With The Promised Neverland manga coming to a close, now's the perfect time to get reacquainted with the series. It was first printed in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016, although it didn't get an anime adaptation until 2019. The series follows a trio of orphans – Norman, Ray, and Emma – who, after discovering the sinister truth about the "House" they live in, form a plan to escape.
Both the manga and anime received great reviews, but, as with many a series, first-time viewers can find it hard to get into the action without knowing a little bit about the characters first. Thus, here is a list of 10 facts newcomers should know about Emma.
10 She's The Main Protagonist Of The Series
It goes without saying that Emma is the main protagonist of The Promised Neverland. While her compatriots Norman and Ray (and, to a lesser extent, many other inhabitants of the House, including Don and Gilda) are no doubt important, she's the true heart and soul of the series.
When series creator Kaiu Shirai was asked why they chose to make the protagonist female (an uncommon theme in shonen manga), they responded that they did so because it created an interesting mother-daughter dynamic between Emma and Isabella (the House's caretaker).
9 The Origin Of Her Name
The origin of Emma's name was actually revealed through a mini-game on the official Promised Neverland website. The game's high scorers were granted access to two exclusive manga panels.
These revealed that Isabella specifically chose the name "Emma" because she thought it was "cute, likable, cool, [and] simple."
8 She Was Born In 2034
The Promised Neverland takes place in the somewhat distant future. To be specific, the manga and subsequent anime adaptation are set in 2045.
This little piece of information means that the 11-year old Emma was born in 2034, just like Norman and Ray. As they are the oldest of the group, the other orphans at Grace Field House were born after that point. For example, Don and Gilda were born in 2035, while Rossi and Alicia were born in 2040.
7 She's A Leo
Emma's birthday is August 22, making her a Leo. Traits of Leos include being natural-born leaders, compassionate, creative, and confident, and never giving up on an idea or goal.
Emma aligns with these traits almost perfectly, showing her Zodiac sign may have been intentional.
6 She'll Be Aged Up For The Film Adaptation
In the upcoming live-action film adaptation called The Promised Neverland (scheduled for release in Winter 2020), Emma will be 15 years old instead of 11 years old. The other orphans will be aged up by four years as well.
Norman, Emma, and Ray will all be played by teenagers (with Emma's actress being 19 years old), so the change might have been made with specific actors in mind who wouldn't have been able to play younger roles. It's also possible that the change was made to market the film more towards teenagers and adults, the series' main target demographics.
5 Her Dream Is To Ride A Giraffe
Early in the series, Emma states that her dream is to ride a giraffe. It's a quick line that's not really important in the context of the series and is therefore easy to forget, but it does help establish her personality.
While getting to ride a giraffe is a pretty outrageous dream, it's technically not impossible. Emma loves to try things that seem impossible but can be made possible, so it's definitely the kind of goal she'd have.
4 She's A Capable Strategist
While there are plenty of great strategists in The Promised Neverland (including Norman, who's bested Emma on many an occasion), Emma isn't that bad herself, especially considering she's still just a child.
When Ray is also thrown into the mix, the trio's combined skills make them a nearly unstoppable force.
3 She's Very Outgoing & Optimistic
Emma is probably one of the most outgoing and optimistic of all the orphans at the House. Even after discovering the horrifying truth, she's able to maintain a pleasant demeanor and stay positive even when things seem hopeless.
While Norman and Ray are much less positive than she is, her optimism helps them strive to do more.
2 She's One Of The Series' Most Athletic Characters
Emma is one of the most athletic characters in the entire series, and definitely the most athletic of the orphans at the House.
Emma is bouncy and full of energy. When she plays tag against the rest of the orphans, it is shown that she just can't be bested in terms of athletic ability. This makes her a great coach and an ideal leader.
1 She's A Mother Figure To The Other Orphans
While Isabella is obviously the one who acts as the "mother" to the orphans at Grace Field House, Emma is also quite a significant mother figure to many of them, especially the younger ones. She's enthusiastic about hearing what they have to say and she's dedicated to helping them in whatever way possible.
Most importantly, Emma truly cares about them. This is made especially clear when she rejects Ray's supposition that the younger orphans are too weak to be taken along on their escape mission, instead insisting she'll find a way to save all of them, no matter the cost.