“Kingdom” is one of the best anime series I have watched in quite some time, and I have to say it is one of the most exciting action-driven anime series I have watched since I have been reviewing anime series since 1993. “Kingdom: The Complete First Season” is highly recommended!
Image courtesy of © FUNimation. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Kingdom: The Complete First Season
AIR DATE OF SERIES: 2012-2013
DURATION: Episodes 1-38 (Duration: 975 Minutes, 6 DVD’s)
DVD INFORMATION: 4:3, Japanese Stereo, English Stereo, English subtitles
COMPANY: FUNimation
RATED: TV MA
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Originally created by Yasuhisa Hara
Directed by Jun Kamiya
Series Composition by Naruhisa Arakawa
Music by Minako Seki
Art Director by Junichi Higashi
Animation Production by Pierrot
Featuring the following voice talent:
Masakazu Morita/Justin Cook as Ri Shin (Xin)
Jun Fukuyama as Piao/Yin Zing
Junichi Suwabe as Lord Changping
Koji Yusa as Heki
Kouki Miyata as SeikyÅ
Masaya Takatsuka as Hou Ken
Mie Sonozaki as Yang Duan He (You Tan Hei)
Rie Kugimiya as KaryÅ Ten
Rikiya Koyama as Ō Ki
YÅko Hikasa as KyÅ Kai
Yutaka Nakano as ShÅbun-kun
When low-born servant boys Piao and Xin set out to become the world’s greatest war generals, they quickly find themselves caught up in a violent struggle between two noblemen plotting to overthrow the King. After Piao is killed protecting the rightful ruler of the kingdom of Qin, Xin sets out on a campaign for revenge that leads him straight into the fire of war.
Now, with a target on his back and an army of enemies standing in his way, it will be up to a boy with no name and a young king without a throne to return order to their war-torn country in this historical action-drama based on the Tezuka Award-winning manga, Kingdom.
In 2006, mangaka Yasuhisa Hara created his award-winning manga series “Kingdom”.
A fictionalized account of the Warring States period, the series has sold over 20 million copies in 2015 and was the grand prize winner of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2013.
The anime series adaptation produced by Pierrot aired on NHK in 2012-2013, with a second season having aired in 2013-2014.
And now the first season of “Kingdom” is now available on DVD in the U.S. courtesy of FUNimation.
The anime series begins with the introduction of two war-orphans, Xin and Piao. Both often training their fighting skills and have their dreams of becoming “Great Generals of the Heavens” in the kingdom of Qin. But both are peasants and are household slaves.
Xin is more of the hotheaded and blunt of the two, one day while fighting, a minister arrives and gives Piao the opportunity to have a position in the Palace, while Xin who is saddened he would be separated from Piao, knows that if one of them can make their dreams come true to become a general, then their dreams will be fulfilled.
A short time has past and one day, a bloodied and near-death Piao arrives and tells Xin that he must fulfill a mission as he is unable to make it. Piao tells Xin that an assassin hired by the Cheng Jiao Faction is responsible and that their dreams will now be up to him but he must take a map and fulfill the rest of the mission. Piao dies and Xin wants revenge on who is responsible for killing him.
Xin is joined by Heliao Dao, the last descendant of her Mountain Tribe, the Kyuumei and has disguised herself as a male. Both try to find out what happened to Piao and it was learned that the reason why Piao was taken to the palace was to become the body double of King Ying Zheng who was targeted by opposing forces. A job which Piao was proudly to take.
As Xin takes up the mantle to protect Ying Zheng (in reality, would become the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang and the person responsible for unifying China), the journey of the anime series would show how Xin would develop his skills, learn from the best generals and eventually become a field commander and prepare for his journey to make his dream of becoming a general come true.
But every step of the way, the kingdom of Zhao and their powerful generals are bent on destroying the Qin and their legendary general, Wang Qi.
“Kingdom” consists of:
Xin – The main protagonist. A young man who dreams of becoming the “World’s Greatest General”. The story follows this war orphan as he slowly becomes a commander and works and trains to become a general and taking part of many major military campaigns with his “Flying Xin Unit”.
