Have you heard of the shojo manga "7SEEDS," which is due to be adapted into a long-awaited anime in spring 2019? It goes beyond the boundaries of a shojo manga and is a very compelling manga with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and romance. If you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely one of those works that you should check out. If you've already seen it, why not take a look at this article as a refresher? It's a work that's sure to become your life's bible.
What is [7SEEDS]?
A Journey of Approximately 16 Years
This epic 35-volume series (plus one spin-off) began serialization in Bessatsu Shojo Comic (Shogakukan) in November 2011. It ended with the July 2017 issue (it had moved to Monthly Flowers from the June 2002 issue), marking a long run of approximately 16 years. While it sadly came to an end, it's a thrilling, moving masterpiece from start to finish.
Going Beyond the Boundaries of Girls' Manga
At first, you may be confused by the otherworldly setting, far removed from modern times. [7SEEDS] is set on Earth in the future. Serious survival, a daily sense of life-or-death crisis, and constant tension that keeps you up at night. It's a story that would never happen in modern times. However, you can experience it in [7SEEDS]. It's incredibly realistic, with a constant stream of incidents. You'll want to root for the characters as they face these challenges.
This Manga is Amazing!
In the 2018 edition of "This Manga is Amazing!", "7SEEDS" ranked a whopping 10th. It's arguably the oldest work to make the list. First of all, the art style is completely different (lol). It's truly an impressive achievement. A work that has been loved for that long is truly important. It also reflects the excitement surrounding its anime adaptation.
7SEEDS Synopsis
A Plan for Survival
7SEEDS is a grand plan to preserve the human race for future generations, secretly planned around the world. At the time, scientists predicted that "a giant celestial body would fall in the near future, similar to the extinction of the dinosaurs." Of the many countermeasures proposed, 7SEEDS was the least anticipated. All other plans had failed, so it was initiated as a last resort. It's a rather crazy plan: freeze young, genetically gifted people, and then thaw them once the disaster has subsided and the computer determines that the planet is habitable for humans. This leaves behind seeds to keep humans alive even after the disaster.
The Chosen
Not just anyone is frozen. Only those who meet a number of criteria are selected. However, there are exceptions, such as the children and grandchildren of those who played a central role in the 7SEEDS project or provided significant financial support. While this may seem unfair, surely the people most concerned about their loved ones are their own family. They were selected through connections, but perhaps that's also fate. Watch the full movie to find out whether this is good or bad.
Team Characteristics
Each team has different personalities, so naturally their characteristics vary as well. Each team's unique characteristics are fun and unique, which is also part of the charm of [7SEEDS]. There are quite a few characters, and each one is struggling with something. Their stories range from fleeting and painful to frustrating. Because their personalities are so diverse, the team's movements and energy are also different. There's bound to be a team you'll love, so be sure to enjoy the show.
[7SEEDS] Autumn Team
What are the Autumn Teams?
Team names are chosen based on characters named after seasons. The Autumn Team, which we'll introduce today, first appeared in Volume 5 of the manga. They were thawed a full three years earlier than the Summer B Team, and by the time they first appeared, a fairly impressive village had already been built. The Autumn Team's guides were the complete opposite of Summer B Team's Saotome Botan, a rather timid and unreliable guide. As a result, Ran and Akiwo lived a reign of terror. If they didn't meet their food quotas, they would whip and beat them. When humans gather together, hierarchical relationships naturally develop. Is that really the true form of Aki's team?!
Shishigaki Ran
This glamorous, truly mature woman is Shishigaki Ran, the leader of Aki's team. She built a village around Ran and reigned with terror. In her original world, she worked in the construction industry and is a pro in the field. She's also fluent in languages and truly a genius. Hana Suegurono from the Spring Team even suspected her of being a member of a gang (lol).
First Relief
In fact, ever since waking up in the future, she'd been on edge, almost crushed by a strong sense of responsibility and justice to save the team. It was striking how, when an older woman named Botan-san, the Summer B Team's guide, treated her kindly, she felt a sense of relief, as if a thread had been snapped. From then on, she mellowed out and returned to her original personality. She's actually a young lady with no connection to survival. By the way, everyone calls her "O-Ran-san." The voice actress is veteran Mayumi Asano! Her slightly deep, feminine voice and beautiful breathing are perfect for Ran!
Akio Inaka
Haza Akio, the other leader of Team Aki, is a calm and collected man with a pipe in hand. In the original world, he was the president of a venture company. He excels at leadership, managing things, and planning. At first, he and Ran seemed to be in love, but it was only to ease her insecurities. Whenever something happens, he asks her for her opinion, "How's O-Ran?" and shows concern for her. Their relationship is one of trust. They agree on things even within the village, and I think they're good business partners. He has a mature, mature charm that's cool.
Wild
He looks pretty wild in the anime. After all, he's worked so hard for three years. He's more mature, or rather, wild. He's muscular. And what's more, his voice actor is Miyake Kenta. His wild appearance, combined with Miyake's mature charm, makes him even more handsome!
Kurumi Shikano
The girl with the curly hair and soft-skinned demeanor is Kurumi Shikano. She's quiet and kind, but also has a strong sense of self. She later becomes pregnant with her teammate Ryusei. This leads to the split of the Aki team, but the child also creates a strong bond. She's been anxious about the birth for a long time, and after a tearful, honest discussion with her husband Ryusei about his tendency to run away, she finally prepares herself for the birth. As the first woman to experience childbirth in this difficult world, she's sure to be a strong-willed mother (lol).
In the anime?
