Over the years, animation studio Bones has been responsible for producing many well-known mainstream anime such as My Hero Academia, Mob Psycho 100 and even Ouran High School Host Club. With a knack for top-notch animation quality and working with a variety of genres, Bones is regarded as the best anime studio out there. Despite its high reputation though, not every Bones project has found its way into success or popularity within the anime community, and a prime example of this is The Daughter of Twenty Faces.
While detective-themed anime such as Detective Conan and Psycho-Pass have gained their own followings, Daughter of Twenty Faces has not received the same treatment. In fact, due to its lack of views, it has fallen well into the obscure category, being remembered by very few fans. Although the 2008 Bones anime never managed to fly above the radar during its serialization, its well-written characters, plot and storytelling make it a must-watch for anyone looking for their next anime to binge.
The Stellar Plot of Daughter of Twenty Faces
Based on the manga written and illustrated by Shinji Ohara, Daughter of Twenty Faces focuses on Chizuko Mikamo, a young girl who has been residing with her aunt and uncle following the deaths of her parents. Because she is set to inherit her parents' entire fortune, Chizuko's aunt and uncle make every attempt they can to poison her. She is eventually rescued and taken in by a prominent thief named Twenty Faces, who happens to be her butler.
Over time, Chizuko -- now renamed Chiko -- becomes a powerful thief thanks to Twenty Faces and his gang. When most of them, including Twenty Faces, are suddenly killed by a rival gang, Chiko is forcibly sent back to live with her narcissistic aunt and uncle. When she one day learns that Twenty Faces' death was never really confirmed, she decides to use what she can to find him so she can escape her relatives for good.
Chizuko "Chiko" Mikamo Is a Three-Dimensional Protagonist
Saying Chiko is a well-developed and sympathetic protagonist would be an understatement. At the beginning, she is constantly forced to look out for herself when she becomes aware of her aunt's schemes, feeling as if there is no way out. She retreats to her mystery novels as a coping mechanism; this in turn sharpens her detective skills, allotting Chiko the ability to protect herself when she learns of her aunt's harmful cooking methods.
After being taken in by Twenty Faces and his gang, Chiko learns what it means to survive and is willing to pick up everything she can from them. Throughout the two years she spends with them, Chiko builds up physical and mental strength and is grateful for everything they have given her. While she is understandably upset when she moves back in with her aunt, she becomes determined to reunite with Twenty Faces and refuses to give in, demonstrating her strong resilience and backbone.
The Daughter of Twenty Faces Is a Serialization of Engaging Storytelling
Although Daughter of Twenty Faces did not have a very long run-time, its plot and way of storytelling were paced very carefully. While Chiko lives with Twenty Faces for quite some time, she does not become a skilled thief overnight, taking time to acquire the necessary talents she needs to earn her own place in the gang. This method of spreading the plot out allows the audience to witness Chiko's growth first-hand, showing how much she has changed within a realistic amount of time in the anime.
While Daughter of Twenty Faces taking on a more episodic approach may worry some fans, each one is filled with plenty of tension and drama, making it feel more story-driven. Chiko and Twenty Faces build a strong and emotional bond throughout their short-lived familial relationship, only for it to be diminished when he is seemingly killed, leaving a devastating impact on her and the audience while setting up the real basis for her story. It is this sudden shift in tone and protagonist that sets the mood for the anime, which keeps viewers interested in what happens next for Chiko.