Alternative TitlesEnglish: Kino's Journey Synonyms: Kino no Tabi - the Beautiful World, Kino's Travels - the Beautiful World Japanese: キノの旅 -the Beautiful World-
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 13
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 8, 2003 to Jul 8, 2003
Duration:
24 min. per episode Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.571 (scored by 7444 users)
Ranked: #452
Popularity: #230
Members: 15,792
Favorites: 729 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
action adventure drama fantasy |
Synopsis"The world is not beautiful, therefore it is." Kino is a traveler who journeys to different countries with the talking motorcycle, Hermes. Spending only 3 days in each country, Kino and Hermes witness the many different negative human traits present in these countries, plaguing the people who live within. Despite what they observe, Kino never appears to show any emotion, always continuing on the journey despite whatever occurs. |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Kino no Tabi: the Beautiful World
Prequel: Kino's Journey: Life Goes On
Sequel: Kino's Journey: The Land of Sickness -For You-
Side story: Kino's Journey: Tower Country
Character: Dengeki Bunko 2007 Movie Festival Special
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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kumarei
35 of 45 people found this review helpful
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13 of 13 episodes seen
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Kino's Journey is a collection of societal parables, told through the eyes of a wanderer who visits countries and observes them. Kino, the main character, takes a somewhat prime directive stance toward the civilizations, although she is sometimes coaxed to interfere out of compassion.
The show is a collection of parables, and as such, the societies it portrays are exaggerated portraits of a certain societal trait. It's possible that some viewers will feel as if they're being beaten over the head with the moral on some of the episodes. As for me, I thought that it was refreshingly straightforward, and had no problem accepting it for what it was: a story.
Although the show is frequently dark, exploring the depths of mankind's ruthlessness and stupidity, there was a core of hope to the show. A message that, looking out at the world around us, and looking in at human resilience in even the worst of societies, you can't help but have hope for the world.
Excluding the few actiony episodes, the show generally keeps a slow, contemplative tone, and a pace to match it. I imagine that this will lose some people who are looking for something faster and with more bang.
This show is one of my favorites, and stands out as an incredible testament to the power of the medium. read more
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Kayrhandros
126 of 165 people found this review helpful
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13 of 13 episodes seen
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Ok, so this will be my first review for MAL. I've written for other resources but haven't done so for a while, so bear with me.
I've recently finished this anime, and I can say I am still surprised. Although I heard rumors that this was something really good, I tend to be skeptic and so I was caught of guard. Why?
Let's start with the story, which tells of the journey of a traveler and his motorcycle, while they visit a long range of countries or just meet someone on the way. The actual fact is: there isn't one sole story but 12 short stories that link together not by episode order but by events. And yet the fact that each one of this stories manages to be deeper than whole plots from many animes amasses me. Each episode approaches a theme of society, like censoring, violence, communication problems, right or wrong, the ability some people have to bite the hand that just fed them, and so on. And at every time I found myself smiling in front of the screen while realizing how superbly intelligent each of the episodes plot was. In resume, each of them is really well constructed, some exceeding the others, and you need "keen eye" to get every aspect of them.
There is a wide range of characters as expected from an anime that tells about travels over a world. While some of them are forgettable, some of them also stay in your mind. But the fact is, they are there to be a supportive role to the main character, Kino, and this is why my rating in character was high. But before that let's look at Hermes. Kino's travel companion. A Motorad, in short a motorcycle that talks. While I found this odd at first I grew found of the bike. He (it's a machine but I will refer to him as "he") usually asks a lot of questions to which the main character responds enigmatically most of times, he his kino's closest thing that can be called a friend and it's interesting to see how they interact. It was an interesting choice for a supportive role. Finally, Kino. Kino is the best character I've seen in a while and one of the best overall. I can't think of any character to make a comparison because I don't remember ever seeing a character like her. Calm, intelligent, skillful, sometimes unreadable, extremely wise for someone so young and still as capricious as a child could be. Though not fond of killing, will do so if necessary without felling remorse. An unique character that I enjoyed to watch throughout the whole anime, and if considered alone would deserve 10.
Animation wise, Kino's Journey is extremely solid. It kept the art quality throughout the whole anime, something I praise. Although the majority of supporting characters have an ordinary design, this being the downside, some of them exceed in this aspect. As does Kino. Movement is very fluid, each frame seems carefully drawn and the backgrounds are outstandingly well donen also. One thing I thought interesting and enjoyed was thing the interlaced video. Which gives the anime a different feel from any other.
As for Sound, voice actors do a good job in overall, Kino's VA does even better. The background music is practically inexistent, this would be thought as a bad thing, but in this particular case it is not. Not even once in the whole series did I fell it lacked music in any situation. It's "almost" absence gives the plot an even more serious look, keeping views attention more centered in it, while using sometimes a tone from a single instrument to denote a particular scene. Lastly the opening and ending theme. In one word, superb. They fit Kino's Travels like a glove. The opening theme has become one of my all time favorites and the ending is very good as well and it's actually performed by Kino's VA.
Enjoyment is probably the thing I appreciate in any anime, and the thing that will variate more from person to person. So how did Kino do enjoyment wise? 10/10. Perhaps my initial skepticism helped but the truth is even if I hadn't been skeptic, I probably would not rate differently. Kino no Tabi brought me to many smiles to be rated otherwise. It is something I will re watch and probably discover things that missed my "eye" on the first watch
Overall Kino no Tabi is very artistic, intelligent, surprising, and approaches a variety of themes, that always create discussion withing societies in a cold and sometimes brutal way, that leaves you glued to the chair with eyes fixed on the screen, and perhaps like me smiling unconsciously as I joined each plot line realizing how intelligent they where. Do not wait long to watch this. The only people to which I wouldn't recommend this, are perhaps to a younger audience or people who don't enjoy to think much during an anime.
