Netflix premiered a new Anime that is coproduced by Japanese and American studios. The new anime is called Leviathan and premiered on July 10, 2025. This anime is based on the novel of the same name by Scott Westerfeld is a collaboration and production from Netflix. This trilogy of books is planned to be animated by the studio and so far based on season 1 of the anime, it may get to do so.
Set in an alternate timeline of Earth in the year 1914. The main characters are the orphan prince Aleksander Hoenburg of the former Austro-Hungarian empire and the Deryn or Dylan, a girl posing as a boy to join the British Airship Navy. As their lives intersect they form a close bond and dealing with the possible outbreak of war, seek allies to find answers, stay ahead of those after Alek and prevent a war from breaking out.
A mix of Steampunk, the dynamics of this world give us a two front the mechanical side brought by Alek and his Austro-Hungarian and then later the German side. And the Darwinists who use genetically engineered creatures to wage their war. While the twist is certainly unexpected, it adds another layer to the unique political tension as to why Germany went to war against England and other countries. The ideological separation is enhanced by the bias against using genetically engineered creatures as airships, and even weapons.
We are introduced to Deryn or Dylan as “he” attempts to pass an exam in the British Air Defense by being hoisted upon a floating jellyfish harness. It’s something you have to see. As Dylan is floating at the highest point with the harness tied down, a storm comes rolling in, forcing Dylan to cut the rope and fly off into the sky. Fortunately Dylan intercepts and is rescued by the giant floating Leviathan, a whale genetically engineered battleship creature manned by a British crew.
As the crew and the two young heros get involved further along their adventures, they grow increasingly entangled in events that they work to avoid or stop to ensure that the war doesn’t proceed further. On their way they encounter the granddaughter of Charles Darwin, Nikola Tesla, and may other historical figures. All while dealing with burgering feelings and discoveries of Dylan’s identity and Alek the now renegade prince of Austria.
The studio “Studio Orange” who produced this series also worked on the recent Trigun Stampede anime and the animation style and movement of the characters is very similar. This style works well enough and it is the fact that the voice actors bring an air of personality and the scenery that draws the attention given the well laid out backgrounds and cities.
The show lasts 12 episodes however there are plans to cover the remaining books from the series if Netflix decides to continue the series. The book series was on my radar but I did not expect to enjoy it as well as I did and it was an easy series to stream. Though it does get off to a slow start in the first two episodes as the world is being introduced and the characters.
Feel free to visit Netflix and watch the series, and if you want to read ahead the book series is available as a box set now on Amazon for $37.50 and can be purchased through the link below. *Please note any purchase may result in a commission for geekworldverse.com*
