Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
moriimori_
First of all, I highly recommend Kino no Tabi if you like/can watch its episodic narrative structure. True to its title, this is an anime themed around travel, and each episode has an interesting story with different perspectives and character dynamics that feel quite fresh even for an anime from 2003, and that is what I think makes this anime quite interesting.
Besides that, I think *Kino no Tabi* also has a strong appeal through its storytelling style, which often sneaks in dark moral dilemmas, sharp social satire, and irony about human nature through the unique concepts of the countries Kino visits. Behind the beauty of the journey, this anime successfully builds a consistent atmosphere of loneliness and emptiness through Kino's interactions with the outside world, so that it doesn't j…
Read at the sourceNoy_Neim
- What do you do?
- I drive
[Drive [2011] ]
This is trully something; unique but simple story. It is about a person whose archetype is a traveller. She travells this mythological world full of stories, stand-alone cities and castles. All of them have different fates, but all of them created and drawn from a certain myths (not like old-Greece myphs, but as a simple yet vital component for society).
One 24m episode can contrain from one story to a few, some will be more remembarable & more facsitating than others. But all of them show different perspectives to "what can happen" from certain myph (idea around which story is created).
Kino is our main hero, traveller archetype. She doesn`t wanna stay too long in places, doesn`t want to be a citizen and live in foreign (to her) myph, instea…
Read at the sourcerotlaust
While I appreciate the idea behind the anime, the boldness of creating a philosophical artwork about societies and the origins of different human cultures and ways of being, I think that in the end it is too shallow and a bit too misanthropic for me, and in most cases it refuses to give answers, falsely equating two very morally different outcomes as something the protagonist doesn't really have an opinion on... even though in most of the cases presented in the anime (which are quite extreme, as its intent is to push the cultural convictions of western societies and economies to the absurd) there IS a morally correct choice that the anime consistently diminishes. The story doesn't really go anywhere, either. I don't think you need a lasting conclusion for a traveling character, but some so…
Read at the sourceKassiopeaKT
I really like the second episode of Kino no tabi because it breaks with the very premise the series established in its first episode. The story opens by making it clear that Kino and Hermes are traveling through a world of countless kingdoms; they cannot stay in any one place for more than three days, Kino states as their mantra. In that second episode, however, there is no kingdom, nor is there any urgency of time—there are only Kino and Hermes stranded in deep snow, trying to help three men who are on the verge of starving to death. If the first episode, in which Kino visits a kingdom where every person lives in a separate house, established the contemplative tone of the series and Kino’s role as an observer, this second one shows us that Kino is not detached from their world; they can s…
Read at the sourceoksalvia
i love this anime so much its like guillivers travels but anime. and in my opinion so much more refreshing. i love to see old anime and how they are so unafraid to kill off people or make such real concepts instead of lust slop. not to mention i love the art and the comforting vibe of this entire anime. i love how each of “his” travels are just another world mocking the flaws and imperfections of society yet also the beauty of it all. once again an absolute fucking masterpiece. the artstyle is wonderful very fitting of the story the story is amazingly well written
Read at the sourcebob-weebington
Kino is one of those shows that I remember for being extremely relaxing at lots of parts. Most of the time, she just goes to weird places and interacts with the locals, then either leaves or some plot action has to happen before she can leave.
I've always been able to watch the whole season whenever I watched this, which is a good sign for the animation and art quality.
A few of the episodes go into the past of the main characters, but for the most part these don't even feel necessary to the show. It's still just as good for the next episode.
Read at the sourceDigiCat
An endearing story accompanied by beautifully curated visuals... unfortunately, Kino's Journey stops at that for me.
While the relationship between Kino and Hermes is a very sweet one (i won't go into more detail to avoid spoilers), i didn't feel the story had that depth many watchers allude to
The various themes that are tackled as Kino travels from one town to the next feel more like a taste than an exploration.
Even the episode on Kino's past, personally i think the best in the series, while it does delve into some very interesting character writing such as how Kino views herself and the special bond she has with Hermes, these are never really revisited beyond that one episode, something which i think had they decided to do would've added a lot more character developement to both Kino…
Read at the sourceWithYouOurLoveWi
Kino’s Journey (2003) Review
Spoiler free (some mentions of dark content but no spoilers)
Kino’s Journey is an anime I had never seen more than a poster or 2 of until my group watch this summer, and yet I greatly wish I had heard of it sooner. I pride myself on my knowledge and passion for the retro artful and unique 90s and 2000s anime I can find. Works such as Magic Users Club, Shamanic Princess, Martian Successor Nadessico and Moetan, are my childhood, even though I was not even conceived until most of them aired (apart from Moetan).
