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Kino's Journey:

I enjoyed the series. Since each individual episode was self-contained, it was easy to slowly work my way through it. And even though each episode was self-contained, I found myself invested in Kino and Hermes (Hermes is Kino's talking motorcycle). As a traveler, Kino visited several countries that represented different facets of society and human psychology (sometimes exaggerated to a ridiculous extent). Regardless of a country's strange or even deplorable customs, Kino would oftentimes take a stance of non-interference. And even though Kino took the role of an onlooker many times, she showed that she was a strong character that is easy to like.

The ... examples presented by each country beg to be analyzed or at least contemplated. They are not simple stories with no meaning behind them. Rather, they are similar to parables and apologues. However, the constant presence of Kino and Hermes strings these stories together into a journey. Yes, it is interesting to see each country and whatever oddities they might have. However, this is also a story about Kino and how she interacts with these countries. Kino and Hermes bring a personal touch and a personal investment that greatly enhances the whole experience. Without them, the series would be much less interesting.

The atmosphere set by the art and music was perfect for this journey. I definitely got the "traveling" feeling from the very first minute up until the end. Even though the viewer follows Kino to some horrible or depressing countries, there is a sense of serenity that blankets the entire series. Almost as to comfort the viewer, this subtle air of optimism reassures us that the world is still beautiful and worth experiencing.

Now, I've been gushing over what this series has. But what is Kino's Journey missing?

There are a lot of things that this series is not. There is no fan-service, gratuitous violence, or romance. There aren't amazing action sequences or substantial character growth. There are no villains you can hate or side characters you can love. It's just a story about Kino and the countries she visits. Some people may be turned off by this. But the whole POINT of the series is this simplicity. It's a series that aims to paint a wide, colorful picture of the world through the journey of an admirable girl. And it achieves that spectacularly.