I felt that she was portrayed as quite frail in the anime version. Her freckles are her charm point, so I was relieved to see them portrayed properly (lol). I hope she plays a woman who is both feminine and strong, just like Kurumi. Her voice actress is Ai Kakuma, also known as Kuma, who can freely manipulate her voice to play a variety of roles, from quiet to mischievous!
Ryusei Ogiwara
He appears to be a narcissist, but he's Ryusei Ogiwara, the husband of Kurumi, whom I mentioned earlier. He's athletic and excels in sports. Perhaps because he lacks self-confidence, he quickly runs away whenever he's anxious. He hates this about himself, so he tries to hide it from others, but when he has a child with Kurumi, he tries to run away from it too. However, after talking with Kurumi, he accepts his own self-effacing tendencies and weaknesses, and grows as a husband, father, and person! He's a cool dad who will do anything for Kurumi and his child!
What's your child's name?
He's also a little younger now, but he's still a handsome guy. Incidentally, his and Kurumi's child's name is "Arata." It's a girl. From the moment she was born, she was a source of comfort to the entire team! Her voice actor is the incredibly popular Kaito Ishikawa, known for his outstanding acting in leading and supporting roles!
Akane Nashimoto
Akane Nashimoto (Nashimoto Akane), a girl with distinctive hair and a cute Kansai accent, hails from Mie Prefecture. In the original world, she worked as a female diver, and when it comes to diving, she's unbeatable. Her breathing and diving techniques make her well-suited for the role in the world of [7SEEDS]. She also seems to have psychic powers, and whenever Akane finds something ominous, something is always there. She loves animals, and Gengoro, whom she meets later, becomes a character of interest. She's a kind, honest woman who cares for her friends.
Camaraderie
She has a Yayoi period vibe, but she also has beautiful legs (lol). Akane is good friends with Hana and Taiami Chisa from the Spring Team. They get along well, but I think it's because they met by chance when the Autumn Team was hit by a disaster and are friends who overcame the same hardships. Her voice actress is former idol Mikako Komatsu. Her adorable voice is a perfect fit for Akane.
Yamaki Sakuya
This duck-lipped guy is Yamaki Sakuya, and he's Japanese (lol). He's pale, thin, and has curly hair, so at first I thought he was half-Japanese, but he's actually full-fledged Japanese. In his original world, he aspires to be a prosecutor and is very knowledgeable about the laws of his original world. Despite his appearance, he has a strong sense of justice and is very reliable! He has excellent memory and can memorize maps and texts instantly. He was extremely useful when everyone was separated in the underground shelter.
Sensitive
Although she's always cheerful and playful, she's actually quite sensitive and has been incredibly anxious since arriving in the future. As a result, she's developed several 10-yen-sized bald spots, to the point where she's crying in secret. A hat is essential to hide them, but when Hana from the Spring team found her and sympathized with her, she seemed to feel a little better. People like that are important, aren't they? We're looking forward to seeing her in action in the anime. Her voice actor is Daisuke Sakaguchi, known for his role in Yoshirin!
Karita Hazuki
Karita Hazuki is an Olympic-level judoka. At first, I thought he was a timid person who was overworked by Ran, but he's actually stronger than anyone else and a serious person with a strong sense of justice. Deeper down, he simply loves Ran (lol). However, even though he was on Ran's side when Kurumi and Ryusei had a child, he's still kind to them, gathering food and offering firewood. He also has a gentle personality and doesn't like conflict. By the way, I'm afraid of heights (lol).
Proactive
Karita was quiet and passive at first, but he becomes more proactive as the Autumn team splits up, Ran becomes more mellow, and he interacts with other teams. While he's not particularly pushy, he even offers advice when Ran and Nijiko from Summer Team A are arguing about housing. His voice actor is Takanori Hoshino, best known for his role as everyone's favorite character, Mickey Mouse.
Izayoi Ryoya
Izayoi Ryoya is the guide for Team Aki. What sets him apart from the other guides is his timidity, born from a lack of confidence. He was too passive to survive in this harsh world, making him an unreliable leader. So, Ran and Akio reluctantly took over as leaders, somehow managing to survive. That was the beginning of Team Aki. In his original world, he was a firefighter.
I Want to Change
In the anime version, his handsomeness is gone (lol). He wore sunglasses all the time, so much so that he had tan lines, as a sign of not wanting to look around. When he met the Spring Team and tried to change, he was shot and killed by Ango from Summer Team A. He died protecting Ran, with whom he had been fighting so violently. I'm sure it was disappointing for him, as he had such a promising future. His voice actor is Kenjiro Tsuda, who is also a successful actor!
【7SEEDS】What is the Real Autumn Team?
At first, the Autumn team, led by Ran and Akiwo, ruled with terror. They inflicted so much pain that they wanted to stop. After meeting the Spring team and other teams, everyone grew and tried to change. However, originally, everyone was filled with a strong sense of justice and camaraderie, and no one was bad. Their drive to protect each other may be stronger than any other team. When Ango showed his gun, Ryusei stepped in front of Kurumi, followed by Ran and Akiwo, then Akane, Sakuya, and Karita, and finally Izayoi, who instantly stood up to protect her. That's the true Autumn team. They're a great team!
【7SEEDS】The Kind Autumn Team
The Autumn Team actually has adorable mascots! They're Gurigura and Gura. Akane mainly looks after them, and they're cute, fluffy creatures resembling alpacas. What did you think? We introduced you to [7SEEDS] Do you know the real Autumn Team? Wasn't it a very interesting team? While the three years since they were thawed aren't described, we can imagine they must have struggled to survive in the midst of uncertainty. We hope they become a warm, humane team! We're looking forward to seeing them in action in the anime!
