Juuni Kokki is a story of a girl named Youko, whose life in modern Japan is suddenly and rudely interrupted as a strange man with flowing white, long hair appears and kneels before her, swearing his allegiance. In Japan she is a normal teenager, albeit one who cares greatly about how others see her and hence appears rather weak-willed. With the appearance of this strange man, frightening things start happening.Against her will, she and some friends are taken to another world by the man. Here begins the world of "The Twelve Kingdoms" and it is a vast and beautiful one. Intricate and complicated to a certain degree with a fusion of ancient Chinese and Japanese culture, it has twelve kingdoms; each with a King and a helper called a kirin. On coming to this new world, Youko is separated from the man who brought her and stumbles through this new place, learning as she goes along. As the anime progresses, it shows the growth of her character and the struggles she has to face, both internally and externally as well. Will she ever return home? Why was she brought here?



Credits: Feirai

After I finished the series (Up to episode 39 and the appendix episode 40), I felt like a changed man. Here was an epic tale, a completely new world, and a lesson on what it takes to be a great ruler. I learned what it meant to deserve luxury, and I learned how to be a ladies' man like Rakushun. (Ladies' Rat?) I got chills at the end of the story, when the main characters end up proving their worth.

Pay attention to Rakushun, Enki, and Shoryu. They're a funny trio.

This is my favorite anime of all time, period. Then again, I've only seen the ones put out by Toonami and Adult Swim, but none of them were as good as this.

If you want an intellectually involving and stimulating series, eat this one up. It will make you think and re-think the way you see your world.