In summary, why have I not been shown Kino’s Journey sooner? Why had I myself not watched it sooner? It’s a work that is utterly fascinating to me because of how each of the creatives involved worked in perfect synthesis, to produce a show with tact, nuance…
Read at the sourceapotheosis21
Kino no Tabi is not for everyone, but if you accept its premise, it is among the best anime ever made.
The titular protagonist Kino is a Traveler, which seems to fall somewhere between an unusual career and a spiritual pilgrimage, depending on whether you're looking at it from her point of view or the point of view of the people in the places she visits. This is a thin framing device for the concept of exploring wildly different societies from a mostly-passive viewpoint. Some may not care for it, but the stories likely could not be told in this medium without using such a frame.
Kino travels with Hermes, a sentient motorcycle, referred to as an autorad within the setting. Hermes is an even more passive observer, nearly all of his interactions are with Kino, and typically he is asking que…
Read at the sourceDaydra96
Where are you headed, traveler? This question comes up repeatedly during Kino’s journey, yet we never receive a clear answer.
Kino’s Journey is an episodic series that prioritizes reflection over plot. Kino and Hermes travel from city to city, with each destination presenting a different vision of society and human nature. This is the show’s greatest strength - philosophical questions and social allegories that invite the viewer to pause and reflect.
The problem is that the journey itself quickly feels hollow. Unlike titles such as Sousou no Frieren, where the characters grow and change along the way, Kino and Hermes remain the same throughout the entire series. They lack a clear goal, development, or even strong motivation - all they carry with them are stories to share with the people…
Read at the sourcexmrzS
"I Watched Kino’s Journey and Now I Want to Pack My Bags, Shoot a Man, and Ponder the Meaning of Existence"
Alright, listen. This isn’t another "quirky traveler meets new cultures" anime. No. Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World is basically what would happen if Mushishi, Black Mirror, and a philosophy major on a two-week fast had a lovechild and gave it a talking motorcycle.
And somehow... it works. Like disturbingly well.
First of all: Nothing happens. But also... EVERYTHING happens?
Bro, I binged this at 2AM thinking it’d be cozy, chill vibes, maybe some deep quotes sprinkled in. Big mistake. One episode in and I’m questioning democracy, morality, religion, love, death—you name it. There’s an ep where a country literally makes a sport out of hunting humans. And it’s not even treated lik…
Read at the source50Fiftillididee
🏍 Wonder as she wanders °7.3° °VG° 💯%🔍 some minor spoilers
KJ is structured much like Aesop's Fables. Each episode is a simplified cautionary tale of the foibles of human nature, particularly mankind's tendency to go to extremes. Kino inhabits a sparsely populated world - most likely a post-apocalyptic world, though that information is not divulged. Staying at each place for 3 days, she is exploring various lands with her talking 🏍, Hermes.
Her first stop is a country in which the inhabitants thought they could eliminate pain if they all understood eachother better. To that end, they all drank an elixir that would enable them to read eachother 's minds. Obviously, people separated, grew apart, isolated themselves, and now the population is dying out. No babies are born. Nobody can…
Read at the sourceTempestoGod
Kino no Tabi is quite a thought-provoking anime. With Kino riding across many lands on a talking motorcycle, you really get to see many cultures and how they function. Kino is honestly a pretty interesting character. Not this over the top comedic relief character, but not a block of stone with no personality. The little quirks that Kino has really make you chuckle.
Honestly, the art style for the show really makes many scenes pop out. It just has this mystical, hand drawn look to it that really adds to the atmosphere.
Is it the most fast paced anime? No, not at all. It shouldn't deter you from this amazing tale of travel. If you liked the calm atmosphere that anime like Yurukyan offered, this will be up your alley.
Read at the sourceoupossum
Oof. I normally love slow psychological or philosophical shows, but this was so poorly executed it took away most of the charm.
