Comparisons to modern isekai
I'm getting this comparison out of the way right now, The Twelve Kingdoms is so much different from most modern isekai stories. Well, for the most part. Part of that is because it's not a reincarnation story. The main protagonist is almost forcibly taken from her life in Japan to become one of the kings in it. But there are some similar things like the protagonist being sent into the world of Twelve Kingdoms in order because she has become officially ordained in their system to rule one part of it. Also, the show does look into servitude in the series itself.
The difference is how realistic the show wants to take those things. Most isekai are power fantasy series and this one isn't an exception either. The difference is that there is such a huge wall of resistance for the protagonist to get to those powerful fantasy-like scenarios. For instance, the magic is very minimal because it's mainly sword play with some fantastical elements and creatures. Politics is the main winner here. Also, no one is instantly going to bow down to the protagonist as the new ruler because the entire world doesn't know who she is. There is also a language barrier that is very important to the show. These are things that make it stand out from modern isekai shows.
The beginning of an epic tale
As it is with a lot of anime series, the show starts with modern Japanese highschool students who don't belong. Yoko is a highschool girl with red hair for some reason that just obediently follows what other people want her to do. There is also the weird girl with fantasies named Yuka that separates her from the rest of the class and causes her to be bullied. In the middle is the boy named Asano who tries to keep the peace between the two. Though everything changes one day when the mysterious Keiki, a Kirin, wants to take Yoko away to a fantasy world where she is to become ruler of the kingdom of Kei somewhere they never expected to go.
The other two unfortunately come along and get separated as everything goes wrong and Keiki gets separated from the crew leaving them in this uncaring world that looks down on them. Since they are isekai-ed and only Yoko knows the language for some reason, the three barely find ways to survive. Mainly because it depends on who the three run into to help them. Some of them have their own schemes from putting the girls into servitude just for her own business because they can't get away. Luckily some people are kind while others aren't.
This is as Yuka believes she was chosen for this world, Asano trying to keep Yoko and Yuka from attacking each other, and Yoko questioning herself because she has no self confidence. Plus, the mystical sword continually gives Yoko hallucinations on who she can and can't trust that would inevitably kill her. Though, the best part came from when the three go their own ways to have their own arcs. Yoko clearly goes on the route that will make her queen of Kei after running into the right person who took her to the right kingdom to help her take the throne.
Asano is lost for now, but Yuka continued to be Yoko's angry wanting to be the hero wish fulfillment hero that was used and eventually realized she didn't belong there. I skipped so many things and people and there are still more because that was the super fast look at the first arc and there are still three more with one that has Yoko as the main focus again. But it is known that this series is mostly about Yoko not just becoming queen of Kei, but also finding her way to be the Queen. That she would find her self-confidence she was lacking in modern Japan and discover the way to rule her kingdom the way she feels is right. That is the direction the story takes with so many little bumps of politics and people at play to make it really work.
The World Building
An obvious plate to start when it comes to The Twelve Kingdoms, but it informs how the rest of the show works. I love how it starts at the bottom because the main cast is placed at the level of wandering around the woods and small towns where people are just trying to survive. Also, they just believe what their rulers decide politically. There are people who hate those who are isekai-ed because they are considered abominations. Some could take advantage of that and there are some kingdoms which are actually pretty nice and helpful.
I also love how complex the world gets as the show moves along. Clearly because the show is titled Twelve Kingdoms, we know that already. We didn't know how rulers were chosen until it was explained by mystical creatures named Kirin who can only bow to their chosen rulers. Also, rulers and their chosen handlers are immortal so kingdoms can prosper. Though clearly some rulers go insane and are killed.
There are no perfect rulers because some go insane and get killed. That results in those kingdoms diminishing economically. Civilians suffer from it. A ruler on the throne who does nothing at least allows a kingdom to prosper in some ways with asterisks. I say that because the ruler's court can also have their own plans and push the ruler for their own benefit. That is the problem when installing a ruler who knows nothing about the kingdom they rule. Almost like that could be the plot. Btw, this is barely getting into how deep and complex it goes. This is like Legend of the Galactic heroes in that way. I wish this was also 110 episodes.
