With each new anime season, it becomes harder and harder to search the piles of mediocre misfires and uninspired cash grabs to find the few shows that are worth watching. For every Jujutsu Kaisen or Mushoku Tensei (see our review), there’s ten others that simply fail to excite in a meaningful way. Because of this, it’s usually easy to tell what will make a splash and what won’t, but every once and a while, a show will appear that betrays my expectations. Such was the case with Studio Wit’s latest work, Ranking of Kings.
Adapted from a humble webcomic of the same name, Ranking of Kings is a prime example of the diversity in style that exists in the anime industry. Its art is simple and clean, allowing for consistently excellent animation and characters that shine from the moment they’re introduced. Its narrative has a charming, storybook feel to it that sets it apart from the competition, and a surprising amount of emotional weight when it needs it. Before you know it, this world and the events that happen in it will feel real and impactful, and that’s an impressive feat for a show with such whimsical undertones. It may struggle to find its footing in a few key areas, but when push comes to shove, Ranking of Kings is a show that exceeds expectations.
At first, the story of Ranking of Kings seems fairly typical. As the crown prince of his father’s kingdom, Bojji is constantly ridiculed for his lack of hearing and proper speech. From the common folk to his sword instructor to even his own mother, nobody believes he could ever properly take over for recently the deceased King Bosse. When the time comes for Bojji to ascend the throne, his brother swats him aside without a care, stealing the seat he’d been waiting his entire life to take without a hint of resistance. But when Bojji meets a young assassin of the mysterious “Shadow Clan” and finds the will to fight back, he sets out on a journey to grow strong and reclaim what’s rightfully his.
It’s a strong setup for a simple and effective underdog story, but what it lacks in complexity, it makes up for in variety. The characters Bojji meets on his journey to become king are numerous and varied, each with a unique story to tell. From Kage’s desire to find kinship with others to Despa’s journey to kill his immortal brother, there isn’t a character here that feels shallow or half-baked.
This is especially true of the antagonists, who are often introduced as cold and ruthless only to be given more depth as the plot progresses. Similarly, the world and lore grows and changes with each new kingdom Bojji visits. The secrets of the titular ‘Ranking of Kings’ and the many kings that rule the land lend a sense of discovery to proceedings, as if any character could deliver a huge lore revelation at any moment. Even if it isn’t particularly deep, this is a well-realized world with characters that have clear potential to be expanded on in future seasons.
However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t without a few significant flaws. Without a doubt, the largest problem I have is the pervasiveness of crying among all characters, and the impact that has on the storytelling. It may seem like an odd issue to bring up, but when there are multiple scenes dedicated to tears in each and every episode, it starts to wear down the viewer’s patience and empathy. This isn’t a sad story where you’d expect this sort of thing; this is a very uplifting tale, and yet every character gets to cry, even if it isn’t in-character or appropriate for the scene. Bojji is especially guilty of this, to the point I’d mentally groan any time something meaningful would happen to him since it would inevitably lead to another bout of crying somehow. It feels as if the creators make the characters cry in order to make the viewer cry with them, but even in the best context, that is a shallow way to manufacture emotional depth.
There is also the issue of a few specific characters and plot elements being poorly explained. Most notably, the character arc of the villain Miranjo feels confusing and rushed, which is especially annoying given her role in the story. With how slow the pacing is at some points of the 23-episode run, a more gradual progression would have been greatly appreciated.
However, it’s hard to complain about these issues when viewing the art and animation on screen. Just as they did with Vinland Saga and Attack on Titan, Studio Wit’s work here is excellent. Landscapes are detailed and vibrant, character designs are simple yet effective, and the animation stands out in all the places it needs to. There are a few episodes that clearly had less budget to work with, but when the fight scenes get going, everything falls into place for some amazing spectacle moments. Special mention goes to the second opening sequence, which is one of the best I’ve seen in a very long time.
Verdict
When I began the first episode of Ranking of Kings, I honestly expected little from it, but the further I watched, the more my expectations were surpassed. The art was appealing and the animation was fluid. The story was heartfelt and whimsical (if a bit melodramatic), and the characters are ones I won’t soon forget. Despite a few nagging annoyances, I found my experience enjoyable from beginning to end. Even if the art style or premise don’t seem like they’d appeal to you, don’t underestimate the strengths of this tale. If you have a yearning for uplifting fantasy with excellent production values, Ranking of Kings is certainly worth the watch.
