Genre: Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Asian Cinema / Shoujo
Anime Type: TV Series
Based on the Novel by: Fuyumi Ono
Director: Tsuneo Kobayashi
Original Character Design: Akihiro Yamada
Distributor: A.D. Vision
ANN Link: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=840
Availability: Common
Package: Complete Collections 1 & 2, 10 DVD's, 45 Episodes.
Price Paid: $35.00 per box set, 2 Sets available
Retailer: Best Buy (Retail Storefront).

There are three things I'm a sucker for in an Anime series those are: fantasy, detailed animation, and an epic dramatic plot. Therefore, having seen some intriguing artwork for "The Twelve Kingdoms, I read a few reviews that made it out in the aforementioned "epic dramatic fantasy" light. Thus I had been eying it at my Best Buy for some time now. However the two complete packages were listing at around $75 each. Then about two weeks ago I found them both marked down for $35 each, so I gave in and picked them up.

My biggest concern was from the reviews and synopses; that essentially a high school girl is abducted from her classroom and brought to a strange fantasy world. This worried me because high school girl drama isn't my bag. I had enough teen fan service, drama, and story geared toward 14 year old boys and girls with "Scrapped Princess" and "Arc the Lad". So I was apprehensive of spending $70+ bucks on something I would only nominally enjoy. So it was with a pessimistic mindset that I sat down and started my viewing. However I did have a whole week day (and a following weekend) to spend, so I knew I would get a good heavy dose of whatever "The Twelve Kingdoms" was. I made a pact with myself to open the first set and if I didn't care for it I would return the second set unopened. Fortunately I did open the second set, and I finished watching the whole series over the weekend.

Honestly it started out kind of...strange. I really didn't know what to make of it at first. It kind of is a high-school girl fantasy and it isn't. At one point I thought the whole thing would end up being about girl-drama with strange animals and a bishounen guy with long blonde hair, but it slowly picked up a broader arc about the main character, Yoko Nakajima, and the world she's thrown into. Which quickly began to superceed her high-school woes.

Once I got deeper into the series the fantasy world became much clearer, you really feel like Yoko; being dumped into a confusing mess and then finally beginning to make sense of everything. As a viewer I had the same experience. This plot device is also quite useful for allowing the author to explain the world to the viewer. Think James Clavell's novel "Shogun" (if you've read it).

I also got some of the same feel from this series that I do from the likes of a "Record of Lodoss War" or "Crest of the Stars", it's a hugely detailed world. They spent a lot of time developing the details and educating the viewer on the mythology and fantasy of the 12 kingdoms world. Especially the Kirin and the vocabulary (there is lots of proprietary vocabulary, like Crest of the Stars). Overall, It was evident that Ms. Fuyumi spent a great deal of time developing the world for her novel, which the teleplay writers successfully conveyed. Like Crest of the Stars, Lodoss, Lord of the Rings, or any well crafted fantasy fiction you immediately feel immersed in a world with such depth that it might actually exist somewhere.

As an aside, and it's probably a thing having to do with growing up in the 80's but, anytime I see fantasy with unicorns or unicorn-like creatures (as the Kirin are) I immediately think of the movie "Legend" and other 80's fairy-tale fantasy fare like "Labyrinth" or "Princess Bride".

Though "The Twelve Kingdoms" is in the fantasy vein it is heavily steeped in Japanese and Chinese mythology and culture. The general feel of the fantasy world, it's writing system, and other things, as well as it's connection to Japan make it a very eastern place. Especially considiering the way many people end up in the fantasy world of the 12 Kingdoms, through random vortexes between the fantasy world and Japan. In fact, in the fantasy world the land of Japan is known as a mythical place called "Wa" or "Horai" far to the east. This makes the world of the 12 Kingdoms something like ancient China. That said, I almost wonder if this is a genere in itself in China and Japan. Real stories of Japanese mariners blown off course and washing up disoriented and confused in China only to be  ostracized or persecuted by the locals speaking a similar yet foreign language (or vice versa) probably wasn't uncommon. One could easily create a historically accurate tale set from the standpoint of a typhoon wrecking a Japanese ship and some survivors winding up on the shores of China, that story might look very much like the 12 Kingdoms scenario, and the characters might experience the same things that the main character and her friends experience in 12 Kingdoms. Again, an apropos analogy is the novel "Shogun", though of course in that case the shipwrecked are Dutch and English sailors washed up in feudal Japan.

