×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
EP. REVIEW: Ranking of Kings


Goto page   Next

Note: this is the discussion thread for this article

Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
#TuffleShuffle



Joined: 29 Jul 2020
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:52 pm Reply with quote
Oh these 2 episodes hurt so much to watch. I have family with communicative hurdles of their own and I can feel all the worries about how they tackle a world that wasn't made to account from them so watching Bojji strikes a particular nerve.

I think the children's book feel of the art style covers the depth of the story its trying to convey. I hope it picks up more hype and the WIT staff get the chance to tell the story in a less stressful environment.


Last edited by #TuffleShuffle on Fri Oct 22, 2021 5:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
meiam



Joined: 23 Jun 2013
Posts: 3442
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:59 pm Reply with quote
Yeah great show, I particularly liked Kage background and the choice not to give him an inner monologue for the most part, I feel a lesser show would have him voice everything but instead you get most of it trough the visual. I also liked that the show had the mom acknowledge that they're assassin and can't really complain if people kill them(I would have liked it if the people hunting them were less cartoonist evil). I hope Kage can get his horse back.

I do hope the show take a bit more nuance approach toward Boji possible fate as king. Ultimately being deaf is a disability, and it's self evident that between two kid, the non deaf one should have priority over the deaf one (Boji only real claim to be the true heir is that he's older, definitely not what I'd call good selection criteria). I know I've killed more than my share of disappointing heir in crusader kings. As for the fight, while Boji is seen as easily besting his brother in this type of fight, it's not clear he'd have much of an advantage if the fight were done in armor, where his light hit wouldn't have much effect (unless he can find a rapier/fleuret). I do like that the brother was trained by the assassin/knife master, who probably also fight in a less straightforward manner and would thus be a better fit for Boji as a trainer.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ab2143



Joined: 09 Jan 2021
Posts: 701
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:12 pm Reply with quote
Aw, I enjoyed reading about your son Felix and how you see reflections of him in Bojji. I’m glad you’ll be writing the weekly streaming reviews for this show.

Not sure if it’s just me but does anyone else get Hyakkimaru and Dororo vibes from Kage and Bojji?

Also, can anyone confirm if an organisation or institution is supervising the signing used in this show? I assume a deaf / hard of hearing institute is supervising


Last edited by ab2143 on Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ANN_Lynzee
ANN Executive Editor


Joined: 02 May 2011
Posts: 2930
Location: Email for assistance only
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:21 pm Reply with quote
ab2143 wrote:

Also, can anyone confirm if an organisation or institution is supervising the signing used in this show? I assume a deaf institute is supervising


Can confirm! The Tokyo Federation of the Deaf supervises the sign language portrayed in the anime. Saki Fukano and Shо̄ki Itо̄ are credited for sign language assistance.

You can read a little more about it here: http://4NN.cx/.178722
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
ab2143



Joined: 09 Jan 2021
Posts: 701
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:33 pm Reply with quote
ANN_Lynzee wrote:
ab2143 wrote:

Also, can anyone confirm if an organisation or institution is supervising the signing used in this show? I assume a deaf institute is supervising


Can confirm! The Tokyo Federation of the Deaf supervises the sign language portrayed in the anime. Saki Fukano and Shо̄ki Itо̄ are credited for sign language assistance.

You can read a little more about it here: http://4NN.cx/.178722


Ah thank you! I’ll have a read of the article you linked Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
KitKat1721



Joined: 03 Feb 2015
Posts: 952
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:37 pm Reply with quote
Much like the only other seasonal I'm watching (Heike Story), I had high expectations for this show based on the PV and staff alone - but it still really impressed me on multiple levels! The art style + character designs give it a unique, children's storybook quality that works so well with the admittedly simple-on-the-surface story, but its all the little touches that make it stand out as one of the best of Fall. The animation sure, but also choices like how we don't linger on the reveal that Boji is holding in his hurt (before seeing his father), the lack of inner monologue for Kage's backstory, or how I really don't know what to make of certain characters and the role they'll play further down the line. I can't wait until we get deeper into the show because I have a feeling its going to surprise me with its relatively simple premise of "a prince with a hardship who wants to prove himself."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GuiltyCrow



Joined: 02 Sep 2019
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 2:52 pm Reply with quote
Would have like some more reaction on Kage's story.....
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ANN_Lynzee
ANN Executive Editor


Joined: 02 May 2011
Posts: 2930
Location: Email for assistance only
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:02 pm Reply with quote
I'll try to touch on it next week. It was a really good example of how to do an emotional backstory without overreliance on inner dialogue.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
Violet Park



Joined: 18 Jul 2018
Posts: 115
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:41 pm Reply with quote
I, for one, pledge Bojji and Kage my undying loyalty.

