I’m most likely going to delete this tumblr and make a new one because I’ve had this one for sooooooo long and I mostly just have bots following me anyway. If I do have mutuals or anyone following me who wants to continue following me, send me a message and I’ll link you my new one. But if not I’ll probably be heading out this week, so bye everyone ✌
I have seen more than my fair share of anime, and recently I have been craving an anime that has real substance but is at the same time different from all of the other more phycological shows on the market. Enter Kino’s Journey.
Kino’s Journey is a 2003, 13 episode-long series that I ended up watching in one sitting because of how incredible it was. This show is an experience that cannot be summed up in words because words do not correctly capture the feelings and nuances that accompany this show; however, I will try to explain.
This anime follows Kino, a traveler, and Kino’s sentient motorcycle, Hermes, as they travel to various strange countries far and wide.
At first glance, that plot synopsis might seem rather dull, but it’s anything but. Each episode of this show captures vignettes of the different lives and occurrences of the people of various counties Kino and Hermes visit as well as poses poignant, philosophical questions about topics such as life, death, work, charity, democracy, purpose, technology, family, adolescence, adulthood, ambition, communication, war, desires, etc., all while avoiding the platitudes that plague other anime of the same nature.
Let me briefly introduce Kino, our protagonist. As much as this story revolves around the journey and the places and people that Kino encounters, this story is truly about Kino. Kino is one of those very rare cases of protagonist that one can truly come to see as a real person. Kino goes beyond being a flimsy or over-the-top caricature of what it means to be nobel, heroic, insightful, kind, bad-ass, and smart and instead is a mature rendition of those qualities. What is most interesting is how the audience is able to learn about Kino’s character so deeply while at the same time always staying behind a thin veil of mystery that is representative of the true depth of real people.
If you are tired of fan service, want to experience a wide variety of unique settings and characters, or simply want relive that feeling of watching a good anime (you know, that feeling you once had all those years ago when anime was new to you), then watch Kino’s Journey.
