Riko

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Riko resides in Orth, a town that surrounds a giant hole known as the Abyss. This pit harbors artifacts and remnants of lost civilizations, making it a hunting ground for Cave Raiders who brave dangerous descents to recover relics. However, ascending from the depths triggers the Curse of the Abyss, a potentially fatal malady that intensifies with depth; few return from the lower regions. Riko's mother, Lyza, earned the title of White Whistle before vanishing during a 'last descent.' After finding Reg in the first layer and naming him after a character from a book she read, Riko integrates him into her friend group at the orphanage. She later inherits Lyza's White Whistle from Jiruo, along with a note that simply says 'At the bottom of the Abyss, I'll be waiting.' This discovery fuels her determination to find her mother, leading her to bid farewell to her friends and secretly depart into the Abyss with Reg.

In Their Own Story

The narrative begins in Orth, where Riko lives among other orphans under the shadow of the Abyss. Her longing is defined by her mother's legacy; Lyza was a legendary Cave Raider presumed dead after taking a final descent. One day, Riko finds a half-robot boy in the first layer of the pit and names him Reg. After sneaking him into Belchero Orphanage, she receives crucial findings from the depths: Lyza's White Whistle and observation pages with a message for her. Driven by these artifacts and the promise that her mother waits at the bottom, Riko makes a fateful decision. She leaves Orth in secret, abandoning her close-knit group of friends to begin her descent. Accompanied solely by Reg, she ventures into the mist-filled pit, ready to face the acutely dangerous effects of the Curse as they go deeper.

Reader's Guide

Riko is characterized by her determination to reach the bottom of the Abyss and find her mother, Lyza. Her journey starts with a discovery in the first layer where she finds Reg, a part-robot boy whom she names after her dog. Key to her quest are Lyza's White Whistle and personal logs found in the depths, which contain a message stating Lyza is waiting at the bottom. Riko's path involves descending through the layers of the Abyss, where the Curse manifests more acutely with every depth gained. While the source details her departure from Orth with Reg as her companion, it does not specify further companions or specific survival skills beyond her resolve to follow her mother's trail.

Did You Know?

• Riko named her robot companion 'Reg' after a character from a book she read, not a dog.
• As of the latest known data (2024), the manga has around 10 million copies in circulation.
• The first anime season aired in Japan in July 2017, and the English dub aired on Toonami in 2018, not 2022.
• In 2022, the series won the Excellence Award at the 51st Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.
• A sequel to the second season was announced in August 2025 to be released as a series of films starting in 2026.

The Orphan's Ambition and Descent

Riko is an orphan living at the Belchero Orphanage in Orth. Her primary motivation is to emulate her mother, Lyza, a White Whistle who vanished during a 'last descent' into the Abyss. The Abyss is described as a place of artifacts and danger where ascending triggers a fatal curse that worsens with depth. Riko's journey begins when she finds Reg, a half-human, half-robot boy, in the first layer. She brings him to Belchero, welcoming him into her friend group. Later, she discovers Lyza's White Whistle and pages of observations from the depths, along with a message for Riko stating her mother is waiting at the bottom. Motivated by this message, Riko secretly leaves Orth with Reg as her companion to find her mother.

Narrative Origins and Global Publication

The story of Riko originates from the web manga 'Made in Abyss' written and illustrated by Akihito Tsukushi, serialized on Takeshobo's Web Comic Gamma since October 2012. As of August 2025, 14 tankōbon volumes have been collected. In North America, Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the series after an announcement at Anime Expo 2017. Jake Jung, who also translated the anime for Sentai Filmworks, adapted the manga, noting his intention to avoid gendered pronouns for characters like Nanachi and Marulk. By August 2025, the manga had over 22 million copies in circulation globally.

Animation Evolution and Critical Acclaim

An anime television series adaptation produced by Kinema Citrus aired from July to September 2017, covering volumes 1 through 3. Directed by Masayuki Kojima with a soundtrack by Kevin Penkin, the series featured voice actresses Miyu Tomita and Mariya Ise. A sequel film, 'Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul,' premiered in Japan in January 2020. This was followed by a second season, 'The Golden City of the Scorching Sun,' which aired from July to September 2022 with the original cast and staff returning. The franchise has received critical acclaim, including winning the Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 2023.

Expansion into Live Action and Interactive Media

Beyond the manga and anime, Riko's story expanded into a Western live-action film adaptation beginning development in 2021, with Kevin McMullin hired to write and direct. An action role-playing game titled 'Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness,' developed by Chime Corporation and published by Spike Chunsoft, was released in September 2022. In August 2025, it was announced that a sequel to the second season would take the form of a series of films starting in 2026.