DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME ActionDr. STONE
NOVEL AdventureDr. STONE: Hoshi no Yume, Chi no Uta
MANGA AdventureDr. STONE reboot: Byakuya
ANIME ActionDr. STONE: STONE WARS
NOVEL ActionDr. STONE: Koe wa Mirai e Mukete
ANIME ActionDr. STONE: NEW WORLD
SPECIAL ActionDr. STONE: Ryuusui
ONE SHOT ActionDr. STONE: TERRAFORMING
ANIME ActionDr. STONE: NEW WORLD Part 2
ANIME ActionDr. STONE: SCIENCE FUTURE

REVIEWS

• 

  TorasStoneWorldLog

  90/100
  Fantastical, humourous science fiction based on science with a twist and trope-based but still interesting characters

  ---

  Shower thoughts on

  https://anilist.co/manga/98416/Dr-STONE/

  ---

  I guess it's time for another post of animanga shower thoughts. It's another rainy morning here in the north. Waking up, you realise that the manga you've spent the last couple of days engrossed in reading (when you're not busy writing your thesis or being with family looking after a sick baby niece) has been caught up to the latest chapter. Now, that quiet emptiness that comes after every new adventure has enveloped you once again, falling silently as dust in its wake.

  This time, though, it's not going to be for long - next chapter is set to be released this Sunday, and with a Season 2 that's set to be released this January, I'm definitely excited, and it's because I simply can't contain that excitement that I had to throw this out here. A fair warning - this post contains major spoilers of Dr Stone that's not yet been animated, so please read at own risk.

  I didn't know anything about Dr Stone when I first started. Actually, I think I watched the first two episodes with a friend a few years ago, to check it out and see if it was something we would watch. Since then, a lot of things happened, and my friend and I stopped seeing each other. Sucks, but that's how life is, I guess. Because of that, Dr Stone was put on ice until quite recently, when I stumbled over an interesting discussion about it on Discord, which reignited my interest in the show, and I decided to revive it. So grabbing my own limited knowledge of the natural sciences (I'm but a scientist in the humanities and the social sciences), I sat down and started watching.

  Oh boy. Let's just say, I did not regret picking it back up. Before I knew of it, I had reached the end of Season 1 and I wanted more. I still do, now that I also caught up with the manga. I'm kinda like, what the hell just happened? And that in quite a good way. I had a lot of fun watching and reading, and most of all, I found the premise that the series is built on to be super refreshing.

  

  It's not often that I see an animanga based on the principles of science fly into my TBW/R list. Often, science fiction can seem based on an interesting yet a more or less fantastical concept that's got very little to do with the levels of science we currently know of (this comes from someone who loves science fiction with a passion).
  Sure, there are some aspects of that in Dr Stone too, don't get me wrong, but it was really fun to see how science and concepts based on well-known, factual scientific concepts and theories (yes, the correct term is theories) played a role in the series.
  Not gonna lie, the execution of "the power of science" does tend to be oversimplistic in nature, not to mention the "power of science" tends to become a bit of a buzzword mantra at times because it gets repeated a bit too often for my tastes, and it almost gives you a feeling like it's a bit like a magical superpower like, 'ooh, look at me, I can do this, I know science', That feeling does not get better when our hero Senku time and time again whips up one fantastical solution after the other to the problems that he faces as he tries his hardest to uncover what happened on that day when the entire world turned to stone.

  

  HOWEVER! That, to me, at least, is a rather small Aber-Dabei when I look at it from a bigger perspective. First things first, this is science fiction. Of course, it is meant to be simplified and fantastical. Most likely are elements of this series in part meant to show what "baaaad" stuff (thank you, Chrome) you might be able to do with science if you learn the principles and work hard enough for it. So it really doesn't matter much how unrealistic some of the things Senku thinks up. Well, at least not for me, lol. It just makes it more entertaining.
  Besides, if all of it were explained down to the last detail or kept realistic no matter what, I'm fairly sure that the fun, not to mention the story of the series would have been lost quickly, and then the series might need a different audience with degrees in the natural sciences to even understand it. These critical aspects here are simply a matter of knowing the audience and how to communicate the science on a need-to-know basis that makes it relatable and entertaining. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.

