Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
SkyBlue1012
THE FINAL 5 EPISODES ARE GREAT, THE REST WILL MAKE YOU YAWN.
There's a lot of fantababble here that can be very confusing for viewers. You'll probably need to keep the wiki open while watching just to understand all the vocabulary they're throwing around. And you'll have to memorize it because they use these terms constantly in their dialogue.
There are also a lot of characters here that I have a hard time caring about. Many of them are as whiny as 5 year old kids, and they'll definitely get on your nerves.
There's also a TON of recap episodes. Search Google for which episodes contain recaps, then skip them so you don't waste your time while binge-watching.
The main story wraps up in Episode 39. There's no need to watch Episodes 40–45, they're just side stories that have nothing to do…
Read at the sourcetabbycatcarnival
In some ways the book series is better, in some ways the anime is way better. Note that I am writing this from the perspective of someone who has completed Books 1 to 4 of the chronological release order of the novels.
Youko's arc in the adaptation of Book 1 was heavily diluted by the two anime-only characters Asano and Yuka. She made all the decisions they did or pressured her to do, which did not communicate the internal struggle and harshness of the world as effectively. Even so, her character journey of learning to live for herself was still powerful, especially in anime form as she fights her demons, sometimes literally.
Book 4 is where things get interesting. The original novel was TERRIBLE. It was poorly written all around with cringe insufferable preachy dialogue; the characters…
Read at the sourceGamiKhan
One of the few animes where I have actually gotten angry at, more specifically to characters instead of the anime itself, it is just that real.
You really feel immersed in the anime with the use of their own terms and society. Just try to think about it, if you could spend hours watching a show about another world why the hell would you want a show thats merely a copy of our own, maybe in another time, maybe just with added magic, but why would you preffer that over a whole new world that functions different to ours, this is what this show is. A world governed by twelve mystical creatures aiding twelve kingdoms.
The first 8ish episodes are a bit boring and honestly they dont contribute much but I wholeheartedly reccomend the anime, I will be continuing it in the light novel in a couple o…
Read at the sourceGintokiee
i never thought i would enjoy this ..this much what a good show just great with it's characters and world building ....i never once thought i dont want to finish maybe because i just loved the mc how she was and what she has became though i know there would be much more to her story ...but as everyone said i also wanted to see what kind of kingdom would she make ...
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the show is very in your face with its plots with all the dark aspects of life being portrayed and its not shy of showing how sometimes despite knowing it all you know nothing ..how can i explain it better like our lifes random you may think every thing is fine but as you think its all fine you get know how you messed up...ok i understand too much blabering ...
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but what i want to say its not too much deep with its plots but…
Read at the sourcedouve_atomique
This review contains a minimal amount of spoilers
It's truly a shame the Juuni Kokuki anime never got very popular as I can't describe it any other way than as a diamond in the rough, quite literally. Behind its messy presentation, that ranges from extremely stiff animation to awkward movement, wonky character drawings and poorly planned adaptation, lies a great isekai - this unfortunately sounds like an oxymoron - that boasts strikingly realistic characters, satisfying development, extensive world-building, good pacing and charming OST. Its story consists in an epic tale of interwoven fates as it is presented through the lens of multiple characters that eventually come together to achieve a common objective. Juuni Kokuki's themes boil down to two main ones: what makes a good kingdom, and…
Read at the sourcenotkagome
one of the greatest narratives that does not disparage its ensemble characters. i spent lots of time looking up jargons in the glossary as its storybuilding is precise and rather interweaved (so i for sure found the recap episodes to be very helpful). like everyone, i'm gutted about the black kirin's storyline being cut off as it's a second favourite arc of mine after youko's. i wish they had continued this anime as it truly lives up to its reputation even to this day; but i'm comforted at the fact that there's always the light novels to read on for more. my favourite arc has to be 'a thousand miles of wind' which explored the three girls who were bound to cross paths & have traversed life separately though not entirely differing. these three women constitute youko’s search for purpose and…
Read at the sourceimmosha
A shoujo isekai without the main tropes of shoujo anime nor isekai anime. The world-building is complex, the characters well-written. This show suffers from age and its source material but holds up for a watch.
