Rainbow
- TV series
- Spring 2010
- 26 episodes
- 22 min
- Madhouse
- Manga
- R-17+
- Drama
- Suspense
- Delinquents
- Historical
- Seinen
Contents
Opening · OP1 Full | ||
| Japanese | RAINBOW 二舎六房の七人 | |
|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin | |
| Also known as | Rainbow: The Seven from Compound Two, Cell Six | |
| Genre | Drama, Suspense, Delinquents, Historical, Seinen | |
| Type | TV series | |
| Based on | Manga — George Abe | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Koujina | |
| Written by | Hideo Takayashiki | |
| Character design | Ai Kikuchi | |
| Music by | Yuu Takami | |
| Studio | Madhouse | |
| Original run | April 7, 2010 – September 29, 2010 | |
| Episodes | 26 | |
| Episode length | 22 min | |
| Broadcast | Tuesdays | |
| Total running time | 9 hr 32 min | |
| Status | Finished airing | |
| Season | Spring 2010 | |
| Age rating | R – 17+ | |
| Score | ★ 8.46 (#161) | |
| On users' lists | 104,217 Kitsu, Shikimori | |
| Manga | ||
| Written by | George Abe, Masasumi Kakizaki | |
| Published in | Young Sunday (Weekly) | |
| Demographic | Seinen | |
| Original run | November 21, 2002 – January 4, 2010 | |
| Volumes | 22 | |
| Chapters | 235 | |
Rainbow (Japanese: RAINBOW 二舎六房の七人, Hepburn: Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin) is a 2010 Japanese anime television series based on the manga series by George Abe. It is animated by Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Koujina. It aired from April 7, 2010 to September 29, 2010, with 26 episodes.
Set in postwar Japan, the story follows seven teenagers held together in a reform school cell, where harsh treatment tests their ability to endure. Their bond with fellow inmate Rokurouta Sakuragi gives them a shared source of resolve, making the series a drama about survival and solidarity under institutional cruelty, as well as the uncertain lives that await the boys beyond confinement.
Premise
The group includes Mario Minakami, Noboru Maeda, Mansaku Matsuura, Ryuuji Nomoto, Tadayoshi Tooyama and Jou Yokosuka, alongside Sakuragi. The boys face brutal conditions and humiliation at the school, including abuse by a guard who holds a grudge against Sakuragi and a doctor who violates the inmates.
As they struggle to survive their sentences, Sakuragi’s guidance helps the cellmates form a close bond and hold on to the prospect of meeting again after their release. Their shared experience shapes how they face the school’s cruelty, while the promise of life outside gives them a reason to endure.
Characters
The main characters are Noboru Maeda, Mansaku Matsuura, Mario Minakami, Ryuuji Nomoto, Rokurouta Sakuragi, Tadayoshi Tooyama and Jou Yokosuka. Sakuragi is an older inmate and former boxer who becomes a guide to the other six cellmates.
Main characters
Supporting characters
Kawamata · Yoshitaka Kogure · Setsuko Koike · Kumagai · Lilly · Mickey · Mrs. Nomoto · Tatsuo Nomoto · Kazuo Nomoto · Gisuke Sasaki · Shigeo · Sugi · Tanaka · Tsubouchi · Naoko Yamauchi · Megumi Yokosuka · Junko Yoshida · Narrator
Production
Rainbow is a television anime adapted from the manga Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin, whose original creator is George Abe. Hiroshi Koujina directed the series, with series composition by Hideo Takayashiki and character design by Ai Kikuchi. Yuu Takami composed the music, and Madhouse produced the animation. The series aired from April 7 to September 29, 2010, with 26 episodes.
