In a strange world filled with sentient creatures of different species, an agreement called "The Promise" was made to end a long war between humans and the so-called demons.
In the demon world, a special breeding program was set up under the guise of orphanages; there, a human "Mother" would oversee the children to make sure they grew up as intelligent as possible.
The escapees find life outside Grace Field House is filled with dangers, but under the leadership of Emma and Ray, they become determined to return to free their remaining siblings, along with children from the other Farms.
Emma and Ray later meet up again with Norman and together with their allies, they fight a battle for freedom against the demon queen Legravalima and the human Peter Ratri, who manages the Farms.
[4] Suguru Sugita, the editor of The Promised Neverland, said that "the series was an ambitious work that did not seem like a Jump manga, with both bright and dark scenes that needed a world of fantasy that would also create suspense".
Some candidates turned down the offer, giving comments like that "the story did not feel like a Jump manga", or that "it would not become a hit", so they were "really happy and excited" when Demizu agreed to work on it.
[8] Demizu said that the Japanese folklore and its monsters were a first source of inspiration, also citing European fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel.
[4] Shirai said that the idea of students with the lowest grades being the first to leave the Farm to be eaten by the demons, while not necessarily a metaphor, was a way of inviting the reader to reflect on current society.
[7] Despite some interpretations made by PETA, saying that the series is a pamphlet against mass farming and pro-vegetarians, Shirai expressed that he was not trying to imbue the work with moral values, and as an author, he was not in position to judge.
[20][21] Both Dreams Come True and We Were Born were collected in the Kaiu Shirai x Posuka Demizu: Beyond The Promised Neverland tankōbon volume published on September 3, 2021, by Shueisha.
[24][25] A comedic spin-off titled Oyakusoku no Neverland (お約束のネバーランド), illustrated by Shuhei Miyazaki (Me & Roboco author), was published in Jump Giga on July 26, 2018,[26] and it was later serialized in the Shōnen Jump+ application from January 11 to March 28, 2019.
[102] Fuji TV's anime programming block Noitamina celebrated its 15th anniversary with a special cinematic orchestra concert held at Tokyo International Forum, on May 29–30, 2021.
The collaboration included a photo spot that recreates the post-apocalyptic world of the series, an art exhibition, limited edition goods, and original drinks inspired by Emma, Norman, and Ray.
[121][122] A collaboration with Collabo Cafe Honpo LABO was held at the Ikebukuro East Exit Store in Kanto, Tokyo from August 8 to September 6, 2020.
The café runs under the same company as Collabo Cafe Honpo, but is a space that is specifically used for figures and plushies that customers can bring to do photo-shoots with miniature (inedible) foods, drinks, and tables.
The collaboration featured six concept rooms nationwide with life-sized characters, animated setting pictures, original merchandise, voices from Emma, Norman, and Ray, and a mini exhibition.
[136] A hands-on, experience-based, immersive event called "Experience Museum The Promised Neverland Grace Field House Escape Edition" was held in Roppongi from July 17 to December 30, 2021.
The event included an exhibition featuring a life sized replica of Grace Field House, various props, and characters from the series, as well as original merchandise.
[162] On a 2021 survey conducted by LINE Research asking Japanese high school students "what manga series they are currently into", The Promised Neverland ranked second among girls, and tenth among boys.
[1] Gabe Peralta of The Fandom Post, in his review of the first volume, praised it for its plot twists and suspense, giving it a "B+" and saying "The Promised Neverland feels like a modern Weekly Shōnen Jump comic in every respect—it's energetic and eager to please".
[197] Anime News Network's Rebecca Silverman enjoyed the first manga volume and gave it an A−, saying, "tense pacing, interesting literary connections, art and story work well together, strong plot and foreshadowing".
[198] Nick Creamer of the same website gave the second volume a B+ and called it a "unique and altogether thrilling story offers fun tactical drama and striking visual set pieces".
[199] Creamer praised the third volume of the series, saying that Sister Krone and Emma's new allies adds thrilling complexity to a story that is both tightly plotted and thematically biting.
[200] He described the fourth volume as "it offers ever more reasons to check out this very unique manga" with its "excellent world and character-building, laying all the pieces in place for a truly thrilling escape, with a combination of alluring art and sturdy characterization".
Praising their transition phase with grace, offering some of the most exciting conflicts and beautiful set pieces of the story so far and pulling off the "big world-building reveal" with such intelligence.
[202][203] Reviewing volumes seven to nine, he wrote that "on the whole, setting the story's ambitions towards a new horizon while reintroducing some of the initial concepts that made this manga so thrilling continues to stride forward with tremendous confidence.
[216] Masaki Tsuji lauded the manga, calling it a series that has "a clear start, turn, and conclusion", which he described as "rare for a long story that has gained popularity".
[217][218] Chengma Lingyi from Real Sound praised the good storytelling and worldview of the series, he also stated that Posuka Demizu's art is very beautiful, elegant, and spectacular.
He noted that in the last arc, in which the monsters eat people and demons at will, is a scene where the theme of this work is illustrated and it is the sad end of those who have monopolized wealth and sacrificed the weak.
Furthermore, Vincent referred to the series as "A great cross between shows like Deadman Wonderland and Seraph of the End, with dreadfully creepy characters and a narrative that keeps you guessing the whole way through.