  Another thing I found entertaining about this is how this is clearly a story that builds its premise on one of those hypothetical intellectual experiments such as "what would you do if you were sent back to the stone age with the scientific knowledge you currently have" and such. It adds a nice little spice to the story. It's quite ironic, and rather telling, actually. There is one scene in the anime and manga where Senku and his friends, in the middle of a chemical experiment in the time before the catastrophic petrification event, are presented to one of these hypothetical situations by a classmate, who asked if they would save their friend or their lover. But instead of being led to choose one answer over the other, he dismisses the dilemma completely and responds that with science, he would find a solution to save them both. "Because that's how science is". Interestingly enough, when he in the Stone World is finding himself in situations similar to but no longer "hypothetical", he follows that same path without hesitation.
  

  

  Speaking of Senku - I really like the role that he plays in the story. Sure, he is the main character that guides the other characters with his knowledge of science and such, but he is often seen throwing the ball to other characters, giving them their chance to shine and never looks down on them for lack of scientific knowledge, but always encourages people to keep trying, because he knows that even with his knowledge, he is not infallible. He can seem cynical, manipulative and even arrogant at times, yet behind it all is he a selfless and sensible kind of guy.
  Generally, this series has some pretty interesting characters and character dynamics, which adds further flavour to the story. It's nothing too deep or too emotionally heavy as other series, but it's still got plenty of heart and humour to offer. Sure, the story does rely on tropes to tell the story, but nonetheless is the subtle, humourous, sometimes caricatured ways that any of the characters are portrayed just what makes it more fun to watch and read. From Senku's keen intellect and creativity, generally always acting as the voice of reason, to Magma's crude, brash, and rowdy warrior personality, the ever so strict but always reliable Kinro and his sleazy brother Ginro, Suika who always goes out her way to help everyone, the elderly yet fierce and hardworking artisan Kaseki, Asagiri Gen's cryptic, seemingly selfish yet surprisingly kind personality, and Chrome's fascination with science and what he can learn from Senku... every single character is keeping a constant synergy in play

  

  One thing I particularly enjoy in how the characters are portrayed in Dr Stone is that while there are some traits that a given character is built up around, the characters are particularly made to stand out depending on what talents they have, and how they contribute to the series. Like, there's always a clear distinction between every character's abilities and put thought into how they can be made unique, but not so unique that they can't somehow contribute to the community and the story as a whole, which gives the clear sense that everyone can contribute and be part of the community, whether that being the Kingdom of Science or the Tsukasa Empire. One early example is the distinction between Taiju's brute power and stamina, which can be used for hard work or for shielding others, and Tsukasa's extreme speed and power, which is useful in combat and for hunting. Or Suika's unique way of keeping an eye on her surroundings through her disguise with her watermelon helmet, and Homura's abilities as a gymnast to navigate the land when she is on her mission for Hyoga

  Beyond this point there will be spoilers from the manga that's not yet animated, so if you've only watched the first season, you might want to stop here.

  ❤❤❤

  One character I'd really like to particularly highlight here at the end of this longwinded mess of a shower thought post is probably the character that's stood out to me the most throughout both manga and anime. Well, let's be honest, he was not that much present in the anime as of yet apart from a few appearances, but in the manga, he was probably that character that hit me in the feels the most and a character I am most definitely looking forward to seeing more of, lol. Shishio Tsukasa. He's the kind of character that quite frankly nearly caused my eyes to pop right out of their sockets when I saw him for the first time. But there is a lot more to him than just being this really attractive-looking, seemingly nice kind of guy who wants to destroy science, and as the story goes along, he reveals himself to be a bit of a diamond in the rough. And me being me, there's just no way of resisting.

  

  From his kind and soft-spoken demeanour, respect for nature, and charismatic presence to his tragic past that led him to view the world in such a pessimistic light that he was willing to become a murderer if it meant he could prevent the world from returning as we know it, if it meant that he could prevent any more violence, wars, and greed to roam rampant and uncontrollable and to prevent people from being harmed or exploited. In other words, Tsukasa wants a world without wars, violence and weapons, where people can live freely, without fear and without corruption. Really, it's actually quite a noble goal when you think about it, (except the murder part, obviously). I don't think one can be blamed for wanting the world to be a better place than it is. I think, especially these days, with all that's going on in the world right now, it's a feeling of powerlessness that many of us are able to recognise. I sure do. However, even though he brings the best of intentions to the table, it does not in any way justify murder or the other methods he utilises in order to reach his goal. That is where he loses the moral high ground.

