The Seven Deadly Sins (manga)

The Seven Deadly Sins cosplayers at CWT57 20210328a

The Seven Deadly Sins (Nanatsu no Taizai) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nakaba Suzuki. It was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from October 2012 to March 2020, with its chapters collected into 41 tankōbon volumes. The story is set in a fictional version of the British Isles, in a time period similar to the European Middle Ages. It follows the story of Elizabeth, a princess of the Kingdom of Liones, as she seeks the help of the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of powerful but disgraced knights, to reclaim her kingdom from the clutches of the tyrannical Holy Knights.

Plot

The series begins with Elizabeth, the third princess of Liones, on a journey to find the Seven Deadly Sins, legendary knights who were disbanded ten years earlier after being framed for plotting a coup against the kingdom. Along her journey, she meets Meliodas, the leader of the sins and the Dragon's Sin of Wrath, who decides to help her in her quest. Together with other members of the sins, they seek to clear their names and liberate Liones from the Holy Knights, uncovering a deeper conspiracy and facing formidable enemies along the way.

Characters

The Seven Deadly Sins are composed of Meliodas (Dragon's Sin of Wrath), Diane (Serpent's Sin of Envy), Ban (Fox's Sin of Greed), King (Grizzly's Sin of Sloth), Gowther (Goat's Sin of Lust), Merlin (Boar's Sin of Gluttony), and Escanor (Lion's Sin of Pride). Each member possesses a unique power known as a Sacred Treasure and a magical ability that corresponds with their sin. The series also features a wide array of supporting characters, including the Holy Knights, other magical creatures, and the Ten Commandments, the primary antagonists for a significant portion of the story.

Themes and Reception

The Seven Deadly Sins explores themes of justice, friendship, power, and redemption. It has been well-received for its storytelling, character development, and action sequences. The manga has spawned a successful media franchise, including multiple anime adaptations, films, video games, and a broad range of merchandise.

Media

The anime adaptation of The Seven Deadly Sins was produced by A-1 Pictures and later by Studio Deen. It premiered in 2014 and has multiple seasons and feature films that expand on the story of the manga. The series has been licensed for English language release in North America by Kodansha USA.