| Drifting Dragons | |
Cover of Drifting Dragons volume 1 by Kodansha | |
| 空挺ドラゴンズ (Kūtei Doragonzu) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure, cooking, fantasy[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Taku Kuwabara |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | good! Afternoon |
| Original run | June 7, 2016 – present |
| Volumes | 22 |
| Original net animation | |
| Directed by | Tadahiro Yoshihira |
| Produced by | Akitoshi Mori |
| Written by | Makoto Uezu |
| Music by | Masaru Yokoyama |
| Studio | Polygon Pictures |
| Licensed by |
|
| Released | January 9, 2020 – March 26, 2020 |
| Episodes | 12 |
Drifting Dragons (Japanese: 空挺ドラゴンズ, Hepburn: Kūtei Doragonzu; lit. 'Airborne Dragons') is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Taku Kuwabara. It has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine good! Afternoon since June 2016 and has been collected in twenty-two tankōbon volumes as of June 2026. The manga is published digitally in English by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics imprint.
An original net animation adaptation by Polygon Pictures was released on Netflix Japan on January 9, 2020. The same day, the series' first episode premiered on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block, and continued weekly until March 26, 2020, with the final episode's television airing. It was followed by an international Netflix release in April 2020.
Plot
[edit]Set in a world where humans hunt dragons, they dwell in the skies and provide valuable food and materials for the world that hunts them. The story follows the crew of the Quin Zaza, one of the last remaining dragon-hunting airships, as they pursue dragons through the clouds to survive. Among the crew are Mika, a skilled but reckless draker with a deep passion for gourmet cooking; Takita, an inexperienced newcomer striving to prove herself; and other hunters bound together by the dangers and demands of their profession. Dragon hunting promises great rewards but carries constant risk, as each dragon is unique and deadly, and failure can mean starvation.
As the Quin Zaza travels from hunt to hunt, there are both the high-stakes aerial battles required to bring down dragons and the everyday realities of life aboard the ship, including maintenance, financial strain, and social isolation. Ostracized on the ground and facing danger in the air, the drakers rely on one another as a family.
Characters
[edit]- Mika (ミカ)
- Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno[2] (Japanese); Billy Kametz (English)
- Takita (タキタ)
- Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[2] (Japanese); Cassandra Lee Morris (English)
- Jiraud (ジロー, Jirō)
- Voiced by: Sōma Saitō[2] (Japanese); Johnny Yong Bosch (English)
- Vanabelle (ヴァナベル, Vanaberu)
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa[2] (Japanese); Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)
- Gibbs (ギブス, Gibusu)
- Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe[2] (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)
- Crocco (クロッコ, Kurokko)
- Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki[2] (Japanese); Jake Green (English)
- Niko (ニコ)
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[2] (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)
- Berko (バーコ, Bāko)
- Voiced by: Kōsuke Toriumi[2] (Japanese); Doug Erholtz (English)
- Capella (カペラ, Kapera)
- Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya[2] (Japanese); Christine Marie Cabanos (English)
- Gaga (ガガ)
- Voiced by: Kentarō Kumagai[2] (Japanese); Kaiji Tang (English)
- Faye (フェイ, Fei)
- Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa[2] (Japanese); Tony Azzolino (English)
- Badakin (バダキン)
- Voiced by: Takashi Matsuyama[2] (Japanese); Jonah Scott (English)
- Oken (オーケン, Ōken)
- Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi[2] (Japanese); Alejandro Saab (English)
- Soraya (ソラヤ)
- Voiced by: Yūto Uemura[2] (Japanese); Bryce Papenbrook (English)
- Mayne (メイン, Mein)
- Voiced by: Chinatsu Akasaki[2] (Japanese); Reba Buhr (English)
- Hiro (ヒーロ, Hīro)
- Voiced by: Junya Enoki[2] (Japanese); Daman Mills (English)
- Yoshi (ヨシ)
- Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue[2] (Japanese); Chris Smith (English)
- Lee (リー, Rī)
- Voiced by: Hiroo Sasaki[2] (Japanese); Kyle McCarley (English)
- Katja (カーチャ, Kācha)
- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura[3] (Japanese); Kayli Mills (English)
- Nanami (ナナミ)
- Voiced by: Sayaka Senbongi[3] (Japanese); Kira Buckland (English)
- Ascella (アスケラ, Asukera)
- Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto[3] (Japanese); Cristina Vee (English)
- Ura (ウラ爺, Ura-jii)
- Voiced by: Kiyonobu Suzuki[3] (Japanese); Kirk Thornton (English)
Media
[edit]Manga
[edit]Drifting Dragons is written and illustrated by Taku Kuwabara. It started its publication in Kodansha's good! Afternoon on June 7, 2016.[4] Kodansha has published the series into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on November 7, 2016.[5] As of June 5, 2026, twenty-two volumes have been released.[6]
In North America, Kodansha USA announced the digital release of the manga in November 2017.[7] They also announced the print release of the manga in March 2019.[8] The first volume was published on December 17, 2019.[9]
Volume list
