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Drifting Dragons

Drifting Dragons (空挺ドラゴンズ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Taku Kuwabara. It has been serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine good! Afternoon since June 2016 and has been collected in twenty-one volumes as of January 2026. The manga is published digitally in English by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics imprint.

An original net animation adaptation by Polygon Pictures was released on Netflix Japan on January 9, 2020. The same day, the series' first episode premiered on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block, and continued weekly until March 26, 2020, with the final episode's television airing. It was followed by an international Netflix release in April 2020.

Plot

Set in a world where humans hunt dragons, they dwell in the skies and provide valuable food and materials for the world that hunts them. The story follows the crew of the Quin Zaza, one of the last remaining dragon-hunting airships, as they pursue dragons through the clouds to survive. Among the crew are Mika, a skilled but reckless draker with a deep passion for gourmet cooking; Takita, an inexperienced newcomer striving to prove herself; and other hunters bound together by the dangers and demands of their profession. Dragon hunting promises great rewards but carries constant risk, as each dragon is unique and deadly, and failure can mean starvation.

As the Quin Zaza travels from hunt to hunt, there are both the high-stakes aerial battles required to bring down dragons and the everyday realities of life aboard the ship, including maintenance, financial strain, and social isolation. Ostracized on the ground and facing danger in the air, the drakers rely on one another as a family.

Characters

  • Mika (ミカ)
  • Takita (タキタ)
  • Jiraud (ジロー)
  • Vanabelle (ヴァナベル)
  • Gibbs (ギブス)
  • Crocco (クロッコ)
  • Niko (ニコ)
  • Berko (バーコ)
  • Capella (カペラ)
  • Gaga (ガガ)
  • Faye (フェイ)
  • Badakin (バダキン)
  • Oken (オーケン)
  • Soraya (ソラヤ)
  • Mayne (メイン)
  • Hiro (ヒーロ)
  • Yoshi (ヨシ)
  • Lee (リー)
  • Katja (カーチャ)
  • Nanami (ナナミ)
  • Ascella (アスケラ)
  • Ura (ウラ爺)

Media

Manga

Drifting Dragons is written and illustrated by Taku Kuwabara. It started its publication in Kodansha's good! Afternoon on June 7, 2016.[4] Kodansha has published the series into individual volumes. The first volume was released on November 7, 2016. As of January 7, 2026, twenty-one volumes have been released.

In North America, Kodansha USA announced the digital release of the manga in November 2017.[5] They also announced the print release of the manga in March 2019.[6] The first volume was published on December 17, 2019.

Volume list

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

Volume list

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

Anime

An anime ONA adaptation was announced on March 15, 2019. The series was animated by Polygon Pictures and directed by Tadahiro Yoshihira, with Makoto Uezu handling series composition, Kyoko Kotani designing the characters, and Masaru Yokoyama composing the music.[47] The series' 12-episode run premiered on Netflix Japan on January 9, 2020, which was the same day the series began its weekly television run on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block, as well as KTV, THK, TNC, UHB, and BS Fuji.[48] Yoh Kamiyama performed the series' opening theme song "Gunjō", while Akai Ko-en performed the series' ending theme song "Zettai Reido".[2][49] It ran for 12 episodes.[50] The series premiered on Netflix worldwide on April 30, 2020.[51]

Episode list

Episode list

Reception

Drifting Dragons was nominated for the 52nd Seiun Award for the Media category in 2021.[52]

External links

  • at Netflix

References

  1. Kara Dennison. Drifting Dragons Sets Premiere Date and Cooks up a Tasty Sandwich Crunchyroll, November 29, 2019, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  2. Drifting Dragons TV Anime Reveals Teaser Video, 18 Cast Members Anime News Network, October 9, 2019, retrieved October 9, 2019^
  3. Drifting Dragons TV Anime Casts Ayane Sakura, Sayaka Senbongi, Maaya Sakamoto, Kiyonobu Suzuki Anime News Network, January 6, 2020, retrieved January 6, 2020^
  4. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/189964 Natalie, June 7, 2016, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  5. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Kodansha USA Reveals 6 More Digital Manga Licenses Anime News Network, November 18, 2017, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  6. Jennifer Sherman. Kodansha Comics, Vertical Add Bakemonogatari, Cells at Work! Code Black, Granblue Fantasy Manga Anime News Network, March 13, 2019, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  7. http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000047558 Kodansha, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  8. Drifting Dragons, Volume 1 Penguin Random House, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  9. http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000047609 Kodansha, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  10. Drifting Dragons, Volume 2 Penguin Random House, retrieved April 11, 2020^
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  14. http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000311888 Kodansha, retrieved April 11, 2020^
  15. Drifting Dragons, Volume 4 Penguin Random House, retrieved April 11, 2020^
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  17. Drifting Dragons, Volume 5 Penguin Random House, retrieved April 11, 2020^
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  34. Drifting Dragons, Volume 13 Penguin Random House, retrieved May 19, 2023^
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  39. https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000382577 Kodansha, retrieved October 26, 2023^
  40. Drifting Dragons, Volume 16 Penguin Random House, retrieved October 31, 2023^
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  42. Drifting Dragons, Volume 17 Penguin Random House, retrieved August 5, 2025^
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  47. Staff&Cast retrieved October 10, 2019^
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  49. Drifting Dragons TV Anime Video Reveals Yoh Kamiyama Opening Song Anime News Network, December 25, 2019, retrieved December 25, 2019^
  50. Drifting Dragons Anime Has 12 Episodes Anime News Network, January 10, 2020, retrieved January 10, 2020^
  51. The List of New Anime Shows & Films Coming to Netflix in 2020 & Beyond Anime UK News, 15 January 2020, retrieved January 15, 2020^
  52. Deca-Dence, Drifting Dragons, ID: Invaded, BNA, Demon Slayer, Precure, More Anime Nominated for Seiun Sci-Fi Awards Anime News Network, May 3, 2021, retrieved May 3, 2021^