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Ranking of Kings

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General Review

Parent's Guide to Ranking of Kings

Ranking of Kings is a fantasy-comedy coming-of-age anime series that follows the adventures of Prince Bojji, a deaf and small-statured royal, and his shadow-clan friend Kage. Despite his physical shortcomings, Bojji dreams of becoming the greatest king, navigating a world filled with political intrigue, complex characters, and dark challenges. The series is lauded for its unique art style, which often masks surprisingly mature and intense themes. It delves into the nature of true strength, friendship, forgiveness, and the moral complexities of its characters, often subverting traditional fairy tale tropes. While appearing whimsical, the narrative explores heavy topics and features significant action.

Things to Consider

High4

Violence

The series features surprisingly graphic violence despite its art style, including depictions of serious injuries, dismemberment, and characters frequently on the brink of death. While often characters are healed, the intensity of the combat and resultant harm is high.

Characters endure severe physical harm, such as Domas cutting off his own right hand. Bebin is impaled by Apeas during a confrontation but is later healed. Many characters suffer grave injuries and are shown in life-threatening situations, only to be saved or healed by magic.

Witchcraft & Occult

The narrative heavily incorporates magical elements, demons, and a supernatural hierarchy, including a literal Devil figure and a vivid depiction of hell. Characters engage in pacts with demons and utilize various forms of magic.

Scary & Intense Content

Despite its innocent appearance, the series contains consistently dark and intense themes, frightening character designs, and situations of high peril and despair, including graphic suffering and a terrifying depiction of hell.

Disrespect & Rebellion

Disrespect and rebellion against authority are central to many plotlines. Characters openly defy royal decrees, engage in betrayal, and act with self-serving or misguided intentions against their superiors or the established order.

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Medium2
Romance and Sexual ContentAnti-Christian Themes
Low3
LGBTQ & Gender IdentityProfanitySubstance Use
Medium2

Romance and Sexual Content

Explicit sexual content is absent. However, there is a notably controversial and problematic 'romantic' development where a young prince declares marriage to a much older, villainous character to 'share her sins', which some viewers found unsettling due to the power dynamics and lack of genuine affection.

Anti-Christian Themes

The series presents a fantasy world with a pantheon of 'gods' who rank kings and a distinct 'Devil' figure, which differs from Christian monotheistic beliefs. The depiction of hell also varies significantly from traditional Christian theology. While some Christian viewers find positive moral parallels, the core cosmology may conflict with Christian doctrine.

Low3

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

No explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes are present within the 'Ranking of Kings' anime or manga based on extensive searching. Mentions of 'queer' or 'LGBTQ' content were either in reference to reviewers' identities or unrelated media.

Profanity

No instances of explicit profanity or strong language were identified within the dialogue of the 'Ranking of Kings' anime.

Substance Use

No significant instances of alcohol consumption, drug use, or smoking are depicted or central to the plot in 'Ranking of Kings'.

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Ranking of Kings presents a complex narrative with several themes that resonate with, and some that challenge, a Christian worldview. At its core, the series champions virtues such as kindness, self-confidence, perseverance, and unwavering loyalty in the face of adversity. Prince Bojji's journey emphasizes that true strength lies not in physical prowess but in a compassionate heart, resilience, and the ability to inspire love and support in others. This aligns with biblical principles that value humility, love, and inner character over outward appearance or worldly power (1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 5:5). The show also explores themes of not judging by appearances and serving others, particularly highlighted in how characters initially underestimate Bojji and the idea that a king serves his people. However, the show's portrayal of character morality and accountability presents a more nuanced picture. While it heavily features themes of forgiveness and redemption, offering antagonists opportunities for change, some critics argue that the ease with which serious transgressions are forgiven, particularly for characters like Miranjo, may lack sufficient consequences, potentially undermining the gravity of their actions. This can be a point of caution for Christian parents, as a biblical worldview emphasizes both forgiveness and justice, with true repentance often involving a recognition of wrongdoing and a desire for reconciliation that may require more than simple absolution without tangible repercussions. The worldview presented is largely transcendent in its exploration of good and evil, sacrifice, and the search for meaning beyond the material, yet it also includes elements of magic, demons, and pacts with devils, which warrant discernment. Family relationships are a central focus, depicting the complexities of parental love, sibling rivalry, and the burdens of royal succession. Queen Hiling, initially appearing as a stereotypical "evil stepmother," is subverted to show deep, caring, and protective maternal affection for both Bojji and Daida, even learning sign language for Bojji. This portrayal of unconditional love and growth in parental roles offers positive lessons. Redemption themes are prevalent, with characters often having tragic backstories that explain their misguided actions, allowing for empathy and the possibility of change. While direct representations of Christian faith or practices are not central to the narrative, the underlying moral dilemmas, the emphasis on love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a virtuous heart, echo many Christian values. The series ultimately suggests that even the greatest villains can find some form of redemption, and that every human life has worth and meaning, regardless of their past actions.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 14+ recommended. The series features a deceptively childlike art style but contains intense violence with graphic injury detail, disturbing depictions of supernatural entities and a non-Christian afterlife, and complex moral dilemmas that may be unsettling for younger viewers. Older adolescents are better equipped to process the mature themes and frequent perilous situations.

Good to Know

The art style of 'Ranking of Kings' is often cited as misleadingly childlike, causing some parents to underestimate the maturity of its content. While it champions themes of kindness, perseverance, and forgiveness, these are explored through a narrative that involves significant hardship, moral ambiguity, and graphic elements. The spin-off series, 'Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage,' maintains similar thematic and content intensity, often delving deeper into character backstories that can be equally dark.

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