Twelve Kingdoms is an early-day isekai that fully embraces its take on Chinese-inspired fantasy. Its start is brutally slow as it uses its Japanese high schoolers to essentially exposition dump; it doesn't help that all of them are also excruciatingly incompetent at standing up for themselves and having any sense of self-preservation. However, main character Youko eventually grows a backbone and develops a sense of self, which is one of the recurring highlights of this show - many of the main heroines are completely insufferable at the start of their arcs but undergo character grow…
Read at the sourceZansurai
*Juuni Kokuki* is, without a doubt, one of the best isekais I’ve ever seen. Yoko’s story, where she’s taken from her ordinary life and thrown into a world full of kingdoms, fantastic creatures, and political intrigue, is fascinating from start to finish. What stood out the most for me was her development: she starts off confused and full of doubts but evolves so incredibly that you can’t help but stay hooked on every decision she makes.
The world of *Juuni Kokuki* is astonishingly well-crafted, packed with details about each kingdom and its rulers, making it even more immersive. Although the beginning is a bit slow, it’s absolutely worth sticking with it because the story builds up in such a compelling way. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most well-made and unforgettable isekais I’ve ev…
Read at the sourcesaekoa
The Twelve Kingdoms is a standout in classic isekai, with a beautifully crafted world, memorable characters, and timeless animation. One major highlight is its main female character, who is among the best I’ve seen in a while, strong, well-developed, and truly compelling.
That said, the series has a few drawbacks. The recap episodes, particularly the last and final episode, felt unnecessary; it’s frustrating when a show doesn’t trust its audience to keep up. Then there’s the sheer volume of names for characters, regions, and titles, which can be overwhelming. I even ended up making a list with about 15 bullet points just to keep track of common terms, many of which sound alike. It pulls you out of the experience at times.
The series also tends to introduce initially annoying characters w…
Read at the sourcelovedove333
So we all know about the 3 episode rule. This show stretches that rule, and it does that in many other aspects as well. How annoying can a character get until you decide to drop the show is the most obvious one. The characters are in my opinion the only setback in the likability and reach of the show, and equally, the most pleasant part of it. If one is able to put up with their whininess that is. This, however, makes for a satisfying case (multiple, actually) of character development (and redemption). The portrayal of these characters, however annoying and pestering they may have initially been, is at its core, realistic. No one would ever be able to just easily accept the fact that they have to abandon everything and everyone they once knew for what is supposedly their "fate". I, too, no…
Read at the sourceTurtlet1me
Juuni Kokuki is one of the most unique anime I’ve seen, and that is saying a lot for an avid anime fan who has seen many different shows over the years. This show introduces many impressive concepts, and the character development is some of the best I have seen in anime.
The characters in Juuni Kokuki can appear irrational and unpredictable at times, and simple and predictable at others. However, despite this apparent contradiction, you will find yourself loving the show and the way that everything ends up. I only wish that there were more episodes.
Isekai is a fun genre with a lot of potential. But instead of making the same old types of isekai over and over again, I’d love to see some newer isekai take Juuni Kokuki as an example and follow its lead. Juuni Kokuki had its own unique styl…
Read at the sourceJastereich
The Twelve Kingdoms is something that always resonated with me. This is a fantasy series that towers above all others with a feeling of power and majesty. Despite all the obstacles of converting this large epic novel into an anime series though less perfect, but it still remains a leader of its kind regardless.
The Twelve Kingdoms is not a regular anime but an intriguing world full of layers lore. Not only does it plunge viewers into the complexity of Twelve Kingdoms, but it also grants us a glimpse at the fates of mystical creatures and immortality bargains between beloved entities. The narrative is elegant and it seems to be very intimate for the spectator with its vibrant mosaic of elements.
The Twelve Kingdoms tells its story through two distinct methods: active following and passive…
Read at the sourceAnimeEnjoyer420
12 Kingdoms is an antidote for the current wave of generic and uninspired isekai anime. The kind of series that shows that the narrative potential of this genre greatly exceeds what we're getting from anime with paragraph-long light novel titles about an "S-Rank cheat skill" or whatever.
It's not a perfect series of course, there are some fairly significant issues with pace, and an unfortunate early cancellation that leaves several storylines unresolved. However, if you can power through some of those difficulties, you'll find a richly rewarding story; a unique and fully-realized low-magic fantasy world to explore; and deep, satisfying character arcs. The series also looks fantastic. Not so much in the animation (which is just fine), but in the art direction, the usage of colors, and the…
Read at the sourceLuxuriousHeart
Juuni Kokuki is a 7/10 series that could've been more, with basic cuts and editing. If they had cut out the second arc and replaced it with the last arc, the quality of the anime would've vastly improved. If they had cut out a certain character, the anime would've vastly improved. Alas, that didn't happen. So it's a good anime, but it's not great.
