Shangri-La (novel)

Atlas

Industry	Entertainment, Publishing, Anime
Founded	April 2004
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Light novel, manga, anime television series

is a Japanese science fiction light novel authored by Eiichi Ikegami with illustrations by Ken'ichi Yoshida. It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype magazine from April 2004 through May 2005, later compiled into a single volume in September 2005 and reissued as two volumes in October 2008. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Tasuku Karasuma, started serialization in Kadokawa's Ace Assault in January 2009 before transferring to Shōnen Ace. The anime television series, directed by Makoto Bessho, scripted by Hiroshi Ōnogi, and featuring character designs from Range Murata and Kumi Ishii, debuted in Japan on April 6, 2009.

Plot

Set in the mid-21st century, an international committee enforces stringent CO₂ emission reductions to address global warming, resulting in an economy dominated by carbon trading. Following a catastrophic earthquake in Japan, the heavy carbon tax remains enforced, leading Tokyo to transform into the largest "jungle-polis" globally, which actively absorbs CO₂. To reconstruct Tokyo and administer its governance, Project Atlas is initiated but encounters resistance from the Metal Age faction due to its authoritarian governance style. Atlas restricts residency to just 3.5 million inhabitants, excluding most migrants and creating a sharp division between privileged residents inside and displaced refugees living in the surrounding jungles.

Main characters

A young athletic female adept at wielding a high-carbon steel boomerang to defend her community against military forces. Known as Kuni-chan or The Sun, she is designated Digma 2 by Atlas. After serving a two-year sentence for domestic terrorism, she reunites with Momoko, Miiko, and Takehiko while wearing her former high school uniform. Although not affiliated with Metal Age, she is perceived as the prospective leader of the anti-government movement due to her grandmother’s influence. Kuniko is a clone of Jimmu (Himiko in the anime).

A pale girl suffering from collagen disease who is unable to endure sunlight. She possesses the ability to detect deception and punishes liars through a mysterious power that crushes their bodies (in the manga linked to the Mirror of Yata within her eye). She carries a sacred dagger similar to those of Kunihito Kusanagi and Kuniko and wears an earring matching Momoko’s. Known as "The Moon" and assigned Digma 1, Mikuni’s emblem in the manga is the three-legged solar crow Yatagarasu rather than the Chrysanthemum Crest symbolizing Japanese civilization.

A military officer serving under Leon at Atlas Corporation who resists causing harm more than his peers do. He wields a sacred dagger like Kuniko’s and Mikuni’s but with a broken tip. As a distant descendant of Jimmu (Himiko in the anime), Kunihito is called The Land and identified as Digma 3.

Duomo

Duomo is a city encircled by perilous jungles that serves as home to the main characters and acts as headquarters for the Anti-Government group Metal-Age. It is ultimately destroyed during Tokyo’s incineration aimed at eliminating Daedulus.

A flamboyant trans woman who co-owns Tropical Fish. Momoko uses a whip as her weapon of choice and frequently makes aggressive advances toward men. She displays a protective attitude toward Kuniko, treating her almost like a daughter.

Kuniko’s grandmother and leader of Metal Age, Nagiko emphasizes rigorous education and expects Kuniko to assume leadership of Metal Age despite Kuniko’s hesitations. Distrustful of internet information, she relies heavily on books. Nagiko was Atlas Corporation’s first CEO and secured funding from Sergei Talsian to construct the futuristic city for their descendants. After Kuniko confronts her without receiving answers, Nagiko is expelled from Duomo. Later, she assists Kuniko in negotiating temporary refuge within Atlas to facilitate eradicating Daedulus by burning Tokyo.

Kuniko’s optimistic companion who wishes to escape her family legacy and eagerly seeks marriage. She often dates multiple boys.

A girl-next-door type attending an all-girls high school and friend to Kuniko. Generally compliant but willing to challenge Yuri when necessary. It is revealed she stabbed a citizen two years prior; Kuniko took responsibility for this act, resulting in her two-year imprisonment.

The driver responsible for electricity production in Duomo known for being reckless yet dependable. Takehiko was an Atlas agent (#13) assigned to monitor Kuniko but lost faith after discovering his sister Yasuko was abducted and sacrificed during Atlas’s construction. He attempts to assassinate Kuniko to prevent Atlas’s rise but is stopped; he reveals her role as Atlas’s heir before apparently committing suicide. He later reappears toward the end attempting to destroy Atlas.

Atlas

A strict and authoritarian figure, Ryoko rules over Atlas with absolute control and eventually ascends to the role of Japan's Prime Minister. She places her own agenda above all else, treating subordinates like Shion merely as tools. It is revealed that Ryoko serves as the human interface for Zeus, the supercomputer governing Atlas. Her demise occurs after her scheme involving Himiko collapses.

An information coordinator operating under Ryoko's command.

The chief analyst for Atlas Corporation who reports directly to Ryoko.

Commander of Atlas’s military forces and elder sibling to Shion.

Charged with managing Ryoko’s personal affairs, Shion suffers harsh abuse and develops a profound traumatic attachment to her.

Moon Palace

A younger transgender woman and co-owner of Tropical Fish. After winning the Atlas Lottery, she is initially responsible for reopening Tropical Fish but is later reassigned to serve Mikuni at Moon Palace. Miiko becomes the host for Hiruko yet resists his influence, ultimately sacrificing herself to shield Sayoko and Mikuni during Neo Akihabara’s bombing. She subsequently appears to heal Mikuni’s illness and entrusts Sayoko with her care. Birth name: .

