Kaina of the Great Snow Sea (大雪海のカイナ) is an original Japanese anime television series created by Tsutomu Nihei and animated by Polygon Pictures to commemorate the studio's 40th anniversary. The series aired from January to March 2023 on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block. A manga adaptation with art by Itoe Takemoto was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius between February 2022 and June 2024. A sequel anime film titled Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage premiered in Japanese theaters in October 2023. Crunchyroll holds the license of both the manga and the anime.
Plot
Kaina lives on a world covered in an organic membrane called the Canopy, created by massive Orbital Spire Trees. Far beneath the Canopy at the foot of the Orbital Spire Trees lies the endless Snow Sea, where Princess Ririha and her country of Atland struggle to survive against the cold and the rival nation of Valghia. When Ririha travels to the Canopy in a desperate bid to save her country, she is rescued by Kaina, setting in motion events that will have the pair travel the world to uncover its secrets.
Characters
Media
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Itoe Takemoto was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Sirius between February 26, 2022, and June 26, 2024.[2][3] The manga's chapters were collected into four tankōbon volumes released from December 8, 2022, to October 8, 2024.[4]
Crunchyroll published the manga in English and worldwide.[2] During their panel at Anime Expo 2023, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga for English publication,[5] with the first volume released on June 25, 2024, and the last on August 5, 2025.
Anime
The original anime television series created by Tsutomu Nihei and animated by Polygon Pictures to commemorate the studio's 40th anniversary was announced on January 20, 2022. The series is directed by Hiroaki Ando, written by Sadayuki Murai and Tetsuya Yamada, with main theme written by Hiroyuki Sawano, and music by Kohta Yamamoto and Misaki Umase.[2] It premiered from January 12 to March 23, 2023, on Fuji TV's +Ultra programming block. The first four episodes were previously screened at Crunchyroll Expo 2022.[14] Yorushika performed the opening theme song "Telepath" (テレパス), while Greeeen performed the ending theme song "Juvenile" (ジュブナイル).[15] Crunchyroll streamed the series worldwide.[2] Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific and streams on Ani-One Asia YouTube channel.[16]
Film
A sequel anime film was announced on January 7, 2023.[20] Titled Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage (大雪海のカイナ ほしのけんじゃ), the film features the same staff and cast as the series, and premiered in Japanese theaters on October 13, 2023.[21] An advance screening was shown during Anime Expo 2023 on July 2, 2023.[22]
External links
References
- Egan Loo. Tsutomu Nihei, Polygon Pictures' Ōyukiumi no Kaina Anime Unveils Teaser, Cast, Crunchyroll Expo World Premiere Anime News Network, July 20, 2022, retrieved July 20, 2022^
- Egan Loo. Tsutomu Nihei, Polygon Pictures' New Anime Is High Fantasy Ōyukiumi no Kaina Next January Anime News Network, January 20, 2022, retrieved January 20, 2022^
- Joanna Cayanan. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Manga Ends on June 26 Anime News Network, May 28, 2024, retrieved June 8, 2024^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/504282 Natalie, Natasha, Inc., December 8, 2022, retrieved January 10, 2023^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Kodansha USA Reveals 21 New Print Licenses, 3 Omnibus Releases, 2 Digital Licenses (Updated) Anime News Network, July 1, 2023, retrieved June 8, 2024^
- https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000371543 Kodansha, retrieved January 10, 2023^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Volume 1 Kodansha USA, retrieved June 8, 2024^
- https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000373953 Kodansha, retrieved February 9, 2023^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Volume 2 Kodansha USA, retrieved July 9, 2024^
- https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000382097 Kodansha, retrieved September 25, 2023^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Volume 3 Kodansha USA, retrieved October 1, 2024^
- https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000398572 Kodansha, retrieved October 1, 2024^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Volume 4 Kodansha USA, retrieved August 5, 2025^
- Liam Dempsey. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Anime to Have World Premiere at Crunchyroll Expo 2022 Crunchyroll, July 20, 2022, retrieved September 25, 2022^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Anime's Trailer Unveils More Staff, Theme Songs, January 11 Debut Anime News Network, November 22, 2022, retrieved November 22, 2022^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Ani-One Asia Streams Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible, Giant Beasts of Ars, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Anime Anime News Network, January 12, 2023, retrieved January 13, 2023^
- Episōdo｜"Ōyukiumi no Kaina" Ofisharu Saito ooyukiumi.net, retrieved January 11, 2023^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea - Watch on Crunchyroll Crunchyroll, retrieved January 14, 2023^
- On'ea｜"Ōyukiumi no Kaina" Ofisharu Saito ooyukiumi.net, retrieved January 11, 2023^
- Egan Loo. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea TV Anime Gets Film Sequel Anime News Network, January 7, 2023, retrieved March 22, 2023^
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage Anime Film Sequel Unveils Trailer, New Cast Member, October 13 Debut Anime News Network, 2023-06-11, retrieved 2023-10-06^
- Movie "Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage" US PREMIERE Anime-Expo.org, 2023-06-09, retrieved 2023-12-08^