Overview
FormatTV
StudioStudio Pierrot
AniList Score77%
StatusFINISHED
Characters
Youko Nakajimamain
Keikimain
Shouryuusupporting
Enkisupporting
Aozarusupporting
Taikisupporting
Rakushunsupporting
Shoukeisupporting
Gyokuyousupporting
Yuka Sugimotosupporting
Gyousou Sakusupporting
Suzu Ookisupporting
Sanshi Hakusupporting
Shoukousupporting
Ribisupporting
Kouyasupporting
Ikuya Asanosupporting
Kou-Ousupporting
Youkasupporting
Risaisupporting
Staff
Fuyumi OnoOriginal Creator
Akihiro YamadaOriginal Character Design
Tsuneo KobayashiDirector
Yuuko KusumotoCharacter Design
Hiroto TanakaCharacter Design
Junichi HigashiArt Director
Yuuko SatouColor Design
Atsuho MatsumotoDirector of Photography
Tsutomu KashiwakuraSound Director
Shizuo KurahashiSound Effects
Ryou KunihikoMusic
Houko KuwashimaInsert Song Performance
Keiko KitagawaInsert Song Lyrics
Ryou KunihikoInsert Song Composition
Shou AikawaScript
Atsushi WakabayashiCreature Design (eps 1-4)
Yasuhiro MorikiCreature Design (eps 1-4)
Mika ArisakaTheme Song Performance (ED1, ED2)
Chiaki KonEpisode Director (ep 31)
Takuya SatouStoryboard (eps 3, 8, 19, 32)
Other Details
Native Title十二国記
Aired Year2002 (SPRING)
Source MaterialLIGHT NOVEL
Genres
ActionAdventureFantasySupernatural
The Twelve Kingdoms
2002TVFINISHED77% Score
Synopsis
EP 1
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter One
Haunted by a recurring nightmare, timid, red-haired Youko feels like an outcast, then becomes one after the stranger Keiki appears and swears fealty to her before she is carried off by a winged creature to another world.
EP 2
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Two
Youko, captured and on her way for judgement as an evil kaikyaku from the sea, meets up with classmates Yuka and Asano, who were also transported here but separated during a demon attack.
EP 3
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Three
Attacked on their way for judgement, Youko uses the mystical sword Keiki gave her. Escaping, the three are befriended by a native woman who feeds and clothes them, then offers them work in another town. On the way Youko has another vision.
EP 4
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Four
Takki, their apparent saviour, has less innocent plans for Youko and Yuka than getting them work in an inn. While they make their escape, Asano meets another kaikyaku (people from our world), an old man who arrived before the end of WW2.
EP 5
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Five
Yuka believes herself to be the chosen one instead of Youko, and takes up with the kirin Kourin. After Youko and Asano are separated, she tries to kill Youko, but injures her instead.
EP 6
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Six
Rescued by the rat half-beast Rakushun, Youko recovers and Rakushun tells her about the world of the 12 Kingdoms. Together they head for En, where they will be more kindly treated. Yuka is betrayed.
EP 7
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Seven
Youko saves her travelling companions, but Rakushun is hurt. Youko takes up with the entertainers she'd met previously, as their guard. They arrive at the port for her to take ship to En, but it's full of officials looking for her.
EP 8
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Eight
King Kou changes Yuka's appearance so she can fight Youko without being recognised - then sends bird demons to do the job when the two young women are on board ship. A larger demon fights the birds, and Yuka changes back to merely human.
EP 9
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Nine
Youko and Rakushun are reunited, and go to see a kaikyaku teacher who, with Rakushun, explains more about the world. Youko's fate is uncovered. Fighting invading youmo, she meets King En.
EP 10
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Ten
King En takes Youko and Rakushun to his palace, where more explanations of how the royal system works are given. At the same time Yuka is being similarly educated by the kaikyaku teacher. Youko has important decisions to make.
EP 11
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Eleven
En's minister explains to Youko and Rakushun Enki's story, and how he came to choose the King of En.
EP 12
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Chapter Twelve
Finding out about the last queen of Kei, Youko doubts her own ability to rule wisely. Yuka finally finds out how King Kou has used and betrayed her, and stops fighting against Youko.
EP 13
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Final Chapter
King Kou defeats himself: King En and Youko rout the false queen of Kei and Youko, reluctantly, agrees to take her rightful place. Keiki restores Yuka to Japan, where she finds a strange boy whose art looks like a map of the 12 kingdoms.
EP 14
Recap
Shadow of the Moon, Sea of the Shadow - Reminiscence Chapter
Rakushun instructs Youko in the history of the world in which she is to play such an important role, and summarises the story so far.
EP 15
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter One
Keiki and Youko travel to Mt Hou for the new queen's coronation. They detour to Keiki's 'home' and Youko hears the story of Taiki, the missing kirin of the kingdom of Tai.
EP 16
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Two
Taiki learns more of the history of the 12 kingdoms, and of his own nature and destiny.
EP 17
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Three
Keiki and Taiki meet at Lady Gyokuyou's suggestion, and although their first meeting does not go well, they soon become friends and learn from each other.
EP 18
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Four
Taiki's first attempt to find the ruler of Tai from among those assembled at the solstice fails - although he does meet two particular people, one of whom he likes, the other of whom scares him.
EP 19
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Chapter Five
Taiki tames his first demon - one of the most dangerous in the 12 kingdoms - and chooses the king of Tai, but not in accordance to the will of the heavens.
EP 20
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Final Chapter
Keiki, Enki and King En conspire to prove Taiki correct, causing great relief. In the present, in Japan, Yuka is convinced the strange young man belongs in the 12 kingdoms.
EP 21
Recap
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Reminiscence Chapter
Enki tells us more about the 12 kingdoms, then reveals that King Tai and Taiki went missing - presumed dead, although Enki doubts it - after only a year of ruling.
EP 22
Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Labyrinth - Correspondence Chapter
Rakushun and Youko correspond: Rakushun is doing very well, and Youko is coping, although finding the complexities of the royal court confusing. The date is set for the coronation.
EP 23
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter One
The kaikyaku Suzu has lived as a slave to the harsh Lady Riyou for 100 years. After her father, the cruel King of Hou, is executed, Shoukei loses her immortality and is cast out. Youko prepares for her coronation.
EP 24
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn - Chapter Two
Ruling a kingdom wisely is full of difficulties and pitfalls, as the new queen swiftly finds out. Suzu finds out Youko is a kaikyaku as well, and desires to visiting her.