Made in Abyss
メイドインアビス
- Adventure
- Drama
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Sci-Fi
- Gore
- Episodes
- 13
- Duration
- 25 min per ep
- Aired
- Jul 7, 2017 to Sep 29, 2017
- Status
- Finished Airing
Synopsis
The Abyss is a colossal pit that plunges deep into the earth, teeming with strange life-forms and ancient relics whose origins no one can fully explain. Drawn by the promise of discovery, generations of “Divers” have descended into its layers in search of answers, and the most accomplished among them—White Whistles—are revered as legends by those who live on the surface.
Riko, the daughter of the famed White Whistle Lyza the Annihilator, dreams of following in her mother’s footsteps and reaching the Abyss’s farthest depths. Still only a novice Red Whistle, she’s restricted to the upper levels—until she encounters an amnesiac robot boy she names Reg. Believing his creation is tied to secrets buried far below, Riko and Reg set out together to uncover his past and pursue the truth at the bottom, unaware of how unforgiving the Abyss can be.
Otaku Consensus
Made in Abyss earned standout acclaim for turning a deceptively cute, chibi-styled adventure into a meticulously built descent through survival horror, cosmic dread, and aching drama—backed by Kinema Citrus’ lush backgrounds and confident direction. Fans consistently praise its lore density, environmental world-building, and the chemistry between Riko and Reg, while critics and viewers also note that its pacing can feel deliberate. The most common point of contention is discomfort with certain scenes involving its primarily child cast, which some consider a deal-breaker despite the series’ high craft and mystery-driven pull.
Why You Should Watch
Watch Made in Abyss if you crave world-building that feels archaeological—where every creature, relic, and rule hints at a larger, unknowable history. This isn’t just “kids go exploring”: it’s a survival-forward expedition story that steadily tightens into mystery, sci-fi wonder, and cosmic horror, with real emotional weight behind each step. Kinema Citrus delivers scenery that sells the Abyss as both breathtaking and hostile, while the narrative keeps rewarding curiosity with new layers of lore and unsettling implications. If you like travel narratives, dungeon-like exploration, and stories that ask philosophical questions through harsh consequences, this is an essential modern fantasy—just be prepared for gore and moments that some viewers find uncomfortable.
Key Characters
- RRiko(VA: Miyu Tomita)
A novice Red Whistle driven by fierce curiosity and legacy, Riko is an unusually proactive heroine whose optimism collides head-on with the Abyss’ brutal rules.
- RReg(VA: Mariya Ise)
An amnesiac robot boy with an unknown origin, Reg balances gentle empathy with unnerving potential, making his identity one of the story’s most compelling mysteries.
What Makes It Stand Out
- 1
Abyss-as-ecosystem world-building: the series treats exploration like survival fieldwork, emphasizing environmental hazards, strange fauna, and the logic of a layered “dungeon” that feels ancient and lived-in.
- 2
Tone alchemy: it weaponizes a cute, chibi-adjacent presentation to heighten the impact of its drama, gore, and cosmic-horror unease as the journey deepens.
- 3
Character chemistry as propulsion: the bond between Riko and Reg keeps the show emotionally legible even when the lore turns opaque, a point repeatedly highlighted in fan reactions.
- 4
Strong visual craft from Kinema Citrus: background art and color design sell the Abyss as simultaneously wondrous and threatening, reinforcing the travelogue feel praised across reviews.
- 5
Mystery-first structure: each descent functions like a new chapter of unanswered questions—lost civilization hints, curses, and philosophical undertones—keeping momentum even when pacing is slow.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- Fun fact 1
- Made in Abyss aired from July 7, 2017 to September 29, 2017 and ran for 13 episodes, produced by Kinema Citrus.
- Fun fact 2
- The anime is adapted from Akihito Tsukushi’s original work, with Masayuki Kojima directing and Hideyuki Kurata handling series composition—an authorial setup that helps explain its unusually cohesive lore focus.
- Fun fact 3
- It’s one of the most broadly embraced dark-fantasy adventures of its era on major databases, reflected in its high MAL score (8.63 from 829,261 votes) alongside strong popularity metrics (MAL Popularity #91).
- Fun fact 4
- Key visuals and atmosphere are shaped by a notable staff lineup: Osamu Masuyama (Art Director), Miyao Yamashita (Color Design), Tsunetaka Ema (Director of Photography), and Hisashi Akimoto (CG Director), a combination often associated with the show’s ‘mystic’ scenic appeal mentioned in user impressions.
- Fun fact 5
- The series’ reception is famously polarized: many viewers recommend it for its charm-to-horror escalation and deep lore, while a vocal minority rejects it due to discomfort with certain scenes involving its primarily child cast.
Studios
- Kinema Citrus















