Somali and the Forest Spirit is a fantasy series currently being serialized in "WEB Comic Zenyon," with an anime adaptation scheduled to begin airing in winter 2020. Set in a bleak fantasy world, the story is characterized by its heartwarming and memorable story. We'd like to introduce you to Somali, a human girl who could be considered one of the main characters of Somali and the Forest Spirit!
Brutal yet heartwarming? Introducing "Somali and the Forest Spirit"!
Somali and the Forest Spirit is a fantasy story set in a diverse world where various races coexist, and Somali is a human girl. However, throughout the long history of this world, the human race has lost the struggle for survival and remains on the brink of extinction, hunted and captured by poachers or traded as rare animals. The story of "Somali and the Forest Spirit" centers around a journey in search of humans in this cruel world, accompanied by a guardian golem.
What kind of girl is Somali, one of the story's protagonists?
Although still a young girl, she possesses a cheerful and innocent personality that belies her harsh circumstances. While their exact ages are unknown, they are still young children, and as is common among young children, they are very curious. Somali, in particular, is unusually curious, despite living in an environment where any human being would be captured and sold if discovered. She's also a big foodie.
Is Somali the kind of girl who can easily open up and get along with anyone?
Somali is still a child who is naive to the outside world, and her kind and cheerful personality makes her the type of girl who can make friends with many people on her travels. She becomes friends with many characters, including her guardian Golem, Shizuno of the Goblin tribe, Yabashira of the Oni tribe, and Kikira of the Muku-haired Sugarila tribe. Humans are inherently exclusive creatures towards other species, but perhaps because Somali is a child, she is not influenced by such thinking. However, the environment remains dangerous for humans, and Golem has repeatedly warned her, but her curiosity seems to get the better of her.
Was she originally a commodity to be sold? About Somali and the Golem's Encounter
Originally, the Golem was a guardian of the forest, but a group of slave traders who had captured humans attempted to pass through the forest. However, the slave traders struggled with the unfamiliar terrain and eventually fell to their deaths. By the time the Golem found them, all of the goods they were transporting had apparently been destroyed. However, Somali was the only one who survived. Since the Golem had no obligation to help Somali, it tried to leave her alone, but Somali began calling the Golem "Father" and following him around.
Golem Living with Somali
After that, Somali began calling Golem "Dad" and following him around. Golem tried to warn Somali not to follow him any further, but the young Somali didn't seem to understand. Eventually, Golem began living with Somali, but since Somali couldn't even find food for herself, Golem ended up taking care of her. During this time together, Golem began to feel like something mechanically incomprehensible.
Golem Travels with Somali
Somali and Golem continue living together, and Somali loves Golem like a real father. However, Golem realizes that he has a time limit before he will cease functioning. If the time limit is reached, Somali will not be able to survive alone in the forest. Therefore, Golem resolves to leave the forest and search for Somali's companions. In fact, Somali did not have a name until this point, and it was at this time that Golem gave her the name "Somali."
He scolds me, but I never learn! Somali, the Troublesome Girl
Somali is a curious child, always running around and giving Golem a hard time. However, she seems to have gotten a lot better since then. Shortly after meeting Golem, she was a real handful, getting kidnapped by a beast, following him into a lake and drowning, and trying to eat poisonous mushrooms. However, she still seems to be a handful, getting separated from Golem and getting into dangerous situations, leading to Golem and Yabashira giving her a lecture.
Somali is a huge foodie! Somali's Greedy Eater
Growing Somali is a big foodie, and often buys snacks along the way. As a human, Somali may show some resistance to the food cultures of other races, but she generally accepts everything, eats well, and sleeps well. Since the golem is a machine, they don't eat together, but Somali's appetite is apparently incredible, causing her to worry about food expenses.
Somali Loves Her Father's Home Cooking
Since golems are machines, it's hard to say whether the food they cook is homemade, but Somali seems to prefer her father's cooking. Also, even if she becomes a golem, homemade food costs less, so it seems like that's actually more convenient. Aside from that, as a girl, she also loves sweet treats and shows a voracious appetite.
Somali grows despite encountering danger
Somali is a human species that is persecuted and treated so badly that she is traded at a high price as a rare animal. As a child, she often encounters danger and is the target of discriminatory stares. However, even in such circumstances, there are kind races and individuals, and Somali grows as she meets them. Somali's growth is one of the highlights of this work, as is the golem that watches over her!
【Somali and the Forest Spirit】Somali Summary
The anime adaptation of "Somali and the Forest Spirit," a brutal yet heartwarming story depicting the bond between Somali and Golem and her encounters with people of various races on her journey, will begin airing in winter 2020. With many memorable episodes and a cleansing soul, it's a highly recommended anime. Definitely check it out!