  

  Well, what I mentioned above cannot be surmised from this panel alone, but there's plenty of evidence that can be found throughout most of the manga up until the Stone Wars that highlight what it is that he seeks. This is just one of many examples, where this goal is better described than in the anime. For in the anime, he kinda comes off like a maniac that seeks to build an empire based on young strong people alone, without caring one bit about progress. Like, it's just about building the world with the young and the strong, and nothing else, basically like giving all the older generations the middle finger. "Okay, Boomer". Basically giving the middle finger to any progress that could prove problematic to his vision. However. Reading the manga, you get to see a bit more of what it is he is trying to achieve that is only vaguely presented in the anime, thus not doing Tsukasa's true character or his real goal much justice. Still. That does not mean his goal in the manga or the means by which he attempts to achieve it are not horribly wrong and twisted. More than anything, I'd like to argue that seeing what idealism that stands behind his goal and his actions just drives home the point that his good intentions are severely misled.

  As sweet as it would be if it was possible to just solve all the world's problems and end every unrest for a better world, it is as bitter to realise that such a goal is hopelessly idealistic, utopian, even. And as much as he did his utmost on his own with the powers he had, however foolishly misled and twisted his methods were, just as near-tragic did it end for him as well, as it often does when you fly on the brittle wings of idealism.
  Fortunately for Tsukasa, Senku stood in his way, and when things went awry, Senku found a way to turn things around, ending the Stone Wars.

  

  One thing I'd like to note here is that when it comes to his confrontation with Senku, I find it refreshing to see that it is not some good vs. evil skirmish or anything as black and white as that, but simply two different people who see the world through very different lenses and disagree on how things should be done in the Stone World. Sure, a fight on ideologies is high-explosive stuff to mess with, but it adds a sense depth to the characters and the story as a whole

  Because of his well-meaning goal but distorted methods, it had me wary of him at first - where I come from, the kind of thinking he presented in the series usually tends to create movements with a lot less noble motives in mind - e.g. cults, sects, militant factions, political factions, you name it. it's the kind of path where not just yourself but everyone around you can get seriously friggin hurt. Even with the best of intentions, things go wrong and can cause a helluva lot more harm than one might think. Good intentions cannot change that.
  Fortunately, Tsukasa just isn't that kind of monster. If he were, Dr Stone would probably have had a different, darker tone to it than it has, I'd imagine. More than anything, Tsukasa is just a kindhearted young man who went through some pretty fucked up shit and felt the world weigh down on his shoulders too much, so when he saw the chance to change the world for the better, he took it in the hopes that he could do it. Yet I cannot help but wonder what might have happened to him if things hadn't turned out the way they did.

  

  I know I know. I said that the story didn't have to be that deep. I guess Tsukasa is the exception that proves the rule here, though. Either way, I found it added an interesting edge to his character and his relationships to everyone else in the series... I'd say, he is probably that character I feel I relate to the most. Heh, come to think of it, he actually reminds me of another figure from a different (and a lot older) literary universe that's got nothing to do with animanga, but everything to do with science, or what was once perceived as science. But that, my friends, is a different discussion, for another time.

  ❤❤❤

  I think that's about all I had in mind, writing this review. Did not expect it to end up this long tho - whoops... I guess I went a bit overboard - I really need to keep things concise around here... Oh well, I'm excited about what's coming next!

  TL;DR if you like good science fiction and is interested in science with a twist, lighthearted sense of humour and interesting characters, this might be for you.

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• 

  IshigamiSenkuu

  100/100
  An amazing, unique story about science with loveable characters and great humour (spoiler free) - manga version

  __Spoiler free review of Dr. Stone – current latest chapter as of writing: 200__

  This is my first review, feedback is appreciated! Keep in mind, most of this review (story, characters) is identical to [the one I wrote about the anime](https://anilist.co/review/11860), however I wanted to make 2 separate ones anyways so I can review the manga original aspects too!
  