That was long :). Well if you read it through, feel free to give me feedback. It's all ways good to improve this or further reviews. read more
Recommendations
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One story per episode, with each episode not having much action in but still has something special about them.
They both have a similar story telling method where tales of the unusual come into everyday life. Must see if you're a fan of either series!
both are very philosophical and, for the most part, bloodless. . .two highly entertaining series that are great to watch when you want to wind down for the day. . .
These are both episodic anime that center around someone who travels from town to town and they usually wind up helping someone through a difficult situation at each stop. While Kino's purpose is only to travel and to see different countries, Ginko's is to find and research "Mushi." Both stories have beautiful animation and offer up "life lessons." Although these lessons may be a little easier to see in Kino's Journey, they're there in Mushishi, as well. Enjoy ^_^
The step up of the both animes are similar, each episode (or short arc) is it's own story and one does not need to watch them in any particular order to understand them (though I think that is the better course). The reason this is possible is because both main characters are travelers who do not take on any new companions for the duration of both series. Their histories are a mystery and little bits of both are revealed slowly in certain episodes. In addition I feel both have interesting and unique little stories for each episode that seem to have a deeper meaning and come off quite philosophic, though you don't really need to think this way in order to enjoy them. If you liked the idea, plot, characters, stories, or everything about one of these animes I am fairly sure you will love the other.
Both of these shows focus on a traveler and the people they meet along the way. In Kino's case, she's simply a traveler with no set destination. For Ginko in Mushishi, he goes around to many different places and helps those who have been effected by 'mushi', which is also his job.
They also both share the same thinking-based mature atmosphere as well, sometimes even delving deep into the way the mind works and peoples own effects on the things around them.
These two rather slow, yet extremely interesting, shows are very alike and if you liked one of them you should definitely check out the other.
Bothe animes have a separate story for each episode. Both are very deep, and focus on making the audience think. Both are quite good.
Both tell the life of a traveller who don't stay for very long on the same place.
Mushishi tends to the supernatural genre while Kino no tabi is just a fantasy genre. The main thing they have in common is that both have really deep stories and don't tend to the comedic spot.
I see so many similarities, I don't know where to begin. Both Ginko and Kino are force to give up there past lives due to something happening in their early childhood, and thus travel around the world. While Kino learns about the cultures of different places in her travels, Ginko's journey is more of one to help others affected by the mushi. Either way, both have episodal storylines. Though frankly I found myself enjoying Kino's journey more, there's no way one wouldn't enjoy both in the same way.
Episodic, sometimes philosophical about life
Story per episode, not much action, both about forced journey which was started because of some accident, similar beautiful animations, both almost bloodless. If you love one of them you'll love another one for sure.
Mushishi and Kino's Journey are about people who travel through a beautiful world, although for different reasons. They are confronted with various people and their problems, beliefs and such. Kino and Ginko are similar in their reactions to these people, as they do not want to meddle in it too much.
Both are episodic series involving a traveling protagonist that helps out the people that they come across. They both also have a very similar feeling and style to the other.
Both have a very calming feel to it and short one episode story lines and both involve traveling to different countries, but don't let that deceive you, each episode is filled with an amazing story and is concluded with an unexpected/philosophical twist that is bound to amaze you. Also the main characters are very similar in their passiveness(or sense of indifference) as well as their inability to settle down in one place.
Both series are episodic, and tied together by the travels of their protagonists. Still, they both hold together very well and have solid pacing. The two anime also frequently have a mythological or philosophical vibe to their stories. The main difference is that Kino has a more surreal kind of setting, while Mushishi's is more traditionally Japanese.
Let me start off by saying that these two are both very excellent series in my opinion. Kino's Journey and Mushi-shi possess a certain quality that draws you into their own world. Kino's Journey gives the feel of being in a slightly dark fairytale, whereas Mushi-shi draws you into what seems like a world of mythology and folklore. I strongly recommend either of these series to anyone who is interested in a story book feel to their anime.
Both animes are very philosophical. Both tell the stories of two travelers, what pushed them to travel and what happens during their journey.
With each episode being an incident from their journey.
Both anime's stories are episodic with each story arc usually contained to just one episode. In each anime the main character travels around to various towns and cities to observe what's going on and usually lending a helping hand to the residents.
Both laid back atmosphere until you get to near end of each episode leaving you to think. Both protagonists are travelers who left their formal selves as their price to where they are currently.
Both have a stand alone episode plot structure. Both have protagonists who have very good reasons for traveling. And both acquire memorable experiences wherever they go.
Kino is more apethetic and distant. Ginko helps any and every.
They both have a similar vibe of unsteady peace and they both follow the lives of people who travel far. They both focus on the observation of aspects of life (Kino's journey is more moral and mental while Mushishi is more physical and natural)
They are also both very earie and inspirational. Highly suggested!
Episodic anime, very cerebral, not much action but very, very entertaining. It's philosophical, poignant, and beautiful. One of the best shows I have ever watched.
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Both are very calm, "chill", and enchanting, follow a pair's journey across vast landscapes, and often hold very little in the way of action (though tidbits here and there crop up), aside from dialogue exchange and focus on the scenery/townscapes.
Both have jorney as a very important part of the whole story, but Spice and Wolf is one story instead of story-per-episode structure of Kino's Journey.
Slow-paced anime about travelling and encountering different cultures.
Both are relatively calm shows featuring traveling themes and the dangers of such a life. Kino is more about different cultures and ideas, while Spice deals more with economics and the life of a traveling salesman.
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Opening Theme"All the Way" by Mikuni Shimokawa
Ending Theme"The Beautiful World" by Ai Maeda
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