The Twelve Kingdoms anime is based on a series of ongoing light novels written by Fuyumi Ono, who is well-known for also creating the Ghost Hunt novels, the former of which was adapted into anime format in 2006. Many fans of the novels were disappointed when the anime came out because it failed to meet their expectations and did not perfectly follow the source material.
Despite the criticism of some fans, The Twelve Kingdoms anime offers some interesting changes to the isekai genre. The series is also very reminiscent of older isekai hits like Inuyasha and Fushigi Yuugi, each starring a female lead. Here’s why The Twelve Kingdoms should be at the top of every isekai fan’s watch list.
Twelve Kingdoms Offers a Phenomenal Cast of Characters With a Strong Female Lead
There are many new isekai series released every year, but these tend to heavily focus on male protagonists and harem dynamics. Often in these particular isekai shows, the main characters act as blank slates for the viewer, so they are intentionally designed to be self-inserts rather than unique and compelling male leads in their own right. However, there are many isekai fans who do not enjoy this version of the genre and would prefer to watch something more creative. Fortunately, there are plenty of older isekai anime for these fans to enjoy, including The Twelve Kingdoms.
Twelve Kingdoms tells the story of Yoko Nakajima, an average high school student living a normal life. Yoko’s biggest "flaw" is her unnaturally bright red hair, which makes her stand out from others when all she wants to do is blend in and go through life without conflict. Yoko’s life changes when she meets Keiki, who pledges his life to her and tells Yoko she is the new queen of Kei. Yoko has no idea what he’s talking about and is understandably frightened. However, she and two fellow students, Asano and Sugimoto, get transported into another world because of a sudden storm. There, Yoko must learn her true background and work out how to survive and thrive in this new world.
The Twelve Kingdoms anime may be an older show, but it has excellent characters, including a strong female lead. To some viewers, Yoko may seem stiff and boring at first. She strives to always avoid conflict with the people around her, and she doesn’t want to cause trouble at school. In the anime, she’s also the class president, so many people look up to her and think of her as an upstanding student. However, once she’s transported into another world by Keiki, her personality starts to change.
Yoko realizes her "good-girl" attitude was just a front she put up so that people would like her more and show her unquestionable respect. This revelation doesn’t lead Yoko to become a sudden badass or give her a drastic personality shift, but it paves the way for some great character development. The series showcases Yoko’s trusting personality and willingness to see the good in people -- even if she ends up being wrong about them. Yoko is the perfect example of a flawed yet strong heroine who expertly showcases the frustrations of trying to understand oneself and find one's way in the world.
The Twelve Kingdoms Transports the Viewer to Another World With Great World-Building
The world-building in The Twelve Kingdoms anime is top-notch and may greatly fulfill any isekai fans' expectations. Twelve Kingdoms is similar to Fushigi Yuugi in the way it approaches world-building. For example, although Miaka gets transported to ancient China while Yoko gets transported to an entirely different world, the latter is also Chinese-inspired, and the citizens even speak a different language.
This world functions under the monarchy system; there are 12 countries, meaning there are also 12 rulers. To the people living in this new world, Japan is known as "Horai." There is very extensive and complex world-building present in The Twelve Kingdoms, and it features many terms that the viewer will come to understand as they continue to watch. For example, the term "Hanjyuu" refers to a half-beast creature, and every Hanjyuu has both an animal and a human form. Some Hanjyuu, like the character Rakushun, prefers their beast form over their human form or vice versa. This is just one of the many characteristics of world-building that make The Twelve Kingdom series worth every isekai fan's time.