The Daily Stream: Ranking Of Kings Is The Heartwarming Royal Epic We All Need
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Series: "Ranking of Kings"
Where You Can Stream It: Crunchyroll
The Pitch: One of our favorite anime titles of 2022, "Ranking of Kings" is the ultimate underdog story. The anime series follows Bojji, a young prince who aspires to become the king of his kingdom one day, much like his father. However, his ambition is met with doubters. Bojji is often ridiculed by his half-brother and the rest of the kingdom due to being deaf, mute, and physically weak compared to his giant parent. His disabilities do not affect his well-meaning heart, which is always trying to help others and do the best he can, no matter what anyone says.
After his younger brother Daida is crowned king, Bojji and his newfound best friend Kage (a shadow-looking creature) go on a coming-of-age journey to gain the experience necessary for a worthy ruler. The adventure sees the inexperienced travelers encounter a variety of enemies and allies, learning life lessons and self-acceptance along the way. The emotional triumphs and tribulations of Bojji's path are always the main focus, but don't get it twisted — the show features some mind-boggling action sequences, too. "Ranking of Kings" is a beautifully animated epic that wears its heart on its sleeve in more ways than one.
Why it's essential viewing
In the anime world, a protagonist overlooked by society is probably one of the most typical things you'd see in the genre. But "Ranking of Kings" is a powerful and inspiring take on the classic royal tale that subverts expectations at nearly every turn. Washed in beautiful, bright colors, the series pays homage to old fantasy aesthetics through painted backgrounds and fluffy character design. The main character, Bojji, is destined for greatness, but even his loved ones can't see past his disabilities to consider him a worthy successor to the throne. The combination of fantasy genre tropes and manga-style animation creates a unique final result that positions the "Ranking of Kings" in its own anime lane.
The world-building of "Ranking of Kings" is also a vital part of its unique qualities. In addition to Kage, a large variety of creatures and monsters make up the world that Bojji finds himself in. From very large, triple-headed snakes to armies of orcs from the underworld, the series has fun shaping its universe with a genuinely interesting canon. As the title suggests, there is a tier list ranking system for all kings in the world of "Ranking of Kings." Whoever becomes the top-ranked ruler of their kingdom gets to pick an item from the Divine Treasure Vault, which happens to contain many magical and powerful weapons. The ranking is not exactly a priority for Bojji, but the surrounding context provides another layer of intrigue, one that the series plays the long game with.
Most importantly, "Ranking of Kings" is a blend of tones that seeks to understand all of its characters rather than chastise them.
It's all about love
At the end of the day, once the smoke of battle settles and the blood is done being spilled, "Ranking of Kings" is about the friends Bojji makes along the way. Especially Kage, who seeks to be no longer defined by his criminal history after meeting Bojji. Through their friendship, both learn to understand the power of believing in each other when no one else will. The adventurous duo supports each other no matter what, a testament to their resilience and the show's penchant for seeing the positive side in everyone. Above all, "Ranking of Kings" never forgets to add nuance to the basic concept of good vs. evil.
More often than not, the show portrays evil as a loose concept that more has to do with personal pain and suffering than anything else. The main antagonist, Miranjo, is as diabolical as fantasy villains come. Diada, Bojji's half-brother, is a major pain in the you-know-what for a large part of the series. Without spoiling, "Ranking of Kings" takes the most unlikable people and converts them to sympathetic figures. In a subversion of the genre, the "evil" stepmother in this fantasy tale actually turns out to be a loving person jaded by her desire to be overprotective of Bojji. "Ranking of Kings" can be an intense experience when necessary, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Whether it's to witness some jaw-dropping fights or cry within the first few minutes of the pilot, "Ranking of Kings" has it all figured out. The series may be a bit too optimistic for some, but I'd be hard-pressed to learn that someone did not fall in love with Bojji and Kage by the time the credits rolled.