  __Story__

  The story starts out looking simple - One day all of humanity is petrified, thousands of years later two of our main characters Senkuu - a science genius with massive amounts of knowledge - and Taiju - a simpleton with pretty much infinite stamina - break out of the stone and begin their attempt at reviving every human, restoring humanity with science, as well as uncovering the mystery behind the petrification. However it soon becomes much more than that. They’re faced with challenges, many of which were caused by the choices they made. The path towards civilization is anything but straightforward. Without spoiling anything, things that they didn’t expect start going on, and they find things that they never tought would be there. The writing is a huge strong point. Everything connects and makes perfect sense, yet the story is unpredictable and makes you want to read more. Many things that may or may not seem important come back and affect the story later on. The pacing is perfect: It never feels too slow, too fast, no part is dragged out or rushed. It’s a consistently good experience. Of course, how could I not mention the comedy. Comedy is a major element and whenever it does it, it’s genuinely funny. It never forces it in where it doesn’t belong, and never skips it when there’s an opportunity. It handles it in a way that blends in perfectly with the gripping story.
  

  __Science__

  The main driving force behind the story is of course science, it’s also what sets Dr. Stone apart from many other things out there. Not only do the things constructed have a huge effect on the story, it manages to make the progress feel satisfying. It manages to really make you appreciate all the things around us that we now consider natural, everything that weren’t just there for us, but were made by us humans through slow and steady effort. Forget your bad experiences with science classes in school, this manga will make it as interesting as it can get! Still, this manga isn’t exactly educational. All the processes are based on reality and are indeed the real thing, but it won’t give you in-depth explanations on everything that’s happening, however it will make sure you understand what’s going on, and maybe you’ll even pick up a few things here and there.
  

  __Characters__

  The characters are some of the most likeable I’ve seen. Not only that but Dr. Stone makes sure to make all of it’s characters unique and memorable. The character designs are eye-catching and fit the personality of the character as well as the theme. A lot of the characters have some unique quirks to them, often in the form of catchphrases or ways of speaking. The personalities of characters are somewhat exaggerated which fits well with the comedy and really sets the characters apart from each other. Pretty much every non-background character has some unique skills or stuff that they’re better at than those around them. Yes, this has been done before a lot, but there is a lot of focus on this which makes it become an essential part of the story and often a core element of the tactics used. The goals of each character also play an important role. No one will cooperate randomly, they need a reason to work with whoever they’re working with, and this appears over and over, it’s something that they always have to consider. Sometimes risks are taken and compromises are made by having a character on the team because they need them for their skills. Later there is also quite a bit of focus on the bonds between characters that let them work together as a team efficiently. All in all it just knows how to properly handle it’s characters and make them a meaningful part of the storyline instead of just the people who perform the actions.
  

  __Art__

  The art is high quality. Landscape panels and characters look great and detailed. Facial expressions are often exaggerated for comedy. The great character designs also contribute to it being a great visual experience. There’s not much else I can say so I’ll put some spoiler free panels here so you can see it for yourself:
  

  __Conclusion / Who do I recommend it to?__

  With it’s well written story, unique premise, great characters and visuals, it’s not something you want to miss out on. I can safely recommend Dr. Stone to any manga fan - new or old - , those who like science and those who don’t (because believe me it will make you like it more).
  

  __Notes__

  Watching the anime for the currently adapted arcs is also a great choice. The soundtracks are outstanding! In case you go with that, you can continue from chapter 84 (after s2).
  __„It’s not that there are things science can’t explain. You look for the rules behind those things. Science is just the name for the steady, pain-in-the-ass effort that goes behind it.”__
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• 

  AnotherBadger

  78/100
  A science-fiction manga that leans into the science manages to create a story that never feels boring or uncreative.

  “They’d want to see all that the world has to offer. Humanity can’t possibly resist that desire!”

  • Ryuusui, Chapter 102

  Dr. Stone is a manga that tackles an inherently interesting question; what would happen if humanity returned to the Stone Age?

  It takes a more scientific approach, balancing its answer with enough fiction to create a fun story that spans the world. While its wide scope does cause a couple of issues in the final quarter of its run, there is a sense of enjoyment that runs throughout. This is impressive as science fiction can be a difficult genre to get right; the more entangled with reality it becomes, the more explanations are needed to make the story understandable.

  Dr. Stone eases its readers into its scientific stylings by using inventions to mark clear points of change. With a goal as grand as reviving the human race, it would have been difficult to create a sense of progress. By limiting its scope in the earlier chapters, it creates a forward moment that the reader can pick up on. It is also done by using the Ages of Man meaning that the story never feels static and shows that it has a strong vision behind it. It also avoids hammering science into the reader’s head; offering depth on science without giving long-winded lectures. This does mean that some of the supposed realism is lost early on but, since this is science fiction, it has little effect on the story. Science, despite being the focus of Dr. Stone, doesn’t hold the manga back. Instead, it is used as both a mechanic and a motive; seamlessly entwining the scientific advancement with plot development.