Technically, the anime is very detailed and lush. Though I still prefer the 90's anime style, the animation in "The Twelve Kingdoms" is very impressive and slightly more detailed than the current norm. There were lots of angles and "shots" of the characters in interesting ways, but always on model. As well the clothing was very interesting, detailed, and very "oriental". There were a few pan and zoom shots that I believe were done with CGI, though it seemed that much of the series was traditional cel animation.

The musical score is very "oriental" as well, and actually quite well recorded for those of you who can tell the difference. I also enjoyed both the opening and closing themes to each episode. In fact I enjoyed the theme songs and soundtrack enough that I have the soundtrack CD on order. As for the vocal work, I watched it dubbed so I can't comment on the seiyuu, but the English voice actors I thought were decent and fit the characters. Though I recognized some of the talents, especially Joshua Seth who also voiced Dio Eracles in Last Exile, in this case he voices Yoko's friend Asano.


Now, I do have a few complaints. 

This anime is adapted from a novel series. I think the teleplay could have been distilled much more and maybe seasoned a little for the screen. Sometimes I think they spend too much time explaining things or going to far to explain something. There are also a few summary episodes, which if you are sitting through the series in a short period of time are rather redundant. Although because of the exahustive detail and summaries I do have a really good understanding of the vocabulary and plot of what has been shown so far. I will say that "shocking" about 20 episodes of a series in one day is probably not how the directors intended the series to be seen. It's not an OVA, but a television series so some of it is redundant by design as well as being drawn out to maintain a weekly viewership.

There are also a few points where a side story tangent derails the main arc for a while. The tangential storyline may really really slowly detail one character. It reminds me of reading Tolkein, we're trying to get to Bree but along comes Tom Bombadil and someone breaks out into song. All of a sudden we've spent half a chapter (or three or four episodes as the case may be) learning about something interesting but not of immediate import. Anyway, while whatever is happening makes for interesting reading in novel form, it's almost too long and drawn out for the visual media. Perhaps this is the failing of a Gaijin, as we tend to prefer a-b-c-d plotlines. Though I've become accustomed to these derailments watching Anime, this time they don't tie up real well...or yet I should say.

That brings me to another issue. At about episode 39 we get a climactic end to Yoko's main story arc which is very dramatic, and oddly quite satisfying for Anime. No melting babies, no flowing muscles/wires, no obscure references to physics or time, the story arc ties up rather well. But...that leaves six episodes left. The next immediate episode starts a fresh story arc that, well, never ends. The last episode on DVD 10 is a summary episode that leads to nowhere. No more of "The Twelve Kingdoms" has been made, if it were ever supposed to be. Which I find rather annoying...since the series leaves you with two "untied" story arcs. Hopefully more of the series may be forthcoming in the future.

Overall, I liked it. It's a little tedious and overly dramatic at times. Sure, lots of female lead roles that cry a lot. However the well written story and setting makes it appealing to anyone who likes an epic fantasy drama. This is also a genere of fiction I feel cannot be properly visualized unless it's done with either animation or an 8 figure hollywood budget, because of the fantastic creatures and "special effects". 

I give this series a 3.85 out of 5 stars. It's much better than average, indeed the plot development is superb (and if you really really like super deep plot development then you're likely to come out of it with a bigger impression), but for me its not an "instant favorite". Don't get me wrong I like it and I'm glad I own it. I'm sure I'll watch it again. I would recommend renting if you can before investing in owning this series...as it may be an acquired taste for some.