#rakashun

Okay, so I binge watched Yona of the Dawn and felt empty. Really missed Hak and the whole gang. They’re so precious. So, as I am apt to do, I looked at anime recommended for those who like Yona. I’ve already seen a few but there was one on just about every list: The Twelve Kingdoms. I’m not one to shy away from “older” anime like my sister does, so I decided to give it a go.

First off, I like Yona much better mainly because all the characters are likeable/interesting. Even the villain. I guess it just fits my character interests better. Also, Yona makes sense from the get-go. You understand the kingdoms and the rules of the universe by the end of the first episode. It’s very easy to follow without being too predictable. (Also, characters like Hak are my thing.) I also don’t think they’re all that similar and can’t really recommend it based on you liking Yona. Sure they have similar themes, but both animes go about them in different ways. I would say that The Twelve Kingdoms takes itself too seriously at times, and while that can be a nice change and very enjoyable, it makes some of the drama seem overdone and drawn out. The pacing of The Twelve Kingdoms is quite a bit slower than Yona, way more confusing, and the characters don’t get good till about part way through.

That being said, The Twelve Kingdoms is not as bad as I thought it would be.

I pegged it from the beginning that it was one of those animes that would be super confusing/boring/annoying till you get to about episode 10. Knowing myself too well, I knew that if I stopped before that point I would never finish. So I sat down and watched the first thirteen episodes in pretty much one go. The main character is annoying as all get-out in the beginning and her friends aren’t much better. But Yoko’s growth through the first half is just so well done, much like Yona’s. I would say Yoko’s takes longer because she didn’t have a good base to start out with. Yona had some good qualities already, despite being a spoiled brat. Yoko goes from being an annoying person trying to please everyone and not picking sides, to this awesome kick-butt hero who does stuff not only because it’s right, but because she wants to. 

The characters don’t become super awesome and interesting until you meet Rakashun. He needs to be protected at all costs. He is perfect. Seriously, he is the reason I decided to keep watching. Just before he was introduced I was contemplating whether I should keep watching or not and he made me wanna stay. He’s also the one who made it possible for Yoko to grow up so she became likeable at that point. And then after that there is the King of En(?) and his unicorn(?) bud. Their backstory is so cool/sad and their characters are awesome. For right now, I’m okay with where the anime is going. It’s already quite a bit better than Fushigi Yuugi. Although, they keep throwing around names of creatures and several characters are known by more than one name so it makes it really confusing as to who/what the characters are talking about.