"Dr. Stone" is a manga series that was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" and tells the story of survival with a science theme. As of the end of serialization in March 2022, it was a huge hit, with a total circulation of over 12 million copies, including digital versions. The first and second series of the anime adaptation have already aired, and the special edition, "Dr. Stone Ryusui," is scheduled to air in the summer of 2022, generating a lot of buzz. Many people may want to review the previous series before watching the special edition. In this article, we'll review the contents of the first season!
How many volumes of the original manga does the first season cover?
The first season covers chapters 60 of the manga, from volumes 1 to 7. There are 23 episodes in total, spanning two seasons. Each anime episode covers roughly three chapters of the manga, making it a very well-paced series. Next, let's take a look back at the plot of the first season, including the prologue!
Synopsis 1: Sudden petrification, and then...
High school student Taiki Oki is about to confess his feelings to his childhood friend, Hiroki Ogawa, whom he has always had a crush on. With some rough encouragement from Senku Ishigami, he finally does, but at that moment, the sky glows and all humanity on Earth is petrified. After many years, Taiki recovers from his petrification, only to find himself faced with a weathered, overgrown world. Taiju safely reunites with Senku, who tells him that 3,700 years have passed since their time and that Senku has resolved to rebuild civilization from scratch in a world where humanity has been wiped out. Later, when the two are nearly attacked by a lion, they are saved by the revived martial artist Tsukasa Shishio. However, upon learning that Tsukasa harbors dangerous ideas, the two revive Magari and attempt to escape.
Synopsis 2: Senku Dies...
To counter Tsukasa, they head to Hakone to secure the raw materials for gunpowder. However, Tsukasa senses their plan and pursues Senku and the others. Magari is taken hostage by Tsukasa and, as a condition, gives him the recipe for the resurrection fluid. Tsukasa demands that Senku abandon scientific civilization, but this is an impossible request for Senku, who is no exaggeration to say is the poster child for science. As a result of stubbornly refusing Tsukasa's demands, he is killed by having his cervical vertebrae broken. Taiju is grieving, but remembers that Senku had hypothesized that "removing petrification would also have a healing effect," so Taiju and Magari attempt to revive Senku using the remaining resurrection fluid.
Synopsis 3: Senku's resurrection!
While dead, Senku's consciousness was focused on his first resurrection from petrification, and he dreamed of what would happen next. In his dream, Senku was trying and failing to revive the petrified Taiju using nitric acid. Senku's desperate calls to revive Taiju in his dream and Taiju's cries in reality synchronized, and Senku was successfully revived. Senku instructed Taiju to keep an eye on Tsukasa, and he himself plotted to build a "Kingdom of Science" to oppose Tsukasa.
Synopsis 4: The Battle with the Magma Clan
Separated from Taiju and Magata, Senku is traveling alone when he meets a girl named Kohaku. She guides him to a village, but the villagers are wary and view Senku as an enemy. He then plans to close the gap with the villagers with the help of his allies, but in the process, he encounters Gen Asagiri, a mentalist who is on Tsukasa's side. Witnessing Senku and his friends using science to create a groundbreaking invention in order to save Kohaku's sister Ruri, Gen wavers between switching sides to Senku or staying with Tsukasa. However, while he is undecided, he is attacked by the Magma faction, who are trying to gain employment from the village, and is seriously injured, but is saved by Senku at the last moment. If one of Senku's friends becomes village chief, Ruri will be able to receive medication, so he clashes with the Magma faction, who are also aiming for the position. Using their wisdom and technology, Senku and his friends defeat the Magma faction, and Senku wins the competition and becomes village chief. The sulfa drug needed to save Ruri's life is then successfully completed, and Ruri is able to recover from her illness.
Synopsis 5: About Senku's Father, Ishigami Byakuya
After recovering, Ruri learns about Senku's father, Ishigami Byakuya. As an astronaut, Byakuya escaped petrification by being in space, and became the founder of Kohaku and his friends' village. His achievements are written about in "One Hundred Tales: Part 100: Ishigami Senku." The message in the story inspires Senku to once again resolve to carry on his father's will. The villagers also realize that supporting Senku is their ancestor's will, and Ishigami Village, which respects Senku, is united anew.
Synopsis ⑥: Building a cell phone from scratch!?
Tsukasa Shishio finally begins to use force to take control of Ishigami Village. Upon hearing this, Senku begins planning a strategy to counter Tsukasa. Senku and his friends use their Japanese swords to repel assassins led by Tsukasa's confidant, Hyotsuki. Senku passionately explains the importance of information warfare to his teammates and begins building a cell phone (walkie-talkie). During the construction process, they are tasked with creating a vacuum tube, but the project runs into difficulties due to the inability to create a filament strong enough to withstand the high heat of the vacuum tube. While they were trying to come up with another idea, the year changed, and they all decided to go see the first sunrise of the year. They got a hint when they saw that scheelite reacted to ultraviolet light as the sun rose. From there, they began to seriously mine scheelite. During the process, Magma, whom they had previously fought in the village, officially joined them. Finally, the cell phone was completed.
Summary of the First Season
The grand worldview of building civilization from scratch, and the protagonist Senku Ishigami's scientific ambition and talent, are captivating. Senku's use of science to come up with ideas that ordinary people would never think of, such as building a cell phone from scratch, makes him a true scientific charisma. The characters around him also play important roles, bringing out the best in Senku. In the second season, the battle with Tsukasa Shishio begins in earnest. The synopsis for the second season is available in a separate article, so please take a look! That's all for now. Thank you for reading.
