Kyousou Giga (TV)

Long ago, there was a monk named Myoue who could bring anything he drew to life. He quietly lived with his wife Koto—a black rabbit in human form—and their three children: Yakushimaru, Kurama, and Yase. One day, the high priest of the land concluded that Myoue's drawings caused too many problems for the locals and ordered him to find a solution. In response, the family secretly fled to an alternate world of Myoue's own creation—the Looking Glass City.

Everything was peaceful until Myoue and Koto suddenly vanished. Their three children are left to take care of the city, and Yakushimaru inherits Myoue's name and duties. Stranded in this alternate world, their problems only get worse when a young girl—also named Koto—crashes down from the sky and declares that she is also looking for the older Myoue and Koto. Armed with a giant hammer and two rowdy familiars, Koto just might be the key to releasing everyone from the eternal paper city.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Koto Main

Kugimiya, Rie Japanese

Myoue Main

Suzumura, Kenichi Japanese

Koto Supporting

Hisakawa, Aya Japanese

Inari Supporting

Ishida, Akira Japanese

Yase, Douji Supporting

Kitamura, Eri Japanese

Shouko Supporting

Saitou, Chiwa Japanese

Kurama Supporting

Shiraishi, Ryouko Japanese

Un Supporting

Shiraishi, Ryouko Japanese

A Supporting

Hidaka, Noriko Japanese

Hachiman Supporting

Urawa, Megumi Japanese

Matsumoto, Rie Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition

Itou, Naoyuki Episode Director, Key Animation

Kakudou, Hiroyuki Episode Director, Storyboard

Mori, Hirotaka Episode Director

Reviews

Jun 8, 2025

Mashadaar

Recommended

I was intrigued enough by the older iterations of Kyousougiga to see what they had come up for this series and wow is it extraordinary. The ambition and scope of the story alone is awe-inspiring, especially considering it's also well executed. I admit that while the first 6 or so episodes initially amused me, I was only somewhat above average in my enjoyment of the show. Then episode seven starts the crescendo, punctuated impressively by Koto's yell, climaxing during the final two episodes. Everything falls into place in episode eight, my favorite episode by far, and the payoff was absolutely immense. ... The somewhat mundane pace in the beginning was carefully crafted with a clear direction. It sets up your expectations and then blows them all away with a Koto punch to the gut. This show is a damn masterpiece. Watch it if you haven't, it's a unique and impressive addition to anime. The use of symbols to accentuate the story and give meaning to even the smallest details in the story and setting is maybe the most natural feeling and deft I've ever seen. Truly masterful. There is even a special episode halfway through that explains the meaning of some of the settings and names used in the show, another unconventional and highly effective method to further convey the story. The first bit can be a bit of a struggle because you are never really sure exactly what is going on. The payoff is worth it, pretty much everything is explained or conveyed in a large amount of detail, very few questions or gripes at the end. Just so pleased with this series, always nice to discover there are still masterpieces like this out there I haven't seen and more that will be made in the future.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Jan 31, 2025

vpnburneraccount

Recommended

One of the most bizarre and misunderstood shows you will ever watch, but watch you must because it is a wild ride. tbh, i originally watched the OVA/ONA of this show and didn't really get down with the story. But, when this show dropped, I decided to give it one more shot, and holy sh..t it did not disappoint.

I love how the story intertwines some of the earliest concepts of Japanese animation and create an entirely clever story.

One thing to note, if you have access to the accompanying live content where the ladies go around to the temples where the stories are ... suppose to take place, do yourself a favor and watch those. It really does help fill in the gaps on the smaller details that non-Japanese natives might not catch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Apr 9, 2025

lilgapple

Mixed Feelings

Kyousou Giga represents the abstract in many creative ways, particularly through its animation. The visuals are striking and imaginative, offering a unique experience that stands out in the medium. However, the story, to put it mildly, is very confusing. For example, why are there two characters named Koto? There’s no clear plot point explaining the significance of the Mother Koto or why her daughter shares the same name. It often feels like things just happen in this anime without any meaningful explanations to tie them together.

The Japanese voice acting is generally good, with most performances fitting their characters well. The exception, however, is the Chief ... Priest. His voice just doesn’t match his aesthetic at all, which creates a jarring disconnect. This anime reminds me of works like Sonny Boy and FLCL, but its writing feels like a step down in comparison. Despite being only ten episodes long, the pacing is extremely slow, which makes it feel drawn out at times.

On the positive side, the family dynamics are a highlight. Viewing the family interact with each other is a roller coaster ride, full of emotional ups and downs. Each character in the family has their own unique personality, and no two feel too similar to one another, adding depth to their relationships. These moments shine through as some of the anime’s strongest aspects.

Unfortunately, the ending leaves much to be desired. It lacks an intriguing or satisfying explanation for how events conclude, which stands out as one of the show’s major flaws. Overall, if you’re into creative, abstract animation—think Wonder Egg Priority—and don’t mind mediocre writing, Kyousou Giga is worth checking out. It has its merits, but it’s held back by its narrative shortcomings.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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