Mikuni’s guardian who takes pleasure in uncovering and punishing dishonesty. Known for her sadistic behavior, she conducts experiments on others and attempts suicide to facilitate Mikuni’s succession but is rescued by Momoko.

Ishida Finance

A youthful genius manipulating the global economy through the carbon-credit market and co-developer of MEDUSA. Karin hides her identity during communications and copes by interacting with her teddy bear, Pudding. Orphaned in an air crash, she is misled into believing her parents are occupied with work. After acquiring all of Akihabara out of boredom with shopping, she attempts to hack Zeus but escapes Atlas authorities by fleeing there. Gradually, she becomes more sociable and aims to establish Mikuni as Atlas’s successor.

A colleague at Ishida Finance and friend to Karin, Klaris is motivated by wealth and extravagance, notably acquiring the Ferrari company. Initially known only through instant messaging, she later appears in person, revealing a more composed demeanor than her texts implied.

A significant individual thought to be a creator of MEDUSA, Zhang is another associate of Karin’s. He primarily communicates via instant messages before visiting Karin by private jet near the conclusion of the story.

A friend connected to Karin’s parents and chairman of Atlas Corporation. Though silent in messages, he appears mid-series and is exposed as a co-founder of Atlas alongside Nagiko with the goal of ensuring a better future. He is later detained on suspicion of assisting Karin in disabling Atlas systems.

An AI with a snake motif developed for Ishida Finance that detects global carbon-credit imbalances and exploits these "debts" to generate substantial profits by manipulating the carbon market. While initially considered unique, similar programs exist worldwide. MEDUSA is securely located in the Marshall Islands, protected by a typhoon generated via a weather satellite.

Akihabara

A group of three senior Otaku dealers active within Akihabara's underground market.

Old Man Army (軍爺, Gun-jī)

The group's leader, recognizable by his military-style outfit and frequent use of paramilitary expressions to command respect.

Old Man Camera (カメラ爺, Kamera-jī)

An avid photography enthusiast who is rarely seen without his camera, often referencing historical moments while dressed in camouflage attire.

Old Man Loli (ロリ爺, Rori-jī)

The most unconventional member, passionate about anime figurines, known for his flamboyant gestures and feminine clothing complemented by a green wig and cat ears, adding a humorous element.

Others

Canary (カナリア, Kanaria)

A secretive adolescent male who motivates Karin to engage again with the external world. Identified as Digma Zero, he served as a prototype for subsequent Digmas but remained confined to his facility and passed away prior to the series' start. He appears as a blond young man in a white jumpsuit accompanied by a black cat adorned with a yellow bow.

Hiruko/Lord of Atlas (水蛭子, Hiruko)

The supreme ruler within Atlas, dwelling deep underground amid unsettling eyes. Hiruko achieves immortality by transferring his spirit into new hosts that rapidly degrade. He foretold a prophecy involving Kuniko and Mikuni uniting to bring balance. Under Talsian's control to regulate spiritual energies around Atlas, his removal endangers the area's equilibrium. After Miiko becomes his new vessel, she suppresses his identity and temporarily gains control before fleeing Atlas alongside Sayoko and Mikuni.

Locations

Atlas

A monumental development backed by the Japanese Government and overseen by Atlas Corporation, intended to house affluent individuals away from Japan’s Jungle-polis. Nonetheless, government restrictions confined entry to winners of a selective "Atlas Lottery," contradicting initial assurances of open relocation.

Duomo

The lively yet dilapidated city where Kuniko hails from, encircled by overgrown ruins of Tokyo. It serves as home to the Metal Age faction, whose inhabitants emphasize harmony with nature and education rather than industrial or military dominance.

Ikebukuro

Previously accessible through an abandoned railway line, this dense jungle now encircles Duomo. Its toxic swamps necessitate protective clothing and masks for safe passage.

Akihabara

Referred to as the "Market" City, Akihabara features a variety of enterprises including black markets. It is the location where Kuniko trades Graphite and where Metal Age acquires counterfeit identification to gain entry into Atlas.

Light novel

Shangri-La originated as a light novel series serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype magazine from April 2004 until May 2005. A comprehensive 592-page volume was published on September 22, 2005, followed by a reissue split into two bunkobon volumes on October 25, 2008.

Manga

The manga version, illustrated by Karasuma Tasuku, began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Ace Assault magazine in January 2009. Following the magazine’s shutdown in March 2009, it transferred to Shōnen Ace. The initial tankōbon volume was released on November 21, 2008, with the fourth volume appearing on February 23, 2010.

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by studio Gonzo marked the first television animation of a Newtype property. Directed by Makoto Bessho with scripts by Hiroshi Ōnogi and character designs from Range Murata, it premiered on April 6, 2009, via Chiba TV. The first DVD volume was issued by Kadokawa Entertainment on July 24, 2009. The series was simulcast online through Crunchyroll, releasing episodes one hour after their Japanese broadcast. It made its North American TV debut on April 1, 2013, through the Funimation Channel.

The anime includes three theme songs: one opening theme performed by May'n, along with two ending themes—one sung by Midori and another by Hitomi.

Reception

Allen Moody from THEM Anime Reviews drew parallels between Shangri-La and other dystopian-themed anime such as The Skull Man. He praised Momoko, a transgender character who previously managed a drag club, describing her as a "compassionate and commendable figure," despite occasional moments where the series handles her portrayal insensitively. Moody observed that although the show aims high in scope, its multiple storylines often lack sufficient development, leading to some confusing character motivations. He also warned that the series contains violent content, making it inappropriate for younger viewers.

References

General

Specific

External links

• Shangri-La at Tokyo MX