[edit]| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 7, 2016[5] | 978-4-06-388204-9 | December 17, 2019[9] | 978-1-63236-890-4 | |
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| 2 | May 1, 2017[10] | 978-4-06-388255-1 | December 17, 2019[11] | 978-1-63236-944-4 | |
| |||||
| 3 | November 7, 2017[12] | 978-4-06-510319-7 | February 18, 2020[13] | 978-1-63236-945-1 | |
| |||||
| 4 | May 7, 2018[14][15] | 978-4-06-510319-7 978-4-06-512047-7 (LE) | April 3, 2020[16] | 978-1-63236-951-2 | |
| |||||
| 5 | November 7, 2018[17] | 978-4-06-513454-2 | August 25, 2020[18] | 978-1-63236-952-9 | |
| |||||
| 6 | May 7, 2019[19][20] | 978-4-06-515527-1 978-4-06-515530-1 (LE) | October 20, 2020[21] | 978-1-64651-035-1 | |
| |||||
| 7 | November 7, 2019[22] | 978-4-06-517587-3 | December 1, 2020[23] | 978-1-64651-036-8 | |
| |||||
| 8 | March 6, 2020[24] | 978-4-06-518878-1 | March 16, 2021[25] | 978-1-64651-028-3 | |
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| 9 | September 7, 2020[26] | 978-4-06-520746-8 | September 21, 2021[27] | 978-1-64651-216-4 | |
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| 10 | March 5, 2021[28] | 978-4-06-522496-0 | November 16, 2021[29] | 978-1-64651-287-4 | |
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| 11 | August 5, 2021[30] | 978-4-06-524377-0 | November 29, 2022[31] | 978-1-64651-434-2 | |
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| 12 | January 7, 2022[32] | 978-4-06-526554-3 | February 14, 2023[33] | 978-1-64651-569-1 | |
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| 13 | July 7, 2022[34] | 978-4-06-528159-8 | June 20, 2023[35] | 978-1-64651-688-9 | |
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| 14 | December 7, 2022[36] | 978-4-06-529932-6 | July 14, 2023[37] | 978-1-64651-689-6 | |
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| 15 | May 8, 2023[38] | 978-4-06-531479-1 | December 12, 2023[39] | 979-8-88877-030-6 | |
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| 16 | November 7, 2023[40] | 978-4-06-533688-5 | May 7, 2024[41] | 979-8-88877-031-3 | |
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| 17 | April 5, 2024[42] | 978-4-06-535016-4 | April 21, 2026[43] | 979-8-88-877375-8 | |
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| 18 | September 6, 2024[44] | 978-4-06-536764-3 | October 20, 2026[45] | 979-8-88-877532-5 | |
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| 19 | February 6, 2025[46] | 978-4-06-538387-2 | — | — | |
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| 20 | August 6, 2025[47] | 978-4-06-540404-1 | — | — | |
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| 21 | January 7, 2026[48] | 978-4-06-542159-8 | — | — | |
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| 22 | June 5, 2026[6] | 978-4-06-543803-9 | — | — | |
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
[edit]Anime
[edit]An anime ONA adaptation was announced on March 15, 2019. The series was animated by Polygon Pictures and directed by Tadahiro Yoshihira, with Makoto Uezu handling series composition, Kyoko Kotani designing the characters, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the music.[49] The series' 12-episode run premiered on Netflix Japan on January 9, 2020, which was the same day the series began its weekly television run on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block, as well as KTV, THK, TNC, UHB, and BS Fuji. performed the series' opening theme song "Gunjō", while Akai Ko-en performed the series' ending theme song "Zettai Reido". It ran for 12 episodes. The series premiered on Netflix worldwide on April 30, 2020.[53]
Episode list
[edit]| No. | Title | Original release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Quin Zaza" Transliteration: "Kuin・Zaza-dō!" (Japanese: クィン・ザザ号) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 2 | "Bounty & Dragonet alla Diavola" Transliteration: "Shōkin to Kyokushō Ryū no Akuma-Fū" (Japanese: 賞金と極小龍の悪魔風) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 3 | "Glittering Dragon" Transliteration: "Hikaru Ryū to" (Japanese: 乗船理由と) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 4 | "Reasons for Flying & Dragon Terinne" Transliteration: "Jōsen Riyū to Ryū no Terīnu" (Japanese: 乗船理由と龍のテリーヌ) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 5 | "Sky Pirates & Pastrami" Transliteration: "Kūchū Kaizoku to Pasutorama" (Japanese: 空中海賊とパストラマ) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 6 | "Festival & Dragon Laghman" Transliteration: "Matsuri to Ryū Niku no Te Nobe Mentsuyu" (Japanese: 祭りと龍肉の手延べ汁麵) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 7 | "Disaster & Edible Dragons" Transliteration: "Taisai to Kueru Ryū" (Japanese: 大災と食える龍) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 8 | "Operation: Take Down the Rampaging Dragon" Transliteration: "Abare Ryū Hokaku Sakusen" (Japanese: 暴れ龍捕獲作戦) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 9 | "Soup Kitchen Goulash & Dragon Cutlet" Transliteration: "Takidashi no Kama ni to Ryū no Katsuretsu" (Japanese: 炊き出しの釜煮と龍のカツレツ) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 10 | "Migrating Dragons & the Chasm Depths" Transliteration: "Watari Ryū to Tani no Soko" (Japanese: 渡り龍と谷の底) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 11 | "Dragonet & Dragon Hunter Brain Stew" Transliteration: "Chīsai Ryū to Ryū Nō no Ryōshi Nabe" (Japanese: 小さい龍と龍脳の猟師鍋) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