  There are also some more tender moments, used to take a break from the story’s rapid pace. The pacing allows for these moments well and greatly benefits the earlier chapters. It prevents the story from becoming boring. Dr. Stone also shows a deeper consideration for its premise; putting thought into how the world might change and some of the struggles that will be encountered. It does a really strong job of marking out a core idea and sticking to it; ensuring that every plot beat is relevant.

  Where it struggles a little is in tonal consistency with the changes in tone causing whiplash; especially with the more comedic moments. It can become jarring and disrupt the flow of the story. This lack of consistency and flow is most notable towards the end of the series. There are a lot of events happening in a short space of time and it feels rushed. The resolution is also a bit hit-and-miss as there is a handful of unanswered questions and partially neglects the main focus of the series. It moves away from thinking about the future and instead turns to the past.

  This isn’t necessarily a cop-out, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying as you hope it would be. The end also neglects a lot of the supporting cast, meaning that only a few have any real closure to their stories. It mirrors some of the abrupt ways that conflict would end throughout Dr. Stone. For conflicts that are based on a character’s philosophy, we would assume there would be more of an internal struggle. However, many antagonistic characters seem to change their minds easily which can make them feel a little flat. It is the characters and ex-antagonists who retain their personal beliefs, even when they don’t align with Senku’s, that remain the most interesting.

  It leads to a couple of poignant moments, but we don’t get many of them. This is because Inagaki was written into a corner where the Kingdom of Science needs to be seen as the good guys with their no-killing rule. The only way for them to succeed is to have their opponents change their minds or to be left in stone. It means that some potentially satisfying resolutions can never happen without sacrifice.

  Another way that Inagaki is restricted is by having Senku be a genius. One of the biggest criticisms I have is that we never see him branch away from what existed in the old world. While it makes sense that he would use technology as a theoretical guide, it feels more like the story is chained to reality. It’s one of the reasons why the ending feels like a major shift away from this. However, Inagaki does do something which a lot of writers struggle to do with these characters. He makes Senku likeable and doesn’t completely isolate the reader from him. While we are sometimes alienated from his perspective, the reader is allowed to understand his reasonings and see who he is on a deeper level. This means that, while his personality remains consistent, the reader feels an element of his growth regardless and it feels rewarding.

  Senku also avoids being reduced to just being the ‘scientist’ with the manga balancing his logical nature with some more emotional qualities. His connection to Byakuya is one of the noticeable ways that this is done, along with some of his older friendships. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate to his relationships with the supporting cast as they only interact when the characters are plot-relevant. This has a knock-on effect where there is a clear divide between well-developed characters and those who have been left on the side.

  Some of the characters, such as Ryuusui and Gin, are characterised through their actions; we can see who they are and feel connected to them. In turn, they add more depth to the story and form interesting relationships with other characters. However, characters introduced later in the story tend to lack this level of definition and the reader is told how they are supposed to be. There is also a lack of depth given to the relationships that don’t involve Senku. It often feels like the supporting cast can sometimes be an afterthought.

  The characters can also feel inconsistent during the more comedic moments. It is often during the abrupt tone shifts that can make them feel inconsistent. Some of the more comedic characters can also become a little annoying as they are very repetitive at times. This mirrors the repetitiveness of the catchphrases; while they aren’t as noticeable when reading weekly, they can become grating when reading Dr. Stone as a whole.

  The art is consistently strong; conveying the core ideas of the story well. Some of the action scenes do rely heavily on lines to show dynamic movement which can make certain panels very dense to look at. However, these moments are few and far between so they don’t affect the flow of the manga. There were also a couple of really interesting design choices, such as the way Boichi personified elements of nature. It would have been nice to see this aspect used more as it harkens back to how people perceived the world before advancements in science gave us a clearer understanding of our world.

  Overall, Dr. Stone is a science fiction manga that takes its premise and runs with it. By focusing on the idea of progress rooted in science, it confidently tackles a range of topics and weaves an interesting story. While the narrow focus does lead to a couple of issues, such as the characterisation of secondary characters, it remains an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone looking to read a series that remains consistently fun and tackles a couple of interesting concepts.

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