Which Characters Drive The Plot In Made In Abyss Manga?

Riko's the spark, but Reg's existence is the fuel. Think about it: if he wasn't this weird, powerful amnesiac robot, Riko either dies immediately or never gets permission to go. His abilities solve immediate physical problems, but his unknown past creates the bigger mysteries that pull the story deeper. The plot often moves because something about Reg malfunctions, remembers, or gets targeted. Bondrewd's entire horrific focus was on Reg, not Riko. Lately, the story circles back to what Reg is and where he came from just as much as finding Lyza. He's a passive driver, but a driver nonetheless.

Let's break down the plot drivers in 'Made in Abyss', because honestly it shifts over time. Riko is obviously the initial engine – her discovery of the message from her mother and her sheer determination to descend pulls the entire story into motion. Without that childish, almost reckless drive, nothing happens. But calling her the sole driver feels off to me. Reg is the necessary catalyst; his amnesia and mysterious origins aren't just backstory, they're the key that makes Riko's descent possible, and later, the focus of huge plot revelations. He's not just a tagalong protector.

Where it gets layered is how the Abyss itself takes over as a character. The environment dictates the plot more than any single person past a certain point. The curse mechanics, the relics, the ecosystem – they force every decision. Characters like Ozen or Bondrewd don't just oppose them; they're products of the Abyss's rules, and their actions are direct results of how they've adapted (or failed to adapt) to its logic. So the plot is driven by Riko's goal, but it's steered and twisted by the Abyss's reality.

A lot of folks online talk about Nanachi as a key driver from the Idofront arc onward, and I agree, but in a different way. Nanachi’s knowledge and tragic history with Bondrewd reframe the entire quest. The motivation isn't just 'find Lyza' anymore; it becomes 'understand the cost of the Abyss,' and Nanachi embodies that cost. Their dynamic with Mitty directly challenges Riko's romantic view of the journey, adding ethical weight that pushes the plot into darker, more complex territory. They're a driver of theme and emotional stakes, which in turn drives the narrative decisions. In the recent arcs, Faputa and the village culture introduce a whole new set of drivers – legacy, vengeance, and what it means to be 'made' by the Abyss, which feels like the plot is now being driven by the consequences of the Abyss's history rather than just personal goals.

So yeah, it's an ensemble where the setting is the primary author of the conflict, and the characters are reacting to its cruel authorship.