Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin
Summary: Japan, 1955: Mario Minakami has just arrived at Shounan Special Reform School along with five other teenagers who have been arrested on serious criminal charges. All assigned to the same cell, they meet older inmate Rokurouta Sakuragi—a former boxer—with whom they establish a close bond. Under his guidance, and with the promise that they will meet again on the outside after serving their sentences, the delinquents begin to view their hopeless situation in a better light.
The seven cellmates struggle together against the brutal suffering and humiliation inflicted upon them by Ishihara, a sadistic guard with a grudge on Rokurouta, and Gisuke Sasaki, a doctor who takes pleasure in violating boys. Facing such hellish conditions, the seven inmates must scrape together all the strength they have to survive until their sentences are up; but even if they do, just what kind of lives are waiting for them on the other side?
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Japan, 1955: Mario Minakami has just arrived at Shounan Special Reform School along with five other teenagers who have been arrested on serious criminal charges. All assigned to the same cell, they meet older inmate Rokurouta Sakuragi—a former boxer—with whom they establish a close bond. Under his guidance, and with the promise that they will meet again on the outside after serving their sentences, the delinquents begin to view their hopeless situation in a better light.
The seven cellmates struggle together against the brutal suffering and humiliation inflicted upon them by Ishihara, a sadistic guard with a grudge on Rokurouta, and Gisuke Sasaki, a doctor who takes pleasure in violating boys. Facing such hellish conditions, the seven inmates must scrape together all the strength they have to survive until their sentences are up; but even if they do, just what kind of lives are waiting for them on the other side?
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Pictures
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Review
Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin — Japan, 1955: Mario Minakami has just arrived at Shounan Special Reform School along with five other teenagers who have been arrested on serious criminal charges. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Suspense conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.46). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Suspense, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Maeda, Noboru
Main
Park, Romi
Japanese
Maeda, Noboru
Main
Maurer, Hannes
German
Matsuura, Mansaku
Main
Waki, Tomohiro
Japanese
Matsuura, Mansaku
Main
Wirthgen, Jesco
German
Minakami, Mario
Main
Oguri, Shun
Japanese
Minakami, Mario
Main
Turba, David
German
Nomoto, Ryuuji
Main
Fujiwara, Keiji
Japanese
Nomoto, Ryuuji
Main
Morgenstern, Tommy
German
Sakuragi, Rokurouta
Main
Koyama, Rikiya
Japanese
Sakuragi, Rokurouta
Main
Wien, Fabian Oscar
German
Tooyama, Tadayoshi
Main
Kuroda, Takaya
Japanese
Tooyama, Tadayoshi
Main
Schulz, Sebastian
German
Yokosuka, Jou
Main
Hasome, Tatsuya
Japanese
Yokosuka, Jou
Main
Petrick, Dirk
German
Aritou
Supporting
Terasoma, Masaki
Japanese
Aritou
Supporting
Tzitzikos, Georgios
German
Brown, Jimmy
Supporting
Utsumi, Kenji
Japanese
Eri
Supporting
Kawakami, Maiko
Japanese
Hayakawa
Supporting
Naya, Rokurou
Japanese
Ishihara
Supporting
Ishii, Kouji
Japanese
Staff
Mita, Keiji
Producer
Tamura, Manabu
Producer
Shindou, Tomohiro
Assistant Producer
Koujina, Hiroshi
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Mima, Masafumi
Sound Director
Heo, Pyeonggang
Episode Director, Storyboard
Hirao, Miho
Episode Director
Hosoda, Masahiro
Episode Director
Kurata, Ayako
Episode Director, Storyboard
Tanaka, Tomoya
Episode Director
Woo, Seung Uk
Episode Director, Key Animation, 2nd Key Animation
Yajima, Tetsuo
Episode Director, Storyboard
Yamashiro, Chie
Episode Director, Storyboard
Fudeyasu, Kazuyuki
Script
Hirota, Mitsutaka
Script
Takayashiki, Hideo
Script, Series Composition
Fukuda, Michio
Storyboard
Nakayama, Masae
Storyboard
Sasaki, Shinsaku
Storyboard
Shimazu, Hiroyuki
Storyboard