Kino's a girl? Huh, I didn't realize...

[tamakun]

I had another one of those "I want to make" mornings. Yesterday, actually. This morning, I went to it and made a Oreo "Dirt Pie" and put lots of gummi worms into it. ^_^ It worked out rather well, but in the future I need to figure out which gummi worm is the least freezable - these ones are Allan-brand, and good normally, but cold they're rather tough and chewy, and also difficult to cut with a knife. :P Experimenting is one of the things a chef does, anyhow...

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I finally went through the first DVD of Kino's Journey today. I had seen the first episode a few months ago from a Newtype USA, saw the second episode at Anime North (and decided that I want the series), and picked up the first 2 DVDs while I was at AN. I watched episodes 3 and 4 today.

Here's the concept - Kino is a traveler. By her definitions, a traveller only stays in one country (large cities, really) for a maximum of three days. With her motorad, Hermes, the two travel to a new country, stay for three days (which is definitely enough to learn the customs of this country), and then moves on.

I'm led to believe that this anime is based on a series of books. I've seen a lot of text floating around the internet (and a small "visual novel" too, thanks hysteriachan. Heh, look at this, it is. No manga, just novels.)

Let me give you an example of the stories (which I am led to believe are standalone, but weave a much larger story). In the first episode, "The Land of Visible Pain", Kino happens upon a country that is totally run by automatons - not a single person in sight. It is when she heads to the outskirts that she discovers people living there - but one person to a house, and all distanced from each other. Through talking with one timid individual, she discovers that everyone in this country drank a liquid machine that allowed people to transmit thoughts to one another without speech. It was all good at the beginning, however, this problem soon backfired as every negative thought was immediately recognized as such, and even attempts to hide these thoughts showed that they were hiding them for some reason or another. It was determined the only way to solve this problem was to live away from each other.

The next episode has nothing to do with this past country, and instead deals with survival during a snowstorm. The third episode/story has a prophecy that states the world will end tomorrow (while Kino is in this city!), and the fourth episode throws a wrench into the gears and makes you think a lot deeper than I expected. I'm not explaining any more than that for episode 4.

This is a series that I'm really starting to like. I'm all for the fanservice and such, but when it comes down to it, introspective and thought-provoking animes like Kino's Journey are beautiful to my eyes and ears. The series being not high on action but focusing on the interactions with the people and characterizations just fleshes out the important things - the people and their customs. The fourth episode totally freaks me out, because of the difference between this country's customs and what we would perceive as "normal".

I highly recommend checking this series out - Newtype had a preview disc of the first episode a few months back, so if you have a friend who's collecting the Newtypes, ask if you can borrow Kino's Journey and take a look, or rent the first DVD (which gives a different vibe than just watching the first episode alone).

Hm, there's a game for Kino's Journey... odd...

Comments

[ex-wataame890.livejournal.com]

i really would like to see this series now`

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

You could show it sometime? *please face* I'll bring yummy baked goods.

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I think I'll do that. ^_^ I'll find a day to have a small Gathering or something. :)

[mindmade.livejournal.com]

Oh god gummi worms and oreo's... It makes me burp even thinking about it ;) Are you sure it was eatable ? ;) It sounds like harry potter candy! ;)

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Have you never had Oreo Ice Cream? It was that, but with gummies :P

Next time maybe I'll add a Chocolate Frog. XD

[rykuth.livejournal.com]

Eeeh? Kino's a girl?!? Wow, you sure? She really doesn't look like one.

But, er she uses 'boku' what's with that?

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I found out that Kino was a girl I was surprised, too. Watch the first DVD and you'll see.

"Kino" definitely sounds like a boy's name, too... and the voice doesn't sound feminine, I guess that's why it throws me off.