Children of the Whales: A Journey Across the Sea of Sand

In a world covered by an endless sea of sand, there sails an island known as the Mud Whale. Within its interior lies an ancient town, where most of its inhabitants are said to be “Marked”—a double-edged trait that grants them supernatural abilities at the cost of shortened lifespans. Among them is Chakuro, the village archivist, who spends his days documenting the discovery of newfound islands. Yet each island is eerily similar—abandoned, save for remnants left behind by those who lived there long ago.

But everything changes when, after six months without any new discoveries, another island appears on the horizon. Chakuro and his friends eagerly join the scouting group to explore it. Amidst the expedition, they stumble upon vestiges of an archaic civilization. And within one of its crumbling structures, Chakuro makes a life-altering discovery: a girl who will forever alter his destiny and reshape the world inside the Mud Whale.

Chakuro: The Curious Archivist

Chakuro serves as our protagonist and narrator. As a Marked boy, he works diligently as an archivist for the Elders in hopes that his records will improve life for future generations. His curiosity knows no bounds, and he dreams of venturing beyond the Mud Whale to explore the outside world—a place he and his friends have never seen.

Lykos: The Mysterious Girl

Lykos, found on an abandoned island about to be scavenged by Mud Whale’s people for resources, is not her real name. She is actually an Apathetia, a thymia user who offers her emotions to a Nous (a mysterious creature that feeds off emotions). Chakuro nicknames her “Lykos” for convenience. Initially reluctant to speak to anyone, Lykos learns to express herself more openly with Chakuro’s help.

As their paths intertwine, Chakuro and Lykos embark on an adventure that will unravel secrets about their world and challenge everything they know.

Children of the Whales combines elements of dystopia, post-apocalyptic settings, science fantasy, and mystery. The anime adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired in Japan from October to December 2017 and was later released globally on Netflix in March 2018 . If you’re intrigued by tales of exploration, supernatural abilities, and hidden truths, this series might be worth adding to your watchlist!

Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau | Children of the Whale