Ying Zheng – The young king of Qin, who looks like Xin’s best friend Piao. Dreams of uniting China.
Piao – Xin’s childhood friend and he and Xin dream of becoming “Generals of the Heavens”. One day, he is approached by the minister for a position in the Palace.
Heliao Dao – The last descendant of her Mountain Tribe, the Kyuumei. She disguises herself as a male and is trying to find her way in the world. She also has a crush on Xin, who doesn’t know she is a girl.
Changwen-jun – A former warrior and senior adviser of Ying Zheng.
Bi – A loyal subordinate of Changwen Jun and a 1000-man commander.
Qiang Hui – The heir of the legendary assassin clan “Chi You”, only Xin and Dao know that she is female. A wonderful soldier and strategist. Obsessed with getting revenge for the one responsible of murdering her sister.
Wang Qi – The legendary Strange Bird general of the Qin Empire and one of the Six Great Generals of Qin who was a general under Ying Zheng’s father. Responsible for conquering the middle kingdoms and is an excellent warrior and strategist. He is the mentor of Xin and dreams of uniting China.
Li Mu – The Prime Minister of Zhao and the series primary antagonist. A brilliant strategist seeking to destroy the Qin.
Pang Nuan – A general for the Zhao, he doesn’t command any troops and proclaims himself “The God of War”. He is literally a one-man army and has only lost to one man in the past, Wang Qi.
VIDEO :
A fantastic anime series that compliments Yasuhisa Hara’s manga series. The emotion of the characters are well-displayed, action on the battlefield is wonderfully presented. Colors are vibrant and I really wished this series received a Blu-ray release. But for the most part, “Kingdom” looks great on DVD.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
As for the audio, “Kingdom” is presented in Japanese and English stereo. Both are well-acted but since I watched the series originally in its Japanese format, I’m a bit more biased towards the Japanese voice acting. But I’m glad that this series is presented in both Japanese and English and anime action fans can surely enjoy this awesome series.
Subtitles are in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Kingdom” unfortunately doesn’t come with any special features.
It’s been long time since I have been excited about watching an anime series.
I have been aware of the rave reviews that Yasuhisa Hara’s “Kingdom” manga series had received and watching the anime series, I was in awe of how entertaining this action-driven anime series was.
From its smart display of using strategy of the Qin Empire and its enemies, the storyline is wonderfully written, pacing is excellent and unlike other anime series with plenty of characters, “Kingdom” is not hampered by complicated storylines, too much focus on other characters in order to create filler.
This is a straight-up, action-driven anime series focused on Xin’s learning of the battlefield, growing as a commander and working towards his goal of becoming a general and how he inspires people around him.
When focusing on another character, it gives short glimpses of their past, but never to the point it seems like filler just to extend a battle. So, for those who are familiar with series such as “Naruto” and “Bleach” and had to wait season after season (several years) just to finish one war, “Kingdom” doesn’t waste any time at all. And that’s a major plus!
The series also showcases the importance of war, but also how the deaths of comrades lies on the shoulders of generals and episodes show the bonds with a leader and their soldiers.
While the first dozen episodes does a good job of introducing Xin and his temper getting the best of him, but yet showing qualities of a great soldier, it’s the overall pacing of seeing his growth on the battlefield that I found very intriguing, the strategies employed to be fascinating and the storyline is fantastic.
“Kingdom: The Complete First Season” features the first 38 episodes and I can’t wait for season 2.
Presented in both Japanese and English, anime fans who love war and action-driven storylines will enjoy “Kingdom”. While I wish the anime series was released on Blu-ray, the anime series still looks good on DVD. There are no special features included.
While not having any special features is unfortunate, the fact that you get all 38-episodes for the first season for this DVD collection at a great price is wonderful!
Overall, “Kingdom” is one of the best anime series I have watched in quite some time, and I have to say it is one of the most exciting action-driven anime series I have watched since I have been reviewing anime series since 1993.
“Kingdom: The Complete First Season” is highly recommended!