Key staff
George AbeOriginal Creator
Hiroshi KoujinaDirector
Hideo TakayashikiSeries CompositionAi KikuchiCharacter Design
Masasumi KakizakiOriginal Character DesignYuu TakamiMusic
Masafumi MimaSound DirectorTomoyuki ShimizuArt Director
MadhouseStudioStaff
| Studio | Madhouse |
|---|---|
| Original Creator | George Abe |
| Director | Hiroshi Koujina |
| Series Composition | Hideo Takayashiki |
| Script | Hideo Takayashiki, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Mitsutaka Hirota |
| Character Design | Ai Kikuchi |
| Original Character Design | Masasumi Kakizaki |
| Music | Yuu Takami |
| Sound Director | Masafumi Mima |
| Art Director | Tomoyuki Shimizu |
| Chief Animation Director | Ai Kikuchi, Mika Takahashi |
| Director of Photography | Yukihiro Masumoto |
| Color Design | Yoshinori Horikawa |
| Editing | Naoki Kasai, Satoshi Terauchi |
| Theme Song Performance | Galneryus, coldrain |
| Producer | Keiji Mita, Manabu Tamura |
Music
| Composer | Yuu Takami |
|---|
Opening themes
- OP 1“We're not alone” — coldrainAnimeThemes
Ending themes
- ED 1“A FAR-OFF DISTANCE” — GalneryusAnimeThemes
Songs, performers and episodes from AnimeThemes.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “After the Rain” | April 6, 2010 | Aired |
| 2 | “Fugitive” | April 13, 2010 | Aired |
| 3 | “Distrust” | April 20, 2010 | Aired |
| 4 | “Dissolve” | April 27, 2010 | Aired |
| 5 | “Someday...” | May 4, 2010 | Aired |
| 6 | “Truth” | May 11, 2010 | Aired |
| 7 | “Determination” | May 18, 2010 | Aired |
| 8 | “Freedom” | May 25, 2010 | Aired |
| 9 | “Lament” | June 1, 2010 | Aired |
| 10 | “Vengeance” | June 8, 2010 | Aired |
| 11 | “Showdown” | June 15, 2010 | Aired |
| 12 | “Promise” | June 22, 2010 | Aired |
| 13 | “Recollect” | June 28, 2010 | Aired |
| 14 | “Revenge” | July 6, 2010 | Aired |
| 15 | “Annoyance” | July 13, 2010 | Aired |
| 16 | “Hidden” | July 20, 2010 | Aired |
| 17 | “Parting” | July 27, 2010 | Aired |
| 18 | “Unbreakable” | August 3, 2010 | Aired |
| 19 | “Reunion” | August 10, 2010 | Aired |
| 20 | “Vocation” | August 17, 2010 | Aired |
| 21 | “Blinded” | August 24, 2010 | Aired |
| 22 | “Emergence” | August 31, 2010 | Aired |
| 23 | “Chance” | September 7, 2010 | Aired |
| 24 | “Desperate” | September 14, 2010 | Aired |
| 25 | “Independence” | September 21, 2010 | Aired |
| 26 | “Over the rainbow” | September 28, 2010 | Aired |
Videos and pictures
Trailers and music
Gallery
Ratings and statistics
Score distribution
On users' lists
- Plan to watch29,126
- Watching4,158
- Completed34,028
- On hold2,939
- Dropped4,571
Ratings and list counts come from Shikimori, whose scores mirror MyAnimeList. Rankings compare the titles listed in Acino.
Audience
How many people follow this anime on the largest anime databases. The numbers are refreshed every few days; one person may use several sites.
| Site | Members | Watching | Completed | Plan to watch | Dropped | Favorites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitsu | 29,395 | — | — | — | — | 438 |
| Shikimori | 74,822 | 4,158 | 34,028 | 29,126 | 4,571 | — |
Related works
| Original work | Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin (Manga) |
|---|
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- “Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin”. Shikimori. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- “Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin”. MyAnimeList. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- “Rainbow”. Kitsu. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- “Rainbow”. AnimeThemes. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
- “Q141499142”. Wikidata. Retrieved November 11, 2026.
The facts on this page come from the databases listed above. The article text is written by Acino with AI assistance, using only those facts.