Beginning in 2017, the Dr. Stone franchise has become a smash hit among similarly revolutionary modern shonen anime. Published in Weekly Shonen Jump, Dr. Stone is a huge change of pace from many of their typical stories, notably by not being based around battles and fighting. Instead, this post-apocalyptic story is much more interested in science, world-building and even social studies.
The popularity of Dr. Stone has made it equally followed in the East and West, where many of its manga volumes, as well as the anime, are available. With the show only increasing in hype and standing out among the more well-worn examples of action-based manga and anime, here's how newcomers can dive into the Dr. Stone franchise.
The Plot of Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone takes place all the way in 5738 AD, though this far-flung future is much more like the primitive past. This occurs after a strange event petrifies all of humanity, allowing nature to retake the planet. Protagonist Senku Ishigami, a young genius, is one of the first in his area to break free from his rocky exterior due to nitric acid. He soon revives several others, hoping to rebuild human society and form an advanced culture based around science.
Unfortunately, adversaries like the martial artist Tsukasa Shishio oppose this idea, instead wanting to build a society based around survival of the fittest. Other competitor cultures also exist, having been unaffected by the petrification but are still hesitant to accept Senku's ideas. This all fleshes out the reality of Dr. Stone, where the seeming end of the world leads to the birth of a whole new one.
Where to Read the Dr. Stone Manga
The Dr. Stone manga began back in 2017, written and drawn by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi. So far it comprises 22 collected tankobon manga volumes, with almost all of these translated into English and released in the West. These are published by Shueisha, with Viz Media handling the English localization. A short spinoff series called Dr. Stone Reboot: Byakuya was also collected, even receiving an English release earlier in 2021.
Dr. Stone can be read on Shueisha's website or on the app Manga Plus. It can also be purchased through Comixology, as well as both digitally and physically through retailers such as Amazon, Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble. Walmart and Target also have certain volumes, though some of the older ones are out of stock.
Where to Watch the Dr. Stone Anime
The anime adaptation of Dr. Stone has been handled by TMS and 8PAN, beginning its run back in 2019. Season 1 of the show lasted for 24 episodes, followed by an adaptation of the "Stone Wars" arc in 2021. This second season ran for 11 episodes, with an upcoming third season announced when Season 2 came to an end.
Dr. Stone's English dub was handled by Funimation, and the show can be streamed there as well as on the Crunchyroll streaming service. Individual episodes or the series as a whole can also be purchased to watch through Amazon Prime Video. Amazon, Walmart and Right Stuf Anime have the DVD and Blu-ray collections available. Thus, it's the perfect time to get caught up with the Dr. Stone anime, especially with Season 3's release date still somewhat tentative.
