Long Post: My Thoughts on Twelve Kingdoms
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 12:09 pm
I just finished viewing the whole 45 episodes of Twelve Kingdoms. Spent two whole days to finish it all. Have to say that it was worth it. Twelve Kingdoms is a great anime. However, I am a bit frustrated because there is so many issues that were left unresolved at the end of it all. Anyways, here's my thoughts on some of the unresolved issues and the stories, peoples and going-ons in the Twelve Kingdoms. My apologies if this post is too long, but it's my first one and I'm really excited about this anime. My apologies.
1) What happened to Taiki and Tai-o? I think this is by far the biggest mystery of the series. From the anime itself, there are a number of episodes which alludes to a rebellion in Tai Kingdom within the first year of Tai-o's enthronement, and that Tai Kingdom is currently in a civil war. It is quite clear that Tai-o and Taiki are not dead because Taiki is clearly in Horai (Japan) and according to Enki (or was it Keiki?), no birds (not sure of their names but it's the one that flew to Keiki and Yo-o to tell them that Tai-o have been enthroned) have flown to the other kingdoms to say that Tai-o is dead. My own thoughts are that there was indeed a rebellion which led to civil war, and Tai-o and Taiki are in hiding. Taiki returned to Horai naked, which means that he must have been in Kirin form before he fled through the Storm. I read in a discussion below that Taiki may have lost his horn as his forehead was bleeding. This seems to be very plausible and may explain why Taiki remembers very little of his time as a Kirin.
2) Here's my thoughts on the Kirins that we were introduced to. Keiki is too serious and uptight. Personally, I think he is not a good Kirin because he lacks any political skills, and to serve as an adviser to Kei-o, he should have some political skills. Personally I think it would have been better if he had voiced his objections even if it would not change Kei-o's decision to expel Kokan from Baku State. At least, that would show Kei-o that he is aware of what is going on in the court and the kingdom. On the other hand, despite his young age, Enki is very good when it comes to court matters. Even though he is a Kirin and is not supposed to go against En-o, he is always willing to let his objections known and is always there when the opportunity to chastise (or ridicule) En-o comes up. I really pity Ho-rin and Ko-rin. They were killed for the stupidity of their kings. However, Ko-rin did the right thing in sacrificing herself to save Kei-o and ultimately Ko Kingdom from the stupidity of Ko-o. On the other hand, Ho-rin was murdered. Gekkie did mention that Ho-rin had chosen the wrong Ho-o twice. Perhaps, it's true, and that is why there is no Ranka for Ho-rin, but Ko-rin's Ranka is there almost immediately after Ko-rin died. But then again, it's not her fault. As a Kirin, she can't deny the will to choose the king no matter how bad the king will be. Sai-rin seems to be a very merciful Kirin (and is definitely the most beautiful of the Kirins we have seen). It's a pity we saw little of her, but she seems to be a very good Kirin. The funniest Kirin have got to Kyoki. It's really funny the way he is bullied by Kyo-o. I couldn't help but laugh when he was slapped by Kyo-o. The one that I really want to know more about is Renrin. She seems to be a mystery. Plus, she seems to be the only one who has that bracelet that can control the portal to Horai. She seems to be a very special Kirin. even though we never saw Sorin in the anime, I do wonder about her also. According to Enki, Sorin was the one that found Enki in Horai. I really wonder what she was doing in Horai at the time.
3) Here's my thoughts on the kings and queens we were introduced to. Let's not talk about Ho-o or Ko-o, as there is no doubt that they were lousy as kings and deserve to lose their kingship. I do pity the former Kei-o though. Yo-o seemed reluctant to be queen, and in the end, she had to kill herself to save Keiki. Even though we know she did it out of love for Keiki, I kind of respect her for being able to sacrifice herself. Sai-o seems so motherly and I think, will be a very good queen. I may be wrong, but she just seems to be an all-round nice and responsible person. Definitely have to be the motherly aura around her. We all know that En-o is a good king. Though I feel the credit for En Kingdom's success should go to both En-o and Enki. I do feel it's the good relationship between En's king and Taiho that made En Kingom so prosperous. I do want to know more about Kyo-o. She seems so young, and based on her looks should be around 13 or 14 years old when she became queen. But, it seems that Kyo Kingdom have been doing fine under her rule. Would like to find out more about her background, how she became queen and why she is so successful. Another thing, her relationship with Kyoki is really funny. I get the feeling she bullies Kyoki a lot.
