"The King's Ranking" is posted on the manga posting website "Manga Hack" and has a cumulative circulation of over 1.5 million copies. An anime adaptation aired in 2021, garnering a lot of attention. While the illustrations are cute, like a picture book, the story has a strong human drama element and is very profound. The new anime series, which will air in April, is also generating a lot of buzz. While some people are looking forward to the new series, those who are yet to discover the series may be wondering, "What exactly is so interesting about it?" This time, for those who are yet to discover "The King's Ranking," we would like to explain the appeal of this work from various perspectives!
Introduction: What is the story?
Before I discuss the story's appeal, I'd like to give a brief overview of the plot. The main character is a boy named Bojji. Born to giant parents, Bojji is very small and weak. He can't even hold a stone, let alone a dagger. Not only that, he is deaf and mute. Despite his handicap, Bojji dreams of becoming a powerful king. However, the people's reaction to him is cold. They mock him for not being fit to be king and treat him as a disgrace to the kingdom. He is treated like the emperor with no new clothes. But even so, Bojji finds a supportive friend in his shadow. To Bojji, Kage is like a trusted confidant. What will the outcome be for Bojji and Kage's epic adventure? From now on, I'd like to introduce the fun and appeal of this work from various angles! There may be some spoilers, but I will try to avoid them as much as possible.
How will they overcome the impending crisis?
Bojji's father, King Bodz, designated Bojji as the next king in his will. However, after King Bodz's death, the person who was actually appointed king was Bojji's younger brother, Daida. Bojji and Daida have different mothers, so they are half-brothers. There's something dark about the fact that Daida was appointed despite the existence of a will. Daida was told by a magic mirror that "if Bojji lives, your life will also be in danger," and so he plots to assassinate Bojji. How Bojji overcomes the danger that is approaching him is the overall theme of the story, and what makes it so interesting. Furthermore, the other characters surrounding Bojji play various roles in determining his fate. I'd like to introduce these in the next section!
You can see a wide range of human emotions
The artwork has a cute, picture-book-like feel, so some might think it's aimed at children. However, I think that expectation will be pleasantly surprised. The content is deeply moving for adults, and some scenes may even move you to tears. I think the appeal of this work lies in its portrayal of human emotions. Bojji is betrayed by many people. The fear of having your life threatened despite your trust is likely to be traumatic. However, whenever Bojji's spirit is about to break, Kage is always there for him. Kage is Bojji's only salvation.
Why is Bojji betrayed?
There are various reasons why Bojji is betrayed by those around him. In some cases, the betrayer is at fault, but in other cases, that's not necessarily the case. Some people betray Bojji for personal gain. In these cases, the betrayal is entirely their fault. Others betray for the sake of others, or for the sake of the kingdom. While this isn't selfish, it involves Bojji, so it's hard to say. In other cases, an act done with Bojji's best interests in mind ends up betraying him. This is extremely painful and heartbreaking, especially since the other person had no ill intentions. Depending on the reason, viewers may or may not find it convincing. However, for Bojji, regardless of the reason, he is confronted with the fact that he has been "betrayed," and it is undoubtedly painful for him in the end.
Characters Who Cannot Be Divided into Good and Evil
A classic adventure story features a clear relationship between good and evil, with a storyline that rewards good and punishes evil. However, this isn't always the case in this work. Characters you might think are bad aren't necessarily so. Many characters simply cannot be categorized as good or evil, and sometimes characters initially disliked by viewers change their opinion of them along the way. This is also part of what makes this work so fascinating. For example, Bojji's stepmother, Queen Hilling, is such a character. Hilling disliked Bojji, who was not her biological son, and always favored her biological son, Daida. She was strong-willed and hysterical, and Kage initially had a bad impression of her. I'm sure viewers also had a bad first impression of Hilling. However, it seems her true nature isn't quite as good... I won't say too much, as it would be a spoiler, but it's inevitable that you'll think someone is a "bad guy" when you only see their bad side. This work makes that very clear. For more details, please check out the original manga and anime.
The Exciting Foreshadowing
The exciting foreshadowing is also one of the charms of this work. By broadcasting the series in a different timeline, it allows viewers to discover and be surprised by the events that happened at different times. While this technique of breaking up the timeline has been seen in other works, if it doesn't work, it can be criticized as a "nonsensical story," so it's actually quite a courageous move. However, in this work, changing the chronological order brilliantly resolves plot twists.
Summary of the Appeal of The Ranking of Kings
"The Ranking of Kings" is an anime aimed at children, but its content is more geared towards adults. I'm sure many will empathize with Bojji and the other characters. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check it out before the new series begins! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
