The Darwin Incident is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shun Umezawa. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon since June 2020. The story follows Charlie, a rare human–chimpanzee hybrid raised by human adoptive parents, who develops abilities beyond those of either species. An anime television series adaptation produced by Bellnox Films aired from January to April 2026.
Background and Setting
Umezawa had previously written a short story, Mō Ningen, which explored the bioethics of what defines a human being. The Darwin Incident expands on it as a thought experiment about how people would react if a being like Charlie existed and the boundary between humans and animals collapsed. The story is set in the United States, which Umezawa chose so the characters could discuss discrimination and terrorism in a more realistic setting, even though he and his staff had never lived there.
Reception and Awards
By May 2024, the manga had over 1.6 million copies in circulation. In 2022 it won the 15th Manga Taishō and the Excellence Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival. It won the general category of the 50th Kodansha Manga Award in 2026.