Plot: the plot is a simple isekai plot, but with a slight twist. Youko is a high school girl that is the class president. She's a people pleaser and works hard for academic achievements, for the sake of her parents. One day, a monster called a Youma attacks her school and she's rescued by a man named Keiki. She and her friends to to the other world which houses the 12 kingdoms. This is where the twist comes. Youko is a Taiki that was technically…
Read at the sourceZanryu1337
Story: 8
Animation: 7
Sound: 6
Characters: 10
Enjoyment: 7
Total: 8
Juuni Kokuki has a lot going for it. As a progenitor isekai it isn't shackled by the new tropes the genre has by now. However the unconcluded nature of the story creates various negative aspects in hindsight.
And this is most noticeable in the stories. Twelve Kingdoms has 4 major arcs. And only the first and third really deal with the main character, a school girl who is chosen to become a queen in another world. And while the second and forth arc feature world building in a major way, they subsequently feel like filler. This feeling becomes even more obnoxious if one remembers that there are multiple recap episodes within arcs, and even the very last episode is a recap episode of the last arc.
Still, the arcs themselv…
Read at the sourceBladesArisen
- The following is an excerpt from the Deep Dive project -
The Twelve Kingdoms
Watched October 2022, dubbed
Obscurity and age are likely the two main factors for an anime being seen at all, by anyone. For those of us who brave the rough, blurry waters of standard definition 4:3 anime, however, there are great treasures to be found; even in the depths of obscurity.
Maybe I took that treasure hunting metaphor too far; then again, maybe not seeing as the Twelve Kingdoms is shamefully obscure in spite of being damn impressive across the board. Seriously, there aren’t many anime longer than twenty-four episodes I can manage to slog through at all, so that says a lot right there. Are there pacing issues? Absolutely. Are the issues so bad that they harm the overall viewing experience? For the…
Read at the sourceCautiousShadow
The Twelve Kingdoms is a mixed bag of things that are really good and things that are really bad. One thing about the twelve Kingdoms that is really strong, especially when the story gets going, is the deep lore and politics. I think these are places where the series really shines. And characters can be deep and everyone has different motives. But despite those things, I can also make a huge list of problems with this show. The episode recaps and the loose ends at the end of this series are probably the biggest complaint I could have. But there are also lore inconsistencies and characters that change on a dime. Still, if there were more episodes to watch, I would watch them. And that must mean the anime did something right.
Read at the sourcePixelB
Juuni Kokuki is a great anime adaptation of a long running novel series. That said, the anime takes some liberties here and there with the characters, and it's not hard to see which ones were anime original in hindsight.This is my second time watching this show. The first time, I never read the novels. Now, after having read the novel series and going back to the anime, I can still confidently say that the anime is good.
It's hard to not give the show credit where credit is due: the worldbuilding, characters, and storytelling is phenomenal. It introduces a fantastical world with different concepts. Rulers are bounded by heavenly mandate, and as such, the world is quite a ways different from our world today. It's not just some stupid "fantasy with magic" world set in some generic medieval…
Read at the sourcelaraes
"I don't need a scabbard to sheathe my mind."
Juuni Kokuki. A profound, thoughtful, feminist masterpiece directed by Tsuneo Kobayashi (Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma) and written by Fuyumi Ono (Shiki, Ghost Hunt). If you like rich and carefully constructed fantasy worlds, this might be for you. I can't think of any other series that excels in this discipline as much as this one.
Picture this: It's a perfectly normal day at school. Suddenly, a weird magical man appears out of thin air and demands your consent to protect you, after which your school gets full on assaulted by huge bird-like creatures. You are given a magical sword, with which you are prompted to kill one of said creatures, which is four times your size. Then you get kidnapped and thrown into another, dangerous world, that wor…
Read at the sourcemadclown
a Madclown review.
anyone who has seen the handful of other reviews i have done knows that I don't play by the rules. there are lots of "official" and "proper" reviews out there. i'll just tell it as it is.
in summary:-
did i enjoy it
Yes. would i rewatch it?
yes. but i'm skipping the first 13 episodes
why yes for the questions above?
nostalgia, character development and likeability,its actually a really decent story with a nice score and soundtrack to accompany it.
score 9/10 with biases below
8/10 as a neutral
i think there's enough here for any and everyone to enjoy, but you have to bear in mind that its going to require commitment to keep track of the story and see it through to the end. If you do then once this is your cup of tea i don't see anyone not liking it, if you don't.…
Read at the source
