Knights of Sidonia
A manga and anime about defending a generation ship from alien Gauna.
Knights of Sidonia is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei, serialized in Monthly Afternoon from April 2009 to September 2015 and collected in 15 tankōbon volumes. It was adapted into an anime television series by Polygon Pictures, with the first season airing from April to June 2014 and the second from April to June 2015, followed by a film sequel in 2021. The series is notable for winning the 39th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2015 and the 47th Seiun Award in the Best Comic category in 2016.
Quick Facts
- Ja Romaji
- Shidonia no Kishi
- Genre
- Mecha · Space opera
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story is set in the year 3394, a thousand years after humanity fled Earth following its destruction by shapeshifting aliens called Gauna. The generation ship Sidonia, with a population of over 500,000, is possibly the last human settlement, as the fates of other ships are unknown. Human cloning, asexual reproduction, and genetic engineering such as granting humans photosynthesis are commonplace, and the top echelons of society have secretly been granted immortality. The Gauna consist of a nearly impenetrable core protected by a dense layer of malleable flesh called 'placenta' (ena); once the ena is shed and the core destroyed, the Gauna disintegrates. Sidonia is defended by large mechanized weapons called Gardes, powered by Higgs particles and armed with beam cannons and special spears called Kabizashi, whose tips are made of a rare material that can destroy a Gauna's core. Most people are screened and drafted as Garde pilots at a young age if capable.
Reader's Guide
The series follows Nagate Tanikaze, an 'under-dweller' raised underground by his grandfather, who trains daily in an old Guardian pilot simulator. After his grandfather's death, he emerges to the surface and is selected as a Garde pilot just as Sidonia is again threatened by the Gauna. The manga was licensed in North America by Vertical, which released all 15 volumes in English between 2013 and 2016. The anime adaptation was produced by Polygon Pictures, directed by Kōbun Shizuno, and streamed by Netflix starting July 4, 2014, becoming Netflix's first original anime. The series received positive reviews, including from Hideo Kojima, who praised its sci-fi spirit and unique Japanese cultural elements. The Young Adult Library Services Association listed Knights of Sidonia in its 2014 list of Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens.
Did You Know?
- The anime was Netflix's first original anime, streaming from July 4, 2014.
- The Gardes are powered by Higgs particles and use Kabizashi spears to destroy Gauna cores.
- Human genetic engineering in Sidonia includes granting humans photosynthesis.
More in Television Series About Genetic Engineering 1-23
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced