You’ve probably seen the art. It looks soft. It looks like a whimsical bedtime story about children exploring a big hole in the ground. But anyone who has actually watched or read Akihito Tsukushi’s masterpiece knows the truth: it’s a meat grinder. The main characters of Made in Abyss aren't just protagonists; they are survivors of a psychological and physical gauntlet that makes most "dark" fantasy look like a Sunday morning cartoon.
The Abyss is a vertical underworld, a literal scar in the earth filled with artifacts that defy physics and creatures that want to dissolve your internal organs. To navigate it, you need more than just a map. You need a specific kind of madness.
Riko: The Engine of Absolute Obsession
Riko is weird. We have to start there. Most people describe her as the "plucky leader," but that's a surface-level read. If you look at her actions, Riko is driven by a singular, borderline terrifying obsession with the bottom of the pit. She isn't just looking for her mother, Lyza the Annihilator; she is looking for the "Birthday Death Disease" and the secrets of the 2000-year cycle.
She’s a Delver. A Cave Raider. Specifically, a Red Whistle who skipped the line.
The most fascinating thing about Riko is her origin. She was literally born dead. In the Fourth Layer, inside the Curse-Warding Box, she was animated by the Abyss itself. This isn't just a fun piece of lore—it defines her entire existence. She is a creature of the Abyss living on the surface, and her drive to return to the depths feels less like a choice and more like a biological imperative. She’s the heart of the group, sure, but it’s a heart that beats for a very dark discovery.
When she loses the use of her left arm in the Third Layer, most characters would break. Riko doesn't. She asks Reg to cut it off. That level of pragmatism is what makes her the most dangerous person in the party. She doesn't see the Abyss as an enemy; she sees it as her home, even if it kills her.
Reg: The Relic with a Soul
Then there’s Reg. He’s the muscle, the protector, and the ultimate mystery of the series. Is he a robot? Kinda. Is he a "True Resident" of the Abyss? Most likely. He’s an "Aubade," a relic that shouldn't exist, possessing a consciousness and a "Incinerator" beam that can rewrite the laws of the Abyss.
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Reg is the emotional anchor. While Riko is busy being a mad scientist, Reg is the one feeling the weight of their choices. He’s the one who cries. He’s the one who feels the crushing guilt of what they have to do to survive. His relationship with Riko is the only thing keeping them tethered to humanity.
Think about his mechanical nature for a second. He can’t feel the Curse of the Abyss. While Riko and Nanachi are literally melting or losing their minds as they ascend, Reg just walks. He’s the cheat code. But that cheat code comes with a battery life. Once he fires that Incinerator, he’s out for two hours. In the Abyss, two hours of sleep is a death sentence. It’s a brilliant narrative balance.
Nanachi: The Burden of the Blessed
Nanachi changed everything. Before Nanachi appeared, the main characters of Made in Abyss were just a duo. When this "Hollow" (Narehate) stepped onto the screen, the stakes shifted from "exploration" to "soul-crushing trauma."
Nanachi is the survivor of Bondrewd’s horrific experiments. If you want to talk about E-E-A-T in the context of Abyss lore, you have to talk about the "Blessing." While most who descend to the Sixth Layer and try to return become mindless blobs of flesh, Nanachi received the Blessing. They kept their mind. They gained a fluffy, rabbit-like form. They gained the ability to see the "flow" of the Curse.
But it cost them Mitty.
The story of Nanachi and Mitty is arguably the most famous (and devastating) arc in modern anime. It illustrates the fundamental rule of the Abyss: for every gain, there is an equivalent, agonizing loss. Nanachi brings the expertise. They are the doctor, the strategist, and the one who actually understands how the Sixth Layer works. Without Nanachi, Riko and Reg would have died a dozen times over before reaching the Capital of the Unreturned.
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Faputa: The Princess of the Narehate
The most recent addition to the core group—if you can even call her a "member"—is Faputa. She is the "Princess" of the Ilblu Village, the "Embodiment of Value."
