Dr Stone Science Future Starts Season 4 With Refreshers

It’s a big moment for followers of the Dr Stone anime adaptation, the Science Future season 4 debut happened on Crunchyroll. It’s the start of an end of an era, albeit one that will be a bit drawn out due to this last leg of the journey being released in three parts. 

Editor’s Note: There are some minor spoilers for the first episode of season 4 of the Dr Stone anime. 

Things kick off in Dr Stone Science Future with a brief refresher from Minami Hokutozai, in the event it’s been a while prior to the viewer jumping into season 4. We’re reminded that everyone on Earth ended up petrified thousands of years ago. Senku Ishigami was freed, and decides to begin reviving people to create a new scientific society. It mentions how previous seasons followed Senku reviving more people and making more discoveries, leading up to them all building a ship to cross the Pacific Ocean. The goal is to head toward San Francisco to find out about the petrification and build a space ship to head to the moon. This also serves as a means to reintroduce Senku, Minami, Tsukasa, Gen, Suika, Kaseki, Chrome, Kirisame, Kinro, Matsukaze, Ryusui, and Ginro. It’s an effective way to review allies and get their thoughts on the what happens next.

I appreciate that after that review, Dr Stone Science Future gets right back to, well, science. Once we revisit everyone’s thoughts on things and are reminded of what’s going on, we find Senku and Ryusui fighting about the course of the ship. Ryusui is proposing the Rhumb Line approach, which would go straight across from Tokyo to San Francisco and take 70 days. Senku then explains one that would follow along the coasts would be wiser, and people go to a globe with a rope to see how his answer is right. It would be 40 days on the Great Circle Route. 

It really gets into part of what I love about Dr Stone as a series. There are times when it will include these sorts of educational elements and actual science in a fun way. Senku’s personality is perfect to excuse sorts of explanations. Plus, in the case of this dispute here, we get to see the possible benefits of both the Rhumb and Great Circle options due to Ryusui and Senku being so intelligent. 

At the same time, this first episode’s direction and adaptation means it can be quite entertaining. The choice about how to head to America is a serious one. The points about the routes are valid. But settling things with Poker and the ensuing outcome of the game is handled so well. Plus, it ends up tying into an on-ship activity. 

I suppose there isn’t much progress in this episode. The first installment of the anime is really more about setting the stage for what’s next with season 4 of Dr Stone. But the execution makes it feel like a lot still did happen. I feel getting back into things with a more lighthearted episode that refreshes the viewer, sets the stage for things to come, and gives us a chance to see characters enjoying their momentary victories is especially welcoming seeing as how we’re nearing the end. 

The first part of season 4 of Dr Stone, Science Future, is streaming now on Crunchyroll, and past seasons of the anime are also available there. Viz Media handles the manga outside of Japan.