The landscape of anime has changed since its evolution of grand, addictive serials of the ’90s. Instead of the typical weekly fare keeping audiences on their toes, sometimes at the expence of its pacing, modern animated hits have adopted the seasonal model following hits like Demon Slayer. One such shining example is Ranking of Kings, standing above other new-gen fantasies.

Ranking of Kings, also known colloquially among fans for its Japanese name, Ousama Ranking, tells a different anime story from even the usual subversive titles. Instead of an overly edgy or brutally dark rendition, Ranking of Kings is both heartbreaking yet saccharine, all while sporting killer animation by Wit Studios. 4 years since its debut, it remains an unexpected gem.

Ranking of Kings Stands Out in an Era of Outstanding Anime

The story of Prince Bojji’s journey to become worthy to lead his kingdom is a path watered with the tears of its viewers, as anybody who has seen the anime can confirm. The story of Ranking of Kings is positively packed with tales of its protagonist, the precious and pure Bojji, whose kindness helps him shine despite limitations placed upon him.

What makes Ranking of Kings stand out against new-gen anime hits like Jujutsu Kaisen, or even more emotionally comparable series like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, is that Bojji’s the tip of the iceberg in a world of compelling characters. His first true friend, Kage, is a sentient shadow whose story immediately opens the floodgates for the series’ virtuosic pathos-fueled stories.

Each episode shows Bojji’s journey bringing him across characters whose paths have mingled with his own, or who have suffered similar adversity. Bojji is shamefully betrayed with the viewers forced to watch, consistently, while his offenders have come to atone for their crimes. Time and again, Bojji’s capacity for forgiveness is tested, and in doing so, he never forgets himself.

The result is a story of an outwardly weak protagonist showing his determination, destined to inherit his kingdom while remaining fiercely himself. Every interaction with Bojji presents characters who viewers can’t help but distrust, but subsequent scenes show how achingly human they still are. This seemingly effortless excellence sets it apart even from other wonderfully animated modern anime.

Modern Anime Lack the Combined Charm and Excellence of Ranking of Kings

Ranking of Kings does well to set itself apart from other modern hit anime thanks to a combination of stellar animation, especially in its first half, and staunch loyalty to its source material’s idiosyncratic style. It’s a gorgeous visual treat, blending Western fairy tale aesthetics with a plot progression reminiscent of an underdog shonen anime.

But this shouldn’t signal viewers to break out the Naruto parallels. Bojji’s story remains fiercely original, with it feeling both accessible to childish sensibilities, yet being surprisingly dark and violent, not unlike an experience straight out of Studio Ghibli. The best part is, even with the season finale strikingly adapting chapter #155, there’s over 100 additional chapters so far.

With the manga recently leaving hiatus, hopes are reasonably renewed for the future of Ranking of Kings beyond the recent spin-off, The Treasure Chest of Courage. Even the spin-off shows the anime’s potential even when adapting bonus chapters. Ultimately, we want to see what comes next, especially with Bojji striking off to build his own kingdom with Kage.

Bojji spent much of his life being resented, or taken advantage of, or even despised for his position. Being unable to hear or speak, the viewers might immediately pity him, but as Bojji soon proves, he is more than meets the eye as the mystery of his condition unfolds. It’s truly remarkable seeing Bojji’s growth by the season finale.

While this can be spun as ignoring the consequences of his betrayers or adversaries, Bojji’s actions conversely break these cycles of cruelty. Bojji’s kindness healed the broken hearts of his closest allies like Kage, and won over viewers instantly in 2021. Now, four years later, fans can only hope to see something as magical as Ranking of Kings again.