Leviathan (TV series)

Leviathan
Promotional poster featuring protagonists Deryn Sharp (foreground) and Aleksandar von Hohenberg (back)
リヴァイアサン
(Rivaiasan)
GenreSteampunk
Created byScott Westerfeld
Original net animation
Directed byChristophe Ferreira
Produced by
  • Katrina Minett
  • Yoshihiro Watanabe
Written by
  • Yuichiro Kido
  • Yukata Yasunaga
Music by
  • Nobuko Toda
  • Kazuma Jinnouchi
Studio
Licensed byNetflix
ReleasedJuly 10, 2025
Runtime22–29 minutes
Episodes12

Leviathan (Japanese: リヴァイアサン, Hepburn: Rivaiasan) is a Japanese original net animation (ONA) series directed by Christophe Ferreira and produced by Qubic Pictures and Orange. Based on the novel of the same name by Scott Westerfeld, it premiered globally on Netflix on July 10, 2025.

Background and premise

The English-language novel Leviathan was published in 2009 by American author Scott Westerfeld, followed by Behemoth in 2010 and Goliath in 2011. The series adapts each book in the trilogy as a four-episode arc.

The series follows an alternate history of the First World War with science fiction and steampunk elements. The protagonists are Deryn Sharp, who crossdresses as Dylan Sharp to join the British Air Navy aboard the genetically engineered HMA Leviathan, and Prince Aleksandar, who flees the Austro-Hungarian Empire in a mechanized walker after the assassination of his father, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.[1]

Characters

Deryn/Dylan Sharp (ディラン・シャープ, Diran Shāpu)
Voiced by: Natsumi Fujiwara[2] (Japanese); Broghanne Jessamine (English)
Aleksandar von Hohenberg (アレクサンダル・フォン・ホーエンブルク, Arekusandaru fon Hōenberuku)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[2] (Japanese); Dor Gvirtsman (English)
Count Volger (ヴォルガー伯爵, Vorugā-hakushaku)
Voiced by: Shunsuke Sakuya[2] (Japanese); Rob Nagle (English)
Klopp (クロップ, Kuroppu)
Voiced by: Yasuhiro Mamiya[2] (Japanese); Gregory Cupoli (English)
Dr. Nora Barlow (ノーラ・バーロウ, Nōra Bārō)
Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki[2] (Japanese); Michelle Lukes (English)
Newkirk (ニューカーク, Nyūkāku)
Voiced by: Ivan Shibata[2] (Japanese); Knox Collier (English)
Lilit (リリット, Riritto)
Voiced by: Fairouz Ai[2] (Japanese); Ren Holly Liu (English)
Nikola Tesla (ニコラ・テスラ, Nikora Tesura)
Voiced by: Hiroki Touchi[2] (Japanese); Christopher Jones (English)
Nene (ネネ)
Voiced by: Ikuko Tani[2] (Japanese); Deborah Geffner (English)
Hoffman (ホフマン, Hofuman)
Voiced by: Genta Nakamura[2] (Japanese); Jacob Nichols (English)
Rigby (リグビー, Rigubī)
Voiced by: Daichi Hayashi[2] (Japanese); Matthew Crowley (English)
Matthews (マシューズ, Mashūzu)
Voiced by: Satoshi Niwa[2] (Japanese); Piers Stubbs (English)
Thomas (トーマス, Tōmasu)
Voiced by: Naoto Kobayashi[2] (Japanese); Jason Anthony (English)
Hirst (ハースト, Hāsuto)
Voiced by: Yukitaro Namura[2] (Japanese); Connor Keene (English)
George Darwin (ジョージ・ダーウィン, Jōji Dāwin)
Voiced by: Michio Hazama[2] (Japanese); John P. Mawson (English)
Pavel (パベル, Paberu)
Voiced by: Takahiro Fujiwara[2] (Japanese); Caleb Hafen (English)
Zaven (ザブン, Zabun)
Voiced by: Naomi Kusumi[2] (Japanese); Michael Benyaer (English)
Sultan (スルタン, Surutan)
Voiced by: Tessyo Genda[2] (Japanese); Marcelo Tubert (English)