Aside from the production values (stellar), the story's strongest point is the supporting cast. Other than horseface asshole none of them come across as evil or deliberately setting Bojji to fail. I'd say his dad and Dosma want what's best for him but are so painfully misguided it's infuriating. Snake Knight also intrigues me, it appears he has been secretly mentoring Bojji and has a more assassin-like skillset. Bojji and Daida should swap teachers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dian Z





PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 4:59 pm Reply with quote
I've yet to watch episode 2, so will come back later for the review. But the premiere is definitely one of my favorites, not only for this season but in a long while. I wish more anime these days wouldn't shy away from this kind of charming character designs.
Back to top
Engineering Nerd



Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Posts: 897
Location: Southern California
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 5:02 pm Reply with quote
So correct me if my understanding is wrong, what Domas is trying to convince Bojji is, while dodging and counterpunching is certainly a valid way to fight, but as the king, one must fight valiantly head-on, as he needs to be the embodiment that protects the people behind him, which leaves no room for dodging, I.e the proper “king’s way”…

Also he wants Bojji to be beaten badly in order to receive sympathy and recognition from the witness, instead of the “coward” impression, since Daida is now the “villain” in their eyes

Do I understand that correctly? All of those do not excuse his choices though as he knows too well what would happen to Bojji
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
#TuffleShuffle



Joined: 29 Jul 2020
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 5:43 pm Reply with quote
Engineering Nerd wrote:
So correct me if my understanding is wrong, what Domas is trying to convince Bojji is, while dodging and counterpunching is certainly a valid way to fight, but as the king, one must fight valiantly head-on, as he needs to be the embodiment that protects the people behind him, which leaves no room for dodging, I.e the proper “king’s way”…

Also he wants Bojji to be beaten badly in order to receive sympathy and recognition from the witness, instead of the “coward” impression, since Daida is now the “villain” in their eyes

Do I understand that correctly? All of those do not excuse his choices though as he knows too well what would happen to Bojji


Yup, I think its meant to show that issue isn't with Bojji but with perceptions of how a King should act, if our young prince acts outside of the King's narrative he is either pitted or scorned and Domas concluded its safer to have pity. Its cool he learn signed language but he fails to properly listen to the desires of the kid because he ignores Bojji's agency. If he had taken the time to watch Bojji he would have known how supernaturally agile he is and taught him based on that style rather than one which favors might.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Abraham Omosun



Joined: 05 Mar 2020
Posts: 158
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:32 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
The sequence is animated better than it has any right to be (like the rest of this show)


I am confused about this line. Looking at the people attached to the production, I would be more surprised if the animation looked bad (at least in respect to having someone like Arifumi Imai as your assistant director when it comes to action/fight animation)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Matcha.8



Joined: 08 May 2021
Posts: 130
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:26 pm Reply with quote
For most, the fighting scene is probably the highlight of the animation for episode 2. But for me, it was the ending sequence of episode two that blew me away. The way Bojji moves, bodily and facially, as well as how he is framed, as he reached for the sword and reacted to what Kage said to him is nothing short of phenomenal, not to mention the emotional heft that comes with it. I ugly sobbed through the ED credits.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
chrisb
Subscriber



Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 614
Location: USA
PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 9:47 pm Reply with quote
I get major old school World Masterpiece Theater vibes from this show and I love it. Borderline tragedy porn in a western setting with amazing and sensitive writing. I missed shows like Marco 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother and I’m looking forward to getting my heart broken over and over again like the old days.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page   Next
Page 1 of 12

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group