For those who have read up to here, thank you for reading and my apologies for such a long post. Hopefully, I made some sense. I just wanted to get all these thoughts off my chest. My apologies again.
1) What happened to Taiki and Tai-o? I think this is by far the biggest mystery of the series. From the anime itself, there are a number of episodes which alludes to a rebellion in Tai Kingdom within the first year of Tai-o's enthronement, and that Tai Kingdom is currently in a civil war. It is quite clear that Tai-o and Taiki are not dead because Taiki is clearly in Horai (Japan) and according to Enki (or was it Keiki?), no birds (not sure of their names but it's the one that flew to Keiki and Yo-o to tell them that Tai-o have been enthroned) have flown to the other kingdoms to say that Tai-o is dead. My own thoughts are that there was indeed a rebellion which led to civil war, and Tai-o and Taiki are in hiding. Taiki returned to Horai naked, which means that he must have been in Kirin form before he fled through the Storm. I read in a discussion below that Taiki may have lost his horn as his forehead was bleeding. This seems to be very plausible and may explain why Taiki remembers very little of his time as a Kirin.
2) Here's my thoughts on the Kirins that we were introduced to. Keiki is too serious and uptight. Personally, I think he is not a good Kirin because he lacks any political skills, and to serve as an adviser to Kei-o, he should have some political skills. Personally I think it would have been better if he had voiced his objections even if it would not change Kei-o's decision to expel Kokan from Baku State. At least, that would show Kei-o that he is aware of what is going on in the court and the kingdom. On the other hand, despite his young age, Enki is very good when it comes to court matters. Even though he is a Kirin and is not supposed to go against En-o, he is always willing to let his objections known and is always there when the opportunity to chastise (or ridicule) En-o comes up. I really pity Ho-rin and Ko-rin. They were killed for the stupidity of their kings. However, Ko-rin did the right thing in sacrificing herself to save Kei-o and ultimately Ko Kingdom from the stupidity of Ko-o. On the other hand, Ho-rin was murdered. Gekkie did mention that Ho-rin had chosen the wrong Ho-o twice. Perhaps, it's true, and that is why there is no Ranka for Ho-rin, but Ko-rin's Ranka is there almost immediately after Ko-rin died. But then again, it's not her fault. As a Kirin, she can't deny the will to choose the king no matter how bad the king will be. Sai-rin seems to be a very merciful Kirin (and is definitely the most beautiful of the Kirins we have seen). It's a pity we saw little of her, but she seems to be a very good Kirin. The funniest Kirin have got to Kyoki. It's really funny the way he is bullied by Kyo-o. I couldn't help but laugh when he was slapped by Kyo-o. The one that I really want to know more about is Renrin. She seems to be a mystery. Plus, she seems to be the only one who has that bracelet that can control the portal to Horai. She seems to be a very special Kirin. even though we never saw Sorin in the anime, I do wonder about her also. According to Enki, Sorin was the one that found Enki in Horai. I really wonder what she was doing in Horai at the time.
3) Here's my thoughts on the kings and queens we were introduced to. Let's not talk about Ho-o or Ko-o, as there is no doubt that they were lousy as kings and deserve to lose their kingship. I do pity the former Kei-o though. Yo-o seemed reluctant to be queen, and in the end, she had to kill herself to save Keiki. Even though we know she did it out of love for Keiki, I kind of respect her for being able to sacrifice herself. Sai-o seems so motherly and I think, will be a very good queen. I may be wrong, but she just seems to be an all-round nice and responsible person. Definitely have to be the motherly aura around her. We all know that En-o is a good king. Though I feel the credit for En Kingdom's success should go to both En-o and Enki. I do feel it's the good relationship between En's king and Taiho that made En Kingom so prosperous. I do want to know more about Kyo-o. She seems so young, and based on her looks should be around 13 or 14 years old when she became queen. But, it seems that Kyo Kingdom have been doing fine under her rule. Would like to find out more about her background, how she became queen and why she is so successful. Another thing, her relationship with Kyoki is really funny. I get the feeling she bullies Kyoki a lot.
For those who have read up to here, thank you for reading and my apologies for such a long post. Hopefully, I made some sense. I just wanted to get all these thoughts off my chest. My apologies again.
