8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's my favorite., December 5, 2004
This review is from: Kino's Journey - The Idle Adventurer (Vol. 1) (DVD)
A friend of mine and myself used to go to Hastings every monday, and pick out one anime and one obscure movie based soley on cover art and the screen shots on back. A strange ritual, I know. Anyways, after picking up Kino's Journey once a while back, this tradition changed into franticly searching for more Kino dvds.
Kino's Journey is not like any other anime I've seen, which is quite refreshing. Each episode tells the story of a different fictional country, many of which deal with very deep subjects. It's a thinking man's anime, with twists and turns that'll make your brain commit suicide. Often times you'll find yourself screaming "What the Hell!?!" at your t.v. screen when the catch (and every country, has one) is revealed. This is especially true in the latter episodes.
If you're tired of all the generic anime cliches, then this series is for you.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kino is..., June 3, 2004
There's something to be said for the use of quiet as a story-telling device.
I did not know what to expect when I first sat down to watch Kino's Journey, but I was quickly captivated by this series.
Kino is an impartial witness, traveling from one land to the next. Her constant companion is Hermes, a talking motorbike with a sarcastic bent.
Together, they explore various social situations, and their potential consequences. Is knowing the thoughts of those around you a blessing or a curse? Is it right to live at the expense of another? What are the consequences of prophecy? Can a society truly divest itself of all its traditions? What does it mean to be a reasonable adult?
We aren't always given answers to our questions, either. Kino is not a judge. She neither condones nor condemns those around her.
In the second episode, we do see Kino fight against a group of slave traders, but this is only after they threaten Kino's own life.
Despite some moments of graphic violence, this is a series that I would seriously consider sharing with children about ten or older.
Oft times thoughtful, it is the quiet moments when we see that which is truly beautiful in the world.
My sole complaint is that Kino's identity as a girl was supposed to be a surprise in the fourth episode, but the ADV english translation reveals it a bit early.
The art style is intruigingly complex and simplistic at the same time, with vivid detail for the backgrounds and mechanical devices, but with remarkably plain character designs. The colors use a great deal of earth tones, and it is nowhere as brightly colored as some anime. The musical score is both vivid and haunting. The voice cast for both Japanese and English dialogue are superb.
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a few more like this one.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Quiet Anime, July 16, 2004
This review is from: Kino's Journey - The Idle Adventurer (Vol. 1) (DVD)
"Kino's Journey" is a fascinating, introspective show with a quality all its own. The show as a whole spans four DVDs and has no plot; Kino just travels around, visiting one country or another and interacting with whoever lives there. Sometimes Kino gets into trouble, and sometimes just watches. The various lands have nothing in common except a vaguely fairytale European quality, and like the best fairy tales, these stories don't shy away from grim brutality -- as well as an 'existential' quality which some may find amoral or unsettling. But through it all, Kino survives and heads on for the next land, the next adventure. For those who like their anime thoughtful, I don't see how this could be better. I didn't notice the "lines" that some found distracting. The backgrounds, skies and details are rendered in a watercolor style well suited to the stories' general mood. A fine show, well worth watching more than once.
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