Amazon’s Prime Video has officially announced that it will stream the highly anticipated anime adaptation of The Darwin Incident in North America, with the series set to premiere on January 7, 2026. This move signals Prime Video’s continued expansion into the competitive anime streaming market, bringing a critically acclaimed manga to a wider audience.
A New Home for a Critically Acclaimed Series
The announcement positions The Darwin Incident as a key exclusive for Prime Video, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to bolstering its anime catalog globally. The anime, produced by Bellnox Films, is set to debut in January 2026, and will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This aligns with Amazon MGM Studios’ broader strategy to ramp up its anime content over the next several years, particularly in key markets like Japan and internationally.
What is The Darwin Incident?
The Darwin Incident (Japanese: ダーウィン事変, Dāwin Jihen) is a popular seinen manga series written and illustrated by Shun Umezawa, which began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine in June 2020. The manga has garnered significant critical acclaim, winning the prestigious 15th Manga Taishō award in 2022 and an Excellence Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival. By May 2024, the manga had over 1.6 million copies in circulation.
The Intriguing Premise of The Darwin Incident
The series plunges into a thought-provoking science fiction thriller narrative centered around Charlie, a unique “humanzee”—a genetic hybrid of human and chimpanzee. Charlie was born to a pregnant chimpanzee rescued by the Animal Liberation Alliance (ALA), an eco-terrorist organization, from an animal testing laboratory. Raised by human adoptive parents, Charlie enrolls in high school at 15, where he forms his first friendship with a human girl named Lucy.
However, Charlie’s attempts at a normal life are complicated by his origins and the resurfacing of the now more extreme Animal Liberation Alliance, who seek to involve him in their radical agenda. The narrative explores complex social issues such as animal exploitation, veganism, and the ethics of ecoterrorism through Charlie’s experiences and his confrontation with discrimination.
Prime Video’s Expanding Anime Footprint
While historically having a smaller anime presence compared to services like Crunchyroll and Netflix, Prime Video has been actively working to enhance its offerings. Recent efforts include licensing significant titles like the Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy and securing exclusives such as Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX.
Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, and Kelly Day, VP of international for Prime Video, have emphasized their commitment to a growing anime slate, recognizing Japan as one of Prime Video’s largest markets outside the U.S. This strategic focus aims to attract new subscribers and solidify Prime Video’s position in the global anime streaming landscape. The addition of The Darwin Incident further underscores this ambition, bringing a critically praised and socially relevant story to its platform.
Production Details
The anime adaptation of The Darwin Incident is produced by Bellnox Films. Naokatsu Tsuda is directing the series, with Katsuichi Nakayama serving as series director. Shinichi Inotsume is overseeing the series composition, Shinpei Tomooka is responsible for character designs, and the music is composed by Alisa Okehazama and Mariko Horikawa. The opening theme, “Make Me Wonder,” will be performed by Official Hige Dandism.
With its compelling storyline and award-winning source material, The Darwin Incident is poised to be a significant addition to Prime Video’s anime lineup, drawing in fans eager for unique and thought-provoking narratives. The series is expected to premiere on TV Tokyo and its affiliates in Japan, alongside its exclusive worldwide streaming on Prime Video starting January 7, 2026.
