Seton Academy: Join the Pack!

Seton Academy: Join the Pack!

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Entertainment (Manga, Anime)
Founded	May 2016 (2016-05)
Founder	Bungo Yamashita
Headquarters	Japan
Area served	Worldwide (via digital platform and anime broadcast)
Key people	Bungo Yamashita (creator)
Products	Manga volumes, anime television series
Owner	Cygames (digital serialization), Kodansha and Shogakukan (publishers)

is a Japanese manga series created by Bungo Yamashita. The story was serialized digitally on Cygames' Cycomi platform from May 2016 until May 2021. It was compiled into fifteen tankōbon volumes, initially published by Kodansha between 2016 and 2018, and subsequently by Shogakukan starting in 2019. An anime adaptation produced by Studio Gokumi was broadcast from January to March 2020.

Premise

The narrative takes place in a world where humanoid animals outnumber humans due to a decline in human population. Jin Mazama, a human boy, attends Seton Academy, an institution predominantly populated by animal students. Although Jin harbors animosity toward animals, he finds himself attracted to Hitomi Hino, the sole other human at the school. At the same time, Ranka Ōkami, a lone wolf girl harboring romantic feelings for Jin, competes for his attention.

Setting

Male characters and faculty members are depicted with their full animal forms, while female characters appear as stylized "moe" girls featuring animal characteristics such as tails or horns.

Cooking Club

A human male who developed xenophobic attitudes due to past negative encounters with animals during childhood. While he develops affection for Hitomi, he initially resents Ranka, who has a crush on him. Despite his obstinate nature and occasional antagonism, Jin supports Ranka and others around him. His interest in cooking stems from the academy’s animal-centric cafeteria menu, and he possesses extensive knowledge about animal behavior. Following a time skip involving Ranka's death, Jin utilizes a device to change destiny and ultimately embraces his feelings for her.

A female pink Hokkaido wolf, the last survivor of her pack, often experiencing loneliness. She is possessive of Jin and initially perceives Hitomi as a competitor but eventually forms a friendship with her. To cope with her emotions, Ranka runs for student council president but ultimately acknowledges Jin’s significance in her life despite neglecting her own well-being.

A human female who founded the Cooking Club and befriends Jin. She cares deeply for both Jin and Ranka and seems unaware of Jin’s romantic interest. She is suggested to be bisexual and later assumes the role of a nurse caring for Jin in an alternate timeline.

A female koala who joins the Cooking Club seeking variety in her diet. She eventually establishes a thriving global p**p café franchise.

A female three-toed sloth known for her slow movements and tendency to faint under exertion. Joining the Cooking Club to make friends, she later becomes a scientist whose complex terminology often confuses Jin.

A female ragdoll cat whose purring can influence emotions through specific frequencies. As a "ghost member" of the Cooking Club, she seldom participates but secures vegetable supplies from the Gardening Club. She later pursues a career in modeling.

A popular female panda characterized by being spoiled and lazy. After initially disrupting the Cooking Club’s panda dumplings event, she joins reluctantly and gradually becomes more cooperative. In the future timeline, she manages an idol agency.

A vampire bat who is uneasy about feeding on livestock blood. She joins the Cooking Club to enjoy salty or sour foods that quench her thirst and develops romantic feelings for Jin. In the future, she operates a bar specializing in blood-themed beverages.

Hana

A female Rhinograde who suffers amnesia caused by Jin. Noted as miraculous due to her lack of odor detection abilities, she depends on Ranka’s pack for care. During a crisis threatening her species’ survival, Ranka helps stabilize her condition. Hana later becomes a novelist.

A female woolly spider monkey who serves as an advisor to the Cooking Club.

Supporting

A male Tyrannosaurus instructor. During the Cretaceous era, Gigasu was enrolled as a student at Mesozoic Academy and harbored unreturned feelings for a young Sameno.

A male Anomalocaris who serves as the principal of Seton Academy.

