Kino’s Journey - one viewer's review

[Dark Lilly]

Entrancing. Kino’s Journey does not compare to anything I have seen to date. It is unbiased as it presents an allegorical look at the negative and inane things that people do.

Based on a successful novel, the premise is simple. A young traveler and a talking motorcycle named Hermes journey from country to country, staying only three days in each place. Each country visited is flawed and eerily reminiscent of something from our world. Little time is spent on Kino, but rather on the situations around her. Sometimes she is simply an observer. Sometimes she is fighting for her life. KJ doesn’t try to solve every single problem it presents but leaves you and Kino to think about them. Some of the episodes are dreamy and thoughtful while others are grim, violent and unsettling.

Kino turned out to be and extremely likeable character. She is subdued, charismatic, intelligent and resourceful. The asexuality of her character negates the usual gender roles, and frees her of the clichés. Although Hermes, the talking motorcycle adds a bit of comic relief, it is anything but silly. There realy isn't anything silly in KJ.

Kino’s Journey has a storybook look to it and is quite beautiful. Actual movement is fairly minimal, except for the occasional fight scene, which are very fluidly. The art supports the story’s message beautifully.

On my scale of one to ten, it’s a 10. 10 = The visuals are true works of art and the story and characters spark the imagination between episodes; a classic to be watched again and again. A series I will buy.