There are so many seasonal anime that it is frankly ridiculous. Nevertheless, Ranking of Kings has risen above and become one of my favorite anime of all time.

Bojji has been defined by what he can’t do. He can’t speak or hear and has faced discrimination. He wants to become the number 1 king in the world and will face many challenges in pursuit of that goal.

While it may seem like a run of the mill fantasy anime with a small twist, it excels in the formula like many shows don’t. The writing is what elevates this anime above many of its peers.

The character writing is superb. Even the most despicable characters are given redemption.

The world these characters inhabit is also amazing. It has a strong fairytale aethstetic with a dark twist. It never falls into the tropes associated with fairy tales, instead adding to them.

Despite this show being a fantasy anime the discrimination he faces is very real. It enhances how much you empathize with Bojji’s struggles by showing him unfairly treated for his disability.

I give “Ranking of Kings”, nine crowns out of ten. It is incredibly charming and subverts the common tropes in interesting and thoughtful ways. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation, so you can support it on those platforms.