Faputa isn't human. She’s the daughter of Irumyuui, born from a Three-Cradles-of-Desire wish. She represents the absolute peak of what the Abyss can create. She is immortal, incredibly fast, and driven by a singular purpose: to destroy the village that was built out of her mother’s body.
Her inclusion in the party shifts the dynamic entirely. She’s a wild card. Unlike Reg, who is polite, or Riko, who is curious, Faputa is primal. She understands "Value" in a way that bypasses human logic. Her presence in the Seventh Layer arc is going to be the deciding factor in whether the group survives the Final Maelstrom.
The Side Characters Who Act as Mirrors
You can't talk about the main trio without the "White Whistles." These are the legendary delvers who have reached the bottom. They serve as dark mirrors of what Riko could become.
- Bondrewd (The Lord of Dawn): He represents scientific curiosity without empathy. He’s "The Sovereign of Dawn," and honestly, he’s one of the most well-written villains in fiction. He loves the children he experiments on; he just loves the Abyss more.
- Ozen the Immovable: She represents the physical toll. Her body is held together by "Thousand-Men Pins." She shows us that to survive the Abyss, you have to stop being entirely human.
- Lyza the Annihilator: Riko’s mother. The goal. The mystery. Is she even still Lyza, or has the Seventh Layer turned her into something else?
Why the Character Writing Works
Most adventure stories focus on the "hero’s journey." Made in Abyss is more of a "descent into the self." The further down they go, the more of their humanity they have to strip away. Riko loses her physical health. Reg loses his memories. Nanachi loses their companion.
The brilliance of Tsukushi's character design is the contrast. You have these round, soft, "moe" designs placed in environments of extreme body horror and psychological distress. It creates a dissonance that makes the impact of the story hit twice as hard. You want them to be safe because they look like they should be safe. But the Abyss doesn't care about aesthetics.
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What You Should Actually Pay Attention To
If you’re trying to keep track of the lore as the manga enters the final stages, focus on these specific details regarding the characters:
- The Number of Whistles: Riko now has her own White Whistle (Prushka). This isn't just a rank; it's a tool made from a human soul. The fact that the protagonist carries a dead friend's soul around to power her equipment is the peak "Abyss" vibe.
- Reg’s Name: He was named after a dog Riko used to have. But Lyza also knew a "Reg" in the Depths. The identity of the original Reg is the biggest ticking time bomb in the series.
- The 2000-Year Cycle: Every main character is currently racing against a clock they don't fully understand. The skeletons found on the surface are all praying. The main characters aren't just exploring; they are likely the last generation to do so before the "reset."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Newcomers
If you’re diving into the series or catching up with the latest chapters, here is how to navigate the character arcs:
- Watch the Movies: Don't skip Dawn of the Deep Soul. It isn't a recap; it's a direct sequel to Season 1 and contains the most vital character development for Nanachi and Bondrewd.
- Observe the Backgrounds: Many of the characters' motivations are hidden in the environmental storytelling. The way Riko looks at artifacts isn't just curiosity—it's a hunger.
- Read the Manga for Detail: While the anime is beautiful, Tsukushi’s "Star Strings" style in the manga provides more nuance to the characters' internal states, especially during the Ilblu Village arc.
The main characters of Made in Abyss are defined by what they are willing to give up. In the Abyss, value is everything. To gain the truth, you have to offer something of equal value. Usually, that’s your skin, your memories, or your friends.
Keep an eye on the Seventh Layer updates. The "Final Maelstrom" is where the true nature of Riko and Reg will finally be revealed, and if the past is any indication, it won’t be a happy reunion. It’ll be a trade.
Next Steps for Deep Diving:
- Map out the "Value" system introduced in the Sixth Layer to understand Faputa’s power.
- Re-examine Lyza's letters—there are linguistic inconsistencies that suggest Riko might be chasing a ghost.
- Track the "Birthday Death Disease" timeline; it’s currently the biggest threat to the surface world characters like Kiyui and Jiruo.