A female Grévy's zebra mare who proudly claims noble horse lineage. Following Ranka's victory in the Field race, Chloe earned a place in the Cooking Club and gradually bonded with others. A quagga once attempted to outplay her in a gaming contest until Jin revealed his true nature.

A male African lion with a sizable harem, deeply in love with Shiho, a female impala. He advocates for cross-species relationships and maintains good relations with Jin and the Cooking Club. A recurring joke features his mane shedding whenever his romance with Shiho experiences difficulties. They are anticipated to have offspring ten years later.

A female Naked mole-rat who holds the position of Student Council President. She commands a legion of male mole-rats who regard her as their queen and prefers minimal clothing, finding full attire embarrassing. Opposed to interspecies dating, she attempts to hinder students like Jin from forming romantic bonds outside their species. A decade later, Miki assumes the role of acting principal at Seton Academy.

A female impala. Initially oblivious to King’s romantic interest, she consents to friendship until her estrous cycle potentially influences emotional attraction.

A female spotted hyena identifying as male. After her gender is confirmed, Hitomi embraces her tomboy persona. Subtle hints imply mutual affection between Iena and Hitomi. In the future timeline, Iena becomes a martial arts practitioner.

A female Hokkaido wolf, older sister to Ranka and leader of their pack. Her tall stature results from adaptation to cold mountainous environments.

A male Eastern wolf belonging to Ferrill's pack.

A female honey badger who confronts Ranka and aims to join Ferrill's pack. Her tough skin renders her nearly impervious; Ferrill is among the few capable of inflicting harm on her.

A female Spectral tarsier. She copes with stress through self-injurious behavior. Mei Mei forms a friendship with Manako.

A male African lion rivaling King and commanding his own pride.

A male Iguanodon who works as the school physician.

Sea Academy

A female beluga whale eager to participate in the seaside school's performance; she develops a friendship with Ranka and her pack.

A female bottlenose dolphin serving as captain of the synchronized Swimming Club.

A male Opabinia acting as headmaster of Sea Academy.

Darwin Academy

A female neanderthal notable for her substantial appetite, often mistaken for human due to lack of distinct animal features. As part of the rebellious Team EX, she initially opposes humans but later reconciles with the Cooking Club, expressing fondness for Hitomi.

A female woolly mammoth leading Team EX. Her strict opposition to humans causes tension with Ranka, which is later resolved through communication. She shares meals with the Cooking Club alongside other Darwin students.

A male Steller sea cow member of Team EX.

A male Barbary lion part of Team EX.

A male Andrewsarchus affiliated with Team EX.

A female Chinese river dolphin belonging to Team EX.

A female Carcharodontosaurus educator who had long awaited Gigasu’s confession until Ferrill’s public announcement caught her by surprise.

Manga

Created and illustrated by Bungo Yamashita, the series began its serialization in May 2016 on Cygames' digital platform, Cycomi.

Anime

Cygames revealed an anime adaptation of the series on October 4, 2019. The animation was produced by Studio Gokumi, with Hiroshi Ikehata serving as director. Shigeru Murakoshi handled series composition, while Masakatsu Sasaki was responsible for character design. The show aired from January 7 through March 24, 2020 across Tokyo MX, SUN, KBS, BS11, and Animax networks. The soundtrack was composed by Yōsuke Yamashita, Yusuke Katō, and Tomoya Kawasaki. Streaming rights outside Asia were held by Crunchyroll, whereas Medialink provided access in Southeast and South Asia via Ani-One’s YouTube channel. The anime consisted of 12 episodes, including an additional unaired episode released with the third Blu-ray set. The opening song, Gakuen Sōkan Zoo, featured performances by the main voice cast, while the ending theme, Ōkami Blues, was performed by Hina Kino portraying Ranka Ōkami.

Reception

The manga and its anime adaptation garnered mixed reactions, with notable critiques targeting the storyline, world-building, and character development.