# Kingdom (2012)

> An orphan vows to serve King Zheng of Qin and rise to become a general as the Warring States are fought toward unification.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/42091

## Facts

- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 156
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: animation, action, history
- Network: NHK G, NHK BS Premium
- Cast: Masakazu Morita, Jun Fukuyama, Rie Kugimiya, Yoko Hikasa, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Hirofumi Nojima, Rikiya Koyama, Kenyu Horiuchi
- TMDB rating: 8.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404499/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: heroic, intense, stirring, bloody, camaraderie

## What critics say

Critics broadly praise the series for its large-scale battle staging and its portrayal of ambition and loyalty in the Warring States period, though some find its pacing uneven in dialogue-heavy stretches.

## Synopsis

Kingdom is a Japanese animated historical epic set in the Warring States period of ancient China, adapted from Yasuhisa Hara's manga and produced by Pierrot. It follows Xin, a low-born orphan who dreams of becoming a great general, and his bond with the young king Ying Zheng, who is determined to unify a fractured land. Their story moves through sieges, strategic campaigns, and the political maneuvering of rival kingdoms, with vast armies clashing across open plains. The tone is heroic and stirring, driven by loyalty, ambition, and camaraderie among soldiers who fight for a shared future, while brutal battles carry real weight and cost. Episodes balance grand spectacle with intimate character moments, and the central ideal of merit earned on the battlefield rather than inherited by birth gives the saga its emotional pull. Its large ensemble of generals, rivals, and comrades gives each campaign personal stakes, and the show's rousing score and widescreen staging heighten every charge and confrontation. Viewers who enjoy long-form war epics, rise-from-nothing heroes, and historical intrigue will find a sweeping, serialized chronicle that continues to unfold across its seasons.

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