So I'm a Spider, So What?

So I'm a Spider, So What?
Company type	Media franchise
Industry	Light novels, manga, anime
Founded	May 2015; 11 years ago
Founder	Okina Baba
Headquarters	Japan
Area served	Japan, international (English licensed)
Products	Light novels, manga, anime television series
Owner	Fujimi Shobo (publisher)
Website	kadokawa.co.jp/product/322006000698/

is a Japanese light novel isekai series created by Okina Baba with artwork by Tsukasa Kiryu. The narrative follows a high school class that is reincarnated into an alternate world following a mysterious explosion, with one female student reborn as a dungeon spider. This spider gradually evolves into one of the realm’s most formidable beings, shaping global affairs as the students and their instructor confront the aftermath. The franchise encompasses several manga adaptations and an anime television series produced by Millepensee, which aired between January and July 2021.

Plot

In a realm where the conflict between Hero and Demon Lord recurs endlessly, a powerful space-time magic goes awry, resulting in the death of a Japanese high school class. Remarkably, these students are reborn in this new world. While some assume roles as royalty or nobles, a single girl reincarnates as a fragile spider monster trapped within a perilous dungeon. Drawing on her human intellect and determination, she survives relentless challenges and battles against more powerful foes.

Media

Light novels

Okina Baba initially published the story as a web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō starting in May 2015. It was later picked up by Fujimi Shobo for print release, with the debut light novel featuring illustrations by Tsukasa Kiryu arriving in December 2015. Yen Press secured the English language rights in 2017. The primary narrative concluded with volume 16, released in January 2022.

Manga

The manga adaptation by Asahiro Kakashi began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace Up platform on December 22, 2015. A spin-off titled So I'm a Spider, So What? The Daily Lives of the Kumoko Sisters, illustrated by Gratin Tori, was serialized on the same site from July 18, 2019, until December 8, 2022, compiled into six volumes. Both manga adaptations are licensed for English publication by Yen Press.

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced on July 6, 2018, at Kadokawa’s booth during Anime Expo, confirming it would be produced as a television series. Originally planned for a 2020 release, its debut was postponed to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-cour, 24-episode series was produced by Millepensee with Shin Itagaki directing. Key staff included script supervisors Okina Baba and Yūichirō Momose, character designer Kii Tanaka, composer Shūji Katayama, and producer Jōtarō Ishigami. It aired from January 8 through July 3, 2021, on AT-X and other networks.

The first opening theme song, "keep weaving your spider way," was performed by Riko Azuna; meanwhile, the initial ending theme, "Do Your Best! Kumoko-san's Theme," featured Aoi Yūki (as I). The second opening theme, "Bursty Greedy Spider," was sung by Konomi Suzuki; the second ending theme, "Reality Convex Hierarchy," was performed by Yūki. Crunchyroll streamed the series internationally outside Asia; Medialink licensed it for Southeast and South Asian regions, streaming via Ani-One’s YouTube channel and Bilibili. Due to production delays, the final episode aired later than scheduled on July 3, 2021.

Reception

By July 2018, combined print numbers for the light novels and manga had reached approximately 1.2 million copies. In 2017, the manga secured the 18th position in the web category of the third Next Manga Awards. The light novel ranked third in the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! tankōbon category for 2017 and improved to second place in the following year’s rankings.

External links