BEASTARS is a Japanese manga series created by Paru Itagaki, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 2016 to 2020, later adapted into an anime.
In a world where anthropomorphic carnivores and herbivores coexist, the story dives into the lives and emotional struggles of students at Cherryton Academy, especially Legoshi, a sensitive gray wolf.
The series explores themes of prejudice, identity, and desire, featuring complex relationships and social challenges.
By October 2021, BEASTARS had surpassed 7.5 million copies in circulation and inspired anime, stage adaptations, and a devoted fanbase worldwide.
BEASTARS was inspired by Itagaki's earlier work, BEAST COMPLEX, a short story about animals sharing human-like social issues.
The strong reception encouraged a full serial run, and Itagaki refined Legoshi’s character, setting him in high school to add youthful energy and connect with shōnen manga readers.
The series stands out not as a "slice-of-life" animal school story, but by delving into hidden tensions and real conflicts beneath the facade of animal society, transforming human issues into animal dilemmas.
BEASTARS is set in a present-day-like society where all citizens are anthropomorphic animals—mammals, birds, and reptiles—coexisting with similar technology and customs as humans, but with notable animal-specific twists.
Cherryton Academy, the main setting, is a prestigious boarding school divided into carnivore and herbivore dorms to prevent incidents.
Animal cultures mix: there’s a currency called "yen," seasonal festivals, and even smartphones are present, but with entirely new social customs, including the taboo of eating meat.
Eating live meat is a serious crime, and the black market “Back Alley Market” feeds carnivorous cravings under the radar.
Mixed-species romance faces societal prejudice, and even marriages between carnivores and herbivores or different animal classes (like reptiles and mammals) are stigmatized.
At Cherryton Academy, an alpaca named Tem is murdered in a suspected “devouring incident,” which stirs tension among the students.
Legoshi, the reserved gray wolf, becomes a suspect—but the truth points elsewhere.
Legoshi encounters Haru, a dwarf rabbit girl ostracized for her promiscuity and small stature.
Struggling with feelings toward Haru, unsure if it's love or hunger, Legoshi also faces rivalry and friendship with Louis, a proud red deer.
Beastars traces the students’ attempts to break free from society’s expectations, their friendships, romances, and the shadows of their instincts.
As Legoshi investigates the murder with assistance from Rokume the snake guard and Gohin the giant panda doctor, he must wrestle with his animal side while uncovering shocking truths.
Later arcs see Legoshi’s battles in the black market, struggles with being "marked" as a criminal, and the emergence of Melon, a hybrid criminal challenging the animal world’s balance.
- BEASTAR: A symbolic leader, chosen from among students and society to unite all species; the ultimate peacemaker.
- Back Alley Market: An illegal black market where animal meat is sold, sustained by demand from carnivores unable to suppress their instincts.
- Devouring/Devourer: The act of attacking and consuming another animal, strictly outlawed.
- Food Felon: An animal with a record of eating forbidden meat; carries severe social consequences, such as banishment from mixed-species institutions and workplaces.
- Cherryton Academy: The elite boarding school divided into carnivore/herbivore dorms, famous for its drama club.
- Blue Beastar/Sovereign Beastar: Designations for candidates and leaders among Beastars, representing different generations or levels.
- Seaonics: Ocean-dwelling animals, with their own language and customs, occasionally interacting with land animals.
The manga BEASTARS was collected in 22 volumes.
The anime launched its first season in October 2019 on Fuji TV's +Ultra block and streamed exclusively on Netflix.
A second season aired in 2021, with a FINAL SEASON expected on Netflix in 2024.
A stage play was planned for 2020 but canceled due to COVID-19.
A new musical reading adaptation is scheduled for Tokyo and Osaka in September 2024.
Studio Orange, known for their 3DCG animation work, was responsible for the BEASTARS anime.
Director Shinichi Matsumi led a team focused on blending captivating animal animation with sincere drama.
The production chose the "pre-scoring" method, recording voice acting before animation, enhancing emotional delivery and character interaction.
- Season 1 Opening: "Wild Side" by ALI delivered the show's unique, jazzy energy.
- Season 2 Opening: "Monster" by YOASOBI, based on an original story by Itagaki for the anime.
- Season 2 Ending: "Gentle Comet" by YOASOBI also drew from a special Itagaki short story.
- Season 3 Opening: "Into the world" by Issei.
BEASTARS received the 2018 Kodansha Manga Award (Shōnen category).
It also won the 11th Manga Taisho Grand Prize and the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival Newcomer Award.
Furthermore, the anime was nominated at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2021, with its first OP recognized as Best Opening Sequence.
BEASTARS has been praised for its fearless handling of complex social themes—prejudice, instinct, love, and power—using animals as metaphors for human issues.
The work collected a strong domestic and global following, especially after streaming internationally on Netflix.
It’s acclaimed for nuanced characters, psychological depth, and its original blend of coming-of-age drama and mature moral questions.
In 2024, the author Paru Itagaki was appointed as a "Fuchu Ambassador" in Tokyo, with special commemorative Legoshi-themed moped plates distributed in the city as part of the municipal anniversary campaign.
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