The Twelve Kingdoms

About The Twelve Kingdoms

Meet The Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記), an action, adventure and fantasy anime by Studio Pierrot (2002). Here is the premise in a nutshell. The setup: Nakajima Youko is your average somewhat timid high school learner. One day, an odd man named Keiki appears before her, swearing allegiance.

Soon after, before she could properly register what was happening, demon-like creatures attack Youko and her allies, after which they are pulled into a different world. A realm unlike what she has ever known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends needs to do whatever they can if they wish to survive in this new realm.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Aya Hisakawa as Youko Nakajima and Takehito Koyasu as Keiki. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. At 45 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by Studio Pierrot, so the studio's house style defines how The Twelve Kingdoms looks and moves on screen. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. A 7.7/10 score points to a dependable, well-liked series. Voice casting, including Aya Hisakawa as Youko Nakajima, adds to the appeal for fans who follow seiyuu. It aired in 2002, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.