Orphans of the Abyss

Lore & Background

The concept of a unified 'Orphans' faction is a misconception. In reality, children found in the depths are usually tragic casualties of failed expeditions or those who have been left behind by their guardians. They do not band together as an organized resistance or guide network; instead, they face the Abyss's horrors in isolation. For instance, Reg, often mistakenly linked to such groups, is actually an Artificial Human created by Lyza and discovered in the first layer (near the entrance) with no memory of leading children prior to meeting Riko. The harsh truth of the Abyss is that these lost souls are not a symbiotic force aiding exploration but rather solitary survivors fighting for their lives against the Curse.

In Their Own Story

The air in Layer Four was thick and humid, smelling of rotting vegetation and ancient dust. A small figure, no older than ten, crouched behind a massive fern, eyes wide but steady. They watched as a White Whistle stumbled through the undergrowth, their gear heavy and cumbersome. The child did not speak; they simply raised a hand, pointing toward a hidden fissure in the rock face that bypassed the nesting grounds of the giant beetles. In this silent exchange, the laws of the surface were forgotten, replaced by the unspoken pact of survival that bound the Orphans together.

Reader's Guide

The Orphans of the Abyss represent a unique faction defined not by ambition or authority, but by necessity and resilience. Composed largely of children who have been separated from their families or failed to ascend back to Orth, they form a loose confederation within the lower layers. Their primary goal is survival, utilizing their small stature and adaptability to navigate environments that are hostile to adults. Unlike the organized White Whistle guilds, the Orphans lack formal leadership or strict codes of conduct. Instead, they operate through shared experience and mutual aid. They often serve as invaluable allies for deep-sea explorers, offering local knowledge of traps, creatures, and safe passages that official maps do not record. In the broader conflict of the Abyss, they act as a wildcard element. While the surface world views them with pity or fear, within the Pit, they are masters of their domain. Their presence highlights the tragic cost of exploration while offering a glimmer of hope that life can flourish even in the most cursed depths.

Did You Know?

• There is no official canon group called 'Orphans of the Abyss'; lost children exist as individuals, not an organization.
• Reg was created by Lyza and found in the first layer (near the entrance); he never led a group of orphaned children before meeting Riko.
• Children living in the depths are typically isolated survivors rather than organized guides or scouts for other explorers.

Narrative Premise and Setting

The story centers on Riko, an orphan residing in the town of Orth, which encircles a colossal chasm known as the Abyss. This mysterious pit descends deep into the Earth, harboring ancient artifacts and remnants of lost civilizations that attract dangerous explorers called Cave Raiders. The descent is perilous not only due to hostile creatures but also because of the "Curse of the Abyss," a fatal malady that afflicts those who ascend from its depths; the severity of these symptoms increases with the depth reached. Riko dreams of following her mother, Lyza, a legendary White Whistle Cave Raider presumed dead after a final descent. Her journey begins when she discovers Reg, a boy who is part human and part robot, in the first layer of the pit. After finding evidence that her mother is waiting at the bottom, including her whistle and personal notes, Riko secretly departs with Reg to explore the unknown depths and reunite with her family.

Manga Publication History

Created by writer and illustrator Akihito Tsukushi, the series originated as a web manga on Takeshobo's Manga Life Win+ platform in October 2012 before moving to Web Comic Gamma. The chapters have been compiled into physical tankōbon volumes, with fourteen released by August 2025. The work achieved significant commercial success, circulating over 22 million copies globally and earning the prestigious 52nd Japan Cartoonists Association Award in 2023. In North America, Seven Seas Entertainment secured the license following an announcement at Anime Expo 2017. The English adaptation was handled by translator Jake Jung, who also worked on the anime localization to ensure terminology consistency across media. Notably, Jung made a conscious decision to avoid gendered pronouns for specific characters like Nanachi and Marulk in the translation. Additionally, five official manga anthologies have been published, expanding the universe with stories from various creators.

Anime Adaptations and Films

The franchise expanded into animation through a television series produced by Kinema Citrus, which aired thirteen episodes between July and September 2017 under the direction of Masayuki Kojima. The show featured character designs by Kazuchika Kise and a distinctive soundtrack composed by Australian artist Kevin Penkin. Following the initial run, two compilation films were released in early 2019 to recap the first season with new introductory scenes. A major sequel film, subtitled Dawn of the Deep Soul, premiered in Japan in January 2020 and later screened in US theaters despite pandemic-related delays. The narrative continued with a second television season titled The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, which aired from July to September 2022 with the original cast and staff returning. As of August 2025, further sequels have been announced, including a planned series of films following the events of the second season.

Global Expansion and Interactive Media

Beyond traditional publishing and animation, Made in Abyss has diversified into other media formats to engage international audiences. In September 2022, an action role-playing game developed by Chime Corporation and published by Spike Chunsoft was released, allowing players to experience the world of the Abyss interactively. Furthermore, a Western live-action film adaptation entered development in 2021, with Kevin McMullin attached to both write and direct the project. The anime's global reach was further solidified when the first season premiered on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in January 2022, introducing the series to a broader English-speaking demographic. These various adaptations highlight the franchise's growing influence across different entertainment sectors, from digital gaming to mainstream cinema and television broadcasting.