The Twelve Kingdoms and some standalones
14. 14 episodes of The Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記 ,Jūni Kokuki, also known as "Record of 12 Countries" or "Juuni Kokki," a common inaccurate reading).
from Wiki
from IMBd
from Rotten Tomatoes
from Anime News Network
- I don't like the 2 extra characters tagging along - it's less lonely and harder for 3 people to move around in a new world. If they need a character to show Youko's internal struggling, it'd be better to expand the monkey's role, I think.
- I'm sad that the story of En is only a couple of episodes.
- There seems to be a couple episodes regarding the story of Tai.
- I like the way the anime shuffles some of the materials.
- Rewatch? Definitely!
- Recommended? Definitely, yes!
Bottom line, I like it a lot.
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46a. 3 volumes of Tomoko Taniguchi's one shot manga (Aquarium, Miss Me?, Let's stay together forever).
wiki of the mangaka
Manga updates: on Tomoko Taniguchi
Written and illustrated by Tomoko Taniguchi
Some points:
- I got these through rightstuf sales and learned this week that CPM files chapter 7 bankruptcy.
- Aquarium (アクエリアム): The first story called Aquarium is pretty good - it deals with serious issues. The other 2 are standard standalone open ended.
- Miss Me? The style is totally 80's and 90's. What's with the big hair? I keep rooting for the younger guy, but it's not meant to be. Oh well.
- Let's stay together forever (ずっと一緒にいようね) is an ok read. It does pull one's heart because of one-sided love. There are about 4 or so short stories of the same group of characters who take turns to be the lead.
Bottom line, I'll probably keep Aquarium and get rid of the rest.
46b. Over the rainbow (雨にぬれても).
manga updates
Written and illustrated by Keiko Honda
Some points:
- I have to admit I bought this one because of the sale and the bespectacled man in the cover - I'm shallow ;)
- The cover is implying love triangle - which it isn't. I wasn't sure what her job was before her memory loss.
- It's an interesting standalone - I didn't feel like I had wasted my time reading it. It's an ok way to pass time.
Bottom line, I'd borrow it.
47. The Twelve Kingdom - Sea of Wind (Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth, 風の海 迷宮の岸 - Kaze no Umi, Meikyū no Kishi). First sentence: It was snowing."
wiki
Manga updates
Written by Fuyumi Ono
from Tokyopop website
Born in Japan and raised as a human, Taiki is overwhelmed when he's brought back to the kingdom of Tai, where he's told he's a kirin. With little knowledge or guidance, he must trust his latent instincts to choose a king for the Kingdom of Tai from among dozens of men and women who seek the position. Will the frustrated Taiki, who can't even figure out how to transform into animal form, make the right choice? And more important, will he discover the kirin that lives within?
Some points:
- This is the story of Taiki - a prequel to The Twelve Kingdoms - Shadow of the Moon, The Sea of Shadow.
- One learns how Taiki grew and chose the king of Tai.
- I was anguish with Taiki when he thought he had chosen a false king. I really enjoyed how older people gang up on him to show that he couldn't
Bottom line, already reread once.
48. The Twelve Kingdom: The Vast Spread of the Seas (Sea God in the East, Vast Sea in the West, 東の海神 西の滄海 - Higashi no Watatsumi, Nishi no Sōkai). First sentence: At the far end of the world, there lies an ocean called the Void Sea, which separates two distant lands, one on the east and on on the west."
wiki
Written by Fuyumi Ono
from Tokyopop website
When only an eggfruit, the kirin of the En Kingdom, Rokuta, was transported to Japan for his own protection. But he was abandoned soon after birth by his surrogate parents, left to fend for himself in the mountains. It just so happened that at the same time, a young boy in the En Kingdom named Koya was also abandoned by his own parents, after which he was raised by demon beasts. Their similar circumstances aren't the only thing to bind these two boys, though. Twenty years after their abandonment, their destinies intersect, with potentially disaster consequences for the En Kingdom.
Some points:
- This is a prequel of the previous book (#2).
- The story of Enki and king of En.
- People could do the wrong thing for the right reasons.
Bottom line, another fun read. I highly recommended this series. If only the release dates are closer instead of once per year!
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