Kemono Friends 2017

Japari Park is a vast zoo-like sanctuary that blends real, endangered, extinct, cryptid, and legendary creatures into a living mosaic. A mysterious substance known as Sandstar has caused many animals to blossom into human-like girls, referred to as Friends (フレンズ, Furenzu), turning the park into a place where curiosity, companionship, and discovery drive every step of the journey.

In Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!, the manga strand of the universe follows a park keeper named Nana as she tends to the park’s wide-ranging residents, guiding visitors through a world where science meets fantasy and every encounter teaches a new facet of Japari Park’s wonder. Raccoon and Okapi take on this vibrant community in print form, painting a picture of care, community, and the daily rhythms that keep the park alive.

The Nexon mobile game spins a darker, more urgent thread: the park is closed to visitors after an outbreak of aggressive, amorphous creatures called Ceruleans. In this version, players join the park guide Mirai to confront the threat, teaming up with the Friends to hold back the danger and protect the park’s delicate balance.

The first season of the anime (set a little while after the game’s events) widens the spotlight even further. A girl awakens in Japari Park with no memory of who she is or how she arrived there, and a Serval Friend greets her, naming her “Kaban.” From this moment, the pair sets out across Japari Park’s diverse regions, seeking answers about Kaban’s true nature while meeting new Friends along the way. Serval joins the journey, and the voyage blossoms with a cascade of discoveries, big and small, about identity, belonging, and the bonds that form when strangers become companions.

As their path unfolds, the story expands its circle of helpers and friends, introducing other remarkable residents who contribute to the adventure in meaningful ways. The park’s sprawling landscape—its regions, its mysteries, and its ever-present sense of wonder—serves as a guiding thread through all formats, inviting readers and viewers alike to imagine what it means to belong, to protect, and to explore. Friends like Raccoon, Okapi, Fennec Fox, Woolly Mammoth, Raccoon Dog, and Black Leopard accompany the central journey, each bringing their own voice and courage to Japari Park’s evolving story.