It's become commonplace for popular manga to be adapted into anime. The manga I'd like to introduce today, "7SEEDS," is scheduled to be adapted into an anime exclusively on Netflix in spring 2019. It's a hugely popular manga, and it's so timeless that it's still enjoyable even when rereading it today! The series first began serialization about 18 years ago. This is truly a long-awaited anime adaptation. This time, we'll be looking at the "underground shelters" that appear frequently in the series.
What is [7SEEDS]?
Sci-Fi Fantasy
This illustration evokes a sense of the era. These two don't seem like the kind of people who would survive, but they do. The story is set on a fictional Earth. Unlike the present, it's set in the future. They wake up in a world where most common sense doesn't apply. Even though they just woke up, their minds are still racing! (lol) There are no convenience stores, no family, and everything they see is terrifying. They have to act only with the goal of survival. It's a shojo manga, by the way (lol).
Blockbuster
This is a blockbuster spanning 35 volumes (plus 1 side story). I'm excited to see how much of the story will be adapted into an anime, but I'm also curious about the character designs and voice actors. Of course, there are plenty of romantic elements, as well as plenty of chilling, touching, and tear-jerking scenes. There are so many characters, but you'll definitely fall in love with every single one! Each character's thoughts and actions are so wonderful. All things considered, I think the selection of characters was excellent.
This Manga is Amazing!
Nowadays, there's a magazine called "This Manga is Amazing!" that can be considered a stepping stone to becoming a best-selling manga artist. Amazingly, "7SEEDS" ranked 10th in the 2018 edition! What an amazing achievement! It's rare to see a work that began serialization about 18 years ago and is still attracting attention today. Incidentally, 2019 also includes a new work by Tamura Yumi, the author of "7SEEDS," so be sure to check it out.
Long-awaited
"7SEEDS" began serialization in the November 2001 issue of Bessatsu Shojo Comic (Shogakukan) and continued until the July 2017 issue (moving to Monthly Flowers from the June 2002 issue). It ran for about 16 years, and it's been fascinating throughout that time. Seriously! This is the anime adaptation everyone has been waiting for. It's a must-watch. Make it your bible.
【7SEEDS】What is the Underground Shelter?
7
These "underground shelters" are meant to provide the surviving humans with food, seeds, tableware, books, and even a boat. They left tools for survival. Of course, not all underground shelters are safe, but they certainly contain hints for survival. We've prepared seven of them, calling them "7SEEDS," a play on Japanese. They have large Buddha statues as landmarks, making them easy to find as long as they're not broken. Using Buddha statues as landmarks is very Japanese, and it seems to convey the wish for people to "live life to the fullest." Isn't that wonderful?
The Eighth
In fact, there was an eighth shelter. The contents of the eighth shelter, which the team guides were not told about, were an armory. It floated vertically like a fishing float to survive the cataclysm. However, the crew members went crazy (whether it was because they felt suffocated from being inside the ship or because they were terrified of the cataclysm) and began to take out weapons and kill each other. The captain also lost his temper (he had gone mental) and pressed the button to launch a nuclear bomb on the world. The game was paused due to the cataclysm, but it started again and it was chaotic. No matter what kind of world we live in, there's no need for weapons! There's no need for conflict!
Location
The locations of the underground shelters were communicated to each team's guide in advance. All of them were near Mount Fuji. There are seven in total: Mount Kyogatake, also known as Ogino Fuji; Mount Taihaku, also known as Natori Fuji; Mount Meakan, with nearby Mount Akan Fuji; Mount Takatsume, also known as Noto Fuji; Kobe Fuji; Mount Yufu, also known as Bungo Fuji; and Mount Shirakami, also known as Tosa Fuji. Looking at them like this, they're located from one end of Japan to the other! I'm sure they're for the people of the "7SEEDS" project who are scattered all over the place!
【7SEEDS】Employees
Sado
The next project implemented after the "7SEEDS" project was to turn the entire island of Sado into a shelter and a residential area for many people. The government wanted to preserve as many people as possible. It was called the "OSP" (Open Sado Project). In the end, giant ants kept by bored employees escaped, and the ants were wiped out by hallucinations caused by the mushroom spores they were feeding on. It's ironic, but peace can make us less attentive. Such a shame.
Fiancee
Spring Team member Mansaku Tsunomata had a fiancée, Rikako Mano. In fact, she was an OSP employee and knew she would never see Mansaku again. Without telling Mansaku, she went to Sado and gave birth to their child while conducting research. Of course, she didn't tell Mansaku, as she was frozen. Finally, video footage remains of her calling herself "Mariko Tsunomata." Although she ultimately dies alone when Sado Island splits, she is a very strong woman who lived a life of determination. I'm sure they wanted to spend more time with Bansaku.
【7SEEDS】The Existence of Underground Shelters
What did you think? Find it! We've introduced you to all the underground shelters in 【7SEEDS】! There are many underground shelters across the country, and each one contains some kind of clue or food. Natural disasters have occurred, making them far from safe, but everyone ventures into them to survive and find proof that their loved ones are still alive. It's a very scary story, but it's also full of love, and you can see the trajectories of many people's lives in the face of natural disasters. Be sure to check it out in the full version.