| 12 | "Dragon Corridor" Transliteration: "Ryū no Kairō" (Japanese: 龍の回廊) | January 9, 2020 (2020-01-09) |
Reception
[edit]Drifting Dragons was nominated for the 52nd Seiun Award for the Media category in 2021.[54]
References
[edit]- ↑ Dennison, Kara (November 29, 2019). "Drifting Dragons Sets Premiere Date and Cooks up a Tasty Sandwich". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
The upcoming anime adaptation of culinary fantasy-adventure series Drifting Dragons has an official release date... and, just for fun, a little cooking video on the side!
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Drifting Dragons TV Anime Reveals Teaser Video, 18 Cast Members". Anime News Network. October 9, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 "Drifting Dragons TV Anime Casts Ayane Sakura, Sayaka Senbongi, Maaya Sakamoto, Kiyonobu Suzuki". Anime News Network. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ↑ 龍食いてえ!「とっかぶ」の桑原太矩、新作は空飛ぶ捕龍船描くグルメ紀行. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- 1 2 空挺ドラゴンズ(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- 1 2 空挺ドラゴンズ(22) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- ↑ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 18, 2017). "Kodansha USA Reveals 6 More Digital Manga Licenses". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ Sherman, Jennifer (March 13, 2019). "Kodansha Comics, Vertical Add Bakemonogatari, Cells at Work! Code Black, Granblue Fantasy Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- 1 2 "Drifting Dragons, Volume 1". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(2) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 2". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(3) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 3". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(4) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(4)特装版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 4". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(5) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 5". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(6) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(6)特装版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 6". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(7) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 29, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 7". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(8) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 8". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(9) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 9". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(10) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 10". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(11) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 11". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(12) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 12". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(13) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 13". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(14) [Airborne Dragons (14)] (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 14". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(15) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 15". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(16) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 16". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(17) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 17". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(18) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons, Volume 18". Penguin Random House. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(19) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(20) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ 空挺ドラゴンズ(21) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Staff&Cast" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons TV Anime Reveals Video, January 8 Premiere". Anime News Network. November 29, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons TV Anime Video Reveals Yoh Kamiyama Opening Song". Anime News Network. December 25, 2019. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
- ↑ "Drifting Dragons Anime Has 12 Episodes". Anime News Network. January 10, 2020. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ↑ "The List of New Anime Shows & Films Coming to Netflix in 2020 & Beyond". Anime UK News. January 15, 2020. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ↑ "Deca-Dence, Drifting Dragons, ID: Invaded, BNA, Demon Slayer, Precure, More Anime Nominated for Seiun Sci-Fi Awards". Anime News Network. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website at Netflix
- Anime official website (in Japanese)
- Drifting Dragons (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Manga series
- 2016 manga
- 2020 anime ONAs
- 2020 anime television series debuts
- +Ultra
- Adventure anime and manga
- Anime series based on manga
- Cooking in anime and manga
- Fantasy anime and manga
- Films with screenplays by Makoto Uezu
- Fuji Television original programming
- Japanese-language television shows
- Kodansha manga
- Netflix original anime
- Polygon Pictures
- Seinen manga
- Sentai Filmworks
- Toho Animation