uijin Zenpen)
  • 62. The New Pilots' First Battle: Part Two (新操縦士の初陣　後編 Shinsōjūshi no Uijin Kōhen)
  • 63. Shiraui Tsumugi's Dream (白羽衣つむぎの夢 Shiraui Tsumugi no Yume)
  • 64. The Dismantling of Kanata (かなたの解体 Kanata no Kaitai)
14 February 23, 2015[31]ISBN 978-4-06-388033-5September 29, 2015[32]ISBN 978-1-941220-86-3
  • 65. "Scientist Ochiai's Incarnation"
  • 66. "Captain Kobayashi's Lingering Affection"
  • 67. "The Assault Fleet's Peril"
  • 68. "Tanikaze Nagate's Impatience"
  • 69. "Kunato Norio's Return"

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were serialized in Afternoon.

  1. "The Type-20's Sortie"
  2. "The First Assault Fleet's Decision"
  3. "Tsumugi's Wish"

Anime

An anime television series adaptation, produced by Polygon Pictures, premiered on April 10, 2014 and ended its first season on June 26, 2014, on MBS and later on TBS, CBC and BS-TBS.[1][33] The series was directed by Kobun Shizuno, assisted by Hiroyuki Seshita, with scripts by Sadayuki Murai and character designs by Yuki Moriyama.[34] The series is also localized and streamed by Netflix at all its territories since July 4, 2014.[35] The first season has been licensed for home video release by Sentai Filmworks.[36] The opening song is "Sidonia" by Angela and the ending song is "Show" (掌) by Eri Kitamura. A second season started airing in April 10, 2015, with Kishi Kōshinkyoku (騎士行進曲 Knight March) by Angela as the opening song and "Requiem" by CustomiZ as the ending song.[37]

Reception

The manga was ranked #47 in Oricon Charts on October 30, 2013 with an estimate of 20,934 copies sold.[38] Carlo Santos gave the first manga volume a B stating, "It's got a young man piloting a giant robot against alien enemies, but Knight of Sidonia is no Evangelion. Yet it's not as bleak or incomprehensible as Tsutomu Nihei works like Blame! or Biomega, either—rather, it's the best of both worlds, bringing Nihei's hard sci-fi mentality into a more conventional space-adventure environment."[39] The Young Adult Library Services Association listed Knights of Sidonia in its 2014 list of Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens.[40]

The anime series was received with high praise by famous members of the Japanese anime/game industry, like Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series, who claims that "It's a kind of anime that we haven't seen for a while that has that sci-fi spirit. Using digital technology cultivated through games, it creates animation that encapsulates Japan's cultural assets like manga, cel animation, kanji, giant robots, etc. What's born is a unique made-in-Japan work that could never be cooked up in Hollywood. Japanese culture has lost its "cool," and Knights of Sidonia will be the white knight that saves it." Other industry pros left acknowledgements as well, including Akiko Higashimura, Digitarou and Yoshinao Dao.[41]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Tsutomu Nihei's Knights of Sidonia Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  2. ↑ Nihei, Tsutomu. Knights of Sidonia Vol. 2. Vertical inc, New York. p. 89. ISBN 9781935654810.
  3. ↑ It's different from Higgs Boson (ヒッグス粒子 Higgusu Ryūshi) in Japanese
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 シドニアの騎士（12） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Vertical Adds Tsutomu Nihei's Knights of Sidonia Manga". Anime News Network. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Knights of Sidonia, volume 1". Random House. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 7". Random House. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
  8. ↑ シドニアの騎士（1） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  9. ↑ シドニアの騎士（2） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, volume 2". Random House. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  11. ↑ シドニアの騎士（3） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  12. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, volume 3". Random House. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  13. ↑ シドニアの騎士（4） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  14. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, volume 4". Random House. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  15. ↑ シドニアの騎士（5） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  16. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 5". Random House. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  17. ↑ シドニアの騎士（6） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  18. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 6". Random House. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  19. ↑ シドニアの騎士（7） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  20. ↑ シドニアの騎士（8） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  21. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 8". Random House. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  22. ↑ シドニアの騎士（9） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  23. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 9". Random House. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  24. ↑ シドニアの騎士（10） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  25. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 10". Random House. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  26. ↑ シドニアの騎士（11） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  27. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 11". Random House. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  28. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 12". Random House. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  29. ↑ シドニアの騎士（13） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
  30. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 13". Random House. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  31. ↑ シドニアの騎士（14） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  32. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia, Volume 14". Random House. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
  33. ↑ "シドニアの騎士｜放送・配信情報". KnightsOfSidonia.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  34. ↑ "Knights of Sidonia Anime's 1st English-Subbed Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
  35. ↑ "Netflix to Stream Knights of Sidonia Anime in Summer 2014". Anime News Network. 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  36. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Knights of Sidonia for Home Video". Anime News Network. 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  37. ↑ "'Knights of Sidonia: Battle for Planet Nine' coming April 2015".
  38. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, October 21-27". Anime News Network. 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
  39. ↑ "Neverwinter Knights". Anime News Network. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
  40. ↑ "Strobe Edge Ranks in YALSA's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens". Anime News Network. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  41. ↑ "Metal Gear's Hideo Kojima Praises Knights of Sidonia Anime". Anime News Network. 2014-06-21. Retrieved 2014-06-21.

External links