Let's Talk About Yoko and the rule of threes
Yoko is the main character and she is a great character because she changes so much. The anime (not the novels because those are still in going) doesn't end when she becomes queen. It ends after she makes her first degree as queen. So she starts as an unsure highschool student that doesn't know her place. So she found a place to stand on and not just the queen of a nation in name only. She does lose her sanity in the middle of the jungle and finds her path again by meeting the right person. Yoko also rebels against the standing government in her kingdom when she learns about her people to make the kingdom hers.
But she is also with two other people in both stages of her journey. She went to this land with two others; Sugimoto and Asano. I already mentioned this earlier, but Sugimoto is such a good counter character to Yoko. Mainly because Sugimoto thinks she is the chosen one and is used by a different kingdom with some wish fulfillment that turns hollow as she is sent to kill Yoko. The two switch roles in confidence and feeling like they belong and it's great. Asano is the normal, not chosen person who is still in a different world whose transition to someone who is unhinged also makes sense.
The rebellion arc gives Yoko two more characters in comparison. Yoko is a queen who doesn't know anything about her country and she is busy educating herself on it after making some questionable decisions. Suzu is another person that came from Japan, but was granted immortality to be a servant for 100 years and was heavily abused until she was saved. She went to see Yoko and got caught in a rebellion and was heavily critical of Kei. The spoiled brat Shoukei is a former princess of a king who murdered his civilians, in which she knew nothing about. So her arc is similar but the opposite of Suzu as she gets humbled. She balances out Suzu when they meet with each other during the Kei rebellion.
Yoko becomes friends with both of them. Seeing her accept both means she at least has learned and accepted how other people are her when she takes over her role. Especially since as a queen, she needs to know what the feeling in her kingdom is so her decisions make Sense and are helpful. Just like lowering the tax rates in kingdoms being at 70% from an oppressed part of her unknown kingdoms. I would hope that both Suzu and Shoukei became advisors for Yoko in later stories but those novels are not adapted here. I can only guess.
Other characters I enjoyed
I skipped out on a lot of characters, so I at least want to highlight some that I really like. Rakushun, for instance, was an instant favorite of mine. He is known as a Hanjyuu or born from a tree as a rat who can turn human from time to time. (Yes, babies in that country come from wishes on trees instead of intercourse). He is one of the sweetest, smartest, and kindest people possible and is the reason why Yoko not only returned sane but also became a queen. Especially since Hanjyuu are looked down upon by the rest of the world and Rakushun never turned that oppression into negativity but finding a way to make everything into a more positive spin. It is such a huge joy when he appears on screen.
Another character I want to highlight is the king of En, Shouryuu. This man is the most ridiculous and charismatic person in the entire show and that is exactly why I just like seeing him on screen. Especially since he has been king for 500 years which is why En is prosperous and is just an overwhelming force for good. He still has to rule his own kingdom, but he did help get Yoko out of a jam and place her as Queen of Kei with the help of his own army. Learning his story from being a king in Japan a long time ago to the incident with the boy that came from a youma was a pretty interesting and unique tale to how his kingdom became unified. It shows a lot of his morals and why En became as accepting as it has been over the past 500 years of rule.
General Thoughts on Twelve Kingdoms
The Twelve Kingdoms is 45 episodes in length, there are episodes where the animation just isn't there. Generally that is ok because this is a talking heads show and the material is great. But there is a lot of work making the setting so realistic and lived in. It's a very Chinese based world with clothing designs and buildings all over the place. It goes with a wide variety of character designs with different body sizes and ages from all genders. I should also mention that in this very talking head series there are some great fight scenes with fantastic choreography and animation. Those moments really pop off in really stunning ways.
I really loved watching this show. Though I have to admit that it is a very heavy show that can feel overwhelming because there are so many details with the world building and character beats. So honestly, don't binge watch this one. Take your time and let it soak into you. Every single detail matters whenever it's just background details or politics that Yoko has trouble navigating herself as she becomes a real queen who lives with her own morals. Her arc is great and the story is great. So if you want a look into some really good older Isekai and like shows with heavy series like this is amazing.
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