Kino's Journey 

Young world-weary sharpshooter girl Kino and her talking inquisitive motorcycle Hermes travel around her unusual world, visiting various city-states for three days each to learn about their culture, history and ruling philosophy.

Stars:

Ai Maeda, Ryuji Aigase, Kelli Cousins

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ai Maeda	...	Kino 14 episodes, 2003
Ryuji Aigase	...	Hermes 14 episodes, 2003
Kelli Cousins	...	Kino 13 episodes, 2003
Cynthia Martinez	...	Hermes / ... 13 episodes, 2003
Patrick Givens	...	Additional Voices 11 episodes, 2003
Stacy Slanina	...	Additional Voices / ... 11 episodes, 2003
Jacob A. Gragard	...	Additional Voices / ... 10 episodes, 2003
Kyle Jones	...	Additional Voices / ... 10 episodes, 2003
Chris Nelson	...	Additional Voices / ... 10 episodes, 2003
Jay Hickman	...	Sixshooter / ... 9 episodes, 2003
Logan Haire	...	Additional Voices 8 episodes, 2003
Vic Mignogna	...	Comrade B / ... 8 episodes, 2003
Daniel Scruggs	...	Additional Voices 8 episodes, 2003
John Swasey	...	Additional Voices / ... 8 episodes, 2003
Rebecca Ayres	...	Boy B / ... 7 episodes, 2003
John Gremillion	...	Immigration Officer / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Dan Mackey	...	Guard Captain / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Ted Pfister	...	Additional Voices / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Monica Rial	...	Additional Voices / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Melissa Cybele Sparks	...	Miss Rose / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Chris Ayres	...	Bartender / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Clint Bickham	...	Shizu 6 episodes, 2003
David Born	...	Survivor / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Rick Burford	...	Comrade / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Luci Christian	...	Kid A / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Alyson Irene Edman	...	Bride / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Tejas Englesmith	...	Riku 6 episodes, 2003
Marty Fleck	...	Colonel / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Andrew Klimko	...	Assassin / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Andy McAvin	...	Porter Bot / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Amanda Nanawa	...	Woman A / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Eric Opella	...	Soldier C / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Hal Rawley	...	Old Man / ... 6 episodes, 2003
Gene Tognacci	...	Man B / ... 6 episodes, 2003

Storyline

Inspired by the ultimate selfless act of a friendly traveler, calm quiet introspective teenage marksman Kino travels around the world on her talking motorcycle and best friend Hermes, visiting different countries, that are all basically city-states. The duo has no particular goal in mind other than to learn about life, the world in general and themselves. They have only one rule - never stay in one place for more than three days. Some of the places they visit turn out to be beautiful, others disturbing. Many of the places have their own culture, social order and philosophy of living, so during her endless journey, Kino witnesses the darkest sides of humanity, but also occasional triumphs and many peculiar oddities. She sometimes protects, kills, saves, ignores or helps people, but also on occasion thinks about her past, questions her whole reality once and even becomes tempted to stay at one place for longer than three days at one point.

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Plot Keywords:

religious philosophy | insanity | attempted filicide | talking animal | dog | 

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

2003 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Kino's Journey

Company Credits

Production Co:

A.C.G.T,Genco

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #34.8 (2005)

User Reviews

If you liked "Mushishi", you'll love "Kino's Journey".

This is one of those little gems you discover late one night binge- watching anime. No one has ever mentioned it to you, you have nothing else better to do, and the cover art doesn't remind you of another action-packed vampire love story. That being said, I went into Kino's Journey blind and I came out enlightened. It was like I was a child exploring the world for the first time again.

Along with her talking motorcycle companion, "Hermes", Kino is a traveler who has a rule to never stay in one place for more than 3 days. The world is similar to Earth except that what are considered "countries" are really independent, walled cities that are seemingly very spaced apart. Each episode is self contained as Kino visits one or more country, and just as Kino and Hermes, we experience each place for the first time. The countries have their own unique histories, customs, and cultures. All are interesting; some are dangerous.

There is something so powerful in the quiet storytelling of this series. Kino's Journey really explores the very edges of what it means to be human. We are all flawed, yet it is how we deal with our flaws that defines us. Similar to many other series I have watched, I just wish there was more.

There are only two other anime that I have seen that have mastered the art of quiet storytelling: "Mushishi", and "House of Five Leaves".

As of now (Jan 2014), the English Dubbed version is available on Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus. NOTE: Amazon Prime doesn't have any commercials.