Production

An original net animation adaptation of Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld was announced in June 2024. It is directed by Christophe Ferreira and produced by Qubic Pictures and Orange, with Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi composing the music.[3] A teaser trailer was released in September 2024.[4] The opening theme song is "Paths Combine" by Joe Hisaishi, and its closing theme "The Sky Ahead" is performed by Hisaishi featuring Diana Garnet.[2]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Into the Storm"
Transliteration: "Arashi no naka e" (Japanese: 嵐の中へ)		Christophe FerreiraYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
2"Prelude to War"
Transliteration: "Senran no Pureryūdo" (Japanese: 戦乱のプレリュード)		Kotaro TamuraYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
3"Clankers and Darwinists"
Transliteration: "Kurankā to Dāwinisuto" (Japanese: クランカーとダーウィニスト)		Yoshifumi SuedaYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
4"The Weight of the Past"
Transliteration: "Kako no Omomi" (Japanese: 過去の重み)		Chie YamashiroYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
5"Far to the East"
Transliteration: "Haruka Higashi e" (Japanese: 遥か東へ)		Kotaro TamuraYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
6"Shadows of Istanbul"
Transliteration: "Isutanbūru no Kage" (Japanese: イスタンブールの影)		Yoshifumi SuedaYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
7"Stormy Seas"
Transliteration: "Aranami" (Japanese: 荒波)		Kyohei IshiguroYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
8"Behemoth"
Transliteration: "Behimosu" (Japanese: ベヒモス)		Takashi NotoYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
9"Tunguska"
Transliteration: "Tsungūsuka" (Japanese: ツングースカ)		Yoshifumi SuedaYukata YasunagaJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
10"Truth and Lies"
Transliteration: "Shinjitsu to Uso" (Japanese: 真実と嘘)		Chie YamashiroYukata YasunagaJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
11"Goliath"
Transliteration: "Goriate" (Japanese: ゴリアテ)		Chie YamashiroYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)
12"Under the Same Sky"
Transliteration: "Onaji Sora no Shita de" (Japanese: 同じ空の下で)		Christophe FerreiraYuichiro KidoJuly 10, 2025 (2025-07-10)

Release and reception

The series released on July 10, 2025, worldwide on Netflix.[3][5]

The series received average to positive reviews in the English-speaking world. Praise was directed at the worldbuilding, action, themes, and art direction,[6] however Polygon and Ready Steady Cut criticized the young adult tone and underuse of the premise.[1][7]

IGN's Kristen Carey lauded the series as a potential "modern classic", comparing the animation and setting to that of Studio Ghibli. Carey noted the explicitly queer characterization of Sharp towards the latter portion of the series, where they choose to maintain their more masculine identity even after their assigned gender is revealed.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Nelson, Samantha. "Netflix’s Leviathan anime doesn’t do enough with its steampunk WWI setting", Polygon.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Momonoi, Kana (June 7, 2025). "Steampunk Anime Adaptation 'Leviathan' Takes Flight on July 10". Netflix Media Center (Press release). Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Loo, Egan (June 6, 2024). "Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Alternate-History Novels Get Anime Series by Orange in 2025". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Tai, Anita (September 9, 2024). "Orange's Leviathan Alternate-History Anime Series Streams Teaser". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Pineda, Rafael (June 3, 2025). "Orange's Leviathan Alternate-History Anime Unveils July 10 Netflix Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  6. ^ https://finalweapon.net/2025/06/30/leviathan-netflix-anime-series-review-a-beautiful-conflict/
  7. ^ https://readysteadycut.com/2025/07/10/leviathan-review/
  8. ^ https://www.ign.com/articles/leviathan-review-netflix
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