To start with what I liked - I loved Kino's character (although superfical, with a personality that's only hinted at) and their character design. The aesthetic, animation, style. Music, voice acting. Loved the slow pacing and atypical format of the episodes. I absolutely adored some of the characters that Kino met, as well as a few of the show's character focused stories (episodes 2, 10, 11). Overall, since I love slow atmospheric shows so much, I actually did enjoy it despite my strong criticisms. However, the worldbuilding is either so shallow or unrealistic that most of the stories and visited countries have absolutely no effect on the viewer. For a show wholl…
Read at the source1stDecame4Danime
This is really not interesting: it's lacking both intellectual depth and superficial spectacle, making it a complete bore that is hard to watch. It's a typical episodic story of encountering people/places with different mini stories to tell that has been done far better by many others. The philosophical aspects are all juvenile and often just contrived nonsense to force misanthropic/wishy-washy morals ('the tyranny of the majority in democracy is unavoidable'(No. The anti-execution minority wouldn't accept a decree to be executed, it's literally the definition of their group, they'd revolt), 'slaves want not to be free but to be the masters'(No, just no. Also, reinventing the concept of sports doesn't necessitate death sports. But at least the author managed to headass another way to smoot…
Read at the sourceSCLFI
Kino’s Journey is fundamentally and structurally elusive in its design and intention. It is a series centred around a cool-headed, nomadic, revolver-slinging outlaw, a subgenre whose principal currency is best exemplified by Clint Eastwood’s eternally poignant “dying ain’t much of a living”. Rather than dealing in death as the defining element of story progression, Kino's Journey is more concerned with the mechanisms of society, their function, and how they tie in so directly to the understanding of death as an omnipresent part of life and society, rather than something that is centralised through a singular hero or villain.
A pervasive presence throughout Kino’s Journey is its unique interpretation of human nature, which is too multifaceted to be easily summarised. It is a series that a…
Read at the sourceM_3693
Kino is the representation of us(the viewers)in the anime . Kino never interferes in anyone's business, never judges no matter what , just observing not judging anyone which is difficult for almost everyone . Kino have a uniqueness that no other anime character have.
I would recommend it to you because I don't write much reviews this is my first time writing one that should speak for itself how much great this anime is.
The story was unpredictable to the last minute. This series shows Human nature . It was a psychological and philosophical experience for me . In every episode there is a story of many characters.
The animation style was befitting the story and was awesome . I have watched many anime over the years but this anime is very unique form Starting to the End .
So if you like…
Read at the sourceTeramol
I went into this blind and thought I was in for a cozy travelling show so I was surprised pleasantly to learn that Kino's Journey is something much deeper than that.
The show follows the titular character and her motorcycle Hermes as they travel a fictional world and its various countries, experiencing their culture, history and ways of living. The show is very episodic, featuring only a single double parter, otherwise always changing the tone each episode.
Kino and Hermes are supposed to act as the observers. Because of this, the show feels more like a collection of short stories rather than an actual adventure of the main characters. Although sometimes Kino ends up taking a very proactive approach to a place she visits, which in my opinion is when the show actually gets less interestin…
Read at the sourceKanudelgruber
The first 5 episodes of this show are great. After that, it takes a sharp downturn with the incredibly uninteresting coliseum two-parter and never fully recovers. Don't get me wrong: the later episodes do start to get interesting again, but they never reach the highs of the first 5. I would absolutely recommend watching the first 5 episodes even if you don't end up continuing with the rest. If you're going to skip anything, skip the coliseum.
While this show is a mixed bag, I enjoyed it more than the later remake mainly for the reason of that show's asinine episode selection, which was decided by vote and is not only completely disjointed with no temporal or thematic through line, but also contains ANOTHER adaptation of the stupid coliseum story. The 2003 adaptation feels much more like a…
Read at the sourceLatooq
Every review I've read about Kino's journey made me realize I'm a minority here. That reminds me of Gun Gale Online, written by the same author, receptions where everyone was talking how that show takes SAO concept and tells an amazingly-written story, where in my opinion that show was extremely forgettable compare to the original sword art online. And as I expected, Kino's journey introduces a bunch of concepts and doesn't do anything substantial with them.
Kino and her talking motorcycle are 2 main protagonists. The story follows their journey from one country to another. But every time they leave the country the story moves on, making the plot structure episodic. Of course 20 minutes, the usual anime episode length, isn't enough to tell a memorable story, but this show